Using Etsy or Depop is definitely something you’ve thought about if you want to sell products you’ve made yourself.
However, which platform will best serve your needs?
Etsy has quickly become one of the most popular online marketplaces for selling vintage and handcrafted goods.
It has a broad audience of people who could be interested in making a purchase, and it is simple to use.
Having said that, it does have a few limitations.
Etsy, for one, requires sellers to pay listing fees as well as transaction fees, both of which can cut into seller revenues.
Etsy’s search algorithm also gives preference to listings that have been up for a longer period of time.
This makes it more difficult for your products to be discovered by people who may be interested in purchasing them.
On the other hand, Depop is a player that has only recently emerged on the stage.
However, it has rapidly evolved into one of the most well-liked choices for those who sell handmade or vintage items.
The question now is, which platform is going to be better for you as a seller?
That is contingent on your own requirements and inclinations.
In this post, we will talk about factors that are important for you to know about the two platforms.
Let’s get started.
Depop vs Etsy – A Brief Introduction
Etsy and Depop are going to be the focus of this article.
These platforms vary from one another in a variety of ways, including:
- The types of products you can sell
- The number of potential customers that may be reached
- The convenience of use
- The degree of personalization
- Support and customer service
- Fees
Depop 101
Anyone can post products for sale on the online marketplace known as Depop.
It focuses mainly on the fashion industry and was founded in 2011.
In 2021, Depop became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Etsy – the global marketplace for unique and creative goods – and continues to operate as a standalone company.
It is well-known for the vintage and one-of-a-kind apparel that it sells.
By establishing a market for secondhand and one-of-a-kind garments, Depop hopes to reduce the amount of waste produced by the fashion industry.
There is no minimum or maximum age requirement for vintage products that must be met before they may be listed on the marketplace.
Choose Depop if you are looking for a platform that is simple, can be used to set up a store in a matter of minutes, and will immediately place your items at the top of search results.
However, because of the hefty sales tax and the lack of customization options, Depop may be considered a restrictive marketplace.
If you choose to sell on Depop instead of Etsy, you could potentially reach a different demographic of customers who are younger.
Many studies show that members of Gen Z use Depop more frequently than Etsy.
Etsy 101
Etsy is another online market that places emphasis on one-of-a-kind goods.
Etsy’s online marketplace allows users to buy and sell a much wider variety of goods than only vintage clothing, including adornments for the home, jewelry, and even children’s toys.
There is a significant emphasis placed on handcrafted goods.
But in addition to that, there is a vast selection of various vintage goods.
Items considered “vintage” need to be at least 20 years old.
Etsy was established way back in 2005.
Etsy is a platform that can be very useful for a number of reasons, the most important of which are the extensive item selection and the size of the customer base.
Etsy has been around longer than Depop and is thus a more trusted marketplace.
This helps ease some of the strain that comes with attempting to create trust from the ground up when trying to sell products on the marketplace.
Depop vs Etsy: A Comparison In Features
Customizability and Ease of Use
Depop
You are only permitted to add a profile photo and a bio when using Depop.
This can be highly restrictive for businesses that want more customization so that their brand can be displayed in the most authentic way possible.
You can, of course, upload pictures of the product that you are offering on your website.
However, this will only take your company so far.
Although it may not have as many features as Etsy, Depop is known for having a very user-friendly interface.
Choose Depop if you’re looking for a platform that’s uncomplicated and intuitive to use.
Etsy
Etsy has been a go-to for many years on aspects pertaining to user-friendliness.
They were the first to pave the road for creative people to have a fantastic location where they could make much more sales than with traditional selling methods.
The process of creating listings and seeing stats on Etsy is made to be very simple.
When it comes to personalization, practically every store has a relatively similar layout.
However, you have the ability to upload a personal profile image as well as a banner.
Other than that, there are not many settings that you can adjust.
Still, In contrast to Depop, this allows for a significantly greater degree of customization.
If you opt to subscribe to their premium plan, you will have the ability to advertise items on your homepage.
Communication and Promotion
Depop
Depop, like many other selling platforms out there, includes a messaging system that allows buyers and sellers to engage with one another.
As the seller, you are in charge of determining how your product is promoted so that potential customers view it.
On Depop, you have the ability to “boost” an item to increase the number of people who will notice it and maybe purchase it.
Simply labeling your product with the appropriate tags makes it much simpler to find clients who are interested in purchasing it.
Depop, much like Etsy, enables you to link your various social network accounts, too.
Etsy
Etsy, like Depop, enables users to communicate with one another within the platform easily.
Etsy’s search algorithm, on the other hand, is significantly more involved and complex than Depop’s.
Customers may quickly locate your store by doing a product search in the navigation bar of the search engine.
You may also market your Etsy shop by connecting directly with social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter.
You also have the opportunity to pay for promotions through Etsy in order to enhance the number of people who visit your online store.
The search algorithm on Etsy is significantly more sophisticated than the one used by Depop.
Associated Fees
Depop
Because it does not offer any subscription service, using and listing things on Depop are both entirely free of charge.
No listing fee!
However, there are other charges.
A commission of 10% is deducted from the sale price of each item.
This hefty charge for each transaction can be very discouraging, particularly for a seller who is just starting out.
Even while Etsy might have a variety of different kinds of fees, it’s possible that this 10% cost is still higher than the amount that Etsy would be asking for its services.
You are the only one who can settle whether or not this price is justified if you sell vintage clothing.
Etsy
Etsy has two monthly pricing plans, which are:
- Standard (Free)
- Etsy Plus ($10)
Other fees include:
- Listing fee ($0.20)
- Auto-renewal fee ($0.20)
- Transaction fee (5%)
- Payment gateway fee (3%)
Etsy is a more long-term choice than Depop, although it can be significantly more expensive than the latter.
If you decide to go with the more expensive monthly plan, Etsy Plus, you will have access to additional customization options.
You’ll also get a discount on your personalized web address, advertising credits, and listing credits, to mention just a few of the benefits.
Even though it could appear that many of these various fees could mount up, the potential for access to a large consumer base and a boost in sales might more than makeup for it.
Customer Care and Support
Depop
When it comes to Support, Depop has very few options available.
You can send an email to support@depop.com if you have any questions or concerns, or you can file a request on their help desk.
Due to the fact that the app is newer than Etsy, very little information is available regarding the response times for emails.
This might be stressful, particularly for sellers who would prefer to have a backup plan in the event that they need assistance with a buyer or an issue within the app.
There isn’t even a hotline or a live chat option.
Etsy
Etsy provides its users with a greater number of options for customer service by enabling communication with support by email, phone, and live chat.
However, some users have reported that their response time might range anywhere from a few hours to several days before a case is examined.
It is encouraging to know that it is simple to get in touch with assistance in the event that something goes wrong.
You can discover any support option from a tab in your seller dashboard.
Buyer Protection and Shipping
Depop
Shipping choices provided by Depop include regular shipping, expedited shipping, and worldwide shipping.
Of course, standard shipping is the cheapest option.
Additionally, Depop provides its users with a buyer security program that guards them against being the victim of fraud or other cons.
However, Depop does not have a policy in place for accepting returns.
The quality of the goods that are offered for sale on the Depop platform is not guaranteed in any way.
Etsy
Etsy users have the opportunity to choose from several different types of shipping, including regular shipping, expedited shipping, and international shipping.
Etsy also provides its users with a buyer protection program that guards them against being the victim of fraud or other scams.
Etsy Shipping has a returns policy that enables customers to send things back if they believe they were misrepresented in the listing.
The quality of the items that are offered on Etsy’s platform is not guaranteed either.
This is entirely the responsibility of the seller.
Labels
Depop
Using Depop will make shipping a piece of cake.
It will generate a shipping label that is printable, and you will be able to download it right from the app and affix it to the package before it’s shipped.
Etsy
You will receive a printable shipping label when you own an Etsy shop.
The customer’s address will be pre-populated, and the tracking number will be attached to the purchase automatically.
Getting Paid
Since both platforms use Paypal, receiving payment is a pretty quick process.
Etsy Payments is the name of the company’s own payment gateway, which is an additional payment choice offered by Etsy.
However, it is not accessible in all countries.
When you make a sale on Etsy, your money deposit will become available seven days following the transaction.
With Paypal, you will receive payment immediately.
Your Etsy money deposit should be ready the next business day after the first 90 days you’ve been selling items there.
Please be aware that Etsy will first subtract any applicable fees from the payment before depositing it into your account.
Getting Reviews – Depop VS Etsy
In this respect, Depop is obviously superior.
This is due to the fact that the majority of its customers are relatively young and have flourished in a world dominated by Amazon.
Writing online reviews is ingrained in the mindset of millennials and Gen Zers.
Reviews are a crucial part of the buying and selling experience on Depop, more so than on Etsy.
As long as you give excellent customer service and send items in a timely manner, you won’t struggle to earn reviews on Depop.
On the other hand, getting reviews on Etsy might be a challenge at times.
In the end, the more products you sell, the more possibility there is for reviews.
Still, it’s not guaranteed.
Promotions
For the most part, the marketing prospects on Depop are restricted to your efforts.
However, unlike Etsy, there are no strong means by which you can organize your marketing efforts with Depop.
Shop owners publish ads in their closets giving discounts such as bundles, percentage off offers (such as 15% off), and BOGO deals.
Etsy gives sellers the opportunity to send vouchers to clients who have abandoned their shopping carts while shopping on the platform.
Moreover, Etsy offers shop engine ads, which have the potential to push your item out into the shopping engines such as Google Shopping, Bing, Shopstyle, and Polyvore at no additional cost to you.
You can undertake paid advertising with Google Shopping Ads if you wish to run your own personal campaign.
This option is available to you.
There are some merchants on Etsy who choose not to pay for advertising, despite the fact that their products frequently rank highly in relevant keyword searches and on Google results pages.
Depop vs Etsy: The Pros and Cons
Depop Pros
- The platform has a trendy, youthful vibe, making it attractive to more users.
- It comes with a built-in messaging system to make communication between buyers and sellers safer and more convenient.
- It has a decently sized community, giving your products more exposure.
- It has a mobile app, which is better for buyers and sellers on the go.
- It is easy to use and navigate.
- It has many payment options, including Venmo and PayPal.
Depop Cons
- Standing out from the crowd of sellers can be tedious.
- The fees might be unreasonable, especially for more affordable items.
- It is not available in all countries.
Etsy Pros
- It accepts many payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and Etsy gift cards.
- It has an in-platform messaging system for easier communication.
- You can sell a broader range of products, including digital downloads to home decor.
- It has an extensive community of users.
- It’s available everywhere.
- It’s intuitive and familiar.
- It attracts all demographic types.
Etsy Cons
Standing out as a seller can be pretty involved. You have to use different SEO techniques.
The marketplace is saturated with certain products.
The fees may be burdensome, especially for those who don’t make many sales.
Final Thoughts
Selling online is now breezier than ever, thanks to platforms like Depop and Etsy.
Etsy is the better platform if you have a lot of handcrafted things to sell.
When it comes to selling vintage clothing and affordable fashion items, Depop is the best of all Etsy alternatives.
Having said that, why not try both?
It could be wise to you experiment with each of them so that you can get a good sense of which one generates more sales for you.
Both platforms include free versions, which can be a cost-effective method to get your business up and running quickly.
