Just been made aware through Shopify that Amazon are about to launch a major threat to Etsy in the US with their new venture “Handmade at Amazon”. As you would expect, the internet colossus is now dipping its very large toe into the artisan crafted market. How will this affect sales on Etsy and Ebay and (when it comes to the UK) Folksy? Would you want to sell there, is it an exciting prospect or just another way in which Amazon are monopolising the online market?
What do you think?
I believe it is already possible to sell your products on Amazon although the fees seem somewhat higher that the specialist “handmade” selling sites around. Without looking into it in too much detail it seems it would cost 75p per listing (or £25 per month for unlimited) and then a selling fee of between about 15 - 25% depending on the item. I may have read that wrong so don’t quote me on it! Think I’ll be sticking to Folksy for the time being 
There was a post about this on FB and apparently they are waivering the charges of 12% until 2016 if you sell less than 40 items a month.
My understanding is that you will be charged 12% commission on each sale. There is also a $40 monthly fee on top of this, this is the fee that had been waivered until August 2016. So if you get accepted to sell on Amazon handmade (you have to apply to sell on there) You’ll be charged 12% on each sale, and then after August 2016, you’ll be charged 12% on each sale, plus $40 a month.
hi im new to folksy but I sell online via amazon. I have registered my brand with them and sell on there normal site but this process is long… like soooooooooo long… yes they take a fair bit of % and there is a monthly fee. I also sell non handmade items too with them .
my feeling is that amazon already sell handmade items they are just creating a better format to do so, that is more artisan ( my handmade listings with them now are clinical to meet there current guidelines) and they celebrate the handmade quality… they must be handmade to sell via handmade at amazon. also they have a huge reach to customers, for most people when they want to buy something they go to ebay or amazon first. those looking for artisans will go to folksy or etsy… so if amazon can direct a portion of there visitors to one of your shops isn’t that a good thing .
I have applied to sell with them as an extension of handmade sales on amazon … I guess we wont know if its worth it till its up and running … and if we get accepted.
xxxx
It seems that the launch may be being put back (not that they ever announced a firm date). The most recent communication was a questionnaire asking which holidays you would make goods for, the earliest being Halloween. General consensus seemed to be that if people were making/ listing for that they needed to get the site launched asap.
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My son sells with Amazon and says that they are brilliant. (He cannot sell with Folksy because he sells bought in goods)…he says that their customer service is excellent and he gets lots of customers through them.
I doubt very much if it would be somewhere that I would want to go to as Folksy suits me…
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I’ve been accepted to sell with H @ A and I know quite a few others who have been accepted too. The rumour is that they will launch mid-September in time for Halloween trade. I don’t think the % commission is that big considering the attention the new site will get.
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I’ve been accepted to sell with them, so I will wait and see what happens.
I’m in the process of filling in my application form so I’ll let you know how I get on.
Form now submitted. Play the waiting game.
I applied last week and got an email this morning saying I have been accepted.Have to wait for them to set the registration process up, will give it a try.Nothing ventured, nothing gained and all that!
got my invite too
yes, got my invite too so will give it a go, nothing ventured
I applied last Sunday and still waiting. I live in hope.
Apparently, they are sending emails to Etsy sellers with information, application etc to encourage them to sign up… I’m not too sure about their approach…
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I should add…not all Etsy sellers, or sellers in Handmade, are contacted by Amazon. They select the sellers they want to contact.
Just got my acceptance email through this morning. Can’t wait to get started especially with Christmas coming up. Hope I don’t miss the Christmas rush.
Well done, hope it takes off for you! x
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Well done everyone, I’ll not dipping my toe in, not yet, may pluck up the courage???