Canceling an order without an Etsy account

Did you buy a product as a guest without logging in and can’t access your purchase history? You can still submit an Etsy cancellation request from a guest purchase.

Link your order to a new or existing Etsy account. Locate the email receipt from when you placed the order and click View your order.

Follow the steps to sign in or create a new account on Etsy – it has to be the same email address used for your guest order. Once connected, submit a request by following the steps outlined in the previous section.

If necessary, contact Etsy’s transaction service for missing order details via transaction@etsy.com.

Seller tips for smooth cancellation processes

Order cancellations are never ideal – but there are some things you can do to make the process as seamless as possible for both you and the buyer.

Have clear order cancellation policies

Add a store policy for cancellation processes through your Etsy Shop Manager under the Cancellations tab. 

Tick the checkbox to show that your store allows cancellations. Then, choose from a list of Etsy’s cancellation templates, available in English, French, and German.

Make sure you outline clear instructions for when a customer cancels an order. Try to include answers to the following questions:

• Is there a time limit for receiving order refunds?
• Is disliking the product a valid reason for cancellation?
• What are the conditions for returning a damaged item?
• Does your store offer refunds for return shipping costs?

Issue timely refunds

If a buyer requests cancellation and doesn’t receive a timely answer, they may open a case against the seller and get Etsy involved as a moderator. 

Resolve customer issues promptly to maintain store credibility and minimize any fees and penalties resulting from inaction.

Communicate promptly and professionally

Respect each customer’s concerns and respond professionally and quickly. Communicate that you’re doing everything you can to get the issue resolved, and buyers will be more likely to leave positive reviews.

Keep track of your cancellations

View all cancellations in your Orders & Shipping tab. Look for patterns in refund requests and find ways to prevent similar issues in the future.

1. Be understanding

Respond with patience and professionalism. If a buyer changes their mind or has concerns, ask what went wrong. Understanding their reason helps you improve your customer service.

2. Offer solutions and alternatives

Suggest alternatives like a different size, color, or another product. If shipping delays are an issue, provide an updated timeline. A proactive approach can turn cancellations into successful sales, maintaining customer satisfaction.

3. Ask for feedback

Even if the order is canceled, request feedback. This insight helps you refine your product, listing descriptions, and customer experience. A polite follow-up message shows you care about their opinion.

4. Special offers or discounts

Encourage future purchases by offering a discount or free shipping on their next order. This turns a lost sale into an opportunity to retain a potential repeat customer.

5. Improve product descriptions and policies

If multiple customers cancel for the same reason – like sizing issues or shipping times – adjust your product descriptions and shop policies. Set clearer expectations to reduce future cancellations.

6. Stay in touch and nurture customer relationships

Just because they canceled doesn’t mean they’re gone forever. Send a friendly message and offer customers to join your email list to notify them about new products, sales, or restocks.

eBay

eBay, one of the oldest online marketplaces, continues to draw a massive audience with 1.2 billion monthly visits and boasts 132 million active buyers.

eBay has a great reputation and a wide reach. The marketplace allows people and businesses to buy and sell various products worldwide.

If eBay seems like a good home for your t-shirt brand, watch our webinar on how to sell on eBay in 2024 to learn tips and tricks for increasing your sales. Or, if you prefer reading, here’s a list of essential tips for selling on eBay.

Shopify

Shopify is a great eCommerce platform for building an original store and selling t-shirts online. If you want to start your own brand and have control over your store’s design, functionality, and customer experience, it’s an excellent option.

If you’re ready to start a Shopify t-shirt business, our step-by-step guide provides all the information aspiring entrepreneurs need to sell custom t-shirts successfully.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a free, open-source plugin designed for WordPress websites that can transform them into fully functional stores.

If you already have a WordPress website, WooCommerce is an excellent option. However, it’s important to note that it involves a notably steeper learning curve, so it may require more time and effort to set up.

Wix

Wix is a cloud-based platform that allows people to create a beautiful store using drag-and-drop tools, templates, and various features without any coding skills.

Wix has both free and paid plans for businesses of all sizes. It’s a great solution for those who want to sell online without a complicated website-building process.

Squarespace

Squarespace is a powerful website builder for entrepreneurs of all skill levels. This all-in-one platform is a major player in the world of eCommerce and is perfect for selling t-shirts.

All that considered, Squarespace is definitely a convenient platform for a print-on-demand t-shirt business.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a popular eCommerce platform trusted by small and large businesses worldwide. With BigCommerce, entrepreneurs can quickly create a store and start selling their custom t-shirt designs.

In short, it’s great for beginners and professionals alike, providing everything they need to start, manage, and grow a business.

PrestaShop

PrestaShop is an open-source eCommerce solution. With a wide selection of features and customization options, it’s one of the best places to sell t-shirts. However, the platform requires some technical knowledge, so it’s possibly not the best solution for beginners.

While this eCommerce solution is free and a great place to sell t-shirts online, there are other costs associated with starting and managing your own shop, such as domain, hosting, and payment solution expenses.

Printify Pop-Up Store

The Printify Pop-Up Store is perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs. It’s a hassle-free way to start a t-shirt store or a merch business.

With the Printify Pop-Up Store, you can say goodbye to intricate store setups, expensive domains, listing fees, and other burdens of starting, running, and managing a store.

Step 1: Sign up

After signing up, you can access a large selection of customizable t-shirts, free design tools, and our wide network of carefully vetted Print Providers.

Step 2: Select a product

In our Catalog, we offer a world of custom t-shirts for every taste. Browse through our selection and pick your favorite. Then, click Start designing to begin creating t-shirts.

Step 3: Apply or create your own designs

With our Product Creator, creating your own t-shirt designs is easy. Apply a design or use our AI Image Generator, Text Editor, and Graphics Library to create your designs.

Step 4: Select a sales channel

We provide seamless integrations with some of the largest players in eCommerce, so you can reach your audience easily.

Step 5: Publish and sell

Publish products to your online t-shirt store and start marketing. After you make a sale, our Print Providers will print, package, and take care of shipping.

Choose a niche

The first thing to do is to understand where in the marketplace your merch can have the greatest impact. This is a bit different from being a Youtuber or other personality that’s generating merch and selling to fans. When you sell on eBay, chances are you’re looking to generate your own ideas and to sell them. 

Where should you start looking for that profitable niche idea?

The design and ideas are the keys here. Do you have an idea for a three wolf moon shirt? Well, guess what? That’s one of the most popular tee shirt designs of all time, and chances are, you won’t be able to outsell them.

Operating within a niche that you’ve researched and have seen that you can add some value. If you already have some experience or expertise in an area such as outer space or marine biology, this might be the place to start. If you’re trying to develop your own brand for cartoons or graphic novels, then it might be a bit more difficult, and depend on your cross product popularity. 

Brand yourself

You’re not just a set of listings in a store, you’re a human that’s making products for other humans. So why not expand beyond the listings let your humanity shine through? If you’re able to do this, then you’re going to be able to sell with more trust to your potential clients. Here’s a great example we found in an interview with eBay’s Seller News Team. eBay seller Chris K of HolyIdeaTees sells vintage Tees that he finds in thrift stores on eBay. Hundreds if not thousands of people do the same thing every day, but what makes Chris more successful?

– Have a great description for your store

Here’s Chris’s:

The message here is not only that he has a passion for it, but almost as if he’d be doing it anyway, and just passes it on to you as a favor. If you have a passion that shines through to your buyers, you’re going to be a lot more successful and it’s one of the best ways to sell make money on eBay.

– Have a tagline for your business

Chris’s:

Most eBay sellers just have their store name and leave it at that. Use your tagline to get your message across to your audience, and remember that eBay isn’t immune from traditional marketing techniques. The more memorable you are, the more likely you are to get repeat buyers. 

– Have a story and explain it

Chris’s site covers his own personal grading system which he links to in his items. He also talks about how he donates his proceeds and showcases other vintage tee sellers. Humanizing yourself and allowing people to know your passions and experience the world you’re trying to create is one of the best ways to connect with buyers and help to bring your sale across the finish line. This also helps to establish your authority and trustworthiness – keys in how to make money on eBay.

– Go the extra mile and be creative

Chris uses a Barbie doll to point out all the flaws in the shirts that he’s selling, it’s a clever, memorable and friendly way to accomplish the necessary task of pointing out some obvious flaws in used items. That won’t exactly translate to your merch store, because you’re going to be selling primarily new items, but you get the idea. The more of your fun, friendly self you can inject into your selling – the more successful you will be! 

Explain the issue:

Use the why, how what rule to structure your communication for more effective customer service: I noticed there was a defect in your item (WHY) so I’ve refunded your money (HOW) and canceled your order (WHAT).

Be kind and friendly the entire time, even when they’re angry or hostile

If you’re able to keep your cool and be friendly, you should avoid bad reviews from bad experiences, and maybe even turn that negative experience into a positive one.

Over-deliver and out-preform

• Put emotion into your message
• Never say “no”, but explain why
• Remember you’re dealing with another person

Dealing with returns

• Always use eBay’s resolution center for handling returns, not messages.
• Tell the buyer to open up a case and you’ll handle the rest.
• This protects you as a seller.
• Even if the buyer leaves negative feedback, if the case is resolved in your favor, then you can ask to have the negative feedback removed!

Microfiber duvet cover with Printify

Make sure you stay on the right side of this by looking for the proper categories, having the best search keywords for your items, and putting the best description upfront.

– Format for humans

Make sure you’re trying to write your descriptions for humans, otherwise you’re going to end up with low performing item. The best format isn’t something that just lists the attributes, but rather makes it seem like a real description.

– How to use eBay autocomplete

Another great tool to try out is a simple and not so hidden one: the eBay search bar. You can use this tool for eBay autocomplete, it helps you find the best keywords. You can try to experiment with how to make money on eBay, by finding the most relevant search terms. For example, type in the first search few search terms such as “Men’s Tee” or “Blue Women’s Sweatshirt” to see how the bar will autocomplete the term. If you optimize descriptions and product names, you should be doing well. These are the most popular search terms, and the ones you as a store owner should be after!

– Other tips

Start your listing with your main keyword. Usually, this is a qualifier or descriptive word like “New iPhone case” or something similar.  Always capitalize each word of the listing as well. If you’re going to capitalize, make sure it’s a word like “FREE” that you want to emphasize. Don’t worry about the title length, and don’t spam with unnecessary keywords just to try to get clicks, you’ll end up with a poor click-through rate anyway. Follow these tips, and you’ll be happy with your click-through rates, and your sales! 

Put yourself into your store

One way to build trust is simple: put yourself into your store and its products. As a merch seller, you have access to a wide catalog of goods, and we help you out by having some great looking photos of our products. Having said that – nothing beats seeing the store owner modeling the clothes they’re selling. You could also consider having yourself somewhere in the listing, this is another easy way to build trust.

Have a nice listing design

Your listing should and can also be visually appealing! Take a look at some of the great tools out there that help you liven up your listing so that it presents and converts better. Just like a web page or an app or even a magazine – design sells, and not just on your merch! Design your listings for sales and reap the benefits!

Put testimonials in the listing

Have you got some great testimonials from customers? Make sure you put them front and center in your listing. This is more low hanging fruit for trust-building, and you should definitely take advantage of the positive experiences you might be generating to help get some more. Customers also appreciate knowing how others feel about your products. Get creative and try some promotional give-aways to get some video testimonials you can use in your listing, it’s a powerful way to get more sales!

Timing is everything

If you’re looking for the absolute best ways to make money on eBay, some basic rules still apply. it’s important to remember that even though eBay is a largely digital platform when your customers can buy whenever they feel like, seasonal rules still apply. Seasonal items and seasonal sales times are still important on eBay, and consumer buying patterns around major holidays are still an important way your store can make money on the items you sell. Set up a calendar and track the holidays so your store is ready for the seasonal rushes of the holiday seasons!

Avoid those fees

You get up to fifty free items to list for sale without any additional cost from eBay. After that, you’ll be charged listing fees for your items. If you really want to know how to make money on eBay, one way is to minimize the fees you’re being charged for sales. Take a look at how many free listings you’ve got left, and also check out if there are any free listing times for eBay, as they will sometimes run “free listing days” and allow sellers to list additional items for sale for free.

Know your numbers

According to Chris, this is the most important thing to think about when you’re selling. Put in the time to do the research on each of your items, and track each sale so you can see exactly how much money you’re making on each item. Low performing items are on the chopping block, and high performing items get to stay – it’s as simple as that!

Price it out

If you’re selling merch, chances are you’re going to be using the sell it now features, rather than eBay’s bread and butter auction feature. eBay is going to be taking 10% of the final price, including any postage fees you have charged, so be careful to price things out accordingly. Remember, that’s – ON TOP – of any listing fees you’re going to be paying. That’s a big chunk of change, so if your numbers are off, your sales will actually end up costing you money. 

Unfinalized transaction fees

Unfinalized transactions occur when your customer might have second thoughts and doesn’t pay for the item they bought. This usually happens in auction situations rather than buy it now listings, so it may not apply to your store so much. Just turn on the “Unpaid Item Assistant” to make sure you’re reimbursed back for these transaction fees!

Open a dedicated eBay store

Want lower listing and final value fees? Well, it might be time to open up an eBay store. eBay store operators receive lower listing fees and also lower final value costs. If you’re doing some serious business on eBay, then this is a surefire way to capture some extra margin from eBay. eBay has a few different levels of subscriptions for stores, so make sure you check out their fee illustrator in order to capture the most out of their offerings. 

Look into a PayPal merchant rate

Once you’re billing upwards of $3,000, you’re able to apply for PayPal’s merchant status, which allows you to get a lower fee on transactions. Once you get that status, your fees could be reduced to 2.5%, 2.2%, or even 1.9%! That’s a fantastic reduction that you should take advantage of once you hit the threshold. 

Free listings days

After your first fifty listings, things get a bit rough. Avoid costly listing fees with the occasional free listing day. This is a great time to test out items and try to capture some extra margin. Your first fifty items should be your top sellers and should go up month after month until they stop selling. Use free listing days to test out new ideas and designs

Wrapping up the auction

Now you know all about how to list items on eBay to sell, how to avoid expensive fees, and how to make sure the pricing and fees don’t cut too far into your margin. Take a look at our integration with eBay – and get started selling merch on one of the biggest platforms on the planet!