[nobody9999]

>• Re: fulfillment — why not ask Etsy sellers to pre-stock everything that's not made-to-order into fulfillment centers like Amazon's? And, in fact, to send anything that is made-to-order to a fulfillment center first, where it'll be inspected, re-wrapped and re-shipped by the fulfillment center — with the buyer's card only having a hold, not a charge, on it until the seller's goods are inspected by the fulfillment center as good? (In other words: turn the process into a goods-for-money mediated escrow.)

Why not take a hint from Darknet markets[0] and require escrow for all transactions[1], with funds only being released to the seller after the buyer has confirmed receipt of the goods as advertised, along with seller (and buyer) ratings as well as dispute resolution services?

In many ways, darknet markets are much better than the "legit" online marketplaces. And more's the pity -- because the "legit" players know better and should act accordingly.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darknet_market

[1] And since Etsy is a publicly traded corporation and their sellers are presumably "legit" (i.e., selling stuff that doesn't run afoul of nation-state dicta), an exit scam[2] is unlikely.

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exit_scam

[marcinzm]

Etsy already does all that. Funds are held for some time. There's also a way to dispute a sale to get a refund and so on. Plus credit card charge backs if you're really pissed. Paypal basically exists because it's included htis functionality for the last 20 years so it's nothing new.

The thing is that the vast majority of buyers are perfectly happy with their drop shipped item.

That's the real difference, Darknet has very savvy buyers because the barrier to entry is fairly high and theres is little real competition. If you don't like Etsy then there's Ebay or Shopify stores or Amazon handmade or a local craft fair or just emailing a maker.

I think it's important in these situations, like many others, to not jump to a conclusion such as "legit marketplaces are idiots for not doing X" but rather "why doesn't X work for legit marketplaces but does work for non-legit ones."

[jeromegv]

The thing with handmade and unique items is that the definition of “as advertised “ differs quite a lot. Your definition is not the same as mine.

Also customer tend to game that to get free products which makers hate.

[nobody9999]

>The thing with handmade and unique items is that the definition of “as advertised “ differs quite a lot. Your definition is not the same as mine.

A fair point, although photos provided on the site, as well as seller reputation can (and mostly the latter on darknet sites, but both are useful) address that issue. What's more, an escrow system that requires the buyer to confirm receipt and quality for the seller to receive payment could have an even stronger impact on such issues.

>Also customer tend to game that to get free products which makers hate.

Which is why darknet sites have dispute resolution policies and processes, as well as ratings of sellers and buyers. Those buyers who try to take advantage are shunned pretty quickly as bad actors and unprofitable to boot.

You can't game a system that won't play with you.

I suggest you check out some darknet markets[0] -- not to purchase anything that might raise the hackles of your local government, but rather to see how a marketplace which doesn't have the sanction of law/government/the courts tries to ensure fairness and minimize rip offs and bad actors.

If you do, I think you'll find that many of the tools used in those environments would improve user satisfaction (on both sides) and create a much better marketplace. Even a "legitimate" marketplace like Etsy.

Edit: fixed grammar, added references.

[0] https://darknetmarketlist.com/darknet-market-list/ [1]

[1] Some of the listed markets have been seized/exit scammed/otherwise offline. As the old saw goes, 'caveat emptor'.

[marcinzm]

None of those are innovations. They've existed in legit marketplaces for decades.