Etsy has just made a significant change to its rules about 3d printing sellers, and even if you are not selling 3d printed products, you should know about this.
For me, this update is a hopeful sign that Etsy is taking its "handmade" promise more seriously.
First, let's look at the new rule. On its "Creativity Standards" page, Etsy now states:
"Items produced using computerized tools: Physical items that a seller produced in their personal shop or home, using computerized tools such as a laser printer, 3D printer, CNC or Cricut machine. These items must be produced based on a seller’s original design and are often personalized or customized to a buyer’s specification."
This is a big deal. It means you can no longer sell physical prints of 3D designs created by someone else, even if you bought a commercial license for it. From now on, the 3D models you print and sell must be your own original designs.
The Problem Etsy Is Trying to Solve
Let's be honest, Etsy's reputation has taken a hit. For years, shoppers came to Etsy for unique, handmade goods. They wanted to buy a necklace from the person who actually designed and made it, not from a faceless dropshipper.
In the past few years, however, Etsy seems to be flooded with cheap, mass-produced items that are also sold on sites like AliExpress. This has damaged the platform in two ways:
- It frustrates buyers. Shoppers looking for a special, handmade gift become disappointed when they see the same generic products available on Amazon for a lower price. It erodes the trust that is core to Etsy's brand.
- It hurts real artists. Legitimate sellers who pour time and creativity into their original work find themselves competing with resellers who have lower costs and can churn out products with no creative effort. Many felt they were being pushed out of the very platform that was built for them.
This new 3D printing rule could be Etsy's way of 'testing the waters' of tackling this problem.
Analysis: Is This Etsy 'Testing the Waters'?
This move is strategic, and it's likely a test. Rather than overhauling its entire handmade policy at once, which would be chaotic, Etsy has chosen a specific, manageable category to start with. So what could Etsy be testing in this?
- Financial Impact: How much sales and profit will they lose from the banned sellers? More importantly, will that loss be offset or exceeded by increased sales from original designers who now have more visibility and less competition?
- Seller Pushback: How will the community react? They are certainly checking closely whether there is pushback coming from the affected group of sellers, and whether other sellers support this move. This helps them anticipate the effect from future, potentially bigger changes.
- Brand Perception: Will this move generate positive press? Will buyers notice a higher quality of unique products in the category? A win here would build momentum for more aggressive clean-up efforts.
The Implications for All Etsy Sellers
If this test is successful for Etsy - meaning if it makes sense for them financially and the public perception is positive - we may be able to see this change applied in other niches. The next logical targets could be other categories plagued by resellers, like print-on-demand (using generic art) or jewelry. This could be the first step in Etsy's return to its "handmade" roots.
The Takeaway for Your Etsy Shop
This change reinforces what has always been the best strategy for long-term success on Etsy: originality is your greatest asset.
Shoppers come to Etsy for products they can't find anywhere else. They want the story, the connection to the artist, and the unique design.
Your path forward is clear: be the designer and the maker. Document your process, tell your story, and show your work. There are millions of shoppers on Etsy looking for exactly that, and it seems Etsy is finally starting to make it easier for them to find you.
