Etsy Bitsy

"Let me play the itsy bitsy spider." -Paul Wall


Etsy.com is like the world's largest craft fair. The gifts are unique, the prices tend to be reasonable and it feels good to support mom-and-pop businesses. Since you buy directly from artists and crafters who set up their own shops on the site, you can find out how an item was made and sometimes make special requests.

How it works:

-After setting up a free account, you buy items directly from sellers using PayPal or credit cards.
-In each seller's online shop you can browse product photos and descriptions and read the owner's profile and policies. Shipping options vary. To check them out, look at the bottom of the page of the listed item under "Shipping" or click on "Shop Policies" on the main shop page. Each seller also has its own policies on returns and exchanges; they're usually listed on the "Shop Policies page as well.

-To see whether a seller has a good reputation, click on the "Feedback" link on the shop's main page to view ratings and comments from other buyers.

-If you have a problem with a transaction, Etsy.com encourages you to contact the seller via the "Conversations" feature, an internal email system for site members. You can also report the problem to Etsy.com via email to support@etsy.com, and it will investigate and work to resolve it. Keep in mind, though, that like eBay, Etsy.com is a venue for connecting buyers and sellers and is not directly involved in purchases. Etsy.com charges the seller a fee for listing an item and a small percentage of the sale price when the item sells.

You get to support local, crafty vendors while finding unique items.