Etsy announced that it’s giving some of its U.S. sellers free card readers to accept credit and debit payments in person. It comes in the form of a dongle, much like those from Square and others, and integrates with an app to let sellers manage their inventory and multi-channel sales.
When I say they’re “giving” it to sellers, I mean giving. The “Sell on Etsy Reader” is free to those enrolled in Etsy’s Direct Checkout. It can be ordered as soon as today.
Etsy charges 2.75% per swipe. The standard 3.5% Etsy transaction fee doesn’t apply for in-person sales.
Etsy’s Camilla Velasquez writes in a blog post, “We’ve worked hard at Etsy to develop a leading online marketplace for buying and selling unique goods. However, 90% of all retail purchases are still made offline. We know that many of our sellers sell in channels other than their online Etsy shop. In fact, 35% of Etsy sellers sell at craft fairs. That’s why we’re launching in-person payments today to provide better tools for sellers who sell at craft fairs, flea markets, and elsewhere. We want to help Etsy sellers be more efficient in what they’re already doing in multiple sales channels. Along with our recent launch of Etsy Wholesale, this expansion reiterates our commitment to create a world of online and offline commerce powered by Etsy, making Etsy an everyday experience.”
“We designed the Sell on Etsy Reader specifically for Etsy sellers to help better manage their creative businesses, allowing them to focus more on doing what they love,” she adds. “Unlike other card readers, our reader isn’t a commodity point-of-sale system; it’s for Etsy sellers and their shops.”
Sales made in person are immediately reflected in the Etsy shop, even when buyers pay with cash. That means the inventory will be presented accurately to potential online customers. All sales made through the reader count towards the total number of sales numbers for Etsy sellers’ shops and are eligible for buyer feedback. These components of the Etsy selling experience can help boost shops’ reputations, as Velasquez notes.
When buyers transact with the reader, they can opt to get a detailed email receipt.
While the reader is only available for the U.S. right now, the company says it’s evaluating solutions for other countries, so expect to hear more about that in the future.
The Sell on Etsy app, which works with the reader, is available for both iOS and Android.
The reader marks an important turning point for Etsy taking it from an online marketplace to a broader selling tool for selling both online and off. Etsy has ventured into the offline world in the past (and is doing so again this holiday season) with limited events, but this cements Etsy into a permanent spot in in-person sales.
Just don’t expect to be able to sell any Washington Redskins merchandise.
Image via Etsy