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Etsy’s “listing variations” are an easy way to present all of the available item choices and factors to your customers. Buyers will have to pick from a drop-down list before they check out, so it simplifies the whole process for everyone involved. They can be created in your item listings on both on the desktop version and the Sell on Etsy app. Let’s look at a few ways to most effectively use this feature:
Why Variations are Important
Variations eliminate the problem of having to continually contact buyers to have them make a selection or decision regarding their purchase. Customers might not always know they have a message in their Etsy conversations inbox, so our questions can go unseen. For this reason, variations save time and thus allow you to get orders mailed out to customers much faster.
You get two variation sections per item listing, so choose them wisely. Make them your most important factors that will impact their purchase. For example, if you sell handmade t-shirts you’ll definitely want to make a drop-down with size choices (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, etc.) as well as a color variation if that’s another factor.
When to Use Price Variations
Price variations are perfect for items that have options or add-ons that require a higher retail price. Etsy allows for one variation section with price differences and it must be done first if you’re doing two drop-downs. You can ask your customers to pick from sixteen pre-set variations (including Color, Fabric, Length, Scent, Style, etc.) or you can create your own.
When you’re creating this type of variation you must enter the final price the customer will pay (rather than the difference from the lowest priced selection). For example, if you have a necklace on base metal chain that is $20, the silver-plated version would entered as $30, the gold-plated would be $35, etc. When the listing is active it will then show as $20+ and the shopper can see the price differences in the drop-down.
How to Use Size and Style Variations
This is the way I typically use variations in my Etsy shop. The pre-set choices are the same as the ones I mentioned above and you can still create your own variation if none apply to your products. For instance, if you’re selling bath products with different scents, make a variation that lists all of the available choices (vanilla, basil, rose, etc). If you make bracelets that have several length choices, you can enter the various lengths by the pre-set suggestions of centimeters or inches or add your own measurement. I also recommend presenting the various options in your listing photos if possible- this way customers can get a visual besides the drop-down choices.
How have you used listing variations in your Etsy shop?
Rebecca George
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I just opened at Etsy shop yesterday and the variations seem different than your example above. All I am trying to do is add the option to buy the shoes with the doll dress for an extra cost. So it does not fit in their published variations, I have to choose to create my own. I have tried every way to add this option with NO success. It’s not really a variation, it’s an option to purchase the matching shoes to the doll dress. I have tried every way I can think of and it’s not easy and the Etsy instructions are worthless. Do you have any hints?
Hi DeeDee,
Etsy has recently updated variations to include more options and functionality, so it doesn’t look exactly the same as when I wrote this post. You can create your own variation, then give it a name and the various options names while selecting the “Prices vary” button. You might have to go back and forth on the pages when doing this to add all the options. Hope this helps! I’ll be writing an update for this feature in the near future.
Hi! Do you know if you can, indeed just add s, m, l xl, etc….when I try to add them they always say us women, or alpha, or mens. Trying to get rid of those words! Thanks so much for your help!!!
Ditto! What the heck?!
Have you found a solution Annie?
I’d also like to know how to fix this. I’ve selected Unisex t-shirts as the product but the only options in size variations are S, M, L, XL, etc, with (Men’s) in the description. I’d like to remove ‘Mens’. Thanks.
I’m looking for a workaround and want to sell my listings with variations in person, but on the Etsy app they are all greyed out if there are any variations at all…which is everything in my store except 2 items! Can you help??
Is there a way to get the lowest priced thing in the variation to not show? I make items that have the availability of customization and when items are viewed the show the 2.00 for the customization as the main price. It may get more people to click through, but it seems misleading and I don’t want to represent my shop as misleading.