Depending on the store, return policies can get tricky. This is especially true with the Etsy return policy as they currently have over 3 million active sellers on their website, all with potentially different polices. So I made it the goal of this article to simplify their overall policy and make some generalization about how some aspect of returns are handled on the Etsy selling platform. With that said, I took a deep dive into the scenarios where Etsy will actually step-in on your behalf if you’re having trouble with a seller holding up their end of the bargain. I hope you find this info helpful and it makes your Etsy buying experience a little less stressful, especially in terms of returns.

How Many Return Days Does Etsy Allow?

It depends on the seller.

Sellers are NOT obligated to offer returns or exchanges.

This is why it’s VERY important to check the seller’s homepage (also known as their “store page”) to see if they have a return policy in place.

Specifically, scroll to the bottom of the sellers store page and look for the “Returns & Exchanges” section.

Conversely, on the Etsy app tap About and then go to Returns and exchanges.

PRO TIP: NO WRITTEN RETURN POLICY? PROCEED WITH CAUTION

On the off chance that an Etsy seller has very little posted in terms of how they handle returns, I have one important thing to say…PROCEED WITH CAUTION. If the seller didn’t take the time to spell out their return policy, there’s a good chance it’ll be a major hassle if you have to make a return. So I’d personally move on to the next seller, one who has taken the time to spell out their policy so there’s NO confusion.

30 Return Days on Etsy is Average

From having shopped on Etsy for years, the average number of return days seems to be 30 days.

Some stores actually have a great 100 day return policy and some are a bit stingier at 14 days.

Also, the majority of sellers ask you to contact them within 5 days of delivery to request your return.

Bottom-line, be sure you know what the exact return policy of the seller is before you finalize your purchase.

See Also: Michaels Return Policy: Here’s How to Use It to Your Advantage

Some Items Cannot Be Returned

The one item on Etsy that typically can’t be returned is personalized items.

This includes anything that’s engraved or monogrammed with a personalized message or initials.

Also, it’s worth noting that a good chunk of sellers only accept returns if it’s their fault in some way.

PRO TIP: BE AWARE OF RESTOCKING FEES

Some Etsy sellers have restocking fees on items that are not personalized but they’ll allow you to return. Just take note of these on the seller’s page before buying. Restocking fees are often up to 20% and offset shipping costs, time to prepare, time to make, and the time it took the seller to pack the order.

The Scenarios Where Etsy Will Intervene

Etsy asks you to contact the seller directly to try and work out any “return issues” with your order.

If you’re unsuccessful working with the seller directly, there are a few scenarios where Etsy can step in and help you with your return.

They include the following:

1 – You Never Received Your Item and the Seller Refuses a Refund

2 – The Item Arrives Damaged and Seller Won’t Pay Return Shipping Fees

3 – The Seller Refuses Your Return Request

4 – The Seller Sends the Wrong Item and Won’t Work With You on a Replacement

To have Etsy step in on your behalf you’ll first need to “open a case”.

Within Your Account just click on Purchases and reviews then select Help with order then tap Still need help?

At this point you’ll select Yes, I want to open a case then choose your reason for doing so.

Once submitted, Etsy will try and resolve the issue within 48 hours.

See Also: Wayfair Return Policy: 10 Important Questions Answered + Some Insider Hacks

The Seller Pays Return Shipping On Damaged or Broken Items

If the reason for your return has to do with the seller, i.e. they sent the wrong item OR it arrives broken or damaged then the seller will pay the return shipping charges.

But if you simply decide you don’t like the item or don’t want the item for any reason, then you’ll be on the hook for the return shipping charges.

How Will I Know Where to Return My Item(s)?

In order to find out where to send your return, ALWAYS start the process by sending the seller a Message within the Etsy system.

Their contact information can be found on their on Etsy store homepage.

Besides the mailing address to send the return to, be sure to also find out how many days the sellers gives you to drop the item in the mail.

At this point, the seller will also tell you which shipping method they prefer, if any.

Opened Products Can Still Be Returned

As long as the item is still in salable condition you should be able to return it.

Just make sure you return the item with the tags still attached or the original packaging still intact.

What If I Checked Out As a Guest?

You can still make a return if you never registered with Etsy, but you’ll have to create an Etsy account to make it happen.

Specifically, you’ll need to locate the email receipt you received from Etsy when you placed your order.

Then select View Your Order and follow the steps to create an Etsy account.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you register with the same email address that you used when you originally placed your order.

By doing so, your new Etsy account will automatically connect to your “guest order”.

You’ll then be able to claim your order and contact the seller directly in order to make your return happen.

Ask the Reader: What’s been your experience with the Etsy return policy in general? Are most sellers easy to deal with or are returns a pain in the butt?

By Kyle James

Anyone who stops by the Rather-Be-Shopping blog from time-to-time knows I’m a HUGE fan of student discounts. After all, being a college student these days is about the most expensive thing you can “be”, so it’s REALLY smart to take advantage of any discount offered by retailers, restaurants, and hotels. Which brings us today to the Nike student discount as it’s one of the better money saving opportunities for students these days. Here’s everything you need to know so you can “just do it” and save money the next time you’re shopping the Nike website.

1. How Much is the Nike Student Discount?

10%.

High school, college, and university students are eligible to receive a 1-time use 10% off promo code directly from Nike.

2. Can I Use The Discount Both Online and In-Store?

No.

The Nike student discount can ONLY be used online at Nike.com or via the Nike App.

If you try to use the promo code at a Nike “brick and mortar” store you’ll get rejected as if Dikembe Mutombo was your cashier.

3. What Proof Do I Have to Show?

The first thing you need to do is sign-up (for FREE) to the Nike membership program.

Next, you click on this VERIFY link and you’ll be taken to where you enter your information via a service called SheerID.

They’ll ask you for the following:

• High school or college you attend.
• First and last name.
• Email address.
• Date of birth.
• Mobile phone number.

PRO TIP: USE YOUR SCHOOL’S EMAIL ADDRESS

By using your school’s email it will help greatly with the verification process. Also, in some cases they’ll ask you for further information, like a school I.D. card, so be prepared to upload a copy.

See Also: Apple Student Discount: Is It Worth the Savings?

4. How Old Do I Have To Be?

16.

If you’re under 16, you’ll have to wait until you can count 16 candles on your birthday cake to get the discount.

There is no maximum age requirement, so if you’re 99 years old and a college freshmen you can still get the discount.

5. Can I Get Another “1-Time Use” Promo Code Later?

Yes.

Every 30 days you can actually “reverify” your student status and score another 10% off from Nike.

So be sure to always hit up Nike for a new promo code when you’re ready to make a significant purchase.

6. Are Any Items Exempt From the 10% Discount?

Yes, there are a few exceptions worth noting.

– Nike By You products.

– Some Launch and SNKRS products.

– Apple products.

– Can’t use the discount to buy gift cards or toward a previous purchase.

– Can’t redeem the student discount on Swoosh.com.

– Can’t be applied toward any shipping costs.

– Can only be used on the first $500 of a qualified purchase, so the biggest discount you can get is $50.

PRO TIP: OTHER EXCLUSIONS APPLY

Unfortunately, Nike leaves the door open to exclude whatever they want from this discount. You can be assured that they will exclude “hot” items when supply is short and demand is high. Most recently they excluded all Air Force 1 shoes which was a bummer. 

7. Can I Be in High School and Get the Discount?

Yes.

You can be a high school student, but as mentioned earlier, you need to be at least 16 years of age to qualify for the discount.

8. Can the Discount Be Stacked with Other Coupon Codes?

Yes.

But you can ONLY stack the 10% student discount with a free shipping coupon code at Nike.com.

See Also: Nike Return Policy: Time to Get ALL Your Questions Answered

9. Any Other Benefits to Having a Nike Membership?

Yes, two REALLY big ones.

Other than qualifying for the student discount, members get FREE standard shipping AND 60-day receipt-less returns.

So it’s definitely worth signing up.

Ask the Reader: Have you ever taken advantage of the Nike student discount? If so, how much money did it save you?

By Kyle James

If you live in the South you’re already keenly aware of just how delicious a Whataburger meal is. But maybe you want to spice up your next meal and order something from the Whataburger secret menu. “Hidden” food items that only true burger aficionados and employees are aware of. So I went out and did the mouth watering research to figure out exactly what’s on their secret menu. The result was about a dozen burgers and sandwiches that you need to stuff in your mouth ASAP.

Big Breakfast Burger

This one pops up on the regular menu from time-to-time for a “limited time”, but not often enough in my opinion.

The Big Breakfast Burger comes with 1 beef patty, 1 egg, 3 hash brown sticks, American cheese, 2 bacon slices, and then topped with creamy pepper sauce.

You can even substitute the bun for a biscuit if you want to get real “breakfasty” with it.

I’ll take two of ’em and make an appointment with a cardiologist later. YOLO.

EMPLOYEE TELLS ME ABOUT THE TEXAS PATTY MELT

I recently had an employee tell me about this beauty and he made it for me. My new FAVORITE burger, so good. Start with a Sweet & Sour Bacon burger, but ask them to make it on Texas Toast. Then use white cheese and have them substitute the sweet & spicy sauce for creamy pepper. The bacon, the cheese, the toast, then that sauce…oh my, trust me, it’s amazing.

Breakfast Ranchero Sandwich

Ask for the Breakfast on a Bun sandwich but add their Picante Sauce and fresh jalapeños to it.

The result is the Breakfast Ranchero Sandwich and it’s a great way to spice up a below-average morning.

See Also: Five Guys Secret Menu: New Burgers That Are Out Of This World

Bunless Whataburger with Bacon

If you’re looking to reduce carbs, but increase saturated fats, you might want to order this concoction.

The Bunless Bacon Whataburger is served on a platter for easier eating which is a nice touch.

Chicken Strips & Pancakes

From their breakfast menu, this one is a fun and delicious play on the southern favorite of chicken and waffles.

Keep in mind that you can only get Chicken Strips & Pancakes between 11 p.m. and 11 a.m. as that’s the only time when they make pancakes.

Fish Tacos

I gotta admit this one sounds really good as I love me some crispy fish tacos.

To make it happen you’ll want to order the WhataCatch fish sandwich, then add creamy pepper sauce instead of tartar sauce, add tortilla instead of a bun, then add shredded cheese.

Sounds like a nice change of pace from the regular fish sandwich.

See Also: The Shake Shack Secret Menu Is Absolutely Delicious

Grilled Cheese Veggie Sandwich

The Whataburger grilled cheese has been a menu stable for years so it’s time to mix it up a little bit.

To make the Grilled Cheese Veggie Sandwich happen, they’ll just throw on some grilled peppers and onions to the regular grilled cheese.

The result is colorful and tasty sandwich, with the bonus “veggie vitamins” melted in.

Honey BBQ Chicken Sandwich

To make this popular Whataburger secret menu item you’ll start with a couple slices of Texas Toast.

Next, throw on some Honey BBQ Sauce OR Honey Butter Sauce (if available), 3 chicken strips, and 2 slices of Monterey Jack cheese (one on each side of the chicken strips).

The result is the Honey BBQ Chicken Sandwich which is one of the more popular secret menu items that they serve.

The Hulk Soda

If you’re a fan of the sometimes green superhero, you may like the Hulk Soda at Whataburger.

It’s essentially a mix of Powerade and Vault Soda (which I’m not sure is even made any more).

The ratios of these 2 liquids are unknown to me so please chime in down below in the comments if you know.

Monterey Melt

This one was on the regular menu a few years back but is now only available to those in the know…fortunately most Whataburger employees still know how to ring it up and make it.

The Monterey Melt consists of 2 beef patties, Monterey Jack and American cheese,  grilled peppers and onions, and topped with their signature Jalapeño Ranch sauce.

Dang, that sounds like a winner…has anyone ever tried it?

See Also: Sonic Secret Menu: Time To Get Crazy at Sonic Drive-In

Monterey Melt Chicken Strip Sandwich

If you like the Monterrey Melt you should try this one too.

Just sub out the beef patties for 3 chicken strips and ask for Honey BBQ sauce.

Then have them throw on 2 slices of Monterey Jack, some Jalapeño Ranch and grilled peppers and onions and you’ll reach nirvana after one bite.

The Triple Triple

This one reminds me of the “3×3” found on our famous In-N-Out Burger secret menu.

Order the Triple Triple and you’ll get a burger with 3 beef patties with a slice of cheese between each patty.

The heart defibrillator will cost you extra.

Ask the Reader: What Whataburger secret menu items am I missing? Let me know and I’ll have my taste buds do some investigative work.

By Kyle James

Photo credit to Tony Webster.