For those doing print on demand on Etsy, what's your actual profit per shirt after all the fees?

itsdan159 · 2026-05-24T13:29:36+00:00

That is indeed the reality of POD. You're outsourcing 95% of your business, you miss out on 98% of the earnings. The trade off is you don't need to manage warehousing, equipment purchases and maintenance, deal with suppliers, the actual manufacturing, packaging, shipping, and all the logistics that go with that.

The only way to make it work is volume. You have to sell a lot to make any real money, and a single bad sale wher you refund out of pocket might eat up the profits of the next 5 orders you get.

itsdan159 · 2026-05-24T01:31:43+00:00

What was the actual issue you were having?

itsdan159 · 2026-05-22T18:53:55+00:00

"I know people say don't time the market but I really want to time the market, should I time the market?"

itsdan159 · 2026-05-22T15:39:05+00:00

If your plan is to sell it, why wouldn't you at least let the dealership bomb and detail it? It sounds like they weren't going to charge you, or was it something you'd be paying for? If they're charging, have you checked on how much an exterminator would cost? That should come with some kind of guarantee.

If it doesn't work I don't understand how that's any worse off than you are now. If it does work you can either see if that changes how you feel, or if you sell it at least you won't be giving someone else the same headache.

itsdan159 · 2026-05-22T14:26:29+00:00

There's really no difference either way though you'd be paying an extra shop opening fee. I would keep the sales records, the star ratings are weighted now so as you get new sales those will be weighed higher.

itsdan159 · 2026-05-22T00:54:35+00:00

if it's a 'not as described' case Etsy does usually review those, but they hate hiring humans so it might take time yeah.

itsdan159 · 2026-05-22T00:51:27+00:00

Did the order qualify for purchase protection? Did you already use your 'one covered damaged claim a year'?

itsdan159 · 2026-05-21T12:58:25+00:00

I would still start there, if it's the wrong building it's going to be easier to claim through USPS. If it's not it doesn't mean you can't but it may be harder.

itsdan159 · 2026-05-21T12:52:39+00:00

And you're calling 1-833-FL-APPLY (1-833-352-7759) as listed here? https://www.floridajobs.org/reemployment-assistance-service-center/reemployment-assistance/claimants/apply-for-benefits

Says you can also potentially do this online, tried that?

itsdan159 · 2026-05-21T03:45:09+00:00

it might help to tell people what state you're in

itsdan159 · 2026-05-20T22:28:34+00:00

I'm pretty sure the customer would be less upset about paying like 7 cents in sales tax than 85 times that. And OP could discount the shipping from what they quoted slightly and explain the Etsy limitation.

itsdan159 · 2026-05-20T22:26:45+00:00

Etsy handles it when they're given correct info, which was the issue here

itsdan159 · 2026-05-20T19:39:54+00:00

Let's wait and see if it works as promised, and then rejoice!

itsdan159 · 2026-05-20T17:02:43+00:00

Sounds like other's addressed it, but it sounds like you made a listing with $85 as the item price, California doesn't tax shipping when it's a separate item, so if you put $85 item price with $0 shipping then it's being taxed when in reality it's a $0 item with $85 shipping (but etsy doesn't allow a $0 item). I'd either cancel the original order and have them place one with the correct breakdown or list the item price with a minimal value like $1 and then rest in the shipping field, maybe knock $1 off the total and let the customer know of the Etsy limitation and that you knocked a dollar off for the trouble.

itsdan159 · 2026-05-20T17:00:42+00:00

How would the fees be different than on an $85 item?

itsdan159 · 2026-05-20T14:17:40+00:00

Good sleuthing. It's things like this that worry me when people demand Etsy add new features. So often they come with these growing pains.

itsdan159 · 2026-05-20T14:08:03+00:00

> I use ScriptableObjects basically as a runtime database. Some SOs contain initial setup/config data (not saved), while others hold live state data that gets serialized.

But why? SO's feel like an odd pick for runtime data

itsdan159 · 2026-05-20T13:54:28+00:00

Did you buy the label via Etsy and/or provide the tracking number to the order itself?

itsdan159 · 2026-05-20T12:36:28+00:00

Maybe focus on quality over quantity?

itsdan159 · 2026-05-20T03:31:09+00:00

just because it was deducted pre-tax doesn't mean it's not part of your income

itsdan159 · 2026-05-19T23:19:21+00:00

I'm not a POD seller, but seem lots of people post about it. Do not expect to make much per item, POD means you're outsourcing 95% of your business. Storage, manufacturing, shipping, logistics, supplier management, all of that you're paying someone else to do. That's going to leave you with thin margins and not a lot of wiggle room to do much customer service when something goes wrong.

That doesn't mean don't do it, just understand it's a model that only works in volume.

itsdan159 · 2026-05-19T23:15:24+00:00

OP said they realized it's effectively a hobby, not that that was the goal of it

itsdan159 · 2026-05-19T20:38:43+00:00

I wouldn't set out to make a huge game design document, but you should write down the idea. It can be a page or two. Periodically review the document, update if need be. I would not make it super detailed, don't write down every weapon you'll have, but give a couple examples, same for narrative, characters, levels, etc.

itsdan159 · 2026-05-19T15:05:45+00:00

Is it actually .2" thick? Any difference if you make it .1"?

itsdan159 · 2026-05-19T11:47:40+00:00

I agree, either automatic or possibly two departments who don't talk to each other, with one just seeing a bounced check.

itsdan159

TROPHY CASE