Are Etsy Dupes Worth It?
Over the past year or two, I've been buying more and more stuff from sites like AliExpress, DHgate and even Wish at times.
But, never have I ever bought anything from Etsy until a few weeks ago when a close buddy of mine told me about this high quality pair of Balenciaga dupes he picked up from Etsy for hardly $100.
The shoes were in really good condition and though they were fakes, the level of detail and craftsmanship put into making them clearly showed as it was almost impossible for me to distinguish between my original pair and the dupes he bought.
This obviously piqued my interest and I thought that it was high time I log onto Etsy and see if the site is worth buying from..
Let me take you through my personal experience using Etsy and see whether it’s as good as they say it is or if sites like AliExpress and DHgate offer better products and services.
So, what are you waiting for, let’s begin!
Are Etsy Dupes Worth It?
The Reps I've bought on Etsy
For many years Etsy's reps
From Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton to Omega and Air Jordans, everything was available at reasonable prices and there was not just one or two pairs or a single type of hoodie/sweatshirt that was up, there were thousands of dupes and replicas from different sellers and it was mind boggling to say the least.
I found replica sneakers, watches, bags, dresses, jewelry, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and even gadgets like gaming consoles, USB drives, replica toys and much much more.
Personally, I did love the selection of products that were available and while most of them had a decent number of positive reviews, there were quite a few that stood out either for not having any reviews or for their misleading representational images.
Of all the replicas, I must say that some of the best selling items fell in the clothes and shoes category.
However, what I did notice was that Etsy is a platform that does not only have replicas and fakes listed, but there are a bunch of authentic products available too that can at times confuse the buyer.
Here are some of the dupes I came across on Etsy
Louis Vuitton Dupe on Etsy
Givenchy Rep T-shirt on Etsy
Yeezy Foam Runner Dupe
Chanel Handbag Clone on Etsy
Omega First Copy
LV High Quality Replica
Custom Air Jordans on Etsy
AAA Rolex Clone on Etsy
Are Etsy Dupes of Good Quality?
The quality of most of the dupes and replicas on Etsy is pretty good, but there are some sellers and stores that are out to make a quick buck and use copied or edited images instead of the actual picture of the product.
While shopping on Etsy it’s good to keep your expectations realistic and take each product with a pinch of salt.
It’s also important, as a buyer, to check the reviews of each product before placing any order. At least this way you’re aware of the end quality and whether you will receive what’s advertised or not.
Dupes on Etsy are generally made from good quality materials that will stand the test of time and this is evident from the number of customer reviews available on the site. But, I did come across a number of buyers who had expressed their concerns about the quality of products and how misleading some of the images were.
Again, it’s the same case with sites like AliExpress and DHgate too, where not everything is as they’re portrayed to be. Some replicas are made from substandard materials and this can drastically reduce the lifespan of the product.
For example, T-shirts or sweaters may shrink after washing and this is possible only if the t-shirt or sweater is made from low quality materials. Likewise, replica sneakers, handbags and jackets may have a couple of stitches that are out of place or come with frayed edges and this can really affect its look and appearance.
At the end of the day, it’s always a good idea to first go through seller reviews and then individual product reviews to figure out whether the rep you’re going to buy will be worth the money or not.
What you can do while shopping on Etsy is to use the Sort by option and change it from Relevancy to Top Customer Reviews. The products that appear on the screen will be some of the best rated dupes and replicas available on the site, so it’s better to buy from those stores rather than some unknown seller with no reviews or ratings.
How Expensive are the Reps on Etsy? Are they Worth It?
Okay, so the fact of the matter when it comes to the pricing of dupes on Etsy is that products have been sourced from Chinese and Asian countries, either from the manufacturer directly or through other online marketplaces such as AliExpress and DHgate.
This means that most of the dupes available on Etsy cost a little more than other platforms and I felt that this was a way sellers could make a profit.
Most of the Etsy dupes and reps I came across, as shown above, are reasonably priced. I mean, the Air Jordan dupes on Etsy go for roughly $100-$150 and sometimes even $200 for a pair.
The same shoes are available on sites like AliExpress and DHgate for under $100 and the most expensive pair would set you back roughly $180-$200 if bought directly from either the manufacturer or through one of these Chinese marketplaces. The same goes for all the other dupes on Etsy.
To sum it up for you, the prices on Etsy are quite decent, but only if you don’t have access to buy directly from a Chinese manufacturer or seller.
So, if Chinese sites like AliExpress are geo-blocked in your country and you’re unable to purchase at a lower rate, then Etsy may be your chance to get your hands on a good quality dupe for a fraction of the price of the original.
How Does Etsy Handle Customer Complaints for Replicas and Dupes?
The first thing you need to know before making a purchase on Etsy is that the seller is not obligated to issue a refund or offer replacement.
I had to learn this the hard way and though it’s not easy getting a seller to agree to process a refund to you for a flawed dupe or replica, it’s possible to some extent as long as you reach out to the seller and request them for a return or refund.
Etsy refund policies vary from shop to shop and because of this I know many buyers who have resorted to purchasing the same item from other websites that offer a standard refund or replacement policy.
That’s why if you’re planning on buying from Etsy, it’s best to first check the refund policy of the seller and then proceed with the transaction.
For example, I came across a seller called Lemni Scate on Etsy and I was surprised with what I saw. A buyer actually sent an image of a note the seller sent to her for an order she had placed.
It literally read “The package is on its way and that this message was just a notification that’s sent out before an order can get shipped”. Though the message was sent to the customer, she did not receive her order and was clearly unsatisfied with the service provided by the seller.
Unlike sites like AliExpress, Etsy does not hold the buyers money in escrow and unless the order has not been delivered or if the order is not like what was advertised on Etsy, the Etsy support team will be of no help in getting the refund processed.
The one thing that I noticed about most of the stores dealing in dupes and replicas is that they did not have any returns or refund policy listed. However, when I reached out to a couple of sellers, they did offer refunds, but for exceptional cases, which is good, but not on par with other online marketplaces.
You can also refer to Etsy’s return or refund policy page for more information
Buying Dupes Online: Etsy vs AlExpress vs DHgate
When it comes to buying dupes online, in my opinion, all three sites offer pretty much the same products.
The only difference between AliExpress, Etsy and DHgate is that AliExpress and DHgate have a clear returns/replacement policy across stores and the same two sites offer high-quality dupes and replicas at cheaper and more affordable prices.
Here’s a comparison table I came up with highlighting some key differences between AliExpress, DHgate and Etsy when it comes to buying replicas and dupes.
| Etsy | AliExpress | DHgate | |
| Rating /5 | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Quality of Dupes | Decent quality, have to check product reviews to determine whether the product is good or not | Decent quality, have to check product reviews to determine whether the product is good or not | Decent quality, have to check product reviews to determine whether the product is good or not |
| Price of Dupes | Slightly more expensive than other online marketplaces | Cheap and affordable | Mid-range pricing, lower than Etsy, but more expensive than AliExpress |
| Refund / Replacements | Store based refund/return policy, no standards set. Hard to get a refund on replicas and dupes | Refund policy varies from seller to seller and DHgate does take up refund requests if the seller is not helpful | Website based refund policy, refunds are based on quality of products and is permitted if the product is shipped back to the seller |
| Delivery | Delivery timelines vary from seller to seller and can take between 3-14 working days | Delivery timelines vary from seller to seller and can take between 7 days to 3 weeks | Delivery timelines vary from seller to seller and can take between 2-7 working days |
| Availability of Dupes | Adidas, Jordans, Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Omega, Balenciaga, Nike and more | Adidas, Jordans, Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Omega, Balenciaga, Nike and more | Adidas, Jordans, Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Omega, Balenciaga, Nike and more |
Are Etsy Dupes Worth It: Takeaway
In short, I found Etsy to be a user-friendly platform that hosts products from around the world. It’s only due to their lack of strict policies that low quality and substandard products are sold to customers.
My opinion, if you want decent replicas or dupes, then Etsy is a good place to buy from. But if you’re looking from a pricing standpoint or if you want to buy from a place that has a better refund/returns policy then sites like AliExpress and DHgate are the way to go for retail buyers.
The only drawback to buying fakes and reps from other websites is that it takes ages for orders to get delivered from China and the risk of losing a package while in transit doubles when ordering overseas.
But with Etsy, since the products are available locally, you can expect to receive the order in the shortest amount of time when compared to other marketplaces.
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