How to Respond to a Discount Request on Etsy
How to say no politely, or offer a small coupon instead.
"Can you do a discount?" comes up a lot, especially on handmade items, and answering it is trickier than it looks — you want to hold your price without losing the buyer over it.
What to keep in mind
If you can do it, do it. If you can't, explain the handmade labor, the material quality, or the rising shipping costs behind your price, and that it's already fair for what it is. Sending a small "just for you" coupon is usually a good middle ground — the buyer doesn't feel turned down, and you don't break your own pricing.
Reply template
Template
Hello [Name],
Thank you for your interest in [product]! I completely understand wanting the best price. Because each piece is handmade with [materials/time/shipping costs in mind], I'm not able to match that discount — but I'd love to offer you [X]% off just for you. Here's your code: [CODE].
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Best regards,
[Shop Name]
How Sellereply handles this
Type something like "give this buyer $5 off" into the Add note field and Sellereply writes a draft that includes it, with a spot ready for your coupon code. Whether to give a discount, and how much, is always your call — the draft just puts it into words, in the right tone.
Hold your price — kindly.
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