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Etsy custom order vs commissioning a maker on The Spool List
Buyers pay no fee. Payment is held by our payment partner until you confirm delivery.
Side by side
| Etsy custom order | The Spool List | |
|---|---|---|
| Who starts | You message one shop ("Request Custom Order" or "Message seller") | You post once; makers come to you |
| How many quotes | One per shop you contact | As many as makers send |
| How you buy | The seller may publish a private listing for you to buy | You accept a maker's quote |
| Buyer fee | None listed on Etsy's fee page (taxes may be added at checkout) | None |
| Seller fees | $0.20 listing, 6.5% transaction, US payment processing 3% + $0.25; Offsite Ads 12–15% when an ad brings the sale (capped at $100) | 10% on the free plan; 7%, 5% or 4% on paid plans |
| Buyer protection | Purchase Protection: refund if not delivered, damaged, not as described, or 7+ days late | Payment held by our payment partner (Stripe) until you confirm delivery; in-app disputes |
| Rules on what's sold | Items made with 3D printers or laser cutters must be from the seller's original design | Makers make to your brief; you supply or commission the design |
| Best fit | A shop whose work you already love, with a tweak | A job you can describe but haven't matched to a maker |
How an Etsy custom order works
You ask one shop, and if they can make it they publish a private listing for you to buy.
On a shop's homepage, look for "Request Custom Order", or use "Message seller" on a listing. You can attach an image, ask about cost and production time and add a needed-by date. If the seller can make it, they may publish a private listing that you then add to your basket (Etsy help).
Etsy's creativity standards say items produced with computerized tools such as 3D printers and laser cutters "must be produced based on a seller's original design" (Etsy). That's good for originality, but it means a shop may not be able to print a design you bring.
What it costs, and who pays
On both, the buyer pays the seller's price and the seller pays the platform; the fee levels differ.
Etsy charges sellers a $0.20 listing fee and a 6.5% transaction fee on the item price plus shipping and gift wrap, and Offsite Ads fees of 15% or 12% on sales from an Etsy ad, capped at $100 per order (Etsy fees). US payment processing is 3% + $0.25 per order (Etsy help). The fee page lists no buyer service fee.
On The Spool List, buyers pay no fee. Makers pay a commission per completed order: 10% on the free plan, or 7%, 5% or 4% on paid plans (pricing).
If something goes wrong
Etsy refunds through Purchase Protection; The Spool List holds the payment until you confirm delivery.
On Etsy you can open a case once the estimated delivery date has passed and 48 hours after asking the seller for help, up to 30 days after the estimated delivery date. Purchase Protection gives a full refund if an item isn't delivered, arrives damaged, isn't as described, or arrives 7+ days after the latest estimated date (Etsy help). For a custom piece, "as described" is what you agreed in messages, so write it down.
On The Spool List, payment is taken upfront and held by our payment partner, Stripe. You raise any problem in the app before confirming delivery (returns and disputes).
Frequently asked questions
Does Etsy charge buyers a fee on custom orders?
Etsy's fee page lists seller fees, not a buyer service fee. Sales tax and some government levies can be added at checkout.
Are Etsy custom orders covered by Purchase Protection?
Etsy's help page covers orders that aren't delivered, arrive damaged, aren't as described or arrive 7+ days late. It doesn't single out custom items, so keep the agreed spec in Etsy messages.
Can an Etsy seller 3D print a design I send them?
Etsy's creativity standards require items made with computerized tools like 3D printers to be based on the seller's original design. Ask the shop; on The Spool List, makers quote on making your design or brief.
Can I get several quotes for one custom item?
On Etsy, by messaging shops one at a time. On The Spool List, one job post can bring in several quotes.
Can I use both?
Yes. You can post the job and also ask a favourite shop directly, then compare.
More comparisons
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Sources
- Etsy help: requesting a personalised or custom item
- Etsy: fees and payments policy
- Etsy help: payment processing fees
- Etsy: creativity standards
- Etsy help: how to open a case
- The Spool List: returns and disputes
- The Spool List: maker pricing
Sources checked 2026-10-14. Competitor terms change; check their current pages before you order. Names of other companies are used only to identify their services.