Protecting shoppers privacy on Etsy

[#1]

Hi,

I just received an email titled "An update on third-party API access" from Etsy Sellers with the message below.

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Please Note: eRank is listed on Etsy's Integrations, so I don't understand this email for several obvious reasons, can you please clarify?
Some questions:

• Are you telling eRank might sell email addresses from our customers to third parties?
• Do we still get the email addresses in the Orders & Shipping section?
• Why don't you just block the email access from the API?
• What happens when I quit my eRank subscription?

Every seller might need the email address from a customer for direct contact, this is very important for every seller!
Please clarify, and answer all our questions.

Thanks in advance!
Frank & Yvonne - AKA Fronne
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Fronne

[runnerbean]

Sending an invitation to join your email list has never been allowed via Etsy’s t+c. They’re just cracking down on aweber, which has been somehow doing it anyway, against the t+c.

[JimmiesRustled]

I work at AWeber and the first we heard of this was when our customers started telling us they got the email from Etsy.

We built our integration specifically to protect the privacy of buyers and sellers. We believe that opt-in confirmation from people is the way to make sure that subscribers are only getting mail they want, and built our integration with that in mind.

This feels like a move by Etsy to take greater control over the relationship between sellers and their own customers. Keep building that email list so platforms can't get between you and the people who want to hear from you.

[offleashcollective]

How is this going to protect buyers as for newsletter's case? Buyers receive confirmation emails and they can CHOOSE to subscribe or not subscribe to a newsletter. But with this change, buyers won't be receiving confirmation emails and they DON'T get to choose. This is impacting my business because I get a lot of repeated sales from my newsletters especially when I have new products. I am helping Etsy to get more buyers back to purchase. What you are doing now takes away the CHOICE from buyers, takes away SALES OPPORTUNITY from us, AND takes away more sales from Etsy. This is not the right way to go about privacy.

[Adorabilities]

You need to advertise your newsletter in other places, so customers can still choose to sign up or not. I'm including a note with a qr code to my landing page in my orders. 

[Amaradorn]

@offleashcollective You can still send your email newsletters to your existing list of opted-in customers. The change relates to how you build your mailing list (of email addresses) in the first place. Buyer needs to opt-in. If you send them an email asking them to opt-in, before they have opted in - then that is the problem. You will need to find another way to tell your customers about your mailing list.

Etsy customers will still receive notifications of their orders because that is part of the terms of service for Etsy and they have effectively already opted in to receiving those emails by using the site.

[ArgusCollection]

I couldn't agree more. Offer Buyers choice, Offer Sellers the opportunity to connect with their customers and increase sales and you have a win. Oh yes, Etsy benefits too with greater revenue.

[TheArtfulBeadWeaver]

I feel like the main purpose of this is because providing apps with the email address allows your to send a thank you email outside of Etsy with a live link to you where you sell your items outside of Etsy thus making it easier for people to become your customer and sign up for your email list or visit your website 

[Fronne]

This morning we received a reassuring email from eRank telling us that we have nothing to worry about regarding eRank...

On the other hand, the email stated that other apps you are using may stop working. If you've linked your Etsy account to a shipping or email marketing app, you'll need to contact them for more information...

[AAANativeArts]

"...Why don't you just block the email access from the API?"

That is exactly what they are doing.

[Fronne]

The email we received from Etsy states that to help protect buyers and sellers, Etsy recommends all communication happen through Etsy Messages and that it is easier for Etsy to provide support for issues that may arise when Etsy Messages are used...

So Etsy is discouraging sending emails to customers, that's why I asked for clarification...

[SugarTaffySoap]

It's best to reach out to third party and Etsy for clarification. 

[cindylouwho2]

Let's look at the facts:

This change largely seems to affect 2 major groups of apps that email things to customers - newsletter signups, and digital download/template sites. 

Since we know that Corji is not affected but other similar sites are, we know that Etsy thinks it is possible to comply with whatever laws/standards they are now trying to meet. 
OR
Corji has a deal with Etsy.
(Since they are the only site I have heard of so far that seems to be allowed to continue integrating on Etsy, there has to be something different about them.) 

As for speculation, this could be to comply with a new law or one Etsy simply ignored when it was introduced.

It is also possible that Etsy is going to be bringing in their own email integration and/or improved download function soon, although if so, they'd be behind on the newsletter trend. There have definitely been enough backend bugs and site errors that we know something is up. 

[GuardianHobbies]

This change by Etsy show's their complete lack of concern for their customers.  The sellers are the ones that made Etsy, so why are they concerned about our customer's "privacy"?  Also, how could it be about privacy?  We and our third party apps HAVE OUR CUSTOMER'S PHYSICAL ADDRESS!!!  

I suspect it's more about forcing us to do everything inside of etsy.  Letting us do Email marketing and custom shipping notifications is not in Etsy's interest.  Giving us the tools to automate doesn't save Etsy money.  It won't be long before they shut down the entire API.

[dippeldiundscribble]

@GuardianHobbies „so why are they concerned about our customer's "privacy"?“

Etsy is an international selling platform.

There may not be any special data protection laws in the US, but there are in several other countries. Even if you do not sell to these countries, there are several other sellers who sell to or are based in these countries.

I think Etsy opts for a one for all solution.