CHANGING LOCATION WITH VPN

[FoundAndFlogged]

Hi Everyone,

We are English expats, living and trading in France since 2015. Thinking about changing our location with a VPN to watch some British TV over Christmas... Does anyone know if this will affect our shop in any way please?

Thanks, merry Christmas to all, Ed Short.

[audreytherese · Accepted solution]

Etsy will often close a shop when they detect the use of a VPN, as it can be used to hide the location and circumvent restrictions in certain countries. I would consider just logging out of your Etsy account while you use the VPN and watch tv. 

[BagmakerSupply · Accepted solution]

@FoundAndFlogged: Etsy, like many other sites, does not like VPNs. As @audreytherese points out, they are too often used for nefarious reasons. It is almost impossible to predict for sure if it will or will not negatively affect your shop.

[Martybugs]

It's unlikely that Etsy can detect the use of a VPN, but they will notice that you're visiting the Etsy website from a different location.

I haven't had any issues accessing my Etsy website from my laptop or phone when travelling overseas.

[audreytherese]

I've seen many, many posts by people whose shops lost access to their accounts or were closed after they used a VPN. Etsy can absolutely detect when a shop is using a VPN. What they can't tell is where the true location is, so they may assume the reasons are to hide that the seller is in a location not allowed to sell here.

Before saying something like, "It's unlikely that Etsy can detect the use of a VPN", please do a search, here within the forum or wider scope Google search, you will see numerous examples of this being a problem.

[CryzalisMasksUK]

VPN uses and reuses IP addresses, you would only need two users from different countries using the same VPN & country, giving two unrelated shops the same IP and they are caught. 

Not only that, most marketplaces block access from VPN servers, again if caught you lose your shop 

[ArtDollsbyJD]

@Martybugs   Oh yes they can.  I tried using my VPN several times at different times and days and each time I could not get into my shop or the forums.

[Martybugs]

OK - I stand corrected, and it looks like Etsy are actively detecting some VPNs.

It's going to depend on which VPN you are using, and if it's on the list that Etsy have blacklisted...

[AnniebelloPaper]

If your VPN is active when you log into your shop, yes it will affect your shop ... as detailed above.

If you are not logged into your shop when your VPN is active, no it shouldn't affect your shop. 

Etsy will detect that you are logging in from another location and possibly from another device but that is allowed.