Constant De-activation on my listings! AND NO REPLIES FROM ETSY

[JudysDollClothesShop]

I'm not sure if this is a technical issue or not - but I have read a lot of sellers' items getting de-activated for no reason - so maybe it is a technical issue.   I have not participated in Etsy forums before so I don't know how to respond to comments back to me???  But I get CONSTANT de-activating listings by Etsy.  I have read the policies and THEY DO NOT APPLY.  I SELL AUTHENTIC CRAFT BOOKS, they ARE NOT DIGITAL or FAKE COPIES - but yet they are de-activated.  I asked a MONTH ago at Live Help and they said they would put in a "priority" request to answer my questions.   The thing that makes me mad - other sellers sell COPIES or ILLEGAL DOWNLOADS of out of print craft books - and they are listed all over the place.  I go and sell the ORIGINAL and mine are de-activated.  Tonight they de-activated another one of my listings - it is a WOOD STAMP SET - IT IS AN ITEM TO MAKE A CRAFT!  They tell me in the "notice" that my item does not apply to making craft.  So my question, how is a wood rubber mounted stamp not a craft supply?  You can use the wood stamps to make cards, and all kinds of paper projects.  Why is a rubber stamp not considered an item to use as a supply in making a craft?    I don't get it.   And they don't respond to tell you anything.   Does anybody else have this issue?  FRUSTRATED!!!!!

[Adorabilities]

There's no way for us (non-Etsy employees) to tell why a rubber stamp would be taken down, as it is a legitimate craft supply. You do have lots of listings using "American Girl" in the titles, though, which could cause more of your items to be taken down.

[BagmakerSupply]

@JudysDollClothesShop It is hard to speculate on why a particular listing was deactivated  but as mentioned before Etsy is cracking down on what they feel inappropriate. Copyright and trademark infringements is a large factor, but it also seems that the bots are looking for trigger words with no consideration for context. Just as an example that may or may not apply to you, if you say an item is ivory colored the listing may get flagged because ivory is not allowed to be sold on Etsy. Since Etsy is now also factoring descriptions in search, they along with titles, tags. and materials are all probably being checked. And the bots are also "reading" images.

Without getting into a discussion of what is fair or right or if your listing should be deactivated, the fact that you have been selling something for years only means that the bots have been updated. If there are other shops selling similar items it only means that they have not been caught yet.

Hopefully you have / will receive an eMail from Etsy explaining the reason.

[JudysDollClothesShop]

Thanks for your response!  I was just on Live Chat for the third time trying to find an answer.  Again, I was told that I was "top Priority" (a month now) and to please be patient   So frustrating.  I have wondered if certain words trigger de-activation.  It almost makes one want to just list pictures only and give no details     sigh.  Thanks much!

[NoFrogsAllowed]

My understanding of Etsy's definition of a craft supply is that it is something that can't be used as is.  A t-shirt is not a supply because you can wear it as is.  You can use a rubber stamp as is, so not a supply.

[Amaradorn]

@NoFrogsAllowed I would disagree with your statement that a rubber stamp can be used as is - what is it used for?

The answer is 'to decorate something else'. Therefore it is a much as craft supply as much as felt pens or paint.

I wonder if Etsy think it's a postage stamp and that's why it was deactivated?

[JackisJustVintage]

I was also wondering about the word stamp. Etsy has been deactivating stamps lately. 

[nineteen27]

Rubber stamps are definitely a craft supply.   You use the stamps to create other things.

This is an extensive list of everything that can be sold on Etsy by category.

https://www.etsy.com/help/categories/seller#node-id-1250

[HazelsSewingSupplies]

Yeah, I'm curious.  What can a stamp be used for if not to stamp it on something.  I've got a lot of stamps just sitting here doing nothing except waiting to be used on stamping something else.

[NoFrogsAllowed]

@Amaradorn 

You are probably correct that it was the word stamp.  However, my husband uses a stamp every day and there is nothing crafty about him nor is he doing anything decorative.  The thing is, you never can tell with Etsy bots.  The weirdest things set them off.

[NoFrogsAllowed]

@HazelsSewingSupplies 

Everyone is correct a stamp can be a craft supply.  I was having a very senior moment.

Not all stamps are craft supplies though.  My husband uses one every day to certify that plans are safe for construction.  He is not decorating anything and he is not creating a new item.

[ArtDollsbyJD]

A rubber stamp is a supply.  It can't be used as is.  It has to be used.

A t-shirt is different.  It can be worn as is without anything added to it. 

[NoFrogsAllowed]

@ArtDollsbyJD 

I swore I wasn't going to say any more about this but...

What is a t-shirt being worn, if not being used?

[SeasideRoseCreations]

Be careful with all these deactivations.

I don't know how many you've had, but eventually, it's one too many.  No one knows the number of times a shop can have deactivations before it's shut down, but it does happen.

They don't give a final warning.

[Former_Member]

Hello .. The deactivations are made automatically by the site ... A bit like it happens in Facebook .. You have probably done or put something that "the Etsy site" does not accept due to imposed rules I advise you to delete them if you can and make new ones avoiding the previous mistakes It may be that the menu has been moved during the save.  (Also check the file titles)

[JMOldeVintage]

@JudysDollClothesShop - Do read the following and act on them:

https://www.etsy.com/legal/sellers#identity

https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/the-ultimate-guide-to-intellectual/22398703823

As for your stamp, yes it is craft supply. Etsy has bots policing the marketplace for certain words. "Stamp" is probably one of them. Remember that bots cannot take context into consideration.
Or, if you are ignoring Etsy's deactivation warnings & simply relisting the item, even if you're right that the item is allowed, the bot has that listing "tagged". Etsy will definitely frown on this so you are not helping yourself out. 

[FabioMcMustache · Accepted solution]

Hello, everyone!

I would like to remind y'all to keep all discussions on-topic by refraining from unsolicited critiques, or otherwise irrelevant remarks towards fellow members and/or their shops, or any other comments that do not pertain to the topic at hand.

If you have any questions about how the Community Forums work, I encourage you to read our Community Policies prior to posting.

Thank you!

[ArtDollsbyJD]

With the stamp set, I would reply and add the category that shows it is a craft supply.  

As to the books, well, I don't know what to say there.  Not knowing what the books were about makes it harder.

It's possible the books are counterfeit.

It's possible the holder of the trademark/copyright does not want the item to be resold.  I know that getis into a whole other issue which I don't have the expertise for.

You might want to consult an expert who can look at the Etsy guidelines and at what you are selling and guide you in a response to Etsy. 

I know it is frustrating.  Others are having similar odd takedowns as well that don't seem to fit.   Maybe the BOT needs some updating.  

[RustyCrustyRepurpose]

Because of the fake "forever stamps" coming from China, etsy has been removing some of the listings of stamps whether or not they are for forever stamps.  The word "stamp" in your listing may have triggered the deactivation.

[blzopbhi]

Etsy's definition of craft supplies:  "Craft supplies are tools, ingredients, or materials whose primary purpose is for the creation of an item or special occasion."   https://www.etsy.com/legal/policy/craft-supplies/239327031264#:~:text=Craft%20supplies%20are%20tools...

If the stamps were removed by a bot, then the bot is in violation of Etsy's rules and should be fired.

Books? Perhaps someone who thinks they own the Intellectual Property (IP) rights, either copyright or trademark, reported the items and requested a takedown.  However, it appears there was no IP infringement notification sent by Etsy, so that is probably not the reason. By the looks of things another case of completely un-intelligent AI. 

Makes one wonder if there isn't enough money being lost by sellers to support a class action lawsuit.

[AUNTYANNIESATTIC]

i am wondering if Disney, Harry Potter, Peanuts, Lord of the Rings are copyrighted ?? If so that may be the reason. You need to find out what's what before they deactivate you for good