Copycats and Etsy’s new ‘automated system’ is going to ban our shop. Please help

[EviepopsPrints]

@Etsy mods – please help us!

I’m writing this post because we don’t know how else to escalate the devastating scenario we find ourselves in, and Etsy’s first line of support will not assist appropriately.

We run a poster and prints shop since 2020 with over 16k sales and 3k reviews averaging 5 stars, we have been a star seller for the entire duration of the star seller initiative. We design and manufacture our own physical products in the UK to ship to our customers. We work with artists and photographers from around the world to provide exclusive and non-exclusive artwork for us to use commercially with a ‘no credit’ element in the license, we generally combine different elements from different artists with our own ideas and edits to make unique versions of artwork, and then print them onto a physical product. We use a mix of mock ups and real photos or videos on our listings to showcase the products. Many of our products are personalized that we make-to-order based on customer preferences when ordering (for example, perhaps they will pick a name, colour, different animals, size and font etc.). We also sell these same products on other platforms for very similar prices (usually approx £1 price difference depending on platform fees etc.)

The issue started on 4th September when Etsy sent us an email explaining that a listing had been flagged and removed by Etsy’s automated system for violating Etsy’s Creativity Standards. This confused us so we went to seek support. Upon speaking to Etsy Support via chat we were sent script replies explaining that Etsy’s automated system from the Trust & Safety team determined our listings were found in other marketplaces and deemed that we are reselling items that are not ours. I explained that we do obviously sell via other marketplaces but all of the products are easily proved to be manufactured by us, and that our customer reviews speak for themselves on the quality of the product. The Etsy support agent said there is no official channel to appeal and the decision is final. The listing they had deactivated was not one of our better sellers on Etsy platform so we decided to give up on that one.

Fast forward to 11th September, we received another email from Etsy stating another listing had been removed for the same reasons, that we are now on our final warning and our star seller badge has been removed. The Etsy support agent sent the same script replies as before that the decision is final. This particular listing was a popular listing so we decided to do some digging and found that sellers on Temu have stolen our exact listing images for several products and are obviously selling them for rock bottom Asia prices. This has happened before and we really struggled to get Temu to take the listings down because another Temu seller would pop up just a few weeks later.

It is now clear to us that Etsy’s automated system is flagging our products because the Temu sellers have stolen our listing photos (to the point the Temu sellers are using pictures I took of our products on my sofa and wood flooring!). Etsy are then penalising our shop due to the copycats which I imagine will shortly result in the ban of our Etsy shop given we’re on our ‘final warning’. Can someone from the Etsy community forum please assist or escalate this issue? I have seen this appears to be happening to other Etsy sellers in the past couple of weeks and it’s ridiculous there is no way to appeal or report this huge flaw in their automated system. In the meantime we will try to have the Temu listings removed by filing take downs where possible.

Can someone please tag the Etsy mods that may be able to help or provide extra information on how to proceed?

[OneEyeCatStudio]

This is a horrendous situation that so many sellers are in.  If you have contacted Etsy that is all you can do.

And if you have seen the forum mods summoned, then you know how to do that.

[EviepopsPrints]

Unfortunately contacting Etsy we are met with a brick wall at the first line of support at the moment - trying to find a way to speak to someone that doesn't work from a script.

I have not spent a great deal of time in the Etsy forum so currently I do not know which Etsy mods to tag, but you are right, I will do some research tomorrow to find the usernames of some Etsy mods that may have been able to help other sellers in a similar scenario. If someone reading this does already know, please tag them, thank you so much!

[AstroReadingCo]

My heart goes out to you so much right now! The same thing is happening to me as of today, Etsy has removed my current best-selling listing, the one that's generating 75% of my full-time income. And I've noticed that several other top shops in my niche have had their best sellers removed as of today as well. I'm shocked that Etsy is letting this happen, and that there's no system to appeal BEFORE they take down our listings and pull the rug from under our financial security. I think the safest bet is to focus on building a marketplace on our own domain & building a strong email list to send our offers out to. Those are really the only ways in 2024 to control our OWN products. I am losing trust in Etsy. 

[EviepopsPrints]

Thanks for your message - it's heart breaking to see this unfolding. There have been several more posts since mine from sellers with the same issues. I can't believe Etsy aren't doing anything about it yet when there is such a clear issue staring them in the face. I'm sorry this is happening to you. Yes we are losing faith with Etsy too and may have to prioritise efforts elsewhere to become less reliant on marketplaces if this cannot be resolved quickly.

[cindylouwho2]

"We use a mix of mock ups and real photos or videos on our listings to showcase the products." - I don't see any production partners listed, so I assume you do your own printing? If yes, make sure that each lead image is a real photo of the actual product, not a mark up. That is a requirement of the new Creativity Standards. 

Getting listings taken down because the images were used elsewhere has been happening for over a year, but recently they have been denying access to appeals. I strongly suggest that you continue to push to get both takedowns restored, both here, thorough Support channels and on social media. Legal action may also be worthwhile. 

[cindylouwho2]

I am trying to get more attention to this issue; please check my various other sites/social media for my write up on the situation. 

[EviepopsPrints]

Yes correct - ok thank you for the tips regarding the main listing photos. We will spend time changing this if our shop doesn't get banned in the coming days.

I have found your write up in regards to this issue for many Etsy sellers - thanks for your time and efforts fighting the fight for us all.

[MouseGarden]

It does seem to me that if calling Support gets no reaction, try getting your lawyer to contact Etsy's lawyers.  

It is wild that given how famous the overseas companies are for not respecting international copyright laws, that Etsy is using that to punish people.  

[EviepopsPrints]

Agreed - we've experienced this before with Temu sellers but Etsy did not punish us for it. It's such a strange situation because we get the raw end of the deal from both sides.

Lose potential sales and reputation from Temu sellers copying our listings and then Etsy imposing sanctions upon our legit Etsy shops we all spent years building.

I guess we may have to go down the legal route at some point if Etsy support do not provide acceptable support soon or ban our shop when their automated system decides to ping us again.

[FabioMcMustache · Accepted solution]

Hello! We're sorry to hear you're experiencing issues with your listings. We've forwarded your concerns to a specialist team. Thank you! 

Please know we handle support inquiries privately per our Community Policy – we’re closing this thread, so you can get the support you need from us directly.