Creativity Standards Craft Supply Removal

[#1]

If I put this under the wrong category, I'm sorry. 

We now have a second item being removed because we don't handmake them.... we sell mostly supplies. It is a supply they are removing. I'm still waiting on an answer from the first one. The first was a silicone mold. The second was a silicone mat. I open a help ticket provided pictures proving they are marked as supplies. They are used as supplies. I guess maybe you could just carry a silicone mat, but it's for rolling out cookies or doing resin work over, or other craft project- hot glue, hard candy, anything with dyes...  

I keep getting the blanket response. I'm only responding to the one I started. What else do I need to do? We are slowly working to change our shop to something new because nothing is selling, but I want to clear out our building with our supply items and if they keep getting dinged for not handmade, even though I mark made by someone else, the year, and they trigger the craft supply section... 

Thoughts on what I need to do to fix my listings so they stop getting dinged other than marking as craft supplies because I already do that and it happens anyways? (PS I won't be on for a little while, heading to town for groceries. So it might be a few hours before I respond)

[cindylouwho2]

@AVAArtsSupplies I am sorry; I do not know if Etsy has changed their policy on that. They are not addressed in the craft supplies policy: https://www.etsy.com/legal/policy/craft-supplies/239327031264

or the Creativity policy: https://www.etsy.com/legal/creativity#sourced 

I could see them now being disallowed, just as simple charm on a chain is now excluded. But I don't know for sure. 

[AVAArtsSupplies]

If only they had a help area that you could ask some clarifying questions. Maybe in 3024 there will be an updated help section with actual access to knowledgeable people. 

[PoochandTabby · Accepted solution]

I'm sorry you're not able to get clear answers on this from Etsy. We can only speculate on this and that, and the reality is that 99% of sellers just want the appropriate answers so they can fix the issue and follow the rules. Not just blanket statements about the creativity standards. I don't know why they make it so hard (¬_¬ )

[AVAArtsSupplies]

Right?!? I have a chat going for about 35 minutes now asking about miniatures. No response just a thing saying they will be with me in a minute. 

And a help ticket for about a month. They don't want stuff posted from their messages, but they don't want to respond to their messages either. 

We have made the decision to just let everything time out at this point. Our shop has been dying anyways, we will just donate it all somewhere. 

[AVAArtsSupplies]

Well I tried am email, help ticket, chat, and a phone call. They called back quickly and told me to just try relisting it and see what happens.... I said that's the worst advice ever. They couldn't transfer me to a supervisor, but not to worry someone will reach out. 

[PoochandTabby]

So ridiculous <insert eye roll here>

If you relist without knowing what's wrong, it could be problematic for you and your shop if the listing gets taken down again (although I know you said you're just going to let your listings time out). Bad advice left and right around here from the people that should be providing the true answers.

[AVAArtsSupplies]

FYI they seem to respond intermittently on Linkedin if anyone is looking for help. 

[hopeandjoystudios]

Did you mention FDA approved anywhere if it was food safe? That will get a removal.

[hopeandjoystudios]

OK saw above you said no but I would seriously wonder if the "ghost of FDA" was not still somehow attached to that listing somehow if you did not start over with a new listing??

[Adorabilities]

I asked about miniatures a while ago, when it was easier to get to chat. Both chat and whoever followed up by email only said, multiple times, that they cannot allow or disallow specific items. Even when I asked about an entire category, they refused to give an answer.

[TBQSC]

@AVAArtsSupplies have you done a reverse image search to see if somebody has stolen your photos?  That is usually why listings are taken down, even though Etsy gives you a different reason.  If you find your photos stolen, be sure to file DMCA's and provide the proof to Etsy.

[AVAArtsSupplies]

Yes, they pop up all over the place because it's the commercial supply on a white background. I went through some tonight and started adding our logo in in the picture. I don't know if that will help or not. 

[PWOriginals]

I find it amusing that Etsy would consider non-handmade decor things for a doll house as craft supplies, but those same full-size non-handmade decor items for our own houses are not allowed.

The whole category is truly a mess, IMO.

[AVAArtsSupplies]

I asked on the phone and they told me to read the policy.  The policy is not real clear on miniatures. We are trying to figure out what to do. Even in this thread some say they are not allowed and some say they are. There is no real decision and Etsy will not make a real decision.  I pulled a couple already and got them listed on eBay. I know there are people who think I'm not listening to them about it, but I guess I thought the company should make the decision as we all have told others that this forum is other sellers we cannot necessarily speak for Etsy. 

The items they removed were a bunny mold to make bunny shaped eggs and a silicone mat with measurements on it (normally used for baking, but could be used with hot glue, resin, chocolate work, hard candy word, soap....) 

[PWOriginals]

@AVAArtsSupplies 

Yeah, I don't think Etsy even knows what is acceptable for this category.

I was commenting on the posts about your miniatures and that they have their own category under Supplies.

Good luck in getting it resolved.

[TBQSC]

@AVAArtsSupplies 

"I went through some tonight and started adding our logo in in the picture. I don't know if that will help or not."

Probably not!  Putting your logo on a stock photo ...picture that you did not take or create yourself... could end up backfiring on you and causing more issues.  

[AVAArtsSupplies]

I'm not putting them on stock photos. I'm putting them on photos I took myself, then edited with Canva Pro to get a white background, and am now adding my logo on. I stopped adding my logo because supposedly Google didn't like it. 

[Adorabilities]

@AVAArtsSupplies 

Well that would be a bonus -- you'd possibly avoid some offsite ad sales. Keep the photos on your website without the logo. If Google has to choose one over the other, they'll choose your website!