Creativity Standards Craft Supply Removal

[AVAArtsSupplies]

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)

[Adorabilities]

Are they actually saying they have been removed for not being handmade, or are they saying they don’t meet the new creativity standards? The latter could mean they think something else is wrong with your listing. They might think you’re using manufacturer’s photos for those items, for example.

[AVAArtsSupplies]

It's says new creativity standards and then below it that it is not handmade. It also says that if it is a craft supply it needs to be marked as such, which we do. 

So I'm not sure. We take a photo and then use background eraser. We have a couple older items that we used stock photos, but those have not been pulled. 

[TinTeddy]

Some of the items in your shop don't appear to conform to Etsy's definition of craft supplies.

https://www.etsy.com/legal/policy/craft-supplies/239327031264

"Craft supplies are tools, ingredients, or materials whose primary purpose is for the creation of an item or special occasion."

"Examples of items that do not qualify as craft supplies: "Blanks" that are ready to use as is"

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/959329431/shark-with-reticulated-wood-wiggle-spine  Whilst this COULD be painted, it is complete as it is. It can be used as it is. So it is not a craft supply.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1087174057/winking-mummy-miniature-figurine-for  This is a little figurine. It is complete in itself. It can be used as it is. It is not specifically for use in crafting.  So again, not a craft supply.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/806334570/soda-cans-and-bottles-in-an-ice-bucket  This is not a charm or supply for crafting. It is complete as it is. It is a dolls house miniature, whose primary purpose is not for the creation of other items.

[PoochandTabby]

Yes, there are many items in this store that do not qualify as a craft supply. 

The silicone mat is a mat and not a craft supply to make something else with. The mold though, is a mold for making something with it, so that one doesn't seem right.

[AVAArtsSupplies]

I didn't think of a silicone mat as usable without being used with something else. You use it in the creation of making cookie or pouring resin or whatnot. 

I guess maybe I need to find out more of what is or is not a craft supply. Miniatures you can technically put on a shelf and use as is,but they have miniatures under craft supplies. You can use tape and stickers as is, you don't have to put them on anything. I get blanks like cups, shirts, and such don't count.

Maybe it would help if they quit making everything Etsy picks and then dinging us for it.

I guess I'm going to have a bunch of homework to go through and get rid of some items. 

[audreytherese]

I personally find this list overwhelming, but it may help you to double check anything you consider a supply is actually listed under craft supplies and qualifies. 

Etsy :: Your place to buy and sell all things handmade

[FallenAngelBrass]

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@AVAArtsSupplies wrote:

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?

More items that don't seem to qualify as craft supplies:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1261641030/bat-with-a-devil-tail-miniature-figurine

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1568755151/witch-house-with-2-miniature-witch

Basically, all of your figurines appear to be commercially made and can exist on their own.   Just listing something as a craft supply doesn't save it from getting deactivated for not meeting Etsy's creativity standards.  Items must actually be craft supplies.  Even if you could conceivably use an object in crafting, the object still has to meet Etsy's standard that the object is useless unless it is part of a crafting project.  These figurines are all useful as they are. 

[Adorabilities]

@FallenAngelBrass 

Miniatures are a legitimate category under craft supplies. 

(The craft is probably dollhouse building or fairy garden creating.)

Not to say that’s not why they’re being taken down though.

[AVAArtsSupplies]

They literally have miniatures that are commercially made as Etsy picks. They haven't dinged my miniatures. 

They are going after my mold and my silicone mat which are both commercially made. A mold requires another item to use it. I guess you could just walk around carrying a silicone mat and use it a premade place mat? 

[Adorabilities]

@AVAArtsSupplies 

Sounds like you have set up the listings correctly, so it's hard to even guess what the issue could be. They did tell you "hot handmade," but supplies don't have to be handmade, so that's not a valid reason. It could be that they found the same items sold elsewhere (by you or anyone else) but again, you're not breaking any rules by selling those here.

I have white backgrounds for all of my supplies too. I think we're all in potential trouble here, even when following the rules -- it's just a matter of time.

[PrimFun]

Miniatures under craft supplies are under Blanks which mean they are items to receive the buyer's painting or crafting.

Craft Supplies...., Blanks, Figurines

Figures that are used in floral arranging are also listed but those would be small items use in floral arranging.

Etsy :: Your place to buy and sell all things handmade

[Adorabilities]

@PrimFun 

They are also under
Craft Supplies and Tools:
Dolls and Model Supplies:
Miniatures

(Those miniatures would be for making models, dollhouses, fairy gardens, dioramas, etc.)

[Adorabilities]

It's impossible to know exactly why a silicone mat (a tool to make things) and a silicone mold (a craft supply) would have been taken down. 
Assuming they are not handmade by you, did you take your own photo of the items? 

[AVAArtsSupplies]

I took the pictures, then use a background eraser. They look like stock photos because it's a craft supply on a white background. 

I don't make them, but I really have not idea why a mold or a silicone mat would not fall into commercial craft supplies. We marked it commercial and marked them craft supply. 

I wish they would respond to my help ticket and say it's the picture or it's the item. I've been waiting over a month for the first one. 

[audreytherese]

Did you happen to mention the FDA in your description? Like, 'mold is made with FDA approved food safe silicone', or any version of that which mentions the FDA? 

[AVAArtsSupplies]

Nope, neither mention the FDA. We had that in a listing at one point (and think we got it out of all of them) because the supplier told us it was FDA food safe silicone, but Etsy said it was a health claim. 

[AVAArtsSupplies]

This is exactly what they told me: 

To avoid more policy violations, make sure your listings follow Etsy's Creativity Standards—here are some quick tips to help make things easier:

• Resold items do not qualify under our “Made by a seller” or “Designed by a seller” criteria–only certain handpicked or seller sourced items (such as vintage items and craft supplies) can be resold on Etsy. Learn more about how Etsy defines reselling.
• If you work with someone who’s not part of your Etsy shop to help make your items, you’ll need to add them as a production partner in your listing’s core details.
• Personalizing commercial items for buyers with the help of a production partner? Check our “Sourced by a seller” criteria.
• Selling vintage items, items from nature, or unique gift baskets? Check our “Handpicked by a seller” criteria.
• Selling craft or party supplies? Mark it as “a supply or tool to make things” in your listing’s core details.
• Use your own photographs or video content–not stock photos, artistic renderings, or photos used by other sellers or sites. Read more about listing image requirements, including limited exceptions for custom items and items made with production partner assistance.
• If an item is created through the use of artificial intelligence (AI), you must disclose this in your relevant listings.
• Looking for more examples of what can and can’t be sold on Etsy? Check our House Rules and Seller Handbook.

Maybe it's my photos? Maybe I need to do a non-white background? I just used the background eraser on Canva Pro so it looks professional.

If the issue is my miniatures, then maybe they should deactivate them and get rid of the category. 

[PrimFun]

Did you check your core details?  Maybe something was listed incorrectly if the listing was an older one.  Sometimes the core details did not get listed correctly when Etsy changed everything over,

[AVAArtsSupplies]

Yup, I double checked both removed items.  They were "Not made by me" and in a Craft Supply category. 

[PoochandTabby]

Tagging @cindylouwho2 on this one. They will probably remove your answer above soon because they don't want you to post your convos with support. 

BUT...

This part is interesting: 

• Use your own photographs or video content–not stock photos, artistic renderings, or photos used by other sellers or sites. Read more about listing image requirements, including limited exceptions for custom items and items made with production partner assistance.

When you look at the listing image requirement, they don't say all that. Seems to confirm the 'don't use your photos anywhere' thing and why listings are being taken down on sellers' other selling channels...?

OP, are you using your photos anywhere else? Like on your own site?

[AVAArtsSupplies]

I used to use my pictures on my own site, we closed our site about 6-8 months ago. Most of our items have a solid white background with the item in the middle of the picture. You can tell some of the older pictures we did with various background and before we paid for Canva to remove the background. 

Both removed items were on a white background with the item in the center with the background removed. 

[cindylouwho2]

@AVAArtsSupplies @PoochandTabby "Seems to confirm the 'don't use your photos anywhere' thing and why listings are being taken down on sellers' other selling channels...?" 

The wording is identical to the takedown notice I received last month. 

I read that as "use your own photos". It says not to use photos used by other sites, not used by you on other sites. That's consistent with the legal policies on images, which focusses on photos the seller took, had taken for them, or has the right to use (by asking the buyer). 

[AVAArtsSupplies]

@cindylouwho2 Do you know the answer about miniatures? People in this thread said my miniatures were illegal because they are not made by me. I thought they fell under craft supplies. 

It is not what was removed at all, but if they are really an issue then I will remove them  and put them eBay. 

[PoochandTabby]

Thanks for your clarification Cindy!