DEACTIVATED LISTING(S) and I do not understand WHY.

[3PetuniaPlace]

I have been selling on ETSY for 10 years.  In the past year, several of my listings have been automatically deactivated and by ETSY; please see below.  I do not understand why?  These items are 100% handmade and photographed, by myself.  I contacted ETSY support and with photographs documenting how I make and photograph my items, but there was no reply.  I am concerned and love my shop.  PLEASE HELP.

REASON: "We’ve removed this listing for not following our Intellectual Property policy."

ITEMS: Pink Bead Earrings, Seafoam Bead Earrings

REASON: "We’ve removed this listing for not following our Prohibited Items policy on dangerous items"

ITEMS: Thermometer Earrings (charms - not an actual thermometer.)

REASON: "We’ve removed this listing for not following our Etsy's Creativity Standards"

ITEMS: Buddha Earrings, Sign Language Earrings

[dayspringcollectible]

Often such things happen because Etsy has found your pictures on other sites, so they assume you are reselling.

Prohibited items are often triggered by a word that sets off the bots.

However, you have other problems with your site, as you have listings that are deceptive.  For example, your titles say 14K Gold, but the description then states they are gold-finished (I presume you mean gold plated), and I saw one that stated only the wires were gold finished. 

You have dangles listed in the title as Silver (which would imply at least 925 solid silver) that are then in the description said to be pewter with a silver finish.  Silver colored is not SILVER.

These are deceptive at best, and could even be illegal listings by FTC standards for jewelry.

[3PetuniaPlace]

Yes, I have found a U.S.A. and Italian based Amazon seller accounts that have copied several photographs, which I found after doing a photo cross search.  I asked them to remove the photos, but they have not.  I am in the process of creating new photos.  My items are finished in 925 Silver and 14K Gold.  The listings should have this.

[FallenAngelBrass]

@3PetuniaPlace 

As I understand it, sterling silver plating (or 925) is not a thing.   A piece is either silver plated or it's sterling silver.   

[PrairiePrimitives · Accepted solution]

@3PetuniaPlace Etsy seems to rely on AI to deactivate listings. The thermometer listing was probably deactivated because Etsy's AI can't tell the difference between a real thermometer with mercury & thermometer charms. The other 2, I'm not sure about. 

[3PetuniaPlace]

Thank you so much and for your wonderful insight! 

I did not relist the items being deactivated and when it first started happening, last year - my 9th year of selling, which I thought I was following the ETSY guidelines by doing. 

A few I understood as "Intellectual Property" and deleted / stopped listing or making all charms (or listing descriptions) associated with a famous name or brand.  

My Star Seller status was on tract for 1/1/2025, until I received this... "Your badges were removed because you received a final policy violation warning."

[PoochandTabby]

For the IP removal, did you get a notice that someone was filing against you and then had the listing in your Inactive folder that says it was deactivated by Etsy? It could be the item itself or it could be words in the description that you used. For example, someone recently said they had an IP infringement because they said their item was 'Burberry inspired' in the description.

The Creativity Standards one is pretty broad and it can encompass a lot of issues, from your images being found online to it not being catergorized correctly. Your red letterbox is available on Wayfair in multiple quantities and your USPS ornament is all over the internet, but your listing states that it was made by you. If Etsy believes you aren't making your items but you say you are, or if something is called vintage but it's readily available elsewhere, things like this, if Etsy determines otherwise, would fall under the blanket 'creativity standards'.

ETA: If you've received your final notice, then Etsy's next step is to close your shop, so I would scan your shop for things that could be iffy.

[3PetuniaPlace]

Thank you! 

I understand and what you mean about the wording.  I did that in the very beginning, not knowing it was a no-no and learned, but not in recent years. 

I painted the up-cycled mailbox myself and see the one on Wayfair, which is more of an orange hue red.  I also made the up-cycled USPS truck ornament and out of a child's toy.  I can see similar themes, but mine is different.

[PrairiePrimitives]

@3PetuniaPlace I searched for USPS in your shop and found a listing. Might want to see if USPS trademarked (I would think it is). 

[CoquetteBath]

so, you may have more.

I say this as you have a handmade USPS mail truck. Looks new. And if you are making these individually...diecast metal...and using the IP of the USPS, that's a big issue. If you are purchasing these trucks for resale...also an issue.

If you are upcycling something that was originally sold as something else, the work may still be infringing. Much like when people take well known liquor brand bottles and make cheese trays, etc out of them. If you can read the logo...yep.

[Amaradorn]

Sorry I don't know why your listings have been deactivated. If it's due to intellectual property issue when you need to work out whether it's copyright (usually photos) or trademark (usually the words you have used in the listing). I can not see your tags so I don't know if you've used a famous brand name for example 'Pandora'.

I wanted to add my voice to the issue of describing plated jewellery as 925 Silver. Sterling or 925 Silver should only be used as a keyword if the items are SOLID silver. A finish of silver should only be described as 'plated'. There is a huge difference in quality which you need to be transparent about otherwise you risk being accused of selling fake silver jewellery.

[CoquetteBath]

I used to buy a decent amount of sterling here...

now...don't. Why? Too many plated pieces masquerading as solid metal.

I have a brass allergy. I can't chance any of that metal rubbing through and coming in contact with my skin.

so many shops put 14k when it is plated. Or sterling silver, when it is, again, plated. Plated over what? AND, why advise as the solid metal?

the only plating I'll buy is vermeil. Real vermeil. As that's karat gold plated over sterling. But even that is almost impossible to find here.

Now.

[BlueCatStudioShop]

@3PetuniaPlace

Jewelry isn't "finished" in .925 silver. It is silver tone or silver plated or .925 Sterling Silver. I looked at your charms, if they were sterling they would have .925 stamped on each one. You don't show any pictures of the backs of your charms. The cookie jar with the hanging cookie is all over Etsy and everywhere else as a metal alloy. Anyone could purchase your charms and claim not as described, keep the charm, get the money back and you would be sol. Deceptive practices will cause Etsy to close your shop. Also, If what you are buying is Tibetan Silver, know this:

Tibetan silver is a term used to describe a variety of alloys and base metals that are silver-colored in appearance, but do not contain much or any silver:

Copper-tin or copper-nickel alloys: The most common Tibetan silver alloys are made of copper and tin, though copper and nickel alloys are also used.

Zinc alloys: Tibetan silver can also be made from zinc alloys.

Base metals: Tibetan silver can also refer to iron or other base metals that have been plated with a silver alloy.

Other alloys: Tibetan silver can also refer to other alloy compositions.

The exact composition of Tibetan silver can vary greatly, and some pieces may contain dangerous metals like lead or arsenic. Because of this, Tibetan silver can pose health hazards, including allergies to nickel.