Deactivated Listings by error

[LusciousPlaythings]

I recently had 6 random listings deactivated by Etsy, with no explanation other than the broad "policy violation" email. This has happened a few times in the past, but they still had their callback option available then and I was always able to get the issue resolved quickly and with an apology. Now it's happened again and none of my listings violate any policy (I've had the same listings up since 20212). I replied to the notification email 2x, and also through the help forms on Etsy. No response. This infuriates me! I have 185 listings and these 6 were common sellers. No idea why they were singled out when all the other listings are similar. If they're holding us sellers to a high standard then I think Etsy shouldn't receive its message response badge this month! GRRRR

[SugarTaffySoap]

Sounds like an automated system error again. I would wait for a response via email.

[BikerBlingCa]

I feel your pain. I just had a listing deactivated today for policy violation in my other shop where I sell sea glass beads that I drill myself.  They are a jewelry supply and were deactivated according to the e-mail because of the amber issue and it says that they cannot be under 1 1/4" on a string such as an anklet, bracelet, necklace etc.  They are loose beads, duh.  I am so fed up with this site.  I don't care if it is a bot or whatever!  I am in the process of moving all of my listings to other sites.  I have been selling on Amazon for a few years now so no problem for me to move.  If these beads get removed then I guess all of the jewelry supply beads under said size may also be removed.  I know I have not violated any rules but as I said with this and the sign in issue and the list goes on I am fed up.

[BreatheBold]

SAME! I just has 6 listings get deactivated AFTER being reactivated a week ago. Something must be wrong with Etsy's algorithm. I wish we could find another way to reach out to Etsy for help. This is incredibly frustrating. 

[LusciousPlaythings]

Last night I copied the info from the deactivated listings and created new ones. It worked. I just hope when/if they eventually reply I won't be punished for this. I wasn't given a specific reason for the deactivations and I believe them to be a mistake like before, so hopefully I'll be ok. 

[CatsBeadKitsandMore]

I just had 5 listings deactivated for the amber thing too. I'm so mad at myself for missing that word, which I used as a color. The listings were older and I missed them. I fixed them and now have to wait till etsy says their okay before I can relist them. My 1 complaint about etsy is that I only got 1 email for the first one but not for any of the others.

[WitticismsRus]

@LusciousPlaythings 

"but they still had their callback option available then.." The phone support call back is still available. It's just not available for all issues or all the time. The phone and live chat support folks are just a call center and they may not have the ability to handle the issue. Likely someone further up the support chain (actual etsy employee) will  have to handle it and they only work via email. 

[LusciousPlaythings]

Really? I wasn't able to find a callback or live chat option when clicking through the help topics like I have before. I'll look again. 

[WitticismsRus]

@LusciousPlaythings 

It depends on the issues you select. Maybe also the time of day , the weather, if everyone is on their lunch break or if the office coffee pot is working hehe just kidding but also half serious because there seems to be no consistency with those options. Keep trying with selecting various issues. 

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

To anyone after me reading this thread, if you're expecting to find rainbows and unicorns in the OP's shop, don't go there. (no offense to the OP)

[CraftyCornishMaids]

too late : -(

I thought they may have been caught in the baby crib thing - guess not!

[LusciousPlaythings]

Hehe. Sorry, I should have included a warning

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

@LusciousPlaythings 

No problem. The word "luscious" in your shop name should have tipped me off. LOL

[BikerBlingCa]

Just as a side note, my new front page as of just this morning (Etsy's suggestions for me) is filled with amber colored earrings from a half dozen different sellers.  lol! Priceless 

[CraftyCornishMaids]

I just looked at the OP's shop, amber earrings would be good : -)

[LusciousPlaythings]

Amber colored glass is available but I don't use it...good thing I suppose lol. I have a style I named "Rosebud" and used to have a silly reference to Citizen Kane in the description. I deleted that a while back which is probably for the best

[BikerBlingCa]

@CraftyCornishMaids 

That is too funny!  We could use some “funny” around here. 

[supersmallfry]

There are no humans left in the building at etsy.  In my shop lightupcoats we have been selling hand made custom light up faux fur coats and boas and custom clothing since 2010.  All our light up items are powered by AA batteries.  In the end of June an etsy bot deactivated our entire shop basically and sent a form email quoting the etsy policy regarding items with watch (button) batteries...not relevant to our listings.  It has been IMPOSSIBLE to get a human to look at this and flip the switch to reactivate.  All avenues of 'communication' lead to receiving the same irrelevant policy violation form letter.  Tried re-listing and deactivated again.  Tried calling.  Tried chatting.  Tried emailing.  The incredibly frustrating thing for us is that we have a very real very short selling season which is the lead up to Burning Man...in other words RIGHT NOW.  Etsy's unwillingness to provide any meaningful customer service to their sellers in a timely manner is leaving us like pumpkin sellers on the first of November...SOL.  In a strange coincidence I am also unable to comment on the forums from that shop.  It's really disheartening for those of us who have been with etsy basically since the beginning to be treated so poorly.  

[LusciousPlaythings]

That sucks! We as sellers are held to a high standard of customer service so it goes without saying that Etsy should provide the same. In the past it was nice to be able to request a callback and get issues resolved quickly. I did finally get an email response + apology (weeks later) and all my deactivated listings were reinstated, but I had already relisted them myself so I had to delete the duplicates. At least I was able to relist them with no problem, so if this happens again in the future that's what I'll do. 

In your case, maybe there's a way to edit your descriptions to include specifics about the batteries to avoid being flagged by the bots? I know when I started selling my items in 2012 I had to include the word "mature" in every listing title or it would get taken down. They ended up creating adult related categories though so I don't have to do that now. 

[mymysticgems]

I make LED quartz necklaces  and the listing had the word batteries in it. One was deactivated and I have tried repeatedly to get a real person to answer but no luck. I took the word batteries out of my other listings and hope that will do the trick.  Very annoying because it is all because of the stupid bots.  Sigh...

[Brendasnursery]

Hello and thank you so much for your reply.

I thought that this problem was all down to me + my lazy attitude to learning all the

skills necessary to work the Etsy machine.

At the end of the day I just want to be left alone to do an honest day's work!

I can now end my internal screaming.

[Brendasnursery]

Hello,

This is the first time I'm using Forums due to the fact that I can get no joy from contacting Etsy.  

About a month ago I had 49 of my shop items deactivated from a total of 91 and I cannot fathom out why.  In the main I make cot bedding items and I pay attention not to add adornments such as tassles, etc. and I also make blankets.

I'm wondering if including photographs of blankets hanging over the sides of cots is regarded as encouraging parents to carelessly do the same while their baby is in the cot.  Are the 2" wide bows not wide enough so that a baby can choke on them.

The items have been in my shop for the last four years and are most of my best sellers.  The inability to contact anyone at Etsy who will explain why my items have been de-activated is driving me mad and has resulted in my receiving only four orders in as many weeks. 

I really feel like giving up and closing my shop. - Can anyone please advise how I get some direct response from Etsy in order to have my items re-activated? 

[WitticismsRus]

@Brendasnursery 

It's likely due to this recent announcement 

https://community.etsy.com/t5/Announcements/Product-safety-essentials-for-sellers/m-p/139045952#M173...

which links to this sellers handbook article here https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/handmade-well-made-design-and/1026513040312

[PlatypusDream]

@Brendasnursery 

Were you selling mattresses, baby nests or bedding?

Etsy has banned the sale of these items.  

Note also that teething items can be dangerous, and may be pulled.

[Brendasnursery]

I really have learnt nothing as to how to use/reply to forums and have just found these replies to my post from a few weeks ago.

My issue is that I can understand what Etsy, or why Etsy might ban my nursery bedding items until I look at other shops  who are still selling similar products in their shops. -  All I want from Etsy is that they explain to me what I am getting wrong as opposed to sending me extremely confrontational messages threatening me with a total ban from their site.

Long before Etsy took this stance to ban crib bumpers, etc. I omitted to put ties on the bottom of my bumpers so that no baby could trap their head underhead and suffocate.  There have never been tassles dangling and button adornments, etc on my items and what Etsy has done is a total ban on these products without explaining why - just referring me to this or that and I see other shops still selling what I am no longer allowed to sell.  I don't believe that Etsy read through each of my over 100 items and paid attention to what I do address in each listing.

I have lost money this year for the first time and am now seriously taking the Christmas break to review other options.