Deactivated Listings

[StonesSwordandBoard]

I recently fell victim to Etsy erroneously suspending my store for taxpayer ID information despite the fact that all information was provided a month ago and was accurate. During this time, they deactivated a number of my listings and didn't provide any information as to why. There was no email, there is nothing in the listing, etc. After nearly two weeks, they've admitted the error was on their part and my store is now up again.

I submitted a help ticket regarding the deactivated listings, but in order to submit the ticket, I had to click one of the three reasons as to why the listings were deactivated. I had no reason, but had to click on one to even submit the ticket. I've since received an automated response saying that they cannot help me with these listings. 

Has anyone experienced this and, if so, how did you resolve it? I can always relist, but then all the stats for those items will be lost. Additionally, does anyone have the link to request a call from their help desk? It's so buried and I can't find it again despite searching for it.

[JMOldeVintage]

@StonesSwordandBoard  - It is never a good idea to relist an item that Etsy has deactivated. 

Your situation may be a bit more difficult since Etsy had suspended your shop for id issues but then deactivated listings during that lull.

Check the listings to see if there are any clues as to why this happened.
Check your email to see if Etsy sent you one regarding these listings. Check your spam & promo boxes too. At times emails from Etsy Legal end up in email spam boxes.

If the automated response you received has the option to reply, you can do this saying your issue is not resolved. If you can't reply you will probably need to open a new help ticket on the listings.

At time the reasons for Etsy deactivating listings fall under "not handmade" - so consider doing a reverse image search to see if your photos have been stolen & are being used on on less than reputable websites.
If this is the case you would need to file a DMCA with those websites then include this info. when contacting Etsy about the deactivation.

At times Etsy will deactivate listings because a certain word was used. This often happens to shops who use ivory or amber to describe the color of an item.

The at times Etsy will deactivate an item as being fake/counterfeit/fraudulent. So consider reading this article:

https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/the-ultimate-guide-to-intellectual/22398703823

Along the same vein, if Etsy received a DMCA from a company they are required by law to deactivate your listing. You should have received an email from Etsy advising you who filed the DMCA & how you would contact the filer. But no, they will not help when it comes to any DMCA's being filed. 

As for reaching Etsy customer service via a call back, it is definitely a hit or miss proposition. Often this is not a 24/7/365 feature. And tbh when it comes to listings being deactivated your best option will be opening a help ticket thru email. 

[BagmakerSupply]

@StonesSwordandBoard: @JMOldeVintage explained it very well, but keep in mind that you need to include your licensing information for any trademarked and copyrighted names and images in your shop in your listing, otherwise buyers (and Etsy) may conclude they are counterfeits. Including the licensing information will show that you are not selling those items illegally.

It is almost impossible to speculate on why a particular listing was deactivated, but Etsy is cracking down on what they feel inappropriate. Reselling and copyright and trademark infringements is a always large factor, but it also seems that the bots are looking for trigger words with no consideration for context. Since Etsy is now also factoring descriptions in search, they along with titles, tags, and materials (and possibly even alt tags if you are using them) are all probably being checked. And the bots are also "reading" images - so it could be something as "simple" as the Dungeons and Dragons name being included in the listing photo. Plus we do not know what combination of possibly multiple factors constitute the trigger that flagged your listing.

[steelhipdesign]

If it was due to trademark infringement - a complex subject with D&D because different business entities own different intellectual property, Etsy won't talk to you about it.  There is nothing for them to say because they are purely the messenger. They legally can't get involved.  It's between the seller and the TM holder. If D&D fans can find your listings, so can their lawyers.  It often has nothing to do with the actual product - it's how you are selling it.

Etsy departments don't talk to each other.  While your shop was down over the tax ID, the IP removal emails may have bounced back and been lost in the system.  There is a big difference between a trademark and copyright.  Unlike copyright, trademarks can't be countered.  If you want to challenge it, the next step is an IP lawyer. Etsy takes TMs far more seriously than copyright.  All the big studios, go after their TMs, rarely copyright.  

You may think I'm wrong due to the amount of D&D on the site.  Etsy turned a blind eye to IP for the CEO's "growth at any cost" strategy.  That has now changed.  Even established sellers are having their seller account and ID credentials permanently banned on the platform.  

[PristinityJewelry]

Messin' with anything D&D is trouble. An accident waiting to happen.