Etsy Removed My Listing for Prohibited/Dangerous Materials

[ViennaSugar]

Has anyone had listings removed recently for something that clearly is not correct? I had this happen last year, for the exact same thing. Prohibited item, Etsy claims that my earrings contain small magnets but they do not. Last year it took me 3 full months of back and forth with scripted messages that stated Etsy could not reinstate my listing before Etsy had a human look it, determine it was removed in error as no magnets are used, and then reinstate it. It took another round of back and forth to get Etsy to remove the policy violations from my account and reinstate my star seller status.

Has anyone else had listings removed recently and successfully have a human review it and reinstate it or will this be another round of MONTHS of back and forth before it reaches a human?

[AAANativeArts · Accepted solution]

Usually, the first 2 or 3 responses are bots, and you won't get anywhere until a human reviews it. Yes, this can take a month or two to get to that point. Be sure to keep all your replies in the original thread. If you start a new email thread, they will close the original inquiry and treat it as a new problem, which means you go to the back of the line to start over with the bot responses again. Just keep responding with a subject line of "I Still Need Help" no matter what they say, even if they say their decision is final, and submit your information again, until a human reviews it.

[PoochandTabby]

If you look up the term 'magnets' in your shop, two listings come up and one lists "neodymium magnets" as one of the materials used, so that might be what the bots are picking up on. Maybe also in the item description? I didn't read thru the full descriptions of each to check. 

[Hoardedbymillie]

This just happened to me. Etsy removed a listing saying it violated the ivory policy but it’s NOT IVORY. I’m so frustrated as there seems to be no way to actually contact a human. I’m just going around the loop of “support”

[NanaLetha]

@Hoardedbymillie  Did you use the word ivory anywhere in your listing?

[Hoardedbymillie]

I didn’t use the word ivory. I did use “scrimshaw like”

[CanningCrafts]

Ivory is prohibited, so even if what you had was "scrimshaw-like" & not actual scrimshaw, that may have triggered the takedown.

https://www.etsy.com/legal/prohibited

[TheVintagePineapple]

@Hoardedbymillie There are a lot of laws regarding selling scrimshaw, depending on the material used, when it was made, etc.  The bot saw 'scrimshaw' and removed it without checking further.  Adding 'like' to it doesn't matter to a bot. 

 Remove any reference to scrimshaw and it will probably be ok.   You'll have to make a brand new listing tho; you can't reactivate the removed one and edit it anyway unless Etsy says it's ok.  However, if they do and you edit out the bad word, that listing will still have scrimshaw ''residue'' that could cause it to be removed again when it's renewed.

Can you describe it as engraved?

[BagmakerSupply]

@Hoardedbymillie: Be careful of relisting unless you know EXACTLY what ALL the triggers were that caused your listing to be deactivated (and are able to 'fix' all of those trigger points). Scrimshaw might be a trigger but there could be additional ones. It is likely that the new listing will also be deactivated and you will have more black marks against your shop.

[HauteVintageJewels]

Scrimshaw is probably one of Etsy's target words related to ivory, since most scrimshaw is made of bone or ivory.  Maybe try scrollwork, engraving, etc. to replace that word in your listing.

[Hoardedbymillie]

Thank you all. I finally got an email address and wrote regarding this but I can’t believe how difficult it was to find. 
I appreciate the help from this forum though. 

[ZehOriginalArt]

@Hoardedbymillie 

Where did you get an email address? Etsy does not have one that you can contact directly, you have to go  through the Help.

[AppalachianCraftins]

I had a listing of candy corn clay magnets removed due to their Prohibited Items Policy. I can’t find an exact reason they took it down, but I’m thinking it’s because of my caption that included the phrase “love it or hate it” and it flagged it as “hate inducing speech.” I’m super frustrated since I’m just starting to sell things on Etsy. I emailed them but I’m not hopeful that they’ll get back to me. 

[CanningCrafts]

Etsy has policies in regards to magnets:

https://www.etsy.com/legal/prohibited

Etsy prohibits certain loose or separable high-powered magnets that fit into a 2.25 inches long and 1.25 inches wide “small parts” cylinder and have a flux of 50 kG2 mm2 or more, because of the safety risk they pose if swallowed.

[PartyHappier]

I have been selling magnets for years, and just recently, I've had several sets removed due to this same policy. A specific line in the takedown message said, "Etsy prohibits the sale of dangerous items that pose a health or safety hazard, including (but not limited to) small, realistic imitation food magnets."

Some of mine couldn't really be mistaken for food (i.e., they are large and/or have glitter or things like that), but I do kind of understand because the magnets are strong and they could be seen as candy by a small child. It's just really a bummer becasue so many of my sets that were deactivated were previously best sellers. With over 17,000 sales, I don't want to risk my shop getting suspended or permanently shut down, so I've been in the process of deactivating most of my food-like magnets.

[HauteVintageJewels]

@TheVintagePineapple  I loved the description, "scrimshaw residue"!  Gave me a good laugh!

[Hoardedbymillie]

I did go through help. I took someone’s advice and just kept clicking I still need help. 

[FabioMcMustache · Accepted solution]

Hello! We're sorry to hear you're experiencing issues with your listings. We've forwarded your concerns to a specialist team. Thank you! 

Please know we handle support inquiries privately per our Community Policy – we’re closing this thread, so you can get the support you need from us directly.