Etsy automation system erroneously removed my listings due to violating "Etsy's Creativity Standard"

[TexasMetalMakers]

I have had several listings removed and the emails state, they weren’t meeting our Creativity Standards for craft supplies sourced by sellers and were removed by their automated system.   These are original items I make, they are not sourced items, and are not craft supplies as stated in the email.  I tried to ask for help by submitting a case, but was sent a generic email reply and the case was closed without any further assistance...  There should be a way to get a human to assist with this error.  These listings are not sourced items, but are in fact original items we have been making and selling for years on Etsy.  They are also NOT craft supplies as the email states, and are in the correct category on Etsy when listed.  How can I get a real person to assist and restore these listings?  

[LittleWoodCreations]

This exact thing is happening to our shop right now all day today! We have been selling our own hand made wood shelves on etsy for the past 10 years and our listings are being removed today with the same exact creativity standards for craft supplies reason. We also are not selling craft supplies!! We are in the exact same boat and I'm sorry to say but makes me feel slightly better that MAYBE etsy's system is making a ton of errors today and they will need to correct it and reactive our listings due to their HUGE error! We also got that same auto generated email back quickly when we sent a help message and are unable to call because they have no phone number. I don't know what is going on but this seems to be a huge problem, and we are all losing business because of it! Hopefully someone can come on here and give us some guidance. 

[CraftyCornishMaids]

@LittleWoodCreations 

It s against creativity standards o have mockups as your first photo

they have to be real photos, with no editing

[BrooklynStVintage]

Do you sell on other sites, the bot may have picked up on your image in other places and thinks it is not original to you?

[BrooklynStVintage]

@TexasMetalMakers I see your Teacher Appreciation Neon Apple photo on your website and Rakligu.hu. They may have stolen you photo? 

[hopeandjoystudios]

Look at the creativity  standards..that was updated TODAY and if you read it a lot that was allowed no longer is. Home repair items have had supply categories for YEARS and now it says no home DIY items?

[PrairiePrimitives]

@hopeandjoystudios Wonder if Etsy was planning on letting sellers know about this update???

[hopeandjoystudios]

The following are examples of items that do not qualify as ‘sourced by a seller’:

• Resold blank items that are ready to use without craft intervention, such as blank t-shirts, hats, or tumblers
• Resold generic cooking tools or ingredients; chemical compounds; automotive/bicycle parts and repair tools; office, construction, gardening, cosmetic, or home DIY supplies
• Generic resold items that may be used at a party, but either are not decor, or also have everyday uses, such as plain furniture, generic tableware, stage lights, speakers, costumes, party favors, and seasonal/holiday decor not specific to a single gathering or celebration

[hopeandjoystudios]

The cooking/ baking supplies used to have a lengthy allowed supplies category list. I noticed with the last listing page change it shortened/ they removed former  categories.  And some categories were on the actual  supply category list still but there was no way to access them from the listing page.

[PlatypusDream]

That's a huge change with no notice from Etsy!

[audreytherese]

And they're focused on removing items that only just got banned (with no notice) today while blank apparel shops that have been breaking the rules since inception are not touched. ClASSic. 

[hopeandjoystudios]

After they listing page update, if you tried to list those items even though they had a supply category it would not present supply categories as a choice even if you had SAID it was a craft supply.it would present incorrect "home and living" categories which are handmade categories and NOT correct. Add you own manually was not an option. Though many just copy old listings and have no clue the category disappeared. It is a CULLING. Some will be happy..some not so much.

[digitaldoodlebug]

@hopeandjoystudios 

Ok that's big news. They used to allow almost anything for party supplies. Though the party one is vague. So if it's specific and not "generic" then it's ok. 

[PegandRail]

I have the same issue as the OP,  an item that I make is listed in the 

Hangers & Clothing Storage
Home & LivingStorage & OrganizationHangers & Clothing Storage

Yet it was removed for :"they weren’t meeting our Creativity Standards for craft supplies"

This must be an error on Etsy's part, unless I am missing something? If they can push a button and delist  surly they can push a button and relist

Ed

[hopeandjoystudios]

If you are making your racks they are allowed but be sure they are listed as handmade not as a storage supply (formerly a supply category) If they were delisted, do NOT relist without Etsy approval. Also check to be sure nobody is stealing your listing photos elsewhere on the web.

[PegandRail]

The core details on the listing:

Physical item
I did • A finished product • Made To Order

I sell these on my website under my brand name, and the pictures can be found in numerous places. I have been making these for over 20 years.  Etsy can not expect us to only sell on Etsy and police the entire WWW.   

The term 'supply' is nowhere on the listing. The terms  Handcrafted and craftsmanship
are used in the description.  

I am happy to supply Etsy with videos of me making my items.

[hopeandjoystudios]

You need to get with Etsy. Your photos are probably getting scraped by the Ai photo bots..but again..make SURE they are not stolen and used elsewhere and tell Etsy what sites are "you"> And fully expect it to keep happening. It might be easier to take new photos and make sure your name is in the photo..make a wooden hangtag /plaque with your name that you hang off the pegs in your photos that would be harder to crop out.

[PegandRail]

If Etsy believes I am not the maker, I can provide pictures/videos of me making them, as well as receipts for the raw materials, etc.  

If Etsy is delisting people because their product photos are showing up somewhere else, we are all doomed.  I often stumble upon my product photos.  Even if you search with Google Lens, you will not find them all.  If someone in a 3rd world country uses your photos ,it can be impossible to get them taken down.  I have been selling online for 23 years. Take a snippet of your product descriptions, and do a google search chances  are someone else  is using your product description.  

[CraftyCornishMaids]

@PegandRail 

The law expects you to police your IP

It's yours, and only you can do it

If others are stealing your IP, - photos - you need to issue dcma takedown notices

[hopeandjoystudios]

@PegandRail  "If Etsy is delisting people because their product photos are showing up somewhere else, we are all doomed."

Etsy has been doing exactly that for a few months now. They added Ai photo recognition bots. Generally aimed at Temu-AliExpress type sites but not in all cases. 

[PegandRail]

This is from the email I received from Etsy:

Tips to avoid running into this again:
Always mark craft supplies (it's not a craft supply, it is a finished product) as “A supply or tool to make things” in your listing’s core details.

I don't think having one's product photos appear elsewhere is a problem, as Etsy also allows you to use manufacturer-supplied pics.

From Etsy:
"You may also use commercial photos from the item's manufacturer or distributor, as long as you're following our Intellectual Property Policy ."

[hopeandjoystudios]

Sounds like Etsy has no clue what is and is not a craft supply.

[BagmakerSupply]

@PegandRail: "Tips to avoid running into this again ..." The eMail you received sounds like it was written using 'Artificial Intelligence' (AI) and if AI is good at anything it can hallucinate (make up) an answer whenever it cannot find an actual response and those hallucinations are often extremely incorrect.

[PrairiePrimitives]

@PegandRail You wrote:

"I don't think having one's product photos appear elsewhere is a problem ..."

Yes, it IS ... or can be ... a problem. Maybe not in all situations, but there have been hundreds (if not more) posts here in the forums over the last year or so about shops having items delisted and then they find that their photos have been stolen/scraped. 

I think all you have to do is prove you're requested / tried to have your images removed from other sites; I don't think you have to prove that the other site has actually removed them. But I'm not sure since I haven't had to deal with this yet. 

[BagmakerSupply]

@PegandRail: "I don't think having one's product photos appear elsewhere is a problem ..." The manufacturer's picture exception you quote would only apply to items listed as craft supplies.

Officially Etsy seems to be checking (only?) the wholesale type sites (such as AliExpress) but it has been implied that if the picture is found on one of those sites the shop is considered guilty until proven otherwise. Anecdotally people are reporting that images on other non-wholesale sites are also the cause for false positive deactivations.