Etsy deactivated my handmade listing

[TheVineArtShop]

I've been selling this item for the past 2 years and it's been a best seller. Etsy deactivated because they say it was not handmade but I hand make all my items.

I'm not sure if someone reported it to be malicious or if it was deactivated because I recently opened a tik tok shop and sell only this item on there. I opened it for more views and sales for my etsy shop. Regardless, the email I received was because it was not handmade. I reached out via Etsy chats and they said someone would email me to look further into this issue. If anyone here has more insight it would be very much appreciated. 

[TinyPlanetTreasures]

Seems to be happening all over the site at the moment, bots are incorrectly removing handmade listings! 

[BagmakerSupply]

@TheVineArtShop: It is possible that the listing on your TikTok shop made some bot think you are reselling that item on Etsy - particularly if you are using the same images on both platforms.

[TheVineArtShop]

Is there a way for Etsy to reverse this if it was a bot that incorrectly deactivated the listing?

[dorothydomingo]

@BagmakerSupplyMost of us who post on TikTok and other social media sites use the same images. It's how you build brand awareness. Surely there has to be another factor involved?

[BagmakerSupply]

@dorothydomingo:"Surely there has to be another factor involved?" A part of any sellers' problem is that we just don't know - we can infer some trigger words (i.e. amber, ivory) from other posts, we can make best guess on other problematic terms but we don't really know for sure. Does Etsy troll other sites looking for resellers? Is image matching used? We can only speculate.

[dorothydomingo]

Yes, but using the same images can't be the only factor. Otherwise they would be shutting down all the shops here who promote on social media sites.

Etsy doesn't troll its OWN site looking for resellers. It's unlikely they are trying to cross match with other sites when they can't be bothered to go after the low hanging fruit here.

[NanaLetha]

@TheVineArtShop  Only Etsy can reverse that.

[OneEyeCatStudio]

There have also been bots removing things that they deem 'drug-related' when they are not.

[LazyCatBeads]

Yes this happened to me!! The drug related thing. UGH

[slashedpaint]

When this happened to me, it took about 24-48 hours for someone to look it over and reinstate it, so it probably will be fine shortly if there's nothing actually wrong with the listing. There's also a link in the email they send to reply- (I forget the wording) so you could try that to hurry it.

[TheVineArtShop]

Thank you for this, I really do hope so.  I looked over the email again and seen no links on how to reply to it. 

[DragonflyDreams1]

@TheVineArtShop My items were removed due to "drug paraphernalia" not the same issue as yours. However, I had to contact Etsy, then get a canned response, then at the bottom of that response, there are instructions on how to reply if you still need help. THAT is how you actually get information to someone at Etsy who will look at your request.

[KidsBirthdayGoodies]

Hopefully it won't affect the quality score of your listing once it's re-listed

[Liamore]

The same thing happened to me.They deactivated a lingerie.I just don't understand why they think I didn't sew it.It's not the first time.A few months ago the same thing happened and I didn't write a message to support because I don't care anymore,my shop was completely ruined.It doesn't matter to me.After 1-2 days they reactivated it.I guess they checked it with some humanoid.But it's very interesting that they deactivate everyone's best seller  product.It's a bit strange..

[EastWestCreations]

Its happening to me and i been making my own items for 4 yrs! I even upload video of me making the exact same items they removed! But they dont care! No one is listening. It gives me no confidence to keep uploading similar items as they may get removed and NO one is listeing. What happened to Etsy??? They not hearing us:((((

[PlatypusDream]

Etsy sometimes gets the reason wrong.

https://www.etsy.com/legal/policy/drug-paraphernalia/239364786154

"We consider drug paraphernalia to include (but not necessarily be limited to) the following:

• Bongs
• Bubblers
• Oil rigs, domes, and dab kits
• Pipes with a carburetor
• Roach clips
• Slides and/or items with a slide
• Vaporisers   
• Otherwise qualifying items that are presented as drug paraphernalia, such as in the listing images, titles, descriptions, or tags"

[arielrud]

Etsy decided to unlist an handmade item that I make myself, and have been making for more than 10 years.
Etsy claimed that I resell the item because a similar item is also available on some Chinese website.

I appealed the decision to Etsy support and they came back with a link of the similar product that they claim that I resell.

The best is that I cannot even access or buy the item in my region from the website they provided as an example.

When this was pointed out they stated that their decision was final and no further discussion would be entertained.

Their dismissive reply came with a condition that their communication was not to be forwarded or sent to any other party without Etsy's express permission.

I closed my Etsy shop that I have been managing for about 12 years!!

[PersonalizedGiftsUSA]

After you appealed how long did it take for Etsy support to respond? We are in the same position

[EastWestCreations]

Soo sad. Same here. I sell on other platforms making the bots think I am reselling. They ruined my shop. Etsy has changed. No longer do I look forward to promoting my shop.

Problem is Humanoid help has decreased, most time u talking to a bot:(((

[arielrud]

Exactly why I closed my shop. I am no longer interested in fighting to keep my shop functioning in Etsy.

[MatterformStudio]

Same problem here, one more bot deactivation and my store will be banned. Surprisingly, it's much easier to sell handmade goods on Amazon. Also much easier to get support from a human.

[DreamyTimesShop]

I have had same listings deactivated and then reinstated 1 time and then deactivated again many months later for drug paraphenalia. It's the bots. The items are not presented as being used with illegal drugs (in some states). I guess I just need to be patient and wait?! or maybe submit help ticket for each one individually, which is time consuming. I have not had a response from etsy that shows a real human has looked at it.

[arielrud]

I could no longer be bothered fighting with Etsy to keep my shop functioning!

[Girlfriendnecklace]

Do you have a little video of yourself making your product?. This happened to me last year and I did appeal on the email that was sent to me, there was a link where I could upload a jpeg. I did send them my imported coin supplied bought on Etsy from an oversea Etsy supplier and the gold filled chain bought in from a US Etsy supply seller with my tools, my supply box. My listing was restored. In the past for my paintings same I had a video of myself painting. It's absolutely annoying because many photos are stolen from Etsy sellers.