Etsy has all my items listed as "Designed by." And they said it can't be changed!

[#1]

My shop is now only "Designed by." I texted Etsy support, and they said there was nothing they could do about it. However, other shops have "designed by," "made by," and "hand-picked." I have tried to deactivate my listings and reactivate every one of them, but they are still listed as "designed by." I literally have inventory, I alter every single item, and I am now lumped in with print-on-demand, and there is nothing I can do. I am not downing POD; I am just not a POD. This is so frustrating despite having no sales for two months! I even sent images of my inventory and tools. What do I do now?

[TwiLdCapitHog]

@PieceByNumberQuilts  Thank you, it's really kind of you to say. 

I love your quilt designs, a super range of intricate, fun and modern. :0) Beautifully done shop!

[AMillionTomorrowsCo]

All of my items are made 100% by me as well, handmade and personalized.  All 200+ listings now say "designed by".  My shops have been on Etsy since 2016.  I made an attempt to adjust the new settings yesterday on 2 listings just to see if they would update, but they didn't. If this is their step one to a new search then we are in big trouble.  I think im going to put more effort into other selling platforms at this point and let Etsy take a backseat.  They don't value their handmade sellers.  

[NanaLetha]

@EmbracePaperie  I'm sure Etsy Support has no ability to make those changes. Etsy's coding contractors would have to make a change since they are the ones who did it in the first place. Support could at least report the problem to the tech team!

[ChantillyAvenue]

@NanaLetha 

This is typical Etsy "code and run" behavior, and I've no doubt support has been explicitly instructed to tell us it's irreversible.  Barring a Vatican certified miracle, there will be no acknowledgement of bugs or problems with coding. 

There is no rear view mirror on the clown car.  I suggest everyone strap in and just try to hold on to their sanity until the next big change that cancels this one out.

[Former_Member]

@ChantillyAvenue 

"There is no rear view mirror on the clown car."

omg I genuinely laughed out loud hahahahahaha

[EmbracePaperie]

I purchase tumblers, mugs, tote bags, and journals. I then use my sublimation printer, paper, laser, and heat presses to complete the final product. I have an inventory. I ship from my local postal service provider. I am not POD. I did provide the Etsy support with images showing my inventory and printers/laser to show I make the final product. 

[NancyQstudio]

@EmbracePaperie   My hand painted paintings were falling under the Designed by Category.  This was incorrect.   Etsy chat support can't assist as they are support staff and not technical.   And it's become obvious they have not been given a lot of info about this very new program yet.  

I tried editing, deactivating and relisting these items.  As you found, none of this helped.  And it seems Etsy can't change these assigned categories right now.  This might be because they are currently working on this program?  The only thing that worked for me was letting these listings expire.  Once they expired I copied them and relisted.  THEN they came up as Handmade.  But I wouldn't suggest doing this with any listings which are doing well because the quality score will be lost.  I imagine there will still be coming updates to this program. 

My prints made from my original art is coming up as Designed By too.  I print some of them while others are done by a family printing partner I've worked with for 15 years.  They specialize in fine art.  So, I don't consider these POD items.  But both types of print listings seem to fit in the Designed by category. I feel this makes sense.  But yours is a bit different since you are the only one printing your art by yourself.  I'd think this would fall into the Made By area?

[TheHomespunLoft]

@EmbracePaperie 

You need to be clear in your listings on how you are making the items.. you just avoid the subject in the listings I looked at. Etsy is likely seeing that other sellers are selling similar designs and those sellers are clear as to how their items are made. 

[EmbracePaperie]

I have a sublimation printer, laser, and Cricut. 

[DigTheDesign]

@Thehomespunloft. A others have said the current update is only to support future marketing. I would imagine that all those people “Making” things who have been lumped into “Design” will be asking for compensation when Etsy launches a “Made by” marketing campaign and completely ignores everyone they have mis-classified as designers.

You will also get shop asking why only half their stock is allowed in the campaign when it all involves the same process.

And no, asking shop owners to fumble around in their listings to try and figure out what Etsy have messed up is not ok 

[TheHomespunLoft]

@EmbracePaperie 

then say so in the listing AND your about page.. your customers need to know.. and truly I would be more likely to buy knowing you have a Circuit or your own specialized printer than thinking you are POD.

And Maybe that is why Etsy put your listings into Designed by-- because you are not clear about making them yourself. They are just scanning your listings with a robot ( they say).. so what else would you expect them to do?.. you never once say that you have the machines in your home to make these items.

@DigTheDesign 

My advice has less  to do with the new rules for listing. It is more about common sense. Customers want to know how things are made.. No one has to give up state secrets but to explain you are making these things in your home and are not POD is a bonus. If Etsy is just scanning listings with a robot.. and it is not mentioned how things are made.. in your home with home equipment-- then how do you expect Etsy to know?

This is where an ABOUT page comes in handy.

[ROBABYCo]

I have same problem! I use product partner just for 1 listing! 

[BagmakerSupply]

@ROBABYCo: "I use product partner just for 1 listing!" The issue is undoubtedly the implementation. The bot must be looking at shop level to see if you have production partners rather than at the listing level.

[StudioArtJewelry]

I don’t see my shop to be listed yet! Where to go to see? 

[Vintorious]

You need to start your own post, @StudioArtJewelry . This post is for people to help the shop that asked the question at the top. 

[ROBABYCo]

click any list

[Hertfordweaver]

@StudioArtJewelry 

You can look at your listings from your shop view.

[SugarTaffySoap]

@auntijans  In listing edit mode, scroll down to Details/core details/physical item, click "Change". There you will find it.

[cindylouwho2]

repeating here because my other comment is nested: 

Per Etsy own legal policies:

"Hand altered items: Commercially available base items that a seller altered using specialized handcrafting skills. E.g. Hand-embroidering flowers onto a tote bag; reupholstering a piece of furniture with new fabric"

and "Hand assembled items: Commercially available supplies or components that a seller attached together or combined by hand to create a unique end-product. E.g. Using jewelry-making tools to attach charms to a necklace chain; sewing patches onto a denim jacket"

both come under "made by": https://www.etsy.com/legal/creativity#made

What Etsy's AI thinks is not the final word. There are so many errors right now that no one should assume that what they see on a listing is correct. 

[theferriswheels]

@cindylouwho2 have you seen other shops with 'handpicked' when they are 100% handmade from scratch and always have been?  I'm at a loss.  Meanwhile, many obviously not handmade gift sets still say 'made by'.  

[cindylouwho2]

@theferriswheels yes, I have. It obviously makes no sense & Etsy will have to improve this is they expect it to be relied on. 

[SugarTaffySoap]

@ROBABYCo  have you edited the one POD listing ?? There's a bot named Creativity Handmade. I don't know if this is the bot checking all of our listings but if you have one POD you should edit it.

[ROBABYCo]

Yes i did but still same

[SugarTaffySoap]

@ROBABYCo   It deactivates listings. That's all I know because I just heard of it by another seller in the forums.

[TheWeeShed]

they have my paintings and drawings marked down as 'designed by' even though I've painted them all individually with my pens and paint brushes.
Etsy are always finding new and novel ways to irritate me...big thanks to them!