HELP!!! listings have been incorrectly flagged as not handmade - cannot update, change, or add.

[#1]

Recently Etsy deactivated several of our physical product listings. We make scale jewelry for ball jointed and vinyl dolls - 1/3 scale. We have been scrupulous in following the TOS and complied with all requirements - even changing our packaging for LUCID. We make everything ourselves (there are 2 of us in the shop). They even deactivated a listing that I showed making on our about page!
We have tried chat several times to no avail. We requested emails from Trust & Security and twice recieved canned responses that do not address the issue at all - completely unrelated to our issue. We cannot get any response from Etsy - what do we do?!?! It seems even our emails are going ignored. 
We have been on Etsy for several years, nearly 6000 sales and a consistent 5 star seller with great reviews and repeat buyers. We don't want to lose the reputation we have earned via this shop. Before this we had nearly 150 listings (some digital sewing patterns for doll clothes) and now we are down to less than 85. We no longer come up on searches that we consistently were top results for. We don't even come up on Google like we did before the deactivations. We had a steady income and watching it disappear!
I can no longer modify, update or add any jewelry to our shop - it is AUTOMATICALLY and IMMEDIATELY DEACTIVATED!!!

[howtobooksandmore]

When you contact Etsy and get a non-answer, are you sending a new message or responding to the same email?  If you are sending a new email, Etsy considers it a new problem and responds with the same canned message.  Respond to the answer and tell them you still need help until someone actually reads the message.  Good luck.

[KitNKatShop]

We have tried both, we even tried reaching out to legal - because I don't understand why I can't even make changes to listings that are still up. I make a change and hit publish and it is deactivated immediately. Even items without magnets, no brand names and trying to change categories.

[VibeEnvy]

You have magnet or magnetic or magnets in the description of every one of the jewelry pieces. The description matters just as much as titles and tags, are the ones deactivated have magnetic details in the descriptions? It looks like ALL your jewelry listings discuss the magnetic parts and ALL your other listings seem to be patterns (i assume digital downloads), what other listings are there if there are physical listings that are not jewelry getting taken down? It seems you only have patterns and jewelry and the jewelry is being removed... I couldn't find a jewelry listing that didn't talk about magnets.

[audreytherese]

I had an item removed and in the email it said it was not handmade. I sent a message to them with photos making similar products. About a month later they finally responded and said it had a prohibited item. I didn't bother going further because the item in question sold at an in-person event between when it was taken down and when they finally responded to me. But just so you know, it could be any reason they're taking it down - just because the email says it was removed for not being handmade, it could actually be for the small parts in items perceived to be for children like someone else mentioned. 

[audreytherese]

And if you're like me, it can take a month to hear from an actual human about the reason. 

[KitNKatShop]

I can't make any changes. And they even deactivated an item that doesn't include magnets. 

[FancyTogs · Accepted solution]

Try using the listing category of Art & Collectibles > Art Dolls. That may get it away from being flagged as a toy, so the child safety bot does not get called for.

Lawrence

[KitNKatShop]

I can't make any changes. that is the ultimate issue. We got flagged and every listing, if I make ANY change, hit the publish button and it is instantaneously deactivated. ONLY physical items, INCLUDING and item that did NOT include any magnets. 

[blzopbhi]

With only about 2500 employees world-wide, slow responses to sellers is not surprising. After hiring managers, lawyers, marketing "specialists" and other essential workers, there isn't enough money left in the budget to hire people to help sellers when the bots go on their rampages.

[KitNKatShop]

Sorry, but this answer isn't good enough. Its been a MONTH since the first listing was taken down. I cannot change, edit, amend or update ANY active, inactive (seasonal) physical item = they are automatically removed immediately post any changes. 
today, after a week, we recieved an email saying they will not reinstate any deactivated listing and "will no longer entertain this issue".  It continues and Etsy will not address it. 

[hopeandjoystudios]

It is beyond ridiculous that "they will no longer entertain this issue" without clarification of what the actual issue IS or if it is "non handmade" look at the handmade proof. TOU do state they can remove any listing for any or no reason without seller recourse , but you really hope that they would not do that.

[hopeandjoystudios]

At this point I  might try opening a new shop using the collectible category and see if you  can list. Your shop seems to have been bot attacked. 

Seriously I think I would be so pissed and disgruntled at how this was handled I doubt that I would want to continue selling here. Maybe a website and a heavy IG and TikTok push?

[Amaradorn]

No need to open a new shop. Shops can list in any category.

[hopeandjoystudios]

@Amaradorn "I can no longer modify, update or add any jewelry to our shop - it is AUTOMATICALLY and IMMEDIATELY DEACTIVATED!!!"

She cannot add new jewelry listings to this shop. I was just wondering if she opened a new shop if they would load there if she changed the category from toys to collectibles. 

[ATELIERxAKIKO]

I have same problem as you. I only sell doll clothes and no prohibited item( I read all prohibited item policy and handmade policy, nothing wrong). The automatic email said it was not handmade. I sent support request 3 weeks ago. Also chat with Etsy support but they can't do anything. I just wait the technical team to solve this problem. I tried to change category, change text in listing, change tags even add myself with production partner. Nothing works. 

You may try to chat with them via: 

Community and Help > Contact us > Selling on Etsy > Managing my orders > Contacting a buyer > I still need help > Chat with us

[KitNKatShop]

We keep being told its gone to a specialist but then we just get a canned (copy/paste) reply about how they are not reactivating anything and "no further consideration on this matter" and never address that I can't fix any listing as its automatically deactivated - meaning we lose more and more listings as I try to fix them. 
Tried chat, that last one straight up ignored my responses and kept copy/pasting the exact same text over and over......

I finally got a call back, only to wait while they looked at my account and then again 'sent to a specialist who will email'. Nothing. nada, no help. 

[PrairieCrocusStudio]

Does this also happen with a completely new listing? 

[SmudgePlant]

I know that they have bots that scan pictures now. I wonder if the bots think you are selling the dolls and not realize that you are selling doll accessories. That's probably why your digital patterns are not getting deactivated.

It's ridiculous that they can program a bot to do this but can't seem to program it to take away actual rule breaking listings.

I hope you get your listings back soon or you are able to make another outlet work for you.

[OneEyeCatStudio]

Etsy: You're breaking the rules! Stop!

Seller: What rules am I breaking?

Etsy: THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT, JUST STOP!

[KitNKatShop]

Well, the CEO himself said he didn't care if we complained and left because basically there are millions of other suckers out there waiting to be conned. 
Jerk. 

[RustyCrustyRepurpose]

Part of the problem may be working with existing listings.  Might have to start from scratch so that traces of original listing don't show.  Just a thought.