How do I contact Etsy about "prohibited listings" being removed incorrectly?

[LittleIslandSeedCo]

I've tried their contact page and I just get the automated email. There seems to be absolutely no way to get them to acknowledge a system error.

I've now had the same listing removed twice, and another once followed by the email with the whole "you can’t earn Star Seller badges anymore. Keep in mind, if your shop violates our Prohibited Items Policy again, your account will be suspended and you'll no longer be able to sell on Etsy."

However, the deactivation is erroneous. For the curious: I sell seeds and some are poppy seed varieties for cut flowers. These don't fall under their prohibited policy as they are not pods, and they are cleaned seeds, for flowers, they aren't even the right variety.

I've been charged for the listing, I don't see a refund for this in my account AND their bot is doing it wrong, AND now I have the strikes on my account, how do I contact someone? In their help menu it also says to go over the listing and fix any mistakes and it will be reactivated... okay but how? Who will reactivate it? There is another one thats been deactivated for two months. Which menu do I go? I feel super stupid having to ask this.

[vintageNCtreasures]

If you went to the help pages to contact Etsy and you got a reply then you have to reply to that message that you still need help.
You can't reactivate a listing that Etsy deactivated. 

More than likely the poppy flower seeds were removed because of "poppy".
Bots do this so it's not really a system error, it was probably programmed to remove any listing with poppy in it.

No different than ivory yarn getting removed for the word "ivory".
Once a human looks at it, then that ivory yarn would be reactivated.

With the poppy seeds, not sure, Etsy might just remove all poppy seed listings rather than try to figure out if cleaned or not cleaned seeds.

I'm not sure that listing fees are refundable when Etsy deactivates an item for good.

[LittleIslandSeedCo]

Replying to the emial unfortunatly does nothing. Just infinite loop of "We have determined you are wrong" basically. With no way for human interaction. Just frustrating. I understand there need to be checks and balances but on the other hand it just leaves longtime sellers out in the cold by not being able to actually interact with humans. I pay loads of fees... should be a way to have some sort of service for this.

[ArtDollsbyJD]

Poppy seeds?  It appears from what I have read that poppy seeds are imported from other countries where it is legal to cultivate the plant. But then there is discussion about growing the plants only for aesthetic or culinary purposes in the US

If this is Papaver somniferum then since opium can either contaminate the seeds or be used to create then Etsy does not want to police the sale of.   The information I have read is confusing muddled  and a staffer may, if not trained in horticulture, may read enough that the seeds should not be allowed on Etsy.  

You may have to ask them for more clarification on what reference source they used to ban the seeds.

Good luck.

[LittleIslandSeedCo]

Papaver rhoas, not papaver somniferum. The way I read the policy, that doesnt fall under drugs... they are different plants. But it's ambiguously worded.

I also had a listing for aster seeds flagged and deactivated - they're specifically bred for cut flowers, not listed on APHIS/invasive etc. It's a bot that took it down for ??? reason. I am frustrated that I pay SO much in fees and can't reach a human about this/can't reach a human with critical thinking. Very sad.

[vintageNCtreasures]

I found this on the help pages @
Plants, Herbs, Seeds and Soil - Our House Rules | Etsy

It states "unwashed poppy seeds" are prohibited along with pods and straw but how would Etsy know the seeds were unwashed, just because a seller said so? Probably not.

1. Herbal Drugs

Etsy prohibits certain plants, herbs and seeds based on various laws and regulations that ban or restrict the sale of particular drug-like substances. This list is not exhaustive and is subject to change at any time.

Etsy currently prohibits the sale of the following substances:

• Poppy pods, unwashed seeds, and straw

Listings for plants and seeds intended for planting must be identified in the listing by a common name and/or scientific name.

[LittleIslandSeedCo]

I read that and I think it is silly as there are many poppy varieties that have nothing to do with the drug, you cant make drugs from them as theyre ornamental. So I tried to seek clarification but can only get bots.