June 3: ETSY Listing and Re-Listing Failures...Tried to List New Inventory All Weekend But Site Down

[#1]

Hello Friends,

I am writing because I am frustrated, and someone out there might have a clue as to what might be happening.  

**I tried all weekend (I'm in Virginia, USA) to list new inventory because I have decided to enlarge my shop considerably.**

Whenever I tried to list throughout the weekend, a burgundy red banner with an unhappy face emoji popped up, stating, "Hm, we're having trouble saving your changes.  Try again, and if this keeps happening, contact Etsy support."  This has happened recently as well, only about a week ago.

Two days ago, I then thought to Google, "Is Etsy down?" after repeatedly trying and with a few hours between attempts, all while getting the same banner.  The answer comes up on the Etsy site in what I think appears odd because Etsy has a wild-looking illustration with some red-headed guy on fire. Next to this fiery guy there are words that say, "Don't worry, Haim's working on it!"  Then, it states, "What's happening: A hardware failure brought some of our image hosting servers offline, so listing and re-listing items is currently disabled. Estimated downtime: until 5:00 AM EDT."

Below that, it reads, "Etsy's down but our news site The Storque is still up, and you can have a look at wiki too."

So, my first thought is, who is Haim, and why is he on fire?

I shrug.  So, I say to Etsy Corporate Office: Please, when is the listing part of your site actually coming up again?  There's no date such as 5 a.m. on such-and-such day and year attached to this warning stating that the site is somehow down.

When I clique on The Storque link provided below the burning guy, it states, "Uh oh, the page you were looking for was not found." This is on the Etsy site.

When I click on "wiki," I get a stern warning stating that this is possibly a malware-infested site and not legitimate.

So, I waited until after 5 a.m. for two days. Each day, I continued to get the banner but could not list it.

Finally, I contacted Etsy support this morning, June 3, and after a very long messaging exchange, I was told that my tech support ticket was being sent to Tech Support because they "needed to know the extensive range of this outage." 

At nearly noon today, June 3, 2024, I still cannot list my new inventory. 

I wonder if I'm doing the right thing by adding so many new pieces to my inventory in my shop here on Etsy.  I continue to worry that I'm spending too much time on Etsy and should, like so many other vintage sellers especially, jump ship and find another venue on which to build my shop!

Sadly, Haim's been on fire for days now.  Maybe even weeks?  Poor guy.

Can anyone help, please?

Advice?

Thoughts?

Supportive comments to keep me from going mad?

Thanks so much!

Julia
Owner
The Gilded Griffin

[FallsAveVintage]

Good luck @TheGildedGriffin, hope it works for you!

[ChillwolfArt]

@TheGildedGriffin I've read your posts for today and I'll tell you what, steam is coming out of my ears. I've never heard of anything so absurd and completely unacceptable. And I'm so sorry for this H-LL that you and others have been going through. It's unheard of; just doesn't make sense.

Edited my last sentence (don't need "completely unacceptable" twice)

[TheGildedGriffin]

Thank you so very much @ChillwolfArt.  Your comment is comforting!  Actually, it would be appropriate to use "completely unacceptable" more than once in this case!  Thank you again.

[SomethingToSewFabric]

My issue is with restocking. When I try to renew and add inventory on my Windows laptop, I get the red box error. I have found that I can renew and add inventory with my phone. Losing the old listing form in a couple weeks is terrifying. There are several things I can do one the old form, like deactivate a listing, but there is no functionality with the new form. Ugh!

[TheGildedGriffin]

Hello!  You can deactivate your listing by going to your Shop Manager.  Click "Listings".  You will populate the entire long list of everything that you are selling.  Click on the Title of the  item you wish to deactivate.  It will open up the item's editing page.  On the top of the page you will see two boxes (one reading "View on Etsy" and the other reads "Copy") and then you will see Three Dots in a row. Click on the three dots.  This will create a drop-down box and the first item on that list reads, "Deactivate".  Click on that to deactivate that one listing.  Best wishes! 

[BrooklynStVintage]

@ChillwolfArt  I was trying from the sold out page but didn't try the gear. Before I read this I decided to just renew it without any changes to the text, it renewed it and then I had to go in and edit the changes to the variations. Crazy

Thanks for the idea, I will try that on the next one if Etsy can't fix this soon.

[TheGildedGriffin]

It is maddening, all these problems. Later last night, I remembered that I had this issue for nearly a month back when they developed the New Form. I had almost no sales, and so few people were looking at my shop that entire time. But! After they released the New Form, my stats improved all of a sudden!  The numbers shot up like crazy. I had many more orders again.  I'm sure this is all linked somehow.  Now, with this change in Forms again,  I am thinking that I will see little progress until July.  Thank you very much for taking the time to share and respond to these posts.  Kind wishes.

[TheGildedGriffin]

UPDATE: Here it is Friday, June 14, and I still cannot list consistently. I have tried and tried. I managed to list inventory for a day or two since my previous messages here, but then the same error messages came back today, and it is impossible to list anything no matter what I do. I have tried everything. I have cleared history and cache, used Google Chrome, and tried every single advised tactic that my colleagues have reported here over the past week or so. Nothing.  Error message and cannot even save the draft although I can preview the listing.

Furthermore, I received word from a potential buyer that she was trying to buy an item and ship it within the US but she was buying/located in another country.  Etsy continually tried to charge her shipping to Australia although they recognized, she promised, that the shipping address was to Florida.  I went to the listing and found that Free Shipping was not checked off, even though every single one of my listings offered Free Shipping across the board.  I found this when I received on one other item when a collegue previously adviced me to check on this.  All my listings have Free domestic shipping and this has been changed, but I did not do it myself.  I have had Free Shipping for some time now.

I do have computer skills and have asked all the questions that I can ask to Etsy.  Yet again, waiting on a call back.  However, no one is solving this issue.  The most important notice that I received from Etsy's Technical Support is that yes, there are glitches and sorry about that. They do own that some people cannot make new listings in their shop.

So, bottom line,  I cannot list and may have lost a sale.  Is anyone else out there having problems with listing on the New Form?  I stopped using the Old Form many months ago.  

It is so important to speak up if you would be so kind, please. Thank you!  

[cutestgiftshop]

I have been trying all evening to list a new item and can't get it to list! I've tried everything and can't even save my draft - but I can preview it!

I'm on a Mac Desktop and using Googl Chrome. I have had issues in the past but usually after re-trying it works. I have been at this for hours now!

Going to list my item on Amazon and my website - Etsy may just not get this listing...so disappointing

[MyraMelinda]

same problem. I'm finished listing until this is resolved.

[TheGildedGriffin]

Thank you so much for writing @cutestgiftshop !   It is important for Etsy mgmt to have something in writing from sellers.  This is truly unacceptable.  Yes, I have been at this for hours and hours so you are not alone!  I am going to write the update I just received moments ago from Etsy Support below...so perhaps this might be informative somehow.  Best wishes to you!

[cutestgiftshop]

Thank you - I just read your post. I got my listing to post by doing the following:

I copied another active post and changed the title - hit save a draft.

Changed photos - saved as draft.

Changed Description - saved as draft...

Did this through every section until I got to the end - it would not save when I added a specific shipping option, so I changed to another and it worked.

Finally at the end I was able to list my product. It took quite a bit of time, and I'm dreading adding the listing to other sections but at least I got it up!

[TheGildedGriffin]

Here is a copy of my new post for all to read:

Etsy Support just responded: NEW LISTING FORM is experiencing "wide spread outage" & not working!

June 14: I have just gotten off the phone with Etsy Support.  Over the past (nearly 2) weeks, I could not consistently list new items in my shop, The Gilded Griffin.   I have reported this multiple times to Support, and each time, Support states that yes, there are glitches and the New Listing Form is not working.  Tonight, they said that they are asking sellers to use The Old Form, if possible, but she also stated that the Old Form is likewise inconsistent and, at times, blocking new listings as well.

Etsy Support also stated tonight that they have known about this for some time now and that, yes, this is considered a widespread outage. I responded that the sellers are not currently notified about this and asked why Etsy's Mgmt. refuses to acknowledge this lack of communication. 

Etsy Support told me they were sorry, but since this is being categorized as a "widespread outage," they have no idea when it will be resolved. Support simply indicated that there is no end in sight presently while they are working on this.  Hopefully, it will be resolved when The Old Form goes away....

If you are being affected by this 'widespread outage', your feedback is crucial. Please contact Etsy to let them know about your experience!  

I hope that these changes are going to make some kind of incredible difference for the best once this is all resolved!

Best wishes to everyone!

[TheGildedGriffin]

Hello again , @cutestgiftshop . Thank you so very much for the instructions. I will give this a try tomorrow morning.  

Whew. I dread thinking how long this could go on.  It will probably go on through the end of the month, as the Old Form disappears then.  

I had shops on eBay and Ruby Lane for many years. I left each one over this type of thing. If Etsy had any real competition out there, I believe that there might be a mass exodus! 

Thanks again!

[MyraMelinda]

i am having the same problem. I go to all the trouble of putting photos and info into my listing then I get the same message. I'm trying to list several items today and keep getting the same message.

[AVintageThingKC]

I am having the same issues.  It has now been 3 days and I can't list any new product to my shop!  I am hoping that Etsy gets this issue resolved soon.