Listing removed due to a word in my listing. Can I relist without the word?

[TheHouseofEliza]

Hello,

My listing for my vintage Afghan coat was recently deactivated by Etsy due to breaking a policy. 

I used the word Iran in my description because I was explaining the coat originally came from a lady who travelled through India, Afghanistan and Iran in the 1970s. The trigger word is Iran. But the coat was made and bought in Afghanistan. I am a seller of vintage Indian and Afghan clothing. 

I have been talking to Etsy via email for the last few days, explaining my coat has no connections to Iran and that it is a very popular vintage Afghan coat, with many photos showing them being made, the history of this type of coat in Afghanistan etc but I seem to get automated responses. Just giving me a no about relisting my coat. They don't seem to be listening to me or reading my emails  

I don't know what to do. Its a very highly valuable coat (£1,850) and the coat itself doesn't break any policies.

Can I relist it without the trigger word? (The coat has no connections to the policy breaking country Iran. I was just explaining a story) I am finding it very difficult to speak to someone in the Etsy team about this. 

Has anyone been through this before? I am very frustrated because my coat breaks no policies. I am so annoyed at myself for using a trigger word just explaining the life of the original owner.

Thank you very much

[NanaLetha]

Did you try to list it?

[TheHouseofEliza]

No I haven't! Just hoping for some answers/help 

[NanaLetha]

I would just try. 

[ArtDollsbyJD]

Did you affirm that items from Afghanistan can be listed.  I believe your previous item was removed for the term Afghan.  Has that been resolved?  Does Etsy give the okay.

Countries and areas that are sanctioned or have ties can be problematic.  You may need further clarification from Etsy concerning this before listing. Etsy is a US country and if Afghanistan is on the list for trade issues, it might be better to seek clarifification first.  Just because it hasn't been a problem before does not mean it isn't an issue.

I suggest truly getting clarification from Etsy about this.  If Etsy maintains items are from a sanctioned area or something else, listing may continue to be difficult.

[TheHouseofEliza]

They sent me their policy and no mention of Afghanistan. There only issue is Iran due to US sanctions. 

I won't list until i've got their permission as I get very anxious. But I am getting frustrated spending a lot of time replying their emails with origins of this jacket, just to receive copied and pasted responses. 

[AAANativeArts]

Your store can be in trouble for reactivating something Etsy has deactivated without their permission. If you want to chance it, I would create a completely new listing. But you are supposed to get Etsy's approval first.

When you email Etsy, canned responses seem to get sent the first 2 or 3 times, but if you are persistent, a human will eventually look at it and often reverse the original responses. The key is to keep clicking the I Still Need Help link at the bottom of their email, instead of starting new threads.

Each time you start a new thread, they close the first one and push  you to the back of the line to start over with the canned responses. So be sure to keep it all in one email chain by using the I Still Need Help link.

[TheHouseofEliza]

Yeah that is what is making me anxious. I have sold many vintage Afghan coats on Etsy before. And I do have more to sell at some point. It's just the owner of this exact coat travelled across Iran, Afghanistan and India in the 1970s.

I will wait for Etsy's approval and thank you for the advice! I have been spending so long typing up well worded replies to them with lots of proof of the origins of this coat but they just send me copied and pasted replies. Hopefully someone will reply. I get one email a day so its a long process. 

Thank you again

[FromBonniesStash]

I got busted a few weeks ago for using the phrase in tight spaces.  My photo showed hard to decorate space because the shelf was tiny.  I followed everyone's suggestions.  I submitted the help link and attached the photos.  I replied to the automated email above the line.  Got a second automated email telling me to stop responding.  I replied again and explained how I rewrote the description.  I got another automated response - their decision was final - it would not be reactivated. I also waited 15 days for a possible reversal. 

I thought about creating a brand-new listing and got paranoid.  I wanted to remove any indication that my shop may not be in good standing so I removed the entire listing and decided not to bring any more unwanted bots to my descriptions.  

I can appreciate the cost of your item.  Is "chanceing" your item worth getting your shop closed? That's what stopped me.  Hope this gives you a perspective? 

[Former_Member]

Sorry you went thru that! I deal with people all day and wouldn’t think of sending a response saying stop responding.

[KnittyDebby]

When you are signed into your shop, do you see a "CHAT" icon in the bottom right corner? Use that to contact a support person.

[Former_Member]

I don’t have a chat icon. I tried calling an 844# on my issue and it is disconnected. The email says they’re opened 24/7 but replies 1-2 days. Very frustratingwhen you have an issue and no live person to speak to

[SugarTaffySoap]

@TheHouseofEliza  NO do not reactivate the listing.  If the Integrity Team did not approve and reinstate it, then it's done.  You can create a new listing, change the photos and re-phrase the new description omitting the prohibited word. You can always send the buyer a note about the coat's history in their package if you want. Or after their purchase you can send them a message about it. 

[SaltoftheArt]

I had a Holstein cow badge reel that got deactivated because I used FFA in the description/title. After 3 months of trying to get permission for relisting (they just kept telling me to wait as they were busy), I just created a new listing without the offending word. As of now, the original listing is still deactivated and under investigation and have had no problems with the new lisitng.

[2CatalinaCreatesCo]

That sounds good. Did you rephrase the title or change the pictures? I'm stuck in a similar situation and want to re create the listing from scratch without changing my description or photos.

[BagmakerSupply]

@2CatalinaCreatesCo: The danger of relisting something that Etsy has deactivated is knowing for sure what the complete trigger was. If they deactivate again it will be an additional strike against your shop.

[Former_Member]

That’s ridiculous! I would say to contact you for the origin of the coat.

[FashionClozet]

As strange as this is, you'd only know once you try listing without the trigger word!

[hopeandjoystudios]

Even if they do get back to you I doubt they will say "Yes just remove X word" as they consider that assisting you in skirting their policies". 

[TheVintagePineapple]

@hopeandjoystudios 

@FashionClozet 

This OP is from early 2023.  It was bumped by a new seller above.