Listing removed for violating creativity standards

[PupsyDaisy]

I am at my wit's end. I make dog collars and one of my listings keeps getting removed. I have tried to get help from the support team but that has been a complete waste of time, all you get is the usual support bot platitudes and copy and paste replies.

I have checked and triple checked the creativity standards, my listing does not violate these. Sure, it is similar to other products, many people make collars like these, but the product in the photos and the photos are mine. I have tried relisting it as a new listing and it got taken down again instantly. It looks like I'm not the only seller who has had this problem and absolutely no help from Etsy? Should I just give up on this website and find somewhere else? I have wasted so much time trying to figure out what the issue is when there isn't one, perhaps Etsy should compensate me for my time...

Is there anything I can do? Will taking new photos fix this? I make my products to order so I'd have to first make them just to take pictures of them... just for Etsy to take the listing down again? How does one get to speak to a human at Etsy?

[NanaLetha]

You photos must have been stolen either on Etsy or another website.

[WhitetailRoad]

The same thing is happening to so many handmade sellers. I had no luck getting my best selling listing reinstated. My listing did NOT violate any creativity standards, and they kept pointing me back to reading the initial email. It feels like gaslighting at this point. I am so sad that the  authentic handmade sellers, that etsy has literally built its brand on, are being penalized. It is not a safe space anymore.

[CryzalisMasksUK]

You can request a call back to speak to a human, sometimes they can help but not always 

https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?segment=selling&fbclid=IwAR3XJULkao3ZPR8XcOEf2A7143n87Xt...

Could the AI be mistaken your collars with adult listings and the recent changes? 

As for a place to sell handmade, I found this earlier today which lists several UK marketplaces for artisans.

https://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/where-to-sell-handmade-online/

[BagmakerSupply]

@PupsyDaisy: Unless you know EXACTLY what the triggers were that caused your listing to be deactivated (and are able to 'fix' all of those trigger points) it is dangerous to relist the item. As you pointed out, it is likely that the new listing will also be deactivated and you will have more black marks against your shop.

Unfortunately, there does not appear to a remedy to the many false positives that are being reported.

"How does one get to speak to a human at Etsy?" You can try https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?segment=selling#issue_sell_manage_listings-callback but there is no guarantee that the human you speak to will have the ability or authority to provide the answers you seek or to undo any deactivations.

[PupsyDaisy]

Yes, I've found that out the hard way. I now have so many violations (3, for trying to relist my item with small changes), that I will be banned if there is another violation. So I'll probably get banned soon, seeing as completely innocent listings appear to be taken down left, right and centre. This is appalling.
I will try to request a call back but I may just shut up shop and go somewhere else. How dare they treat their sellers like this.

[OneEyeCatStudio]

"I have tried to get help from the support team but that has been a complete waste of time, all you get is the usual support bot platitudes and copy and paste replies."

If you ask for help here they will most likely just send you back to Etsy support.  I would suggest reading all you can, both here and off-site ( Facebook, or you can Google the Cindylouwho2 blog) as the situation seems to change daily.  Some sellers are having their listings reinstated and some are told that they cannot appeal the takedowns.

[cindylouwho2]

@OneEyeCatStudio thank you! Just wanted to clarify that my article is on LinkedIn, not my blog. There are posts linking to it on Reddit and Patreon that might be easier for people to find. 

[GallagherRourkeGems]

Etsy recently did the same thing in my shop. Handmade jewelry piece - auto email and no response to 3 of my messages to them. No clue what's happening internally there. I feel for you! 

[VintageRescueSquad]

Have you done reverse-image searches to see if your photos have been stolen and used on other large wholesale sites? If so, then you need to file DMCA takedown notices and provide them also to etsy to prove you are proactively protecting your IP (photos).

That may make the violations voided. But stop re-listing the same item with the same photos! As you can see, that earned you further violations

[PupsyDaisy]

I have tried a reverse image search. It comes up with a lot of products and photos that are very similar, but I couldn't see my own photos being used anywhere else. I don't know how similar / identical the photos have to be? If they could just tell me what the problem is I could actually address it.

[pennyemporium]

@PupsyDaisy:  i'm in the same boat as you, and it's sinking fast! rather than chasing after non-existent answers from Etsy... use this period as a time to set up your OWN WEBSITE just in case Etsy decides your shop is not a "good fit" with the Etsy brand.  perhaps make that website jump BEFORE Etsy shuts down your shop, so you can keep a foot in the door, so to speak.

as @cindylouwho2 says in one of her recent newsletters "Diversify NOW!"  

[ArtSaltPlace]

I was just watching TV and an Etsy commercial came on. Started with "what does a robot know about love?" I don't need to explain the irony of robots taking down legitimate shops on this site and no one at Etsy caring if you lose your income. You gotta laugh! 

[MatthewAndMae]

It's unbelievable how many handmade sellers this is happening to. Just take a look at how many daily forum posts are regarding this from desperate sellers. I also am one of these sellers. 13 years and 84,000 sales and I am having so much difficulty getting this resolved. I feel like Etsy needs to look into this and make a statement, the problem is growing exponentially.  

[DMExavoursEmporium]

This JUST happened to me. I've been producing the same items for 4 years now, and have never once updated my listings. Suddenly, they started pulling a single listing even though I had another three with the same creative process and style (Soap). All of the pictures are my own and I don't use any form of AI. I tried to get help and they sent me an email stating "Etsy Support cannot reactivate your listing(s) or provide more information about the removed listing. Please refer to the email notification sent by Etsy when the listing was removed." 

So how could I possibly know what the issue is if you're unable to tell me? This is so backward it's not even funny.

[FabioMcMustache · Accepted solution]

Hello! We're sorry to hear you're experiencing issues with your listings. We've forwarded your concerns to a specialist team. Thank you! 

Please know we handle support inquiries privately per our Community Policy – we’re closing this thread, so you can get the support you need from us directly.