Listing variations character limits

[PoseidonsBooty]

My husband and I operate 3 separate ETSY shops, all of which have a 20-character limit on the variation titles.  Recently I noticed other shops get many more characters so I reached out to ETSY for help.  They confirmed I should have at least 45 characters and asked me to clear my cache and try different browsers etc... none of the suggestions resolves the issue.   I have tried multiple desktop computers as well, but still, I am limited to 20 characters.  Support asked to let them know if that did not resolve the problem, send them screenshots and we could then troubleshoot further. My support ticket has been open for a week with no response.   Is this a typical response time?   I really feel like they are just going to leave me hanging with no help or response at all.

[AAANativeArts]

They can take up to 10 days to  answer. Do not send a new email or they will assume the first one was resolved and close it, then treat the new email as a new problem so you have to start at the end of the line again. If they don't solve your problem, just keep replying using the I Still Need Help link in their original reply until a real human looks at it and addresses what you asked.

[PoseidonsBooty]

Thank you!  I have replied multiple times.  I guess I will just continue to wait.

[GlassyFields]

I just checked mine - my variation descriptions are limited to 20 characters too - at least for color. Wonder if the custom variation allows more characters?

Etsy's response time ranges from immediate to infinite.

[GlitteramaCrafts]

I only have 20 too.

[GlassyFields]

I just checked creating a custom variation ... that too is limited to 20 characters.

I can't help but wonder if the Etsy people misunderstood and thought you meant the number of variations rather than the length of the variation description?

[PoseidonsBooty]

Thanks for your reply.  I showed them this listing as an example, and they confirmed I should have more than 20 characters in length.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1257575832/goldendoodle-dog-with-heart-necklace?ga_order=most_relevant&...

[PoseidonsBooty]

Strange.  Check out this listing and many characters they get.  Many shops get much more than 20 characters.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1257575832/goldendoodle-dog-with-heart-necklace?ga_order=most_relevant&...

[ProductionPrinting]

Did you ever find the answer to this? Im wondering why other stores get so many characters?

[FlotsamMade]

My shop is also only allowed 20 characters

[DoodlingNYC]

So, if the listing is automatically being published from print on demand like printify, I see the character limit is higher. I always create them custom and if I do, my default is also 20. Its very bizarre

[NoFrogsAllowed]

Don't know this to be true in this case, but some countries (Germany for one) get more characters for tags, etc. because their words are so much longer than the same words in other languages.

[Trailcations]

I also am having this same issue. I am a new seller but see lots of sellers also in the US with English as their default language selling with 20+ character listing variations. When I go to add the SAME EXACT listing variation (ex: Short Sleeve V-Neck - S), I get an error that I only have 20 characters or less for my variation. However, other sellers are able to actively sell this variation, despite it having 20+ characters. My printify listings directly published to Etsy still have the 20 character limit. I tried both the old listing form and new listing form and it's the same issue. 

Here is an example listing where the seller clearly has more than a 20 character limit. They also have 49 size options and 25 colors which means 49 x 25 = 1225 variations which also exceeds Etsy's variation limit of 400 variations. How is this possible? 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1238763161/adventure-tshirt-adventure-shirt-camping?click_key=72488336e...

I just spent a very frustrating 45 minutes with Etsy support where they kept saying

"I understand your concern, but according to the information provided, the character limit is the same for all sellers. However, based on when you joined, as a new seller, there is a character limit of 1-20 characters."

They kept sending me to Etsy's Variation policy page and saying "Upon checking the details I'm sorry for any inconvenience, but our updated policy allows for a maximum of 1-20 characters." which is NOT stated anywhere on the Etsy policy page about variations.

Etsy's variations listings policy (NOTHING is mentioned about 20 character limit): https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015664047-How-to-Add-Variations-for-Your-Listings?segment...

Etsy Support 04.27.24

Me: "So are you inferring that if I joined at an earlier time to Etsy, I would be able to have access to the 20+ character variation limit? The shop I referenced was established in 2022 which wasn't that long ago."

Etsy Support: "As per updated information we have 1-20 limit only."

Me: Various polite but direct comments stating how this didn't resolve my issue

Etsy Support: "I will make a note of your concern and highlight it as feedback for our team. Rest assured, we will definitely work on improving our features and policies in the future."

I joined as a seller in 2023. The shop I referenced with the increased character limit joined in 2022. Does Etsy put you in some sort of "sandbox" like google does with new websites? Are new sellers limited in variation character limits and variation quantities? It's SO SHADY!!!  

More BS from Etsy customer support: 

Me: Thank you. Can I talk to your manager or some other help person? I don't feel like I actually got an answer

Me: I appreciate you sending me the Etsy policy but it seems like I am not the only Etsy seller who has noticed this problem.

Me: Like I just don't know how I can compete with shops that clearly have the advantage with increased character variation limits and increased variation quantities. It seems like Etsy doesn't care about new sellers or enforcing consistent policies. It puts some sellers at a disadvantage if they don't have the same access to the same tools

Etsy Support: I get where you are coming from. We have recieved these feedback from other sellers as well. At the moment I cannot commit if there will be any changes to this policy or when you can get more variation options. I can recommend at alternate to create a set of listings with multiple variations so that you can showcase your whole inventory. (*WHAT? THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY QUESTION*)

Etsy Support: I will pass on your feedback to our internal teams and we will work on it.

Etsy Support: I hope I have answered your questions for today, is there anything else that i can help you with?

Basically they just wanted to close the ticket as fast as possible without resolving the issue. I hate being a Karen and I have worked in customer service myself but I am so frustrated. I am going to continue working with different customer service reps til I get an answer or get banned lol. I just don't understand how Etsy as a public company is okay with essentially saying, "Check out our vague policy that we don't enforce. That didn't answer your question? Okay go away now - I'm not going to escalate or help you in any way!"

[TROPICALBREEZECANDLE]

20 space limit is so frustrating 

[soulshinedesignbrand]

Not sure if you ever found the answer to this, but there's an app called Vela that let's you change the variation to more than 20 characters. A few of my listings have variations with more than Etsy dashboard allows.