Listings Deactivated for Craft Supplies - but they are not craft supplies

[Bellewooddesignsusa]

I submitted a help request but got an automated response basically saying they couldn't help.

We are makers of decorative storage cabinets and have the listings in the Boxes and Bins category, yet 3 of our ~100 listings were removed because they didn't meet the creative standard for craft supplies. They clearly are not supplies but a finished handmade cabinet. They have been on Etsy for a few years now.

Anyone have advise or know how to get in touch with a live person that can review?

[vintageNCtreasures]

It might have something to do with the change on the "creativity standards" that were updated on June 10th.

Here's some other threads:
Solved: CINDY LOU'S POST ON ETSY NEW CREATIVE RULES - Welcome to the Etsy Community

Etsy automation system erroneously removed my list... - Welcome to the Etsy Community

Mass listing deactivation - No help from support - Welcome to the Etsy Community

[PlatypusDream]

Home improvement items are no longer considered supplies on Etsy, so they must be vintage or handmade with your own two hands, not sourced from a factory (even if unfinished).

It may have been the category you listed them in was incorrect, or has been completely removed by Etsy with the recent change.

[Adorabilities]

There are some legitimate handmade item categories that, when making a listing, Etsy also puts into a craft supply category. Check and see if, when you try to list, it tells you that it will also show up in craft supplies. There is another seller who keeps getting items removed for the same reason. I believe they have found a workaround by selecting a similar category -- one that doesn't also list in craft supplies. If I remember correctly, their listings were also related to boxes.

[TribesIronHardware]

I have the same problem.

I've been selling on Etsy for 11 years now and was always selling my original handmade furniture pulls and knobs. All my pulls and knobs were selling in the category:

"Home & Living-Home Improvement-Drawer Knobs & Pulls".

which automatically appears together with the category:

"Craft Supplies & Tools".

(all the furniture hardware categories appears with "craft supplies & tools")

Etsy removed 2 of my listings that exist on Etsy for years (and probably will remove more of my other listings) due to the reason: "they weren’t meeting our Creativity Standards for Craft Supplies sourced by sellers.".

The problem is that I don't chose to sell them as craft supplies or tools; it appears automatically with the "Drawer Knobs & Pulls"

My star seller was also removed by Etsy so I put my shop on vacation mode so Etsy will not deactivate more listings and my shop will be suspended.

I chatted with them twice during the last week, they have escalated my issue, I also sent them 2 emails in the last 5 days, but nobody replied yet.

I don't understand their strategy to ruin their good sellers business as well as their own.

[DragonFireGlass]

@TribesIronHardware Unfortunately, the home improvement category has been removed, so your listings were automatically put in a different category. You will need to go into your listings and search for a better category for your items

[DavidandRau]

You have a silhouette of a rifle in one of the pics.  Perhaps that may get flagged by an AI bot.  I don't know, just speculation 

[hopeandjoystudios]

It is because there was a boxes and bins category in supplies until recently and Etsy cross listed your handmade items "you will also be found in: in a now defunct category without your input. Try relisting from scratch as a handmade wall cabinet and see if it still auto lists it as a supply.

[RusticTableAntiques]

Ugh this is going to be a bloodbath.... 

[hopeandjoystudios]

The worst part is how many sellers didn't notice the cross posting verbiage at listing time and have1. no clue and 2. no way to search "affected items" if they even could make a change? There is no way I am aware of to look at a listing and know that Etsy had cross posted  it? Maybe it is buried in the code someplace but that is beyond most people's capabilities to figure out?

So how are you to know "OK THIS handmade by me box/bin was deactivated in error so now I need to look at all the rest I have listed and figure out what to do before my shop is closed"?

[RusticTableAntiques]

@hopeandjoystudios  my thought exactly - imagine feeling like you've got to go through hundreds of listings manually, just to check it hasn't been cross-posted by Etsy, and if/when it has... and then try to figure out where else you can put it so it doesn't cross-post. 

How to Fix What Etsy Broke - Volume 657, Part 9

[hopeandjoystudios]

I did figure out that if they cross posted it it will say it will also be found in Supplies in the category picker area when looking at it in edit mode.

[RedOakRoad]

I've had this exact same problem pop up a few days ago with my shop. I'm on the fourth strike with my listing being delisted and my Star Seller badge was removed without the ability to get it again in the future. This is my third day waiting for a response from my two tickets sent in to Etsy and this is an Etsy side problem where they grouped categories together after some update. My items were planter boxes that were listed in the planter box category for the last 9 years... then grouped with craft supplies. I had three items removed at one time and then another the next day, with the star seller badge being removed as well.

I went through all 130 of my items and mades sure I changed my category to something that doesn't include craft supplies because that is what is being auto-delisted for whatever reason. I would love to actually put my items back in their correct category but cannot currently since I believe my next strike will lead to my account deactivation.

I make $170k just on Etsy (I'm listed other places as well) a year with my items and its amazing how dehumanized this place as become over the years. I used to be able to speak to a CSR in the past with issues but now I'm relegated to throwing my issues into either an empty forum devoid of mods or into just as empty ticket system.

[hopeandjoystudios]

I am unsure how you cannot call a handmade planter box a handmade  planter box and still expect to get views and sales? I'd start relisting all my planters and see if they are still attaching as a supply?

[UppNorthEh]

You have your star seller  badge.

[hopeandjoystudios]

Update..I  tried to make a new listing yesterday for one of my husband's vintage hardware listings that was showing a defunct supply category cross post. Brand new from scratch listing.  Still  cross posted to now non existent supply categories. I just deactivated them.

[Martybugs]

I had exactly the same issue with a hand-made item - it was deactivated because it "violated creativity standards for craft supplies".  I have never listed it as craft supplies, and as far as I can see, Etsy didn't cross-list it in multiple categories.

I had similar experiences with a help request - just got useless generic feedback.

[thatregina]

Hello @Bellewooddesignsusa @TribesIronHardware @RedOakRoad and @Martybugs,

We've forwarded your reports to the correct team, so please look out for follow-ups via the tickets you submitted. Thank you for your reports, and thank you to everyone who offered insight and help here. I'll close this up now. Thanks!

[TribesIronHardware]

Hi,

It took about 8 days all together, but I happy to say that Etsy has reactivated the 2 listing that were suspended from my shop: 

"After reviewing your account, we’ve determined that one or more of your listings were suspended in error. Your listings have been reinstated and should be searchable on Etsy within the next 20 minutes."
So I think anybody who had the same problem of "violated creativity standards for craft supplies" when the main category of his items where different (mine was "Drawer knobs & pulls") and contacted Etsy's customer service, should get the same positive results.