Listings are automatically getting de-activated by Esty

[Mercatura]

I sell coins.

My last listing was a 1945 US Walking Liberty half dollar. I mention the historical events that occured at the end of world war II and was instantly deactivated?

Here is what I wrote: "The year of this coin, 1945, marks a pivotal point in U.S. history as it is the end of World War II. It is a year filled with important events including the Yalta Conference, the battle of Iwo Jima, the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the initial charter of the United Nations".

I suspect it may be my mention of the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima (???). It is not an opinion but just stated as a fact. Why should this part of history be banned?

Earlier, I had also listed an American silver round referring to the accomplishments of John F. Kennedy. This round referred to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Just mentioning Cuba and the fact that the round depicted the Island, the listing was deactivated.

It seems to me that whatever algorithm is used to de-list items is overly aggressive and prevents anyone from covering important historical facts.

This is extremely frustrating as I find I have to completely re-list my items and somehow edit my descriptions hoping i can find whatever offends the algorithm!!!!

[Vintorious]

Others have had this problem as well: you aren't alone. I have seen some comments saying that when you try to relist the same thing, it may trigger another takedown, which can be a bigger problem for your shop. I suggest contacting Etsy support to have a human review the listings that were taken down so that they can be reinstated (rather than relisted by you).

[NanaLetha]

The Cuba one is obvious - trade embargo!

[BagmakerSupply]

@Mercatura: It is almost impossible to speculate on why a particular listing was deactivated, but Etsy is cracking down on what they feel inappropriate. Reselling and copyright and trademark infringements is a always large factor, but it also seems that the bots are looking for trigger words with no consideration for context. The classic example is if you say an item is ivory colored the listing may get flagged because ivory is not allowed to be sold on Etsy. Since Etsy is now also factoring descriptions in search, they along with titles, tags, and materials (and possibly even alt tags if you are using them) are all probably being checked. And the bots are also "reading" images. Plus we do not know what combination of possibly multiple factors constitute the trigger that flagged your listing.

"... algorithm is used to de-list items is overly aggressive ..." Etsy's 2022 Transparency Report says "In 2022, potentially non-compliant content was flagged 36 million times ... In total, we removed 1.9 million listings for violating our policies ...". This would translate as a 94% false positive rate.

[OneEyeCatStudio]

While Etsy used to use embrace the motto  Keeping Commerce Human  it is now pretty much run by bots.

It is a difficult trick, but you can try to get a human to look at your listing and reinstate it.

[ArtDollsbyJD]

A human needs to look at the items and decide whether or not they can be sold due to words being used.  It may take several days.

[Mercatura]

How do you get a human to review these listings?

[HandyNat]

In my experience any history that even mentions places such as Russia, Cuba, Iran and any others that are related to any “conflict area” will trigger a takedown by a bot or “trust & safety team “! 

[steelhipdesign]

Even if Etsy suddenly bumped up it's staff by 300%, some preliminary site policing/filtering must be automated.  Bots are essentially pretty dumb - they can't read context at all.  Your descriptions may be using the word "bomb" in a innocent historical context, there are sellers who may use the same word nefariously, describing a prohibited product. 

While it's great you are teaching the history around your coins, you are going to use words that trip a range of automatic filters.  You have to ask yourself if the historical description is worth the aggravation compared to the added value, if any, they are generating.  I suspect it's just not worth it the time and inconvenience.  You can always link to the relevant history within the listing.  

[VintageRescueSquad]

Buyers of collectible coins probably don't need that information. I would advise being LESS descriptive of controversial events, countries, etc.

[ACertainFeel]

I was thinking same thing. Collectors of coins just need the pics and the pics are great!

[hopeandjoystudios]

I'd quit adding historical facts if that is causing deactivations. That would be the easiest route. I would think most of your customers already know the history.

[LaRenaissanceGirl]

I agree with the above about eliminating historical facts from your listing… If you really want to include them, you could type up and print a little note card to include with the shipment as part of the packaging.

[FallenAngelBrass]

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@Mercatura wrote:

I have to completely re-list my items and somehow edit my descriptions hoping i can find whatever offends the algorithm!!!

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Yup.  I've had to heavily edit and re-work many of my benign listings to please the bots.  I'd much rather omit known bot triggers than get into a cage match with the deactivation bots again.  Welcome to today's Etsy.   Waiting for a human to review and hopefully re-activate a listing can take up to four months, if a human gets involved at all.  

[LynnsLittleShop]

@Mercatura you need to go to this help article:

 Why Was My Listing Removed by Etsy? – Etsy Help

scroll down to the bottom where it says did this help? click No, then I would rather speak with Etsy support. You may get a canned reply but just keep clicking on the I need more help, until you get a human to help you.