Listings being deactivated by Etsy

[#1]

Hello,

I started changing my listings a week ago and they started getting deactivated by Etsy. First I stopped some variations and changed the shipping profile to 2 listings and a few days later I realized that they have been deactivated. I received a generic 'no reply' e-mail stating that my items are unauthorized or a potential counterfeit. I wrote the support and am still waiting for a response (it's been 7 days now...) I thought it was because of the new shipping profile, but the other 2 listings that I made the same changes to we not deactivated. Yesterday I tried to stop some variations on other 2 listings and they also got deactivated immediately. I opened a chat with the support but they told me that they cannot help me and I have to wait for the other team to respond. Today I changed a picture and the SKU of another listing and 'Surprise!' it also got deactivated. Now 5 of my bestsellers are gone and I am afraid to make any further changes to my listings.

Does anybody else have this problem? Do you know how I can reach someone from Etsy support who can help me? 

[TBQSC]

@MariAngShop -- You still have IP issues in your shop ... NFL Team Names!

[MariAngShop]

I see, But these are not the listings that are being deactivated.

[Amaradorn]

@MariAngShop Perhaps not this time but they might be next. NFL have been known to do regular sweeps and mass takedowns.

[KissKissFlorals]

@MariAngShop -- CharminCraftDeals does not have the same issue as you (from looking at their shop). They are clearly infringing and reselling, so both will get that shop shut down. 

[CraftyCraftsCorners]

 Also you have no Policies in place which are needed if shipping to everywhere or just in own country. 

[MariAngShop]

This is also a bug that I have already contacted Etsy about. The first thing I did when I opened this shop was to add policies.

[MariAngShop]

This is also something that I have already contacted the support about. The first thing I did when I opened this shop was to add policies.

[TinTeddy]

If you are unable to add policies, you really should close the shop until you can do so.  It is a legal requirement for EU sellers to have them.  Without them, you would not be trading legally.

[CottonQuiltVonReni]

Hi, I also have the same problem. One of my best seller listing was deactivated by Etsy. I remember that i was putting one more picture to update my listing and then suddenly it was missing. I was panicked. I also received an email about my listing being review. Now im scare to add product or Updating it. My store still exist but one of my listing not. I try to send them email and got answer by a machine. So sad. I just got on my feed and so happy that i can sell my stuff continuesly but now i dont know what to do. Do you have suggestions?

[Amaradorn]

@CottonQuiltVonReni  I don't know about your listing which was deactivated - but I notice that you are selling scarves which are 'Hand-made in Indonesia'. On Etsy, you can only sell items that are handmade by YOU (the shop owner). Other categories include vintage and craft supplies. If your items do not fall into one of the 3 categories then they risk being deactivated. Repeated violations of the handmade policy may result in your shop being closed. Please read the house rules and policies for selling on Etsy.

[MariAngShop]

I have no problem adding new listings at all, just making changes to old ones, so you can try uploading. You can also chat with Etsy customer support and they will refer you to the team that deals with this. Just be prepared to wait. It's been 8 days so far and I still have no response.

[SeasideRoseCreations]

Until you get it all squared away, it's best not to keep trying to list/reactivate, etc.

Etsy has been known to shut down a shop, without further warning (the past emails and deactivations count as the warning) and once that happens, you can't open that shop or another one.

It's all in the handbook somewhere if you want to go look.

[JMOldeVintage]

Adding the link for setting up policies: 

https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-gb/articles/115014372467-How-to-Set-Up-Your-Shop-Policies?segment=sellin...

It wouldn't surprise me if there was a random glitch that affects the ability to get them set up though. You could try again. As mentioned in the article, you cannot use the app to set up policies. 

Also, last year Etsy employed bots to deactivate listings that had Designer Names in the titles, tags, etc. If you made any mention anywhere of a famous name designer, the listing was being deactivated. This would also happen when renewing or editing a current listing. (Note, do not use any logos, show names in photos either) 

If for any reason the listings you have had deactivated included designer names, used common words such as Ivory or Amber to describe color or made references to Cuba or other places with trade sanctions, etc. or mentions an Etsy prohibited item, this will be a problem.

As many have already mentioned, do not relist a deactivated item. Review them though in case something jumps out at you.
Also remember that if you receive a generic email response from Etsy that does not address the issue, be sure to reply to that email, that your problem is Not Resolved. 

[cutterstone]

I'm so sorry this is happening to you, it's very frustrating. I am having a similar problem, but I am just renewing my items and they go directly to deactivation. Not every one, but about once a week. NEVER had this happen in my 13 years of selling. I am just reporting them by sending Etsy the charge and the listing, and after a couple of days they put it back in my shop. I hope you can get this resolved soon!

[MariAngShop]

OMG, they just activate it again and this keeps happening? Wow, this is ridiculous! It is the 9th day now that nobody has gotten back to me and I was hoping that once they do, I will be able to make changes to my listings, but I guess one can dream...

[JansBitsandPieces]

They are busy making TV commercials and using our money in their pot of gold, while we wait for our refunds to get released, after being forced to use tracking...it's a wonderful life!

[MariAngShop]

So, my listing were activated with no explanation whatsoever. I opened a case 18 days ago and had 2 chats with the support. In the chat they said that I will just have to wait for the appropriate team to get to me. Nobody has read my case (I've been writing consistently in it every 2-3 days) because my shop policies are still not visible. I guess I will have to open a new case about this. The good thing is that I have been changing listings all day today and so far all of them are active! 

[BagmakerSupply]

@MariAngShop   When you say "I've been writing consistently in it every 2-3 days" I hope you have not been starting a new report. If you have then your previous reports are automatically closed by Etsy. You need to keep selecting 'I Still Need Help' or whatever the wording in your communication is to keep the issue alive.

[MariAngShop]

Oh no, I lied! 2 more deactivated today... (facepalm & massive eyeroll)

[SimplyDivineThings]

@MariAngShop you have been given fantastic advice on this thread, none of which you have followed through with. Several of those images you are selling infringe trademark laws and you still do not have seller policies set up which means you are operating illegally by selling to the EU. Also many of your listings state you are dispatching from the US which is also incorrect.

If you keep going, your entire shop will be closed permanently and there will not be the opportunity to appeal. 

[MariAngShop]

I guess you are also reading just like Etsy does. I said that I have policies and they are not visible. I have asked the support about this and they said and did nothing. I am trying to change my listings (as I said I have been doing this the whole day today) and they keep being deactivated. Thank you for the advice, but it is just not working.

I tried to take it and changed the illustrations with chanel and dior bags and they still got deactivated, so I guess this is not it. 

[TinTeddy]

You still have ones with Dior and Chanel in them.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/911893385/personalize-gifts-best-friend-gifts-for

I only looked at a few listings, and found 3 more.

And ones with university names.

I'd recommend putting your shop on vacation mode whilst you fix everything. If you keep getting hits for this, it is only a matter of time before you are closed down, or Dior/Chanel takes legal action.

Plus, if you can't get your policies in place, you can not trade online. It is a legal requirement. So again, you need to put your shop on vacation until you can fix this.

[JMOldeVintage]

@MariAngShop - Editing listings deactivated by Etsy may be a good idea, but, Do Not edit & then relist assuming you know what the problem really is.
All any of us here can do is guess as to the most probable cause. Only Etsy knows the real reason.

As for you inability to set up Shop Policies, so try & use the link I'd posted earlier in this thread. You cannot use an app. I'd go so far as to suggest you use a browser/computer. (Note I have heard of issue with Firefox & Etsy being incompatible)

If you really are having problems with setting up policies & have done all the usual "techie stuff" clearing cache, etc. contact Etsy about this issue & this only in a help ticket.

For deactivated listings, keep that problem separate. Since it appears you have already opened a help ticket, keep replying to that one until your problem is resolved.

[Former_Member]

Not sure if anyone's mentioned it yet - but are you using commercially available/useable fonts in your artwork.. or could there be an issue there as well?

[LilyGraceDesign2]

I received an email 2 days ago that Etsy had deactivated 2 of my listings and why. So yesterday I changed all 255 of my listing to not be in  violation. Today all 255 listings were deactivated from my shop and how my shop is ruined. I am a star seller with over 10,300 sales and how my shop has no listings and my customers are flipping out! as am I. I contacted Etsy and they say 7 days to get back with me. I have had to put my shop on vacation because as of now they have ruined me. My shop has been in great standing until today! no one at Etsy seems to care. They said that they sent me an email...there is no email from them..nothing!