Multiple Shops

[DopeHatsShop]

Hello,

I have a question that I cannot find an answer on and I am getting mixed feedback.

Can a shop owner have two separate, but identical shops in the same niche? There is a seller in my niche that has multiple shops with the same products, photos, descriptions, prices, ship from address, and bio. 

It seems like an easy way to manipulate the system. 

What is the actual answer on this? 

[BrimstoneHillDesigns]

I think each shop has to have different product.

But more importantly, all the items in a shop have to be handmade by you; or designed by you and produced exclusively for you by a production partner that you have to list, or a supply item used to make something.

From your About section: "We handpick our collection to feature the latest trends in headwear".

Curated collections do not fall into any of Etsy's allowed categories.

[OneEyeCatStudio]

Etsy says ....

By selling on Etsy, you agree that you will:

1. Provide honest, accurate information to Etsy and in your About section.
2. Honor your Shop Policies.
3. Ensure your shop content, such as any text, photos or videos used to represent yourself, your shop or your listings, abide by Etsy’s policies, including our Anti-Discrimination Policy.
4. Accurately represent your items in listings and listing photos.
5. Respect the intellectual property of others. If you feel someone has violated your intellectual property rights, you can report it to Etsy.
6. Not facilitate off-platform transactions.
7. Not create duplicate shops or take any other action (such as manipulating clicks, carts or sales) for the purpose of shilling, manipulating search or circumventing Etsy's policies.
8. Not coordinate pricing with other sellers.

https://www.etsy.com/legal/sellers/

[Natalya1905]

c. Managing your Etsy Shop

7. Not create duplicate shops or take any other action (such as manipulating clicks, carts or sales) for the purpose of shilling, manipulating search or circumventing Etsy's policies.

Seller Policy 

[CoquetteBath]

edited. Not a critique thread.

[CraftyCornishMaids]

etsy tous say you can't have duplicate shops,

If you find any, I would report them

[OmasFabricStash]

Does anyone remember how many identical shops those girls opened up? I think it was something like 20-30 shops. I remember the whole first page was their items. 

[UppNorthEh]

what girls?  did I miss something?

[OmasFabricStash]

Maybe 4 or 5 years ago, if I remember correctly, some friends got together and kept opening identical shops. The shop name and email was different of course but the items were identical. 
They weren’t up long before Etsy closed them and added the rule that your shops can’t sell the same items. 
They had a good idea and I don’t think it was against the rules when they did it but Etsy shut them down. I hate to think how much they paid in listing fees. 

[Natalya1905]

@OmasFabricStash 

"I hate to think how much they paid in listing fees." 

Exactly my thoughts when I see thousands of new, unfinished POD shops with hundreds of listings. 

[UppNorthEh]

what etsy says and what etsy does are rarely the same.