My own listing tells me this if i try to view it: Sorry, this item is unavailable in your region.

[TheReproPropShop]

Hi,

so i have been listing for almost a year now and suddenly one of my items that i relist list constantly tells me this as of today: Sorry, this item is unavailable in your region.

i only make and ship within the UK. my region is set to UK so i don't know what is going on here. can anyone help?

[BlackCatTheory]

Can't sell knives in the UK anymore. You must be over 18 and Etsy can't verify the buyer's age so they deactivate all in the UK. Kinda dumb, because porn sites operate just fine LOL

[TheReproPropShop]

Oh lovely, eventhough it isn't actually a knife, it's a prop and is 3mm thick and has no blade edge at all as specified in the listing. URGH.

[EvasFeathers]

Maybe repost it but remove all mention of the word 'knife?'  However it's really hard to deal with Etsy, seems they will never back down, they said my rainbow colored magnets were a 'weapon' and deactivated my listing and refused my complaint to the contrary. I even checked google and there is no type of weapon of that nature, they aren't even strong magnets and magnets are allowed on Etsy.  The whole thing was ridiculous.  

[PrimFun]

Contact Etsy and tell them it is for cosplay and then make sure to list it that way.  That it can only be used as a prop and not a real knife.

[Marmalady]

It is Etsy's blanket reaction to a TV programme earlier this week slating Etsy for selling knives illegally

Rather than distinguishing between knives that can and can't be sold in the UK, they have made all knives unavailable for UK buyers.

They may or may not eventually review the listings and allow the legal ones to be sold again -- but as they have made no statement about this, it cannot be guaranteed

[ReiverVintage]

They are also barring selling vintage spoons and forks, boxed sets.  This is absolutely unfathomable.  I have messaged them today but expect this will once again be a 'blanket' approach, regardless of legislation and rationale.   I expect to receive a uniform and immovable response, probably after 7-10 days!

[PrimFun]

edited by me as I gave a another response below 

(BTW, you may wish to add compliant UK policies.  Without them you risk losing cases and seller protection.)

[KatieGreenVintage]

I sell vintage cutlery (amongst other items) and I also note that while Etsy take my booking fee I'm unable to sell these items as I only post these with the UK. I contacted Etsy about the same problem three days ago and I'm waiting for a response. 

[ReiverVintage]

They seem to be breaching UK Government guidance which is a concern. See  Sale of knives: voluntary agreement by retailers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  Cutlery is explicitly outside this guidance. This approach from a US platform trading in the UK seems ignorant of UK Governmental guidelines.  I have asked for a refund on listings fees because the majority of my trade is within the UK and they are blocking UK-based buyers explicitly.  In my experience you may get a response from the host at +7 days, if you're lucky! The other frustration for sellers is that you cannot raise an issue unless it is listed in their proposed categories. This falls outside...of course.

[PrimFun]

This is the way Etsy works.  They apply a BOT to take down all knives.  Then a human reviews.  If it is cutlery it is returned. 

The article does not exclude cutlery.  It just says all knives.  IF the article was to exclude cutlery and say so then the cutlery will be returned.  

THis is an error on the part of your government, not Etsy.  For they are following the law. 

[ReiverVintage]

I've raised this issue with Penny Mordaunt, MP, who might have more time, now as Minister for Trade, to look at the issue of non UK-based platforms imposing bans on UK based Sellers and Buyers, misinterpreting UK legislation and guidance. I've also raised the issue of the lack of direct line (email or telephone) with Etsy meaning Buyers, and Sellers, in the UK aren't given the protection we need under the CRA.  Their current approach limits the 'enquiry areas' to a drop down list. Needless to say, the issue in this thread isn't a listed issue so can't be raised.

[ReiverVintage]

I've contacted Penny Mordaunt this evening as UK Trade Minister to review this issue and take up with Etsy's Directors. I've also emailed Josh Silverman, CEO/Etsy.