Not feeling part of the community

[VintagexzWasNMore]

I am Distressed at the treatment I feel I have received. Once again, the second time out of my short 4 1/2 weeks being on Etsy has a listing of mine been accused of policy violation. Simple mistakes I made that were dealt with by a heavy hand with no real ability for appeal? I was not directly contacted on Etsy or made aware of my violation until I got on to the app to see my add deactivated. No chance for discussion or a chance to simply fix my mistake instead I have been labeled a policy violator and cannot even use the new explore feature to advertise my shop because I have been given no chances by Etsy.

Personally, I feel picked on and left out in the cold so to speak. I understand it's our responsibility to learn and comply with Etsy policy, but I only just recently learned after all this time how to even properly navigate this site let alone had the time to apparently memorize every word in the list of what seems like a never ending million-page essay on how you can be a violator.

Where is the inclusiveness and support for the little person Etsy talks about?? Because I have received none and honestly cannot see how this company can continue to act as if discrimination is aggressively forbidden when I personally feel discriminated against by Esty for simply being new and ignorant of every detail. How are these actions against me justified? How can you not support us, give us at least one chance to correct a mistake or the ability to be consulted by a member of Etsy about the specific rule instead of making us feel rejected and left to fend for ourselves.

Waiting in fear that something we put everything we had into might get arbitrarily terminated because you can't memorize everything. I cannot be the only new Etsy seller who has been treated or feels this way. I am in so much distress over this and Etsy knows because I made sure, and nobody has reached out to me in anyway shape or form. How all this has been handled is simply not ok and as far as I am concerned shows Etsy as not complying with its own statements of inclusiveness and anti-discrimination

[CuriosAnCollectibles]

Etsy is a large, national company, it doesn't have the time, resources or inclination to micro-manage or hand hold sellers, old or new.

It's really up to the individual to know what is and isn't acceptable on the platforms they use. 

[VintagexzWasNMore]

So, you are ok with them treating me this way. no chances no options nothing. I am just supposed to come on fend for myself and fail if I fail. that even more makes me feel that things are not the way its claimed to be.

[CuriosAnCollectibles]

@VintagexzWasNMore

Unfortunately that's the way of business. You won't hire space in an antiques mall, and find the owner of the space helping unit holders.

Anyone who starts up a business is basically on their own that's why so many fail in the first 12 months. 

If you're going to succeed you have to take responsibility for your own choices, as does every other seller here,we all have to fend for ourselves as no one else is going to. 

This is the reality of business although you may find it harsh.

As for Etsy I doubt there are many sellers who haven't been frustrated by them on more than one occasion. 

[Amaradorn]

@VintagexzWasNMore they treat everyone the same way - you are not being singled out. But I can assure you that your frustration is felt by many.

[Adorabilities]

What item was taken down? We might be able to guess what the problem was.

Sellers get items deactivated here all the time, no matter the age of the shop. Sometimes it's a justified takedown, other times it's not. You're not alone in that regard. 

[VintagexzWasNMore]

It was a Tigers Eye Stone Necklace

[Adorabilities]

Did you use the word amber anywhere? 

[WhatsNewPussycat1]

How long was the item listed before it was removed?

[VintagexzWasNMore]

It has an amber colored crystal in its center

[Adorabilities]

If you had the word amber anywhere in the listing, that's the reason. Supposedly the listing may be reinstated if a human looks it over and sees that it doesn't actually violate any rules.

[VintagexzWasNMore]

I do not remember how long all i remember is being terrified of being terminated and Esty does not seem to care

[WhatsNewPussycat1]

Time frame helps in figuring out bots or one of your fellow etsy users,but yours was probably bots due to the word amber. My personal best is under 2 mins...

[Amaradorn]

Hi Thomas, Welcome to the Etsy forums. I'm sorry you feel that way. It can indeed feel daunting when faced with so many new rules (some seemingly unwritten). Everyday I see sellers here who are confused with the way things work here and exasperated with the lack of helpful communication from Etsy. Etsy make the rules, it's their 'playground', and they can also change over night. It's difficult to keep up. What I find helps is reading the forums regularly and seeing what advice is given to others by other sellers (not all of it is correct however but when you've been here a while you will work out who knows what they are talking about). The advice you will get in the forums will often be blunt but most of it is helpful and worth knowing.

[VintagexzWasNMore]

I have not asked to be led by the hand I seemly want to be treated fairly and given a chance I cannot possibly learn every single policy in such a short amount of time

[VintagexzWasNMore]

I feel completely disregarded that is not what Etsy states it is all about. It claims to stand for the little guy and fight discrimination but simply because i am ignorant I have been treated poorly it's not right no matter if your one person or an international company everybody must be held accountable.

[WhatsNewPussycat1]

On etsy there is perceived reality and reality and they are worlds apart once you realize that it makes the task at hand easier to deal with.... 

[JackisJustVintage]

When I used amber as a color on a piece of jewelry, it was deactivated. Etsy reactivated it a couple of days later. Try not to take this as a personal attack. Yes, Etsy could be a little more clear on why a listing was taken down, but this seems to be how they address things. They leave it up to us to figure things out. You are not alone, and again, it is not personal. Hope you feel better about things!

[VintagexzWasNMore]

Thank you, Jack, however I have never been one to to take things like this. I refuse to be treated like I am not giving this company money only to be treated with no respect or answers. how can people simply just accept that. Etsy exists because of its community of sellers not the other way around.

[JackisJustVintage]

@VintagexzWasNMore  I guess only you can decide what you can or cannot accept. I just would hate to see you give up on your shop because of this. You have some nice pieces and you are just getting started. I wish you the best in whatever you choose to do.

[VintagexzWasNMore]

I will never give up, but I will not let this matter go. I will bring it up every time I see it or experience it. This should not be the normal and nobody should be made to believe or feel that have no choice but to accept such things.

[WhatsNewPussycat1]

@VintagexzWasNMore  How many other sites do you list items on? I list on four other sites and this place is a walk in the park compared to the others. I do have to give them a D- for communication,but I don't expect champagne service when the place is ran on a beer budget...

[GlassSlippersByJane]

VintagexWasNMore I read your post with interest. However upsetting this is, it is not a personal thing. Many of us get things taken down from time to time without explanation. Usually the forum can help with that. I have had four removals now - one was amber, the other three were re-instated once a human had looked at them. Selling on Etsy has many idiosyncrasies, sometimes they are annoying. but it's just a platform to use to sell things. There are others if this one doesn't suit you. But please don't waste energy getting upset. It's not worth it. 

[nineteen27]

you have no idea how many sellers have had their items deactivated for using the word amber.

lots.

even a seller with the name amber was having issues.

you are not being singled out and you cannot take it personally that a bot has removed your listing.

[VintagexzWasNMore]

Everyone keeps responding like I am asking for a private jet when I simply want to be treated like a person. Thats not to much or a crazy request. stop acting like it is. people should be treated like people.