Not vintage. Not handmade. Not a craft supply. Yet These Listings Remain Active.

[SweetVintageDesignCo]

Not vintage. Not handmade. Not a craft supply.
Yet these listings remain active.

Is Etsy relying on AI to enforce policy violations now?

As a test, I—along with three others—reported a clearly mass-produced comforter from Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic line. It was discontinued in 2022, and the seller claimed it was “handmade” and “curated” by her. I even submitted a direct Amazon link showing the identical item.

That was six months ago. The listing is still live—along with hundreds more from the same seller.

Does anyone know why Etsy doesn't care? It is so frustrating for us that follow Etsy's standards. I really wish Etsy would care. 

[audreytherese]

Etsy is a clique. They remove anything that might possibly be against policy (even if it's actually not if they bothered to take the time to look at it) while letting other complete shops whose whole business is against policy continue (like shops that only sell blank apparel, which is a direct example of what is not allowed). They probably like those comforters (I wouldn't be surprised if they're Etsy's picks), or that shop and won't remove anything no matter how direct and clearly they violate policy. 

[ByVanillaMintDesigns]

I just see masses of pencil cases and bags (yes like handbags) listed as a supply in the category "Party decor for gatherings and celebrations" or "supplies for making crafts". I give AliExpress, Shein, Temu links since these are obviously mass produced and not made by the seller and yet they are still up. Since apparently a bag is party decor?! Sigh... I give up on reporting them.

[UppNorthEh]

The supply category is still the giant loophole.  After the big to do about Creativity Standards a few weeks ago you'd think they would have closed that.  nope.

[ByVanillaMintDesigns]

@UppNorthEh yup it’s def become the big loophole. I have noticed a big shift from labelling them handmade to supply. Occasionally a designed by, but most of the time just a supply sourced by… here Etsy really should be on top of it. It’s not just new small shops. Yesterday I looked and the top two shops had more than 30k and 50k sales. 

[GlassyFields]

The supply category makes me nuts and always has because my handmade lampwork beads, which I painstakingly make one at a time, are classified as supplies along with a gazillion other things that could be picked up at the dollar store.

[bohemians]

@ByVanillaMintDesigns  It bugs me too when I see those kinds of bags listed as a supply. The ones that irk me  most are the mass manufactured 'sewing or knitting' bags that are pretty much just tote bags.

Definitely a loophole that I hope they'll start getting stricter with.

[TheVintagePineapple]

The Amazon link is probably not enough proof.  Google ''Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic'' and the first result should be her official website.  Scroll to the bottom of the page and find ''Our Family of Brands'' to see if the comforter is still being sold on that site.  There are other areas on her main site that you can search thru.  If you find it, then that particular link and her website link might work better when reporting.

[SweetVintageDesignCo]

Thank you.

[LastCentury]

Just look at the rocket scientist sellers that continually list new books as vintage and blatantly include the publishing date in the title or description or include an image of the publishing details that shows the date! You don't even need to deep dive or include a link to Amazon or the publisher. The seller gave away all the details to take it down. Low hanging fruit!

Art exhibition posters, music cds albums etc... the date is right there.

Look over there!

[timelapse]

@LastCentury - The one I had to laugh at recently was actually a real vintage item. But seller said it was from the 1980's, and the date on the item clearly showed 1998...I just chuckled to myself as I actually have one of the same things : ) 

[UppNorthEh]

Somebody came to the forums last week with a shop full of brand new Rae Dunn.  Reported more than once.  They still keep adding new merchandise.

[LastCentury]

on the plus side, the Armani fragrance reseller had his buisness shut down. (not a spelling mistake... iykyk)

[UppNorthEh]

lol.  I know the one.  Is it gone now?

[TheVintagePineapple]

@UppNorthEh  That shop went bye bye right after he tried selling the Armani cologne for the second time.  A few more reports and *poof*.

(1) Re: Allow Branded products - Page 4 - Welcome to the Etsy Community

[LastCentury]

maybe its the quantity of reselling listings that tips the scale in their favour since the Armani guy only had the 1 & his example will be the proof that etsy removes resellers. I don't know how many the Rae Dunn seller has.

[UppNorthEh]

I remember the shop and the guy and his attempt after that at buisness templates.

[UppNorthEh]

The Rae Dunn seller had 643 listings in 8 months at the time of their post.

[UppNorthEh]

Duh.  Sales, not listings.

[SweetVintageDesignCo]

@UppNorthEh that is unbelievably frustrating. I wish I had a mod or someone from Etsy answering these questions. 

[PinkCoyoteJewelry]

The powers that be don't care, so long as they make money. You know the saying, "...Money talks, and b.s. walks." An antique American saying, LOL!

[leinweberstudio]

My guess is that the comforter shop is bringing in big bucks, and there's your answer as to why it's still here.

[sharonjenkins1]

@leinweberstudio   Yes.  Along with lots of other unapproved items.

[OneEyeCatStudio]

Smells like desperation around here lately.

[SweetVintageDesignCo]

This is where people need to start reporting as not described and ask for refunds. Etsy might start paying attention! Say I bought something that I THOUGHT was handmade by the shop/seller because that is how it was listed. I find it says "made in china" and found on Temu. I would most def ask for a refund that the item was neither vintage, handmade or a craft supply and submit a link to the new item on Temu. Get my money back and be done with it. Item is taken down and seller may think twice about relisting new stuff.