Shop suddenly in vacation mode – no email, no support, can't contact Etsy

[VPFAmsterdam]

Hi Etsy,

I'm the owner of the shop VPFAmsterdam, and I have been unable to get support through any of the official channels.

My shop was suddenly placed into vacation mode without warning, email, or explanation. I've received no policy violation notice, and there’s no alert for my shop manager. Payments are up to date, and there’s no obvious listing issue.

I've tried:

• The Help Center → just loops me back to the start

• The contact form → no response for days

• Twitter/X → no DMs possible and no reply to my tweets

• Old Etsy support emails → now bounce back as unmonitored

I'm really frustrated and just want to know why my shop is in vacation mode and how to fix it or get it reviewed.

Can someone from Etsy please check the status of my shop or escalate this internally?

Thanks in advance.

[SugarTaffySoap]

@VPFAmsterdam  A bot placed your shop on vacation. If you do not see any banners from Etsy in your Finance or other sections in your dashboard. Most likely it is because your products are being sold in various countries.  Are these products handmade by you? 

[CryzalisMasksUK]

Shops are usually put on forced vacation mode if further information is required or a serious policy violation on your account.

I can see a clear creativity standards violation in your shop, all your listings are listed as "made by" this section should only be used when you make each and every item from start to finish with your own hands.

As your company is a manufacturer, everything is mass produced with the assistance of no doubt machines and a team of employees. You listings should be supplies "sourced by"

Either way, only Etsy can remove a forced vacation mode, you can only contact them via the help section, when you get to a topic, scroll down, and you will see a button "still need help" click on this and you will see a live chat option or email option. Again if you only see the email option, when you receive a automated reply, keep replying with "still need help" eventually a real person will reply

[VPFAmsterdam]

Hi! Thank you for your reply.

How do I change this? If I go to change the core data and go to 'who made this?' I get these options:

- Myself
- a member of my shop
- another company or person. 

This is now on 'myself'. Which one should it be?

Also, 'how is this item produced for you shop' is now on 'Assembled with purchased parts'. Is this correct?

[CryzalisMasksUK]

In the core details section

Who made it? 

Another company or person (as it is being manufactured and not really a shop)

What is it? 

A supply or tool to make things 

* Also, 'how is this item produced for your shop' is now on 'Assembled with purchased parts'. Is this correct? (this section disappears when it is supply)

[VPFAmsterdam]

oke, thank you so much! I will try this.

[VPFAmsterdam]

and do I need to add a production partner? The products we sell are being made here in the company

[CryzalisMasksUK]

I would just add the name of your manufacturing company.

When you contact Etsy, ask them what they require regarding the forced vacation. It could be ID related or additional information regarding what you are selling

I can not see that the item being sold is an issue when it is used by crafters as a supply.

[VPFAmsterdam]

but the manufacturing company is our company. we are the manufacturers.. 

[CryzalisMasksUK]

So put the name of your company. I can not see where else it would fit. The items are not made by your hands and the items are not vintage, so can not go in the sourced by section. 

[VPFAmsterdam]

I'm sorry, but another company or person:
→ An external company/person who's NOT a part of your company or Etsy shop.

For example, Etsy means “another company”:

- A printing company in Poland that prints and ships your designs
- A Chinese company that makes your jewelry and ships it to your customer
- A dropshipping or fulfillment company

[VPFAmsterdam]

I read:

Some people think "factory = always external = you have to choose 'another company'", but that's not trueif it's your own production process. Etsy also allows small production companies, as long as you own the designs and have control over the production process.

[CryzalisMasksUK]

then you will have to put your items in the "designed by section"

The only items allowed in the "Made by" section are items made by your hand only, without the help from anyone else or outside sources or machinery.

The AI will see that the items are mass produced and flag the listings. 

[VPFAmsterdam]

What and where is the 'designed by section?

[CryzalisMasksUK]

I think it is listed under designed by when you choose the "made by another person" 

[VPFAmsterdam]

Thanks for your input! Just to clarify: we design and manufacture our products entirely in-house, in our own factory, using our own materials and machines.

According to Etsy’s guidelines, sellers are allowed to use tools, machines, and even production partners — as long as they’re involved in the design and creation process, which we absolutely are.

Our listings clearly state that we make the items ourselves, and we’ve updated everything to reflect that accurately.

Hoping Etsy can now review and reactivate the shop. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts!