Some of my listings are appearing ‘Darn looks like this item is unavailable’ to customers

[ErnestNaturally]

Hi everyone! A few days ago a customer contacted me to say that my moss listings were all showing up as unavailable when they tried to buy...I have tried deactivating and reactivating them also copying the listings, quantities are fine.... I see this is a problem that other sellers have been experiencing, and Etsy support was no help. We are a tiny store and every order matters! Could any of you take a look at our store and the first few listings of moss, are they showing as unavailable still? Or have I fixed it!

thanks so much!

claire

[NanaLetha]

There must be restrictions on where you can ship live moss.

[LeParisMetro]

I can see your tree moss and lavender. I can’t see some of your other ones. The spagham (sp?) ones. It could be that is not allowed to be imported into the US?

ETA after seeing others posts :  that could be it. I am in CA and I know this state is very picky about imports of live plants.

[ErnestNaturally]

Yes, I think your right, thank you

[ThePurplePuppy]

I do not know about other countries  but here in the US you must have a certified nursery license to ship live plants and it must be displayed outwardly on every package. My late father did this as a hobby and he had to display a copy of the license taped to the outside of the box. That said--there were still states that he could not ship to. 

Probably  your moss is restricted in those areas so that when someone in that area tried to buy they cannot. IT could be any number of reasons from invasive species to endangered species.

ETA: Yes, I think that is the problem. One of your mosses is available to me--all of the others are not.

[dianedowgill]

UK seller here. I can't buy several of your mosess or your calendula seeds.

[ErnestNaturally]

Thank for checking, I think it’s U.K. import regs, I hadn’t realised!

[ThePurplePuppy]

If it were me I would add to each listing a line saying: Some items may not be availabe in your area due to import restrictions

[ErnestNaturally]

Good idea, thanks I’ll do that

[ErnestNaturally]

Great idea, I’ll do that, thanks!

[BagmakerSupply]

@ErnestNaturally: As mentioned, it is probably import restrictions and Etsy does tend to take a "better safe than sorry" attitude about that. Remember that it is your responsibility to make sure the item you are selling complies with all laws and regulations not just where you are shipping from but also where you are shipping to.

[ErnestNaturally]

Thanks, yes it looks that way....I had better double check the restrictions to the US

[SimplyInvitingLLC]

Yes I’m getting a lot of uh-oh screens when I check, I’m in the US. I’m sure it has to do with importing live plants issues.

[ErnestNaturally]

Thanks so much for checking, I will have to double check the import rules

[JMOldeVintage]

@ErnestNaturally  - This from Etsy:  https://www.etsy.com/legal/policy/plants-herbs-seeds-and-soil/242685907951

It includes this:

Etsy restrictions on sales to the United States, Australia, and New Zealand: Certain plant-related material is restricted from import into the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. This means that, for these countries, the buyer and seller must be located in the same country for sales of the following:

• Live plants, seeds, cuttings, and bulbs that can be planted
• Soil with organic substances. This does not include non-organic potting material such as pumice, gravel, and sand.
• Organic fertilizers and soil conditioners, such as manure, compost, worm castings, worm/compost tea, sphagnum peat, grass clippings, straw, wood chips, and guano.

Buyers in the USA should not be able to purchase your moss listings and any dried flower arrangements would also be taboo.

I'm in the USA & can see your listings, clicking into your shop while here in the forums. If your listings are set correctly (category) they would not be included in search results to buyers in the US. 
However, if a buyer is interested in one of your paintings & then visits your shop they may see the moss & yes, they might have an interest. But they wouldn't be able to purchase the listing. I can see someone messaging you wondering why, even though Etsy does display "this item unavailable in your region" notice. 

[ErnestNaturally]

Thankyou so much for taking the time to help out...yes that all makes sense, I’ll check the import restrictions and tweak my listings a little, it has mainly been buyers from the US and U.K. who were experiencing the unavailable message. Thanks again! You’ve been so helpful everyone!

[ErnestNaturally]

Thanks so much everyone for taking a minute to help me! Looks like I know what’s going on now and can get it sorted.

[TimoneArt]

I don't know the law to import but  here in Spain the moss is a protected specie and it is forbidden to take it from the wild. I have tried to put it in my shopping car and Etsy let me to buy it but I think it would be blocked on customs. Take a look to the different laws by country. Good luck!

[ErnestNaturally]

Thanks for the info, yes I am aware that in some countries it is a protected species, I have posted to Spain a few times and it gets through customs ok, as I post it dried I mark it as floristry supplies instead of live plants.