Update to my FORCED Vacation mode (some progress, store still closed)....

[KinsmanTradingCo]

As many other sellers have reported, my store was also shut down on Dec 14th and put into a forced vacation mode. After attempting to reach Etsy with no success or response, I turned to the forums here. An Etsy mod closed my thread (which stops users from responding) stating that they would reach out to me. Etsy did indeed reach out to me and requested documents including my driver's license and a copy of my business registration which I promptly provided.

Finally, Etsy emailed me around 2am this morning letting me know that my identity has been verified and I can start receiving payments again. Problem is though, my store is still in VACATION mode... Under business verification documents it states that there is "Action required" but it gives me no information on what else I need to do or provide. I have given Etsy everything they have requested, I can clearly see the documentation that I already uploaded in my Legal / Tax Information tab, everything matches as it should. I have no problems with any other platform I sell on or payment processing accounts (Stripe, PayPal, etc)...

Please also keep in mind, I've been selling on Etsy for years now. My name has not changed, my bank account, EIN, my driver's license, everything is the same. Everything I've provided Etsy with is information they already had. I don't know what happened here, if this was some kind of massive hack or attack, but I am just thankful that many of my loyal customers were able to find me on alternative platforms. If I was relying solely on Etsy as my only source of income, this would've absolutely devasted my family financially right before Christmas. 

Etsy, PLEASE, get this issue resolved. I have been a loyal seller (and shareholder) for years, but something is very much broken on Etsy's end and needs to be fixed....

[PrairiePrimitives]

@KinsmanTradingCo If it helps, I've seen a few other similar posts from sellers being told that everything's in order but they're still on forced vacation. Glad you have other places to sell!

[KinsmanTradingCo]

Yes, I also see quite a few stores are still shut down. I can't believe how many have been impacted by this right in the middle of the holiday shopping season.

[JJewellerySuppliesUK]

It is a scandal for sure!!  There can be no justification to close people's shops to verify information.  Nothing is ever clear, people are left hanging wondering what went wrong and if they need to do something else and when they reach out they are simply ignored!  How can this be happening on Etsy when it doesn't happen anywhere else?

[KinsmanTradingCo]

I'm not sure what's going on, I just wish Etsy would at least communicate with it's sellers. We don't deserve to be ignored and treated like we are the ones who did something wrong here.

[eveandwildco]

I'm experiencing this too! Many other sellers have recommended the following: checking and removing any expired card on file, listing all the shops you own in your shop profile about section, reviewing your tax and legal documentation is correct and corresponds with companies house. I'm still in holiday mode, yet doing the above, but some shops have said this helps

[KinsmanTradingCo]

I have heard some shops having success re-opening after providing documentation. I've gone through and everything looks good on my end and provided Etsy with everything they've asked for. I have no idea what else I can do. 

[PawsPrintLove]

@KinsmanTradingCo I'm in the exact same boat as you! After a mod saw my post and closed it, I got an email stating they need a drivers license verification. I too have been selling on Etsy for quite awhile (7 years) and nothing has changed for me except for bank info which was a couple of years ago. I resubmitted my drivers license information again per the email. There was no "Action Required" on that page for me. The only thing I can think of is that my driver's license expired during that 7 year period and they wanted a new photo on file?

Thankfully I sell on my own website as well. I was doing well on Etsy this holiday which is a shame but I think I'll be leaning more towards advertising my website. 

[KinsmanTradingCo]

It is a shame, Etsy was really going well this year for me too. I have noticed a pretty significant uptick in sales on my other platforms though. I'm guessing Etsy lost a LOT of money doing this. They're essentially sending customers away from Etsy and to other marketplaces. Wouldn't surprise me though if this ends up making the news...

[PawsPrintLove]

@KinsmanTradingCo Maybe you're right about the news part. You know, I hate to think this. But there are red flags. At first, when Etsy put my shop on forced vacation mode, they stated under my "Vacation Options" tab the following: 

"To help you manage your current orders and keep your shop in good standing, we’ve temporarily paused your shop. During this time, buyers will see your shop in vacation mode."

I was never behind sending out orders. In fact, I was only getting new orders over the weekend which I processed Sunday night. All other orders were sent out already last week. I only had 6 new orders come in over the weekend as it usually trickles down a bit this time. And again, I processed those (packaged items and printed shipping labels for Monday morning to send out.) The mere fact that many shops were forced on vacation mode is odd.

For me, it went from that explanation to I need to show proof of a driver's license which I submitted again. Now I have a lot of yellow boxes on my dashboard saying they couldn't verify my ID and if I don't verify in 60 days, I'm not getting my funds. In fact, all of us on vacation mode are not elgible to getting their funds. At least I wasn't. They are on "temporary hold."

Is this a glitch or because they can't pay out right now? There was an issue with their bank a couple of years ago. They rectified it quickly. Again, I hate to speculate but it's awfully weird that we were in compliance with tax information and ID's then all of a sudden we're not down to how we process orders. We're both experienced shop owners.  

Maybe I'm reading too much into this. Right now, I have 2 yellow boxes on my dashboard saying they can't verify my ID and when I go check under my legal information, there is the green little badge that says "verified." Something doesn't jive.

[CastleRocksCornwall]

They might have lost a lot of money but can you imagine the amount of interest they gained on holding on to our money for such a long time?
I hope it does make the news. Etsy should be ashamed

[KinsmanTradingCo · Accepted solution]

Etsy finally re-opened my store. I didn't have to upload anything else, they finally decided I was good to go I guess. Good luck everyone!

[pipeworkpieces]

congrats !!!

Now lets hope they do the same for the rest of us

[pipeworkpieces]

I keep uploading new information and I am in the same boat been selling for over 4 years and nothing has changed yet they keep saying my documents are missing my business number but yet I see it in the section of tax and legal documents. What a run a round !!! And every time I reply to the email it takes another 24 hours before they reply back.

[Webmizz1]

We rely on this holiday season which is when we make most of our money.  Etsy will not respond and they are holding my funds too.  Nothing has changed on our end.  This so stressful.    

[pipeworkpieces]

I agree. I count on my Monday weekly deposits and they are holding it in reserve now.

As a star seller or any other seller they should not have this right to hold our money .

[TheLittleSpruceHome]

Congrats on getting your shop re-opened! I am trying everything to get a response from Etsy, but aside from an initial email asking me to upload a business verification document, I have heard nothing else. This is really disheartening

[pipeworkpieces]

great message for the vacation mode !

[DjaziaJewelry]

My shop has been closed since Sunday. No email, no response, no nothing. Very unprofessional smh

[CastleRocksCornwall]

Same here - Loyal etsy shop owner, star seller, legally compliant - never any problems. This Monday - same as you. I'm devastated. How can this happen on the one week of the year we all rely on this revenue. Etsy... how can you let this happen?

[CastleRocksCornwall]

We are now being silenced. Turning off comments is not how to get things sorted. It's disrespectful and shutting our voice down.

[HummingbirdCraftsLLC]

I hope my shop issue is resolved soon. My shop has been in forced vacation mode for three weeks.  I keep uploading info and they say they verified stuff and keep asking for more. It started with verification on taxpayer id, then more and more and more. The Etsy Trust and Safety department emails are nasty and not very business friendly.  You can not call anyone and I have opened a ticket still out...only to be ignored several times. I now just want to get back on to close my shop because I really tired of dealing with this.  Have heard nothing and have asked them to let me close my shop several times. I have been selling on Etsy since 2015. I just keep getting the stupid "pending verification review" comment. Each time you upload anything or comment it takes Etsy 2-5 business days just to respond.