has anyone had any luck with a lawyer.

[pipeworkpieces]

my Pipeworkpieces shop was forced into vacation mode like a lot of you since Wed with no reply from etsy support. 

As we all know as soon as we are put into this forced vacation mode we lose chat support from our dashboard which is unfair when you think of all the fees we pay Etsy in a year. I know I have paid them over 15k so far this year and to be treated like this is so unfair.

Etsy is my only source of income as people do not find my own website so I rely on Etsy.

Now I am wondering if anyone has ever gotten a lawyer or gone to the public media about these forced vacation closures for no valid reason ?

I would understand if we broke Etsy policy BUT when a STAR seller (We work hard to reach this status) gets put into forced vacation mode for no valid reason if we have legal recourse for loss of income. (I did see a message that Etsy said my business number was not showing in my shop which was not true as when I went to look at Etsy legal documents in my account it was there and even said verified)

So with the millions Etsy spends on advertising what if people were to start going to the media about how Etsy treats there star sellers that make Etsy the money to spend on advertising.

RANT mode over - JUST so frustrated no one from Etsy helps us when this happens.

Is it a human who pulls the switch or an algorithm of some sort with no intervention.

Since I now know the etsy mods see these posts from all of us and lock it with an apology so no one can communicate about this.

Wonder what happened to the law about free speech and expression !

Anyway my profile is on my post here please feel free to direct message me.

[hopeandjoystudios]

I think it is AI and it takes many inquiries to reach a real person which is awful. I think they hope you just give up. Yes a lawyer might get more attention. Can you imagine having to resort to a lawyer to get customer service from a large company?

[GlassPalaceArts]

I’m just about at this point also. I can’t even believe how terrible the customer service is here for sellers. 

[BlushandRosie]

@GlassPalaceArts 

Im about to get a lawyer, they are holding all my money.

I have not had a deposit since July... 

Ive been waiting on customer service for a month now.

[GlassPalaceArts]

@BlushandRosieIf you make any progress with this route can you DM me?

[BlushandRosie]

@GlassPalaceArts Im giving it another week or so and contacting a lawyer/just closing shop.

I cannot keep using a venue that wont pay me.

Never in all my years selling online, (selling since the 90's/Etsy since 2011) have I had to wait 3+ months to be paid ANY money.

Ive sold on Amazon, Ebay, Myspace, etc...

[VintageRescueSquad]

Did you receive an email or notice on your dashboard about why your shop was put on vacation?

Have you read through this, which may provide clarification? https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/14553858116759-Etsy-Asked-Me-to-Confirm-My-Seller-Info

Have you contacted etsy through the Help Center? 

Freedom of speech is protection against the government, not etsy. And I think etsy's Terms of Use prohibit legal action.

[pipeworkpieces]

It says this which is not correct as my shop tax details says verified !

Your shop will stay in Vacation Mode while we review your info

This means you won't be able to receive new orders until we finish verifying your info (which usually takes up to 48 hours after you uploaded your document). No need to do anything else right now—we'll reach out if we need more details from you.

[irmaKdesigns]

@pipeworkpieces put your website in the announcement asking people to buy directly while Etsy figures out your business number.

[pipeworkpieces]

NOT allowed they could permanantly close your etsy shop for sending people away from Etsy. I was warned about this from a fellow memeber when this happened back in Feb.

BUT my website is same as my name and some people this week have found it and loved that I lowered my prices by 15% on my own website.

So I made a few sales but not like what I do normally on my etsy shop

[irmaKdesigns]

@pipeworkpieces 

Fee avoidance is "A transaction initiated on Etsy may not be completed off of Etsy." 

Etsy is not allowing you to initiate any transactions. 

I think you'd be fine with this, "NOTE I am accepting orders on my other platforms until Etsy resolves their error."

[Arcalliq]

@pipeworkpieces 

I am now on hol mode (as Etsy is not allowing me operate legally) and I am directing customers to my website. There are no transaction to be initiated on Etsy at the moment so there is no  fee avoidance.

[pipeworkpieces]

My business number is in fact approved previously back in Feb when they did the same thing to me.

They also told me if I achieve star seller status I can not have my shop put into forced vacation mode.

NOT TRUE I have been a star seller since Feb.

[IdleTymeCreations]

My shop has been Star Seller since the beginning and I am now in FORCED VACATION MODE.

[NanaLetha]

@pipeworkpieces  fix your shop announcement. I doubt anyone would want to "bare" with you!

[pipeworkpieces]

Ooops thank you

[pipeworkpieces]

Replaced with this-Thank you for catching that!

Hello please stand by while I work with Etsy to find out why they have put my account into vacation mode. NOTE I am accepting orders on my other platforms until Etsy resolves their error.
Feel free to message me in the meantime
You can also text me at 514-***-****
Lew

[PrairiePrimitives]

@pipeworkpieces When Etsy puts a shop into forced vacation mode, there's a standard shop announcement they use. Since you're able to edit your shop announcement, are you sure you're in (or still in) forced vacation mode? 

[pipeworkpieces]

Thank you @irmaKdesigns I will modify it with your suggestion

[pipeworkpieces]

so now I see this new message when I go to change the vacation mode annmouncement.

We put your shop on pause

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.

But on main shop it says this.

Your shop will stay in Vacation Mode while we review your info

This means you won't be able to receive new orders until we finish verifying your info (which usually takes up to 48 hours after you uploaded your document). No need to do anything else right now—we'll reach out if we need more details from you.

So how confusing is this !!!!!

[PrairiePrimitives]

@pipeworkpieces See my comment above. As of right now, I can see your vacation message rather than Etsy's standard forced vacation message (which says something about filling your current orders, despite that not being true in many/most situations). 

[PrairiePrimitives]

@pipeworkpieces As for working with a lawyer, by selling on Etsy you have agreed to binding arbitration; you can probably still work with a lawyer to help navigate thru the binding arbitration process. More info here:

https://www.etsy.com/legal/terms-of-use

[EtchedinTimeLLC]

Unless you opted out of that, right?

[PrairiePrimitives]

@EtchedinTimeLLC Yes, if you've "validly opted out" it appears you can avoid binding arbitration. I just skimmed the information about this. 

[GroundZeroCreations]

@pipeworkpieces Have you by any chance had an increase in orders? That can result in Etsy putting your shop in vacation mode until those orders are fulfilled.

Are or have there been any orders that failed to meet the shipping deadline. If it was due to that, it can take a while after the final order is shipped before Etsy will reactivate.

I see you are from Canada and with the strike there, is it possible this could have something to do with it? 

@charmphilosophy Finally, I found this on another thread and wonder if it could possibly apply to you. The poster (charmphilosophy) is also a Canadian based shop. This was the problem that caused her shop issues. You may want to investigate if something similar could have happened to you.

"It asks for "Business Registration Number." I input my business number which is 9-digits + BC0001. This was incorrect. They are actually asking for your Incorporation Number, which is a 9-digit number on your Certificate of Incorporation, beginning (I assume) with your province, as mu number starts with BC."

And on a personal opinion note, I am not sure it is wise to point fingers at Etsy in your announcement. You want buyers to trust Etsy and your remark does not instill trust. As for lawyers, since you don't know exactly what is causing this it may be a bit premature to think in that vein.