Anybody listing on Etsy? Beware...

[Sabine]

I just had an email from Etsy where I list parts of my shop inventory to say that apparently I didn't comply with their new rules and they just removed my whole shop from their listings! That's it! Just went and did it. No warnings, no nothing.

They were quite happy to take my money - and it's not cheap.

6 weeks ago they sent out an email to everybody saying that one had to make it clear how the goods one displays on there were made. I chose "handmade" as this was one of the options they offered me. There was not mention in their email that one had to go back and inform them when those changes were completed.

I think it is highly illegal what they are doing. They should go and check if one complied before just removing the whole shop. And then they should give a warning that the shop will be removed before just doing it.
Also their instruction should be much clearer, stating that one had to email them once the amendments have been made. Just goes to show what happens when a portal grows to big for their own shoes. They seem to think they are Google and can do what they like.

I bet there will be a lawsuit by one of the Americans advertising their goods on there as I can't imagine that some of the large stores like being treated like that....

[Rachel @ Kiss-and-Make-up]

oooh that's nasty isn't it? think I'll steer clear of etsy.

[Sabine]

Update: They just contacted me to say that they'd reconsider if I answered a few questions like "it seem the goods you are selling aren't handmade". Pleaaassee. Have a look at my listings BEFORE you make silly comments. They may be fairtrade (which is a tag provided by Etsy and it says in their t&cs that fairtrade items are welcome !) but they are handmade. Each single one. I am not selling Primark or Asda t-shirts....I keep you posted.

[Rachel @ Kiss-and-Make-up]

makes you wonder if a computer does the pulling rather than a human being doesn't it?

[Sabine]

The latest news is now that they are banning me because I myself did not make the items. That's fair enough but really why include a tag "fairtrade". I remember having read in their t&cs when I first joined that they welcomed fairtrade items. They have now changed their t&cs.
The best part of the email I received was that one : "feel free to report any shops you come across that may be in violation of our policies". Eh, no. I run an ethical business not a grass-others-up-because-I-wasn't-allowed-to-list organisation.

[Nikki - Web Mums]

Did you get much business from listing on Etsy Sabine?

[Sabine]

Hig value orders were starting to come in just recently. As with all listings on portals, it needs time and a little patience and I was looking forward to it all. Never mind, I shall go where my business is welcome - Web Mums Mall for example :-))

[Rachel @ Kiss-and-Make-up]

well it's their loss! foolish t&c's really!!

[Yvette Segal]

I don't know anything about Etsy having never used it but this sounds ridiculous to me. You are better off somewhere else as you say by the sounds of things.

[Sabine]

Hi everybody and thanks for your comments. I think it's all fair enough if they make it clear right from day one that I myself must have made the times. What I still don't understand is how "fairtrade" items can be made by myself. It's not as if I was hiding anything, I had text and description about Cebra and what I do on the Etsy site and I complied with their terms & conditions by adding the appropriate tags. I think what has happened is that they had an insurge of people selling stuff that where neither fairtrade nor handmade and they decided to tighten their rules. However, to take money of me for listings, let me advertise on their homepage and elsewhere and then just go and withdraw my listing without further explanation is a bit naughty. I think that is what's upsetting and unsettling and not very professional on their part.

[Sabine]

Sorry about the typos above...was in a rush to go out.