We owned a store on ETSY.
Followed the ETSY rules and paid all our fees to them.
3 times they deactivated our store while we were still shipping to our buyers using ETSY's Direct Checkout Portal ( buyers use this Direct Checkout to pay for items purchased using their credit cards such as visa, master card, discover card, etc.). Etsy would freakishly and wantonly, and we are not kidding here, deactivate the whole listing, not just an item they have questions about. AND, they deactivate the site without notice, without explanations. Yet, we had a 100% Positive feedback.
They are actual dictators. If you have ever heard of Civil or Constitutional Rights prior to selling on ETSY, forget all of that. They have resurrected the meaning of "Mafia Style".
You as a seller will, without notice, be shutt off and out.
So, by the way, will the buyers, who now are confused like h**l.
Then, one Etsy staff, say Lindsay, would re-activate the account after they finally email you that "you contacted another seller who favored or liked your products". Since, you never were warned, even when the other seller contacted you first, ETSY, says "Don't do that again".
A few days later, a Eliza, another staff, comes right back and shut us down again.
Again, without reason. Again all the shop. Finally, we inquired why we were suddenly shut out of our shop and the whole account deactivated?
AND, we sent no letters to "favored" buyers or other sellers.
Eliza, being apparently confused, arrogant, ignorant and yet stupendously freakish like one on Methamphetamine, finally, after a few days, replied " you violated ETSY rules" .
Something like that.
No we didn't. We never contacted buyers or sellers who "favored" our products.
Please, show us proof of any violations whatsoever.
We never heard back from them.
Our months of hard work of listing items, went down the drains. Etsy would comandeer your intellectual properties ( for themselves) in a whim: Product Photos, Description, Videos, and Tax and Sales Records to themselves. The US Attorney General should most speedily, get involved and start interviewing sellers. This company ETSY, has absolutely no ideas what Civil Rights, Constitutional Rights and Consumer Rights are all about. Ever heard of the word "RAPE"? That is what it feels like to many victimized sellers. We know of two other Seller-Victims and more who are languishing in silence being so misused and abused. Yet, afraid no one would listen to them.
Of course, Class Action against ETSY, is the least ETSY deserves.
They not only believe they are above the law, we believe, they have made it their mantra.
We could write a book on this company's draconian violations.
You can also sense some of their apparent racist propensities, depending on who is processing your support ticket. You, as a seller will lose, all rights to working and controlling your account, reaching customers, your records and shop, as they shut you down and out.
We were shut down when an overseas Seller was trying to extort money from us by promising "Negative Feedback" unless we paid "double or twice" on the same product.
When we sent ETSY this inhumane demand, Eliza, shut us down ..... without reason.
After a few days of trying to know what happened, Eliza said , "you contacted other Etsy members who favored your products". Remember, we already dealt with that. Got reactivated.
We NEVER contacted again others who "favored" our products.
And, we are absolutely sure he or she knew that. How? We referred Eliza to Lindsay their co-staff who resolved that tiny issue. It should never have been an issue either. She told us we were good to go again. Plus, we sent, well, re-sent, proofs too. And, we asked Eliza to please produce their own proof on any subsequent violations, and of course, we never heard again from them.
Now we only reported what we believed to be an undercurrent criminal activity.
Instead of thanking us or investigating, ETSY never acknowledged the 4 attempts we made to gain ETSY's attention and help. They instead, shut us down!
Guess, if you are crooked and conniving, you possibly can hang in there with ETSY.
But remember, even so, there is no honor among the ETSY thieves either.
Wham Bam, you are shut down without notice! Without warning.
And, remember, they for now, hide their heinous and probable criminal activities well, after all, they shut you down and keep all your bounty to and for themselves; they have no Street Address available to you as a seller or buyer; no phone or fax numbers; and, no live chats.
A compendium of layers of shield to carry out ........ "you" fill in the blanks.
If ETSY is the last place you need to go as a seller, don't!
Take sometime, build your website or go else where. But best of all, build and grow your own website. Yes, it will grow, buyers will come. Just know your niche and be nice.
Thanks and don't be afraid to come out and join us to bring justice against this economic nemesis:ETSY.