Seller ArtfulMarket is the latest shop to be shut down under confusing circumstances, according to this forum thread started by ArtfulMarket using another account. ArtfulMarket is one of Etsy’s most successful sellers, with close to 15,000 positive feedbacks, and who makes regular appearances on EtsyTools top sellers lists. At the time of this article’s publication, the ArtfulMarket shop is the “brick wall” indicating a closed account.
lynn61056 says:
I just wanted to let everyone know that I am trying to find out why my shop is gone. I have tried to contact Etsy about it and they sent me an abuse report from a customer who says they never received their order. Funny thing is I can’t find any record of the order in my PayPal account. So it appears they may have shut me down over an order that was never paid for. To all of my loyal customers I will continue to get all of your orders out from the invoices in my PayPal account until I can get this resolved. I am in shock that Etsy would shut me down considering I have almost 15,000 positive feedback. It appears there has been a BIG misunderstanding. I have sent several more emails to Etsy and have not received any response. Please be patient…I am still around!
Please note that Etsy’s version of this incident is not currently available, and ArtfulMarket’s post cannot be verified by UEN at this time.
edit by JB February 25
artfulmarket’s Etsy shop has been reinstated
As well, earlier today, seller Whatyoumacallits reported on the forum (via another account) that her shop had also been closed without warning. Their shop has since been reinstated. Whatyoumacallits has over 140 positive feedbacks and no negatives.
Edit:
A THIRD shop has been reported as closed without prior notice: Thatsmycharm, according to this thread posted by the sellers’s girlfriend (who is a top seller herself). As of February 11th, Thatsmycharm had over 1300 positive feedbacks and no negatives.
Thatsmycharm’s shop was reinstated on Saturday.
According to a statement by admin Kfarrell in this thread, this is Etsy’s notification process:
kfarrell says:
Transaction report emails go out automatically whenever a customer files a nondelivery report. The seller receives an email to let them know a report has been filed, and the buyer receives an email advising them to contact the seller directly. The emails do not assign blame to either party.If you get a notice of a nondelivery report filed against you, contact both the buyer and support ASAP with any information on when you mailed the package, how it was shipped, where it was shipped from, etc.
for previous coverage of this issue of shop closures without warning, please see these previous articles:
http://etsynews.com/584/two-seller-accounts-deleted-under-strange-cicrumstances/
http://etsynews.com/73/unwarrantedaccidental-shop-suspensions-sellers-be-warned/
http://etsynews.com/75/another-case-of-erroneous-shop-suspension/
http://etsynews.com/80/how-does-admin-handle-shop-suspensions/
http://etsynews.com/312/etsy-says-no-double-billing-has-occurred/?cp=5
(see comments, not main article)
Edit by Serena 2/22 1:30 ET:
Etsy admin daniellexo recommends the following steps to ward off surprise account closure:
1) Please make sure your email addresses are correct on file. If this address isn’t correct - we can’t contact you and neither can buyers.
2) Add support [!at] etsy.com, abuse [!at] etsy.com and billing [!at] etsy.com to your address book. This way it will not be forwarded to your spam/junk mailbox.
3) Keeping open lines of communication with Admin. We will try to contact you numerous times.
Source: Fora.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
o.m.g.
they hired MORE people.
w.t.f.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Do you think criticism will be construed more in the constructive vein if it’s finalized with one of these :) ? (which I ahborred when used in conjunction with nastiness).
February 26th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
#
363
Twisted Stitches Says:
February 26th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Someone should also bring out that it’s not just about shop closings, but Etsy muting people who speak out for those who get their shops closed.
______________
See if consumerist will pick up on it - after all, it’s related to the article…
February 26th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Keep those lips stitched, baby, or someone will stitch ‘em for you.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I can tell you I was warned about posting “misinformation” in the consumerist thread when I called them to the carpet about calling the closed shop sellers liars. It was implied that I could not have a clue into what really happened and to keep my opinions to myself unless they were constructive and helpful.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
A fourth person has been muted for a comment in the same thread Kelly and VeryBigJen were muted for.
When she responded to the notification email by stating her personal opinion, the muting was increased to a full month.
So be warned - Etsy is willing to mute you for a month simply for stating your personal opinion in a private email.
IMO, this is a serious abuse of power.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
hahahaha
yes, as a matter of fact i am! seems only fair.
rotflmao
February 26th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Wait, ohmyohmy, are you suggesting Etsy should have proof of delivery for the emails they send?
February 26th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
p.s.
why have a feedback system at all if they aren’t going to let that system work as it’s intended? if a seller gets a handful of negatives then buyers can decided for themselves what to do. there was an etsy t-shirt seller who went for months with abysmal feedback and they didn’t do a thing about him. why are they now closing people for one issue? worse, why don’t they have proper systems in place to avoid closing people by mistake?
question for computer geeks. the new line seems to be implying “we sent an email and never heard back from the seller.” so doesn’t etsy have detailed delivery status reports about the activity on their email server(s)? if an email bounces why not send a conversation?
why have forums at all if they are only going to allow certain types of conversations? if only certain types of information is allowed then make it an announcement board only and don’t allow comments.
why integrate paypal if they aren’t going to let that system work as it’s intended?
honestly, why are they making everything so difficult for themselves?
February 26th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Oh wait.. they were speaking to me….