Seller Peldyn was muted for 24 hours for a comment left in this now-closed thread regarding shop closures. Upon receiving the notification email, she sent a return email:
I posted what I did because I could not let your continued ignorance slide. You did not go to business school, yet you profess to know what business standards are, you did not go to law school yet you profess to know how laws are applied in a courtroom during a trial. You only make yourself and Etsy look stupid. Think before pressing the post button and you will make people a lot more happier.
Oh and it was not an attack, but a statement of fact.
[Please note that this email is the seller’s property and is reprinted with her permission. The contents are her own opinion and publication here does not imply endorsement or agreement by UEN.]
In response to that email, the admin increased her muting to a month for “personal attacks”. She was also told that if she continued, “further measures” would be taken. Please note UEN cannot reprint the email from admin due to their non-disclosure policy regarding admin communications.
In response, Peldyn sent this email:
So you forum mute me for an additional 29 days for an
e-mail? I could see that if this was in the forum, but this
is not the forum. This is a personal communication between
you and me, you did not even use the convo system. I rarely
post in the forums anyways and the reason I posted in the
first place was because of the misinformation that you were
broadcasting. Do you not see what you are doing? It is so
easy to place the blame on others and not look to yourself.
You are supposed to be in a position of helping people and
moderating but unfortunately you are doing the opposite. You
are alienating those very people you are supposed to be
helping. Community has become meaningless.
In response she was told to take further complaints to Rob Kalin (Rokali) at rob@etsy.com.
The Communications section of Etsy’s Dos and Don’ts does not address conduct via email, only convos and the forum. Muting is addressed in this statement:
If a user continually breaks rules, that user’s ability to post in the forums may be suspended or Etsy account(s) terminated.
Consequences of breaking Etsy’s rules are addressed in this statment:
What are the consequences for breaking Etsy’s rules?
First and foremost, we try to work things out with users personally and privately. If this is not successful, Customer Support will issue an official warning letter. If the warning is not effective in curbing rule-breaking behavior, site abilities may be limited or an account may be terminated.
update by JB, Feb 27, 2008
Peldyn has been unmuted.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
artfulmarket I am so glad you finally got an apology from them. Whatyoumacallits posted yesterday that she has also gotten an apology and has been unmuted in the forums. Etsy has admitted (to the sellers at least, but not publicly) that both shop closures were mistakes. I don’t know any more details about the third closed shop, thatsmycharm, other than it being reopened.
I think the private apologies may be the most closure we can expect, it doesn’t look like Etsy will publish a public retraction.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I still have my site on Etsy
http://www.artfulmarket.etsy.com
I am also working on an independent website also. I am still in the process of putting all of my inventory on it. It will be easier to find what you are looking for because I have many more categories and a great search feature. You can purchase from it now or register and I will keep you updated.
http://www.artfulmarket.com
I also have started an artists network for anyone who is interested in joining.
http://artfulmarket.ning.com/
I did hear from Etsy about the closing of my shop. They let me know that they are reviewing and revising policies as a result of what happened and were very apologetic. Closing my shop by mistake has caused them to review and revise their policies. Even though the event was a bit stressful for me, it has all worked out for the best.
March 11th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Are there any updates on any of this?
Also, I do hope sellers like artfulmarket create and/or maintain a website outside of Etsy…especially if Etsy income pays the bills.
March 8th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I just read through that closed forum thread.
I find it highly ironic that daniellexo is a NON-DELIVERING SELLER and is dispensing advice on having proof of shipping, etc!
Check out all the horrible feedback on one of her shops.
http://www.etsy.com/feedback_public.php?user_id=45633
Everything from complaints about products, to terribly late shipping, omg i can’t even read any more.
Unfrickinreal! The hypocrisy!
I’m appalled and disgusted. THIS is their idea of ADMIN?!
March 4th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
You know, I always had this image of a rosy cheeked grandmotherly type behind the CountryBaker name, even as far back as eBay. The new name doesn’t fit that at ALL, it seems all sleek and sexy, lol. I think I may cry.
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Also for those interested in our store we are located at
http://DecadentIndulgences.com
and you get FREE FUDGE with every order. :)
You can also ask to be put on our newsletter.
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:25 pm
JB - that is very good news about Artful Market! :)
As to the reason given for closing thecountrybaker2? None given. No notification. I only used it to post on the forum that we were coming back and might be selling there again.
We did ask Etsy to reactivate thecountrybaker store that we had closed ourselves before Christmas. Emily refused but wished us “all the best” Somehow I doubted and still doubt her sincerity.
The reason why we closed the store in the first place was because of her, her abusive and accusatory emails, her condescending and unprofessional attitude towards a seller.
Our website DecadentIndulgences.com was in the works at the time and we felt it was time. We are honest business people, been in the bakery business for over 6 years and selling bakery items online for nearly that long. Licensed and inspected.
Etsy we noticed did not give a fair shake to sellers and ANY accusations made (whether from a buyer OR the competition) was considered as true even without any evidence of wrong doing. We decided to bail and only said we would come back because of buyer urgings.
The fact remains - Etsy runs buyers off their site as well as sellers. I would be concerned if I was selling there.
March 2nd, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Thanks Deja Vu - I just saw that, too.
Well, it’s pretty stupid of them to keep it there, when it totally appears to be made by staff! Whomever they were made by, it’s completely inflammatory and the fact that they have not deleted the rooms says a lot… I’m still suspicious.
March 2nd, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Hazel, in this thread: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5497123&page=17
RobWhite says “As for any chat room with a forward slash “/” in its user name, that’s a result of a glitch that occurred between two versions of our chat client. These are user-created rooms that, due to the glitch, don’t have a creator listed and are thus shown as being created “by Etsy” when they aren’t”.
I find it a little mind-boggling that they have allowed them to remain. Since it does look as if they were created by Etsy, it looks bad on them. Very bad.
March 2nd, 2008 at 11:00 pm
DecadentIndulgences, what reason did Etsy give you for closing countrybaker2?
I had wondered what happened to your store. So the first was closed by your choice and the second Etsy forced you to close?
artfulmarket does still sell on etsy, her store was reinstated finally
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5030344
she also has her own website where you can buy from her
http://www.artfulmarket.com/
if certain items from her Etsy store aren’t on her own site yet, I’m sure she could list them for you..