Etsy Shop Suspension

Etsy is an online marketplace where consumers can purchase products from small businesses and artisan sellers. An Etsy shop suspension is when an Etsy store owned by a seller has its selling privileges disabled, either temporarily or permanently, due to perceived legal or usage policy infringements.

Why might a seller incur an Etsy shop suspension?

A seller may find their Esty shop suspended for a variety of different reasons, as the platform retains the right to suspend accounts at its discretion. The following are some common causes for an Etsy shop suspension.

• Policy violations: The seller is deemed to have violated Etsy’s policies. This may involve selling prohibited items on the platform, breaching Etsy’s intellectual property policy or creativity standards, or failing to adhere to the platform’s terms of use.
• Customer complaints: Customers have made multiple complaints about the seller. This can include poor reviews, reports of low-quality or misrepresented products, and unresolved issues or disputes between seller and customer.
• Payment problems: The seller has demonstrated issues with payment processing, fraudulent transactions, or a failure to pay mandatory fees.
• Account verification issues: Etsy has been unable to verify the account as the seller has provided inaccurate or incomplete information or has failed to produce the required identity documents.

Sellers who commit minor infringements will typically incur a suspension until the issue has been resolved. However, those who commit more severe breaches or have received numerous prior warnings may face stricter penalties.

What are the consequences for a seller who has their Etsy Shop Suspended?

There are significant repercussions for a seller who has their Etsy shop suspended. First and foremost, suspended accounts are prohibited from publishing new products or receiving or processing orders. The seller is also blocked from managing listings, with existing listings being removed from the marketplace’s search results. The seller’s access to funds with also be restricted for the duration of the suspension. Once any issues have been resolved, these restrictions can be lifted, however, sellers are likely to suffer some reputational damage and loss of revenue as a result of having their Etsy shop suspended.

How can sellers have an Etsy Shop Suspension lifted?

It is possible for a seller to have an Etsy shop suspension lifted by following the platform’s appeals process. The seller has six months from the day of suspension to file an appeal with Etsy, otherwise, the account will remain permanently suspended.
To file a suspension appeal with Etsy, sellers can take the following steps:

1. Log in and review Etsy’s notification to understand the reasons for the suspension.
2. Rectify the issue listed as a cause for the suspension. This may involve removing prohibited product listings, updating account information, paying outstanding fees, or resolving ongoing disputes, for example.
3. File an appeal via Etsy’s appeals center. Provide the reason for the appeal, state actions taken to address the cause of the suspension and intended changes to practices, and provide supporting documents if required. In complex cases, seek legal counsel with an expert familiar with Etsy’s policies.

Once the appeal has been submitted, one of Etsy’s specialists will review the case and the history of the selling account. The seller will then receive the appeal decision via email, with the platform stating that the process can take up to two weeks.