Oh, your Etsy account is suspended? Due to an inadvertent policy violation, unresolved payment issues, or perhaps even a case of mistaken identity, having an Etsy account suspended can happen.
But don’t panic! Whether your Etsy account is suspended temporarily or permanently, let’s find out the reasons behind it and ways to resolve it.
In short, to reinstate your Etsy suspended account, follow the directions in the email you get from Etsy to resolve the issues. If your suspension is permanent, you can file an appeal that describes your business in detail and explains why the reasons that led to your suspension are not appropriate.
There are plenty of reasons why an Etsy account may be suspended; some of the most common ones include:
- 1. Not completing your tax, bank account, and identity information
- 2. Infringing on Etsy’s intellectual property or trademarks
- 3. Selling prohibited items
- 4. Reselling handmade items
- 5. Having an overdue balance
- 6. Connecting to suspended accounts
- 7. Selling intangible goods/services
Without further ado, let’s get started!
Sell More with LitCommerce
LitCommerce supports you in easily connecting various sales channels including Etsy and managing them in one dashboard. All your order and inventory data are synced, eliminating inaccurate data across channels
Why is My Etsy Account Suspended?
When you learn to start selling on Etsy, it’s crucial to know what actions or behaviors can get your Etsy account suspended. With such suspension reasons in mind, you can avoid them and keep your account in good standing.
Etsy account suspension happens more frequently than you might think. If you join the Facebook community for Etsy sellers or discuss it on Reddit, you might see plenty of sellers in the same situation as you.
Let’s walk through 6 main reasons that might lead to your suspension.
1. Not completing your tax, bank account, and identity information
One of the most common reasons “Why did Etsy suspend my account?” might be that you MISSED filling in your tax, bank account, or identity information.
To comply with US tax rules, Etsy sellers need to update their tax information, including the 1099-K form used to report earnings to the IRS. Each state has its own rules for when to submit this form, so check your local laws. If you’re an international Etsy seller, you MUST HAVE a valid bank account on file after your first sale. If your bank info isn’t updated, your account could be suspended until you fix it.
Etsy also requires identity verification for all sellers. If they can’t verify you, your account might be suspended until you provide more info to prove your identity. Or you can simply understand this is a temporary Etsy suspension.
2. Infringing on Etsy’s intellectual property or trademarks
Whether you have a small shop or a famous one, suspension can happen to anyone who infringes on intellectual property or trademarks. Unauthorized use of a trademark can result in legal action against the seller.
Therefore, it’s essential to ensure that you HAVE the proper authorization to use any trademark before listing it on Etsy. In case of any mistake, understanding the consequences of suspension and following the reinstatement process can help you regain access to your account.
Let me share a story with you. There’s this person who designs and sells hoodies. They use lyrics from Taylor Swift songs, such as “Cruel Summer,” on their hoodies. However, they ran into trouble when they received warnings via email due to copyright issues. Then, things took a serious turn when Etsy closed their shop permanently. This goes to show how crucial it is to carefully review whether your product might violate any copyright or intellectual property laws.
3. Selling prohibited items
Selling Etsy prohibited items can be the first reason for getting your Etsy account suspended. Like other selling channels, Etsy restricts or prohibits the sale of certain items that can harm the safety and well-being of the community. These prohibited items INCLUDE:
- Alcohol, tobacco, medical drugs, illegal drugs, and drug paraphernalia;
- Hazardous materials and weapons;
- Pornographic content (including explicit and mature content);
- Hate items (Including racial and homophobic slurs, symbols of hate groups, and items that promote violence against a specific group).
To avoid getting an Etsy account suspended, Etsy sellers SHOULD thoroughly review the prohibited items to ensure that listed products are eligible. Selling prohibited items can result in account suspension and a loss of sales and reputation, so it’s important to stay within the allowed product categories.
4. Reselling handmade goods
If you’re selling on Etsy, it’s important to remember that items MUST be handmade or designed by YOURSELF. Reselling items from a wholesale seller is prohibited and can result in account suspension. If Etsy suspects that you’re reselling items, they may request proof that the items belong to you and ask for progression photos.
This is why it’s crucial to ensure that your items are truly handmade and that you have proper documentation to prove it. Don’t risk getting your Etsy account suspended by trying to pass off resold items as handmade on Etsy.
5. Having an overdue balance
One of the reasons your Etsy account may get suspended is due to having an overdue balance. Failure to pay your monthly statement balance by the deadline may result in an overdue balance and the suspension of your Etsy account.
During a 5-day grace period, you can continue to receive orders, but certain account privileges will be limited. If your account remains overdue after the grace period, your account may be suspended. To reinstate your account, you’ll NEED to pay your overdue balance in full. Once your balance is paid, your account should be automatically reinstated.
It’s important to prioritize paying your Etsy bill on time to avoid having your Etsy account suspended, which can impact your sales and reputation as an Etsy seller. The idea is to know how much it costs to start an Etsy shop to balance your account for monthly billings.
6. Connecting to suspended accounts
Connecting to suspended accounts is one of the common reasons for getting suspended on Etsy. It can happen when you share Wi-Fi or use the same network with an account that has already been suspended. Implementing a cloud VPN service is an effective strategy for Etsy sellers to ensure secure and private internet access, particularly when managing multiple accounts or accessing the platform from various locations.
Logging into your shop from a public place or workplace can also trigger Etsy’s algorithm to suspect account sharing. In some cases, two shops logged in under the same IP address might suspend your Etsy account. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure that you only use secure and private networks to access your Etsy shop and avoid logging in from public places or shared networks. Considering the potential risks associated with account suspension on Etsy, it’s also essential to understand how to use a VPN judiciously.
7. Selling intangible goods/services
Selling intangible goods or services, which is prohibited on Etsy, can result in Etsy account suspension. Etsy does NOT ALLOW the sale of intangible goods and services, except for digital products like art or downloads. Selling services not accompanied by a tangible item is forbidden, such as offering “thoughts”, “prayers”, or item restoration. Etsy considers these types of intangible offerings to be violations of their policies, and they will suspend accounts found to be selling these prohibited items.
What Happens When My Etsy Account Is Suspended?
When your account is suspended, your Etsy selling privileges are revoked. This means you CANNOT receive new orders, publish new listings, or use Etsy services like the mobile app or Etsy Ads. Your existing product listings will also be deactivated and hidden from buyers.
Here are the key RESTRICTIONS when your Etsy account is suspended:
- You will not be able to receive any new orders for your products
- Your existing product listings will be deactivated and hidden from buyers
- You cannot publish any new listings or make changes to your shop
- You cannot use Etsy services like the Etsy app or Etsy Ads
- You will not be able to purchase or print shipping labels on Etsy
- Your Star Seller badge will be removed
- Funds in your Etsy payment account will be placed on hold or in a reserve status
- You will not be able to open another Etsy store
However, some features remain AVAILABLE even with a suspended account:
- You can still sign in to Etsy.com on a web browser to manage your orders
- You can still send messages to buyers
- You can view your cases and resolve open cases
- You will still be able to view your past order history and details
- You can complete your orders and add tracking information
- You are also able to issue full and partial refunds
- You can view and pay your bill in your Payment account
How to Reinstate Your Etsy Suspended Account?
So, we’ve walked through all the reasons your Etsy account was suspended. You may be wondering what to do to get your Etsy account back and run your Etsy shop again. We’ll guide you through the essential things you can do upon Etsy account suspension.
1. Reopen Etsy account
If you get your Etsy account suspended and you still wish to get it back, there are steps you can take to get it reinstated. The first thing you SHOULD do is read the email or message that Etsy sent you regarding the suspension, as it may contain specific instructions on getting your account reinstated.
Nevertheless, here are some general steps you can take to reopen your temporarily suspended Etsy account:
- Find out the reason for suspension and address any policy violations.
- Contact Etsy support for assistance and clarification.
- Provide any information or documentation that Etsy may request.
- Pay any outstanding balance or fees if that was the reason for suspension.
- Wait for Etsy to review your case and reinstate your account if appropriate.
2. File a suspension appeal
However, if you get your Etsy account suspended permanently, you CAN file an appeal. It doesn’t guarantee you’ll get your account back. If you decide to take a try, here’s the process:
- Open the Appeals Center and log into your suspended Etsy account.
- Choose the reason for your appeal and add any supporting documents or actions taken.
- Select Other to enter a reason if your suspension reason is not on the list.
- Choose Submit Appeal and wait for a decision from a specialist, which may take up to two weeks.
You should keep in mind that the decision is ultimately up to a specialist. Once an account is closed permanently, there is no further chance for reinstatement.
3. Consider selling on other channels
Whether you are able to get your account back or not, it’s always a good idea to diversify your sales channels and sell on multiple platforms. This mitigates the risk of losing all of your sales once your Etsy account is suspended. By expanding your presence to other marketplaces, you can increase your visibility to potential customers and reduce your reliance on a single platform.
- Amazon Handmade – Amazon Handmade is Amazon’s marketplace specifically for handmade and artisanal products. It provides Etsy sellers like you an opportunity to tap into Amazon’s massive customer base, which includes over 180 million Prime members in the US.
- eBay – A well-established marketplace with a large customer base and an easy listing process. eBay has a much broader product range beyond just handmade and vintage items, allowing you to sell a wider variety of products.
- Facebook Marketplace – A free and easy-to-use platform where you can sell your handmade items to people in your local area.
Setting up your own web store is a great option if your Etsy account gets suspended. By this way, you have complete control over your brand image, website design, and customer experience. Besides, you get to keep a larger share of the profits since you don’t have to pay marketplace fees.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
Protect your business with multi-channel selling. Sell on Etsy, Amazon, eBay, Walmart, or your own website.
Etsy Account Suspended: FAQs
Etsy can suspend your account for so many reasons, but some of the most common reasons are: If your Etsy account is temporarily suspended, you will receive an email that explains how to resolve the issue. Conversely, if your account is permanently suspended, you can file an appeal to reinstate it. The time it takes for Etsy to unsuspend an account varies and depends on the reason for suspension. The review process typically takes a few days, but it can take up to several weeks, depending on the complexity of the issue. It’s important to remain patient and to continue communicating with Etsy support to ensure that your account is reinstated as soon as possible. An Etsy suspension can be permanent, but it’s possible to appeal the decision. If your account has been permanently suspended, you can still try to appeal the decision through Etsy’s Appeals Center. However, there is no guarantee that your account will be reinstated, as the decision ultimately lies with a specialist. If Etsy permanently suspends your account, you cannot open a new account on the platform. If you try to open a new one with the same information, such as your name and address, your account may be at risk of suspension again.
Conclusion
Finding yourself in the unfortunate situation of having your Etsy account suspended can be frustrating, but it’s not the end. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can increase your chances of reinstating your account. Remember to stay calm, provide any necessary information, and wait for Etsy’s decision.
In the meantime, consider diversifying your sales channels by exploring other marketplaces like Amazon Handmade, Walmart Marketplace, or even your own website. For more helpful tips and insights on eCommerce and online selling, check out our blog or join our community.
