Grrr...Help

Alright, I'm annoyed. What should I do in this situation? Is it allowed?

I flagged it and wrote to Etsy Abuse, but we all know how slow they are.

This seller purchased this item from me here:

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/11959190

and now she is selling it here:


http://www.etsy.com/listing/45522199/every-meal-should-be-a-happy-meal



Same seller, same shop name. Can you tell me if this is allowed? It's even tagged as handmade, yes it was but by me.

I don't mind her re selling it on Ebay, I got my money, but on Etsy she is passing it off as her own with no credit to my shop at all.

Oh and I ask, because she is back to my shop now and wanting to buy other pieces.

I'd be pissed too! I am 99.9% sure it's not allowed. I'd take some screen shots if you haven't already. Report to Etsy as you already did. If you are brave, call her on it! I'd be so mad!

She has several questionable items in her shop. And what kind of photography is that for the listing with your item in it??? don't sell to her, cancel any order she places.

If she didn't buy your item to see how you made the brooch so that she could make here own (a possibility but not high probability IMO) then she is reselling and that is definitely against Etsy's rules and must be reported. If Etsy allowed reselling, then it wouldn't matter that she isn't giving you credit. But unless she used yours as an example only, she is a reseller and must be stopped.

How is she making enough money to be worth the hassle of reselling your items? I agree with Wendy, her photography is horrible! Also, did you see this in her shop announcements, "Each piece I make is unique and made with love." The nerve!

I see a lot of threads about reporting resellers. Since we are off Etsy, you can keep us posted without breaking any calling out rules. Please let us know what you hear or if that item gets taken down.

On the purchase request, I'd be tempted to send a convo to her and ask if she knows that reselling is not allowed on Etsy, that Etsy is a marketplace for crafters to sell their handmade products, without mentioning the suspect listing and see what she says.

Alright here we go:

Heard from Etsy and they gave me the generic letter that pretty much says:
Sorry so sad.
I have to send them intellectual copyright information on my product to prove that the item is mine, the link to the purchased item was not enough! Go figure!


In the last message from the buyer (she asked for a discount on her purchase), I kindly let her know:

Hi there! Thanks for the question, but at this time I only discount wholesale purchases. I also just wanted to mention that while I 100% appreciate your business and love that you enjoy my items, it is not ETSY Legal to resell items that your purchased from my shop or others.
I know it can get crazy when I buy so much, that I have to sell some to buy more, so maybe try Craigslist or Ebay? Thanks again!
~Michelle!~

So far, I have not heard back from her!

When you wrote Etsy, were you complaining about copyright infringement or reselling? I think it would be tough to claim a copyright issue on that item, however that shop should definitely be hit for being a reseller on that item. I would think that if you provide the dates you had your item listed, the sales invoice for it and the link to the reseller's item listing showing that it was listed after receiving your item that that should be enough to get Etsy to have that item removed.

I really like the response you sent.

I agree with Cathy, it's not a copyright issue! grrr, some days I kinda dislike Etsy!

Nope, no copyright or anything like that. I just said:

Hi there! This is Michelle at MichellesCharmWorld and I sold this piece (insert link) to this customer as you can see in the link. They are now RESELLING the piece EXACTLY as sold to them.

the response I got was the automated bot one, so I responded again and asked if they had read my message at all or clicked on the links. I stated that it was NOT Copyright, it was reselling.

Their response?
Hello, thank you for your submission, please re read the copyright information we have already sent you.



GRRRRRR>>>>>>>>>SAME EXACT BOT MESSAGE.
They totally have their heads up their rears over there.

Perhaps it's time to post on the forums and cause a scene without actually calling anyone out and see if administration responds?

Or I could even post for you so as to really avoid any chance of calling out?

Wendy, that would be great if you get a chance to please! Thanks so much!!

Here you go Michelle! I will be home this morning, but then gone most of the day, hopefully we get some answers!

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6587138

Wendy, you did such a fabulous job with that thread. I hope the live help link will help Michelle out.

Thanks ladies! Off to check it out!

I didn't know we had LIVE help! This thread is great thanks so much WENDY!

Let me know what happens!

hahaha, that thread is something else! It drives me nuts when people try to stir up drama, I mean come on! I was just trying to help Michelle!!!!! I wasn't sticking my nose in where it shouldn't be! At least I don't think I did!

No you didn't, there are always people like that in there.

geesh, I don't understand why they all have to nit pick everything! Yowza!

Yes, I totally agree.


Live Chat was no help. They told me it's not a site issue, it's a support issue and sent me to Abuse@etsy.com again hahaha!!!

I am going to try and convo an admin directly and see what that gets me, otherwise oh well.

I'm sorry to hear that. I had read recently that Etsy is ramping up to give 24/7 customer service. I was hoping that that was what the live link was.

Wendy, that wiresnpliers doesn't understand how things work in Etsyland as to why Michelle couldn't post nor does she read and understand well. I was about to answer her last post but I'm thinking your last post should have set her straight so I'm going to wait to see what happens.

Michelle, did you just write to Abuse or did you flag the item? If you didn't flag the item, you should try that.

Yup, I flagged and wrote to Abuse and have now tried LiveHelp (which is AWESOME if you need general help) and now convoed an admin. So we will see what if anything happens. (the seller/buyer has not contacted me back after i talked to her)

That doesn't surprise me. Her listing is still there though.

I was hoping the live help was going to be able to help, what a joke! I now hope that the admin will be more useful!

I think I'm pretty SOL. They seem to be dragging their heels on this, even though the proof is plain as day. I'm just a bit upset because it's not like she's selling enough to make them a mint or anything?!