Etsy Site Policies & Enforcement Changes Coming March 1

[mandy]

Just wanted to drop a quick line to let everyone know that we’re revising & clarifying our site policies. We will post the new documents on March 1st and be enforcing them the same day. The key clarifications will be around what can & can’t be listed on the site, what types of behavior might get your account suspended, and a feedback policy.

We want Etsy to thrive as a marketplace for handmade goods, and by Jove we’ll do whatever it takes.

We’ve already had one Town Hall (a while ago) dedicated to this, and we’re reading everyone’s thoughts in the forums. In mid-March, after the new policies are in place, we’ll be having another Town Hall meeting to talk over any further ideas (and making any needed policy revisions). I’ll announce the exact day & time soon. In the interim, please keep the peace.

comments: http://blog.etsy.com/?p=171#comments
Town Hall thread: http://blog.etsy.com/?p=76

[mandy]

We have drafted and ratified our first Constitution. It outlines Etsy’s rules and convictions in an earnest manner. Your feedback will be solicited during a Town Hall meeting sometime before the 15th of March.

The major changes in Etsy’s rules should be noted carefully: reselling will not be allowed on the site; the Vintage category has been discontinued; we have an Etsy-specific process for following up on copyright issues.

blog announcement and comments: http://blog.etsy.com/?p=178
forum discussion: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5046725
The Etsy Constitution: http://www.etsy.com/constitution.php

The Constitution is now in Draft mode. We’ll work with the community to make everything clear during the month of March, and publish a finalized version on April 1st, at which point in time we’ll begin enforcing its laws. On Monday we’ll announce a series of Town Hall dates to expand the discussions going on in the forums.

blog announcement and discussion: http://blog.etsy.com/?p=180

[FiberGuy]

Almost sounds like they [etsy] were threatened by someone...

Related to the banning of vintage items:

This morning I woke up to some sudden NEW RULES. No more vintage. It can't be listed as of today. No notice. Just a Ruby Lane-type edict. I am so pi$$ed. I thought I was speading those "eggs" out in more than one "basket," contacting a new market, and I WAS - until the kids who run the place (I'm not kidding, they look about 18 y/o) decided to completely revamp their policies.

http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/...hp?t=21991

[BellisimaJ.]

[quote author=FiberGuy link=topic=7735.msg45726#msg45726 date=1173031681]
Almost sounds like they [etsy] were threatened by someone...

Related to the banning of vintage items:

This morning I woke up to some sudden NEW RULES. No more vintage. It can't be listed as of today. No notice. Just a Ruby Lane-type edict. I am so pi$$ed. I thought I was speading those "eggs" out in more than one "basket," contacting a new market, and I WAS - until the kids who run the place (I'm not kidding, they look about 18 y/o) decided to completely revamp their policies.

http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/...hp?t=21991
[/quote]

Hmmm........maybe they just decided to focus on the area for which they became known-----"handmade"?

[mandy]

The latest update on Etsy's site policies:

What Can be Sold on Etsy

Etsy's mission is clear: Empower as many people as possible to earn money by selling what they make. The core marketplace is all the handmade goods being sold by their makers. Etsy also supports the sale of supplies, insofar as this, in turn, supports making things. These are the rules about what can and cannot be sold on the site:

Yes, but with special requirements

    * Vintage items:
          o Must be placed in the Vintage category and tagged as such.
          o In the near future, will be separated from the handmade items and will not appear in default search results ("opt-in" search status).
          o May be subject to staff review in the future, at which point Etsy reserves the right to ask you to remove any listing.



No

    * Don't sell mass-produced items. The only exceptions to this are Commercial Supplies and Vintage, as outlined above.
    * Don't sell illegal items, as defined in the Terms of Use.
    * Don't sell pornography.
    * Don't create listings which are solely advertisements or promotions (no item for sale).
    * Don't sell services which do not provide a tangible, physical artifact. Note: a digital file (.pdf, .jpg, .doc, and so on) is considered a physical artifact.
    * Don't create listings that solicit donations for a charity but do not provide a tangible, physical artifact to the buyer.
    * Don't be a reseller.
          o A reseller is a person who sells items they have previously bought, often at a markup. This includes items which were handmade by someone other than yourself to whom you have no personal relationship.
          o Any current listings by resellers will be allowed their four month tenure on the site, then expire. They will not be eligible for renewal.
          o The only exceptions to this are Commercial Supplies and Vintage, as outlined above.

full list of dos and dont's: http://www.etsy.com/dosdonts.php

[mandy]

Etsy has posted the second draft of their  dos and dont's
http://www.etsy.com/dosdonts.php

From their blog:

oday, we posted a revised version of the DOs & DON’Ts of Etsy. The debates are over; this is it. This weekend, when things are a little slower, we’ll be sending an email to all our sellers, as they are most immediately impacted by the new rules. We’re giving you a two week head-start to read the D&D and make any necessary changes to your shops. Then the rules will be effective and enforced starting on April 22, 2007.

During this two-week period, we will be making alterations to the Terms of Use and FAQs to reflect the DOs & DON’Ts. We aim to have them all coordinated by April 22.

full article: http://blog.etsy.com/?p=243#comments