What to do if your Etsy account is suspended without email? Consider these 4 practical approaches.
When I learned that all Etsy sellers experience shop suspensions at least once, I couldn’t believe it until it happened to me. Before the end of 2023, I got my first-ever Etsy Account Suspension without receiving an email. That was the day I was flying and I was overwhelmed. I started exploring alternatives to overcome this situation so that I could start the new year afresh.
This post will be all about my story, thought process, and the 4 approaches I considered when my Etsy account got suspended with no email from Etsy.
The Etsy Suspension
For nearly 8 months, I have dedicated my full-time effort to my Etsy Shop, managing over 120+ product listings. On the morning of December 19th, I logged into my Etsy Shop and was greeted with an unexpected message.
I was stunned. I checked my email immediately and found zero emails from Etsy explaining the suspension. What shocked me most was that there had been no changes to the shop for almost a week.
I promptly filed an appeal with Etsy to explain the situation and request an email so I could rectify any accidental mistakes or violations. This shop is my everything – my livelihood, my full-time job.
Within 20 minutes, Etsy replied to the appeal, stating they had conducted a “comprehensive review” of my account and were unable to reconsider the decision. They declared they would “no longer” respond to my messages.
I was in awe; the reply seemed like a copy-paste from a template, without any effort to read the appeal.
Immediate Next Steps
Despite this, I persisted. I tried researching alternative ways to contact Etsy.
- I tried writing into Etsy using other sections in the help list as the “My account is suspended” option is completely cut off.
- I also discovered the option to request a call from Etsy Support. However, Singapore was not on the list, prompting me to explore further alternatives.
In contemplating my next steps, I realized that if I can’t reinstate my Etsy shop, the brand, CraftHutbyQ, must endure with or without Etsy. I committed at the beginning to run it for at least 2 years.
Despite the challenges, I am determined to overcome them. My shop’s goal is to help as many people as possible by making learning materials accessible worldwide. The hosting platform is secondary; it is the vision and mission behind the brand that truly matters.
The 4 Practical Approaches
These are the 4 options I have considered:
- Option 1: Set up shop on my blog
- Option 2: Set up shop on a new domain
- Option 3: Set up another Etsy shop
- Option 4: Set up shop on another platform
For all options, all product listings have to be relisted, and some time will be poured into it.
For option 1, although this does not require any additional cost, this could confuse buyers and blog readers due to a complicated user experience and navigation.
Option 2 will incur substantial costs for new domain hosting, but this offers a clean slate to set up the website interface.
For option 3, after this disheartening experience, I hesitate to invest time and energy into another Etsy shop.
Option 4, choosing an easy-to-use platform like Buy Me a Coffee, is convenient, but it comes with limitations on shop features compared to Etsy. However, platforms like this offer transparent fees; Buy Me a Coffee charges only a 5% transaction fee with no monthly fees, and payments are directly transferred to your Stripe or bank account. There is no minimum to get paid.
My Etsy Suspension Solution
After careful consideration, I have decided to set up my shop on Buy Me a Coffee, which offers easy-to-set-up features and transparent pricing.
I plan to swiftly set up all my product listings on Buy Me a Coffee and create a product catalog that contains all my products for easy navigation for my customers.
In 2024, I will then create another Etsy shop, primarily because Etsy can assist me with promotions while I spend more time driving traffic to Buy Me A Coffee.
Related Post: One of the Best Etsy Alternatives for Digital Downloads
Learnings
Through this experience, I have learned valuable lessons:
- It’s not about the channel but the brand that matters. If one channel rejects you, find another. Always have a plan B, C, D, E & F, and stay committed to your initial goals.
- Be resourceful. Relying on a single marketplace is risky; always have a backup plan.
- Recognize the power of social media. Fortunately, for CraftHutbyQ, I already have an engaging Instagram account. I communicated the shop’s situation to my followers and will be redirecting them to the new platform when ready.
Being an entrepreneur is never easy; it is important to keep an open mind, react, and don’t respond. Always be resourceful and overcome the challenges one by one.
I will update this post if I receive any response from Etsy. For now, the clock is ticking, and life waits for no one. It’s time to work on my new platform. Just as a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor, facing tough challenges is essential for business success.
This post explains the 4 approaches you can consider when your Etsy account gets suspended with no email.
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