Etsy Seller Policy Library

1. Audit every listing in your shop and identify any item you did not make, design, or meaningfully transform.
2. Deactivate or permanently delete listings for items you purchased finished and resold without adding your own design or craft.
3. For items made with a production partner's assistance, add a production-partner disclosure to those specific listings via Shop Manager > Listings > Edit.
4. Update listing descriptions to clearly describe your role in making or designing the item — include your materials, process, or design story.
5. If you use computerized tools (laser cutter, 3D printer, Cricut), confirm the design file is your own original work, not a purchased or downloaded template.

Effort: medium · 2-6 hours

1. Remove any listing where the item is sourced finished from a factory, wholesale supplier, or dropship service.
2. If you use a production partner to manufacture original designs, disclose that partner on each affected listing (Shop Manager > Listings > Edit > Production Partner).
3. Replace stock product photography with photos that show your own workspace, tools, or making process.
4. Rewrite listing descriptions to explain your design process and the tools you personally use.
5. If you use a CNC, laser cutter, or 3D printer, confirm and document that the design files are entirely your original creation — not downloaded templates.

Effort: high · 3-8 hours

1. In Etsy Shop Manager, go to Settings > Production Partners and add the name and location of every third-party manufacturer or printer you use.
2. Edit each listing that uses a production partner: open the listing, scroll to the Production Partner section, and select the appropriate partner.
3. Ensure the 'ships from' location in each listing matches the actual fulfillment location (your production partner's country, not your home country, if they ship directly).
4. Save and republish all updated listings.

Effort: low · 30-90 minutes

1. Review every listing's 'ships from' country and confirm it matches your actual shipping origin.
2. Update any description claiming a specific country of origin to reflect the actual country where the item was made.
3. Remove or correct any claim about materials, process, or provenance that you cannot substantiate with documentation.
4. Add process photos (in-progress shots, workspace photos) to support any handmade claims.
5. If using a production partner in another country, update the 'ships from' field to the production partner's country.

Effort: medium · 1-3 hours

1. Identify all listings for items produced with a laser cutter, 3D printer, CNC router, or Cricut/Silhouette machine.
2. For each listing, confirm the design file was created by you (or your shop team) from scratch — not downloaded, purchased, or adapted from a template service.
3. Remove listings where the design came from a third-party design marketplace (Creative Fabrica, Design Bundles, etc.).
4. Update listing descriptions to describe your own design process and any software you used to create the original design.
5. Keep documentation (source files with creation timestamps) proving original authorship in case Etsy requests it during a review.

Effort: high · 4-12 hours

1. Audit your shop description and About section to ensure they accurately describe what you currently sell and how it is made.
2. Update any listing that previously described a handmade process but now ships a different, non-handmade item.
3. If you have transitioned to using a production partner or print-on-demand service, add production partner disclosures to all relevant listings.
4. Post a shop announcement if your product line has changed significantly, so buyers understand what to expect.
5. Remove any claim of 'handmade' or 'made by me' from listings that no longer meet that standard.

Effort: medium · 1-4 hours

1. Open the affected listing in Shop Manager and change the item type from 'A handmade item' to 'A vintage item' (20+ years old).
2. Confirm the item is genuinely 20+ years old; if not, it must qualify under a different Etsy category.
3. Update the listing description to explain how you personally sourced or curated the item.
4. Save and republish the listing.

Effort: low · 15-30 minutes

1. Review listings in your shop tagged or categorized as 'sourced' items (craft supplies, party supplies, customizable goods).
2. Remove listings for generic consumer goods that have no craft, creativity-enabling, or buyer-personalization angle.
3. For party supply or holiday decor listings, confirm they are specific to a single custom occasion and that you offer meaningful personalization (name, date, custom design).
4. If a sourced item falls outside the current permitted categories, deactivate it rather than risk a policy violation.

Effort: medium · 1-4 hours

1. Identify which Creativity Standards category applies to the removed listing: Made, Designed, Handpicked, or Sourced.
2. Gather process evidence: photos, videos (3 minutes or less), supplier invoices, design files — specific to the category.
3. In Shop Manager, go to Policy violations and find the removed listing.
4. Click View & appeal, then start an appeal. Etsy shows this option only when an appeal is available for that removal.
5. Submit your appeal within the window in your removal notice. The Help Center sets 180 days from the removal, unless otherwise stated.
6. Watch your email for the decision. Etsy says most reviews finish within 3 days and some take up to 10-12 business days. If Etsy denies the appeal, you cannot appeal the same listing again.

Effort: medium · 1-3 hours

1. Search your listings for any registered brand name, logo reference, or trademarked character name used in titles, descriptions, or tags without written authorization.
2. Remove trademarked terms from titles and tags entirely. Do not substitute 'inspired by [Brand]' in the title — this still uses the trademark and is still risky.
3. If you hold a genuine license or authorization from the rights holder, add documentation to your shop and state clearly in the listing that the item is officially licensed.
4. For fan-art or inspired-by items, describe your original design without naming the source IP: use descriptive terms (colors, style, theme) instead of the brand name.
5. If you received a takedown notice, do not relist the same item under a different title — Etsy tracks listing content and repeat listings escalate to account suspension.

Effort: medium · 1-4 hours

1. Identify listings where the primary image or product design is based on or reproduces a copyrighted work you do not own.
2. Remove those listings. Do not move the infringing content to a new listing under a different title.
3. If you received a DMCA notice and believe it was filed in error, you may submit a DMCA counter notice to Etsy — only do this if you have a genuine legal basis (license, original authorship, or fair use argument).
4. For digital downloads, verify that all fonts, clip art, and design elements used are licensed for commercial resale, not just personal use.
5. Create original artwork or obtain written commercial licenses before listing any item whose primary value depends on a third party's creative work.

Effort: high · 2-8 hours

1. Remove any listing that presents an item as a replica, dupe, or copy of a branded product.
2. Remove any listing that reproduces a brand's logo, wordmark, or signature design element without a written license from the brand.
3. For up-cycled or reworked items using authentic branded materials (e.g., repurposed luxury handbag leather), remove any language that implies brand endorsement or an official relationship with the brand.
4. If you receive an intellectual property infringement report, do not relist the same item with a modified title — Etsy's enforcement escalates on repeat behavior.
5. Seek legal counsel if you are uncertain whether your item qualifies as a counterfeit versus a legitimately transformed or inspired piece.

Effort: high · 1-3 hours

1. Identify any listings that depict or are clearly derived from specific copyrighted characters, franchises, or protected artwork.
2. If you have a valid commercial license from the rights holder, add that information to the listing description and keep the license documentation on file.
3. If you do not have a license, remove the listing. Reposting the same design with a different title after a takedown notice escalates to account-level consequences.
4. For truly original, abstract artwork that is inspired by a genre or aesthetic (but not depicting a specific protected character), update the listing to emphasize the original elements and remove any language that identifies the source IP.
5. Review all tags and remove any character names or franchise names from listings where you do not hold a license.

Effort: medium · 1-4 hours

1. Identify listings that use a real person's name, photo, or signature as the primary draw — especially celebrity names used in titles or tags.
2. Remove the person's name, photo, or likeness from listings where their identity is used to make the product more marketable without their authorization.
3. If your product is commentary, satire, or criticism involving a public figure, consult a legal professional before listing, as these defenses are fact-specific and not guaranteed.
4. Replace celebrity names in tags with descriptive terms (genre, style, era) that describe the item without invoking someone's personal brand.
5. Do not relist after a takedown without materially changing the content — repeat use of the same person's name or likeness escalates to account-level review.

Effort: medium · 1-3 hours

1. Conduct a full audit of your shop: identify every listing that uses copyrighted, trademarked, or publicity-protected content without authorization.
2. Proactively remove all infringing listings before additional takedown notices are filed — each notice is recorded and accumulates toward termination.
3. Do not attempt to relist removed items under modified titles or descriptions; Etsy tracks content across relistings.
4. If you received a counter-notice letter from Etsy warning about your infringement history, respond in writing through Etsy's Help system to demonstrate you are actively remedying the issue.
5. Review your remaining catalog against all three IP categories (trademark, copyright, publicity rights) to confirm every listing is clean before relisting anything.

Effort: high · 4-16 hours

1. Read the original takedown notice Etsy sent you carefully — confirm the IP type claimed (copyright, trademark, etc.) and the complainant's identity.
2. Only file a counter-notice if you have a genuine legal basis: you created the material yourself, you hold a license, the material is in the public domain, or you have a strong fair-use argument reviewed by an attorney.
3. Use the Appeal Builder's DMCA counter-notice generator to produce a §512(g)-compliant document.
4. Submit it with the unique URL in the takedown email Etsy sent you. If you cannot use that form, Etsy's DMCA counter notice requirements list other ways to contact it.
5. After submission, Etsy forwards your counter-notice to the complainant. Etsy says the material may be reactivated if the complainant does not tell Etsy of a court action within 10 business days of Etsy receiving your counter notice. Do not reactivate it yourself before then, because Etsy says that may result in account termination.

Effort: high · 1-3 hours to prepare; 10-14 business days for complainant response window

1. Delist any item that is a functional firearm, functional bladed weapon, or ammunition.
2. Review listings for imitation or replica firearms — these are also prohibited.
3. Do not rely on age. Etsy's page prohibits blatant weapons even if they are vintage. Culinary knives and knives used as tools are allowed.

Effort: low · 15-30 minutes

1. Delist any item that is a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, or makes intoxicating health claims.
2. Remove any listing for vaporizers, bongs, bubblers, or pipes with carburetors regardless of stated purpose.
3. Review listings for CBD, hemp, or herbal products. Etsy's page prohibits certain herbal substances regardless of their legality and covers medical claims. It does not name hemp or CBD, so ask Etsy Support if you are unsure.

Effort: low · 15-30 minutes

1. Delist any item that uses slurs, hate symbols, or imagery associated with designated hate groups.
2. Review listings for items that could be interpreted as glorifying or commemorating hate group ideology or actions.
3. If you sell historical or educational items, make the purpose clear and do not celebrate or glorify hatred. Etsy reviews these items case by case.

Effort: low · 15-30 minutes

1. Delist any listing for actual alcohol or tobacco products intended for consumption.
2. Remove any listing for gambling devices, lottery tickets, or raffle entries.
3. If you sell alcohol-adjacent accessories (glasses, decanters, humidors), confirm the listing is for the accessory — not the consumable product itself.

Effort: low · 15-30 minutes

1. Delist any listing offering a live animal for sale.
2. Remove listings for products containing ivory, cat or dog parts, or materials from CITES Appendix I species.
3. If you sell animal-derived materials (feathers, shells, bones), verify the species is not protected and provide sourcing documentation in your listing.

Effort: medium · 30-60 minutes

1. Delist any item claimed to contain human bone, tissue, organ material, blood, or bodily fluids.
2. Note that human hair, teeth, and fingernails are explicitly exempt from this prohibition and may remain listed.
3. If an item is an artistic representation or replica, clarify this clearly in the listing description to avoid triggering review.

Effort: low · 15-30 minutes

1. Delist any item that is or could be mistaken for real currency, a government-issued ID, or official document.
2. Remove listings for novelty IDs or templates for official-looking documents even if marketed as 'joke' items.
3. If selling stage or prop money, ensure it is clearly and prominently labeled as not legal tender and could not realistically deceive.

Effort: low · 15-30 minutes

1. Delist any item on your government's recall list or subject to a known manufacturer recall. In the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission keeps that list.
2. Search your government's recall database for the product's make, model, and year before relisting similar vintage products.
3. Do not relist a recalled item with a disclaimer such as 'for display only' — Etsy's prohibition applies regardless of stated use.

Effort: medium · 30-60 minutes

1. Delist any item classified as an explosive, radioactive material, or dangerously flammable substance.
2. Remove any listing for kits or instructions that enable creation of hazardous devices.
3. If you sell chemistry-adjacent craft supplies, verify they are below regulatory thresholds and add appropriate safety disclosures.

Effort: low · 15-30 minutes

1. Remove any language from listing descriptions that claims to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose a specific disease or medical condition.
2. Replace explicit medical claims with general wellness or lifestyle language (e.g., 'supports relaxation' instead of 'treats anxiety').
3. Delist any prescription medical device or pharmaceutical product — these require licensing to sell and are not permissible on Etsy.

Effort: medium · 30-90 minutes

1. Immediately delist any item containing CSAM or sexually suggestive depictions of minors.
2. Review all digital art, photography, and printed media listings for content that depicts minors in undergarments, age-inappropriate poses, or sexually suggestive contexts.
3. If you believe Etsy removed a listing by mistake, open Policy violations in Shop Manager. Etsy lists Minor Safety among the policies where you may be able to appeal a removed listing, when an appeal is available.

Effort: low · 15-30 minutes

1. Delist any item that is pornography, a sexual service, or an adult toy of a type Etsy prohibits.
2. For mature items Etsy allows, such as nude art, follow Etsy's guide to listing mature content correctly: list and tag the item properly and obscure photos where required.
3. Review your other listings for the same gap.

Effort: low · 15-45 minutes

1. Delist any product that is a pesticide, herbicide, insecticide, or regulated chemical compound.
2. If you sell cleaning or craft products, verify that chemical ingredients do not fall under EPA registration requirements.
3. Review shipping carrier restrictions — many regulated chemicals are also subject to carrier-level prohibitions beyond Etsy's marketplace rules.

Effort: medium · 30-60 minutes

1. Delist any item whose sale requires a professional license you do not hold.
2. For regulated items such as plants, seeds, or food, check the law for each place you sell and read the pages Etsy links for those items.
3. If you hold the required license, document your credentials and consult Etsy's seller support before relisting to confirm platform eligibility.

Effort: high · 1-3 hours

1. Delist any toy or children's product that does not meet the safety rules, including any required testing, for the places you sell.
2. Check the safety rules for children's products in each market. Etsy links to the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the European Commission, and Health Canada.
3. Add a clear warning to listings for toys with small parts that a young child could reach.
4. Keep your test reports and certificates with your records before you relist children's products.

Effort: high · 2-8 hours

1. Rewrite listing titles to read as natural product descriptions rather than keyword lists (aim for a clear, buyer-readable sentence).
2. Audit every tag on each listing: remove any tag that would not be used by a real buyer searching for this specific item.
3. Remove competitor brand names and unrelated luxury brand names from tags.
4. Replace generic occasion tags (e.g., 'gift', 'birthday', 'Christmas') that apply to everything with specific descriptive tags that distinguish your product.
5. Review description body and remove any paragraph that appears to be a block of synonyms or keyword repetition not written for a human reader.

Effort: low · 30-90 minutes

1. If you run more than one shop, confirm with Etsy Support that this is allowed, and make sure each shop sells distinct product lines and has unique descriptions, photos, and branding.
2. Do not reopen a new shop or use a family member's account to continue selling after your primary shop receives a suspension — Etsy links related accounts and will apply the suspension.
3. If you opened a second shop inadvertently for legitimate reasons, contact Etsy Support to disclose the situation before it is flagged as a duplicate.
4. Differentiate any legitimate secondary shop with its own original product photography, About section, and shop copy.

Effort: high · varies — legal account consolidation may require contacting Etsy Support

1. Stop any practice of using secondary accounts, friends' accounts, or family accounts to favorite your own listings or leave reviews.
2. Do not purchase your own listings, even to test the checkout process.
3. If you used a third-party service to boost favorites or reviews, stop immediately and do not purchase such services again.
4. If Etsy has already flagged your account, contact Etsy Support and acknowledge the issue directly — attempting to hide the activity after detection makes outcomes worse.

Effort: low · 15-30 minutes

1. Remove any message, listing insert card, or shop announcement that offers a discount, gift, or refund in exchange for leaving a review.
2. You may offer a generic incentive (e.g., a coupon code for a future order) to all buyers without conditioning it on the review sentiment or star rating.
3. If a buyer leaves a negative review, respond professionally through Etsy's public response feature — do not contact the buyer directly to pressure them to change it.
4. Never threaten a buyer with negative feedback, case filings, or other retaliation for a poor review.
5. Stop any use of third-party review-purchase services immediately.

Effort: low · 30-60 minutes

1. Review all public-facing text in your shop (policies, About section, listing descriptions, review responses) and remove any threatening, dismissive, or coercive language.
2. Rewrite review responses that contain personal insults or attempts to discredit the buyer — keep responses professional, brief, and factual.
3. Update your shop policy section to remove any language that discourages buyers from filing disputes or cases.
4. If you are in an active dispute with a buyer, communicate only through Etsy's Messages or case system, not through outside channels.

Effort: low · 30-60 minutes

1. Update the 'ships from' country on every listing to match the actual origin of shipment — your address or your production partner's address, whichever ships the order.
2. Set processing times to reflect your realistic worst-case turnaround, not your best case; buyers plan around the stated window.
3. Remove any 'fast shipping', 'same-day dispatch', or 'ships immediately' language from listings unless you can consistently guarantee it.
4. If using a print-on-demand or dropship partner that ships from overseas, update all affected listings' 'ships from' field to the correct country.
5. Communicate proactively with buyers if an order will ship outside your stated processing window.

Effort: low · 30-90 minutes

1. Change your Etsy account password immediately and enable two-factor authentication in Account Settings > Security.
2. Review your account's login history in Account Settings > Security and report any unrecognized sessions to Etsy Support.
3. If you use a virtual assistant or agency to manage your shop, use Etsy's authorized Shop Manager access controls rather than sharing your personal login credentials.
4. Remove any third-party app or service that has access to your Etsy account that you did not intentionally authorize via Etsy's official OAuth process.

Effort: low · 15-30 minutes

1. Verify that your registered shop location in Etsy's Account Settings matches where you actually operate from.
2. Update your About section and any listing descriptions to accurately describe who you are and where your products are made or shipped from.
3. If you use a fulfillment service, update the 'ships from' location on all listings to the fulfillment service's country, not your home country.
4. Remove any 'local artisan' or 'made in [country]' claims from listings or your About section if they do not accurately describe your situation.

Effort: low · 30-60 minutes

1. Log in to your Etsy account and navigate to Shop Manager > Finances > Payment Account.
2. Identify the outstanding balance and pay it using an accepted payment method.
3. Once the overdue balance is cleared, check your email and Shop Manager for your shop status. Etsy does not state how long it takes to lift a suspension.
4. After reinstatement, update your billing method to prevent future payment failures.

Effort: low · 15-30 minutes

1. Review the chargeback notification in your Payment Account — identify the specific order(s) involved.
2. Gather evidence of shipment and delivery (tracking confirmation, order details) to give Etsy within five calendar days of its request.
3. If Etsy has already deducted the chargeback amount from your balance, check whether the dispute is still open for seller response.
4. If your account has a Reserve, keep a strong fulfillment and communication record. The Payments Policy says Etsy reviews reserves from time to time and may reduce or remove one after positive performance, such as fewer cases and better order fulfillment.

Effort: medium · 1-3 hours

1. Log in to Etsy and navigate to Shop Manager > Finances > Billing.
2. Update your payment method with a valid, unexpired card or bank account.
3. Pay any outstanding balance that accumulated during the period when payments were failing.
4. Set a calendar reminder to update your payment method before your card's expiration date to prevent future suspensions.

Effort: low · 15-30 minutes

1. Log in to Etsy and navigate to Shop Manager > Finances > Legal and Tax Information.
2. Complete or update the tax forms and details Etsy requests.
3. Verify your shop's country and address information is accurate — tax calculation errors can stem from incorrect location data.
4. If Etsy has restricted payouts rather than suspended the shop, complete the required details. Etsy does not state how long it takes to lift a restriction.

Effort: low · 15-30 minutes

1. Open Shop Manager > Orders and identify all unfulfilled orders.
2. Ship all open orders immediately or contact each buyer to arrange a mutual cancellation if you cannot fulfill.
3. Mark all shipped orders as shipped with a valid tracking number.
4. If your shop has been suspended, you are still required to complete or refund all open orders — do so promptly to avoid escalation.

Effort: medium · 1-4 hours

1. Review all your active listings and update processing times to accurately reflect how long it takes you to make and ship each item.
2. For custom or personalized items, set processing times that include production time — not just shipping time.
3. If you receive an order you cannot ship within your stated time, message the buyer and get their agreement to a new date before the deadline passes.
4. Keep the buyer's agreement in Messages as your record.

Effort: low · 30-60 minutes

1. Always ship to the address shown in the Etsy order confirmation — not an address communicated via messages or email.
2. If a buyer asks you to ship to an alternate address, direct them to update their Etsy shipping address before you purchase a label.
3. For orders already sent to a wrong address, contact the carrier to attempt an address correction, then message the buyer to explain the situation and next steps.
4. Issue a replacement shipment or full refund if the package cannot be recovered.

Effort: medium · 30-90 minutes

1. Never mark an order as shipped in Etsy until the package has physically left your possession.
2. Only upload tracking numbers for the specific order they belong to — do not reuse tracking numbers across orders.
3. If you have accidentally marked orders as shipped prematurely, message each affected buyer immediately to reset their expectations.
4. If Etsy has flagged false tracking, acknowledge the error in your appeal and provide evidence of corrective process changes.

Effort: low · 30-60 minutes

1. Review your shipping destinations and remove any destination covered by sanctions or trade restrictions, including those of the US Office of Foreign Assets Control.
2. Verify that your product type is permitted by your chosen carrier — especially for items containing batteries, liquids, or aerosols.
3. Use tracking or a postage label bought on Etsy where available. Purchase Protection requires one of them.
4. If shipping internationally, confirm the import and export rules for your product category before you enable international shipping.

Effort: medium · 30-90 minutes