Menu
CB Online Shopping Etsy Class action against etsy for their unfair, fascist and discriminatory conduct.
Etsy

Etsy review: Class action against etsy for their unfair, fascist and discriminatory conduct. 177

V
Author of the review
2:33 pm EDT
Review updated:
Featured review
This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

We are looking for other users willing to sue Etsy for their unfair contract signing and unreasonable suspensions, most of which come without even explanations. It is written on the contract with sellers, innit? True, And it's just that the keystone of a lawsuit against Etsy… we are not under Fascism or Nazism, and a contract discussing work relationships should be democratic and reasonable for all parts involved.
Etsy behaves like they are not in a democratic state with laws protecting workers and people in general, but in a self proclaimed dictatorial "Etsy state" we're they can make the rules, no matter if they go against all the protocols in defense of workers, companies and entrepreneurs.
We would love to create a go fund me campaign and connected petition to find as many contrihbutors as possible for a class action against Etsy for their discriminatory unreasonable practices that are sometimes considerable as instigation to suicide, and we have readen many horrible situations like the one we encountered.
Please start sharing your experience also here and if someone else here wants to join I will share informations on the Camoaign and class action.
We may get at least a refund For the huge loss of money, time and moral damage this company did us.
It so mislesding that Etsy sells itself as a "human and sustainable" platform and then gives the shoulder to the big companies and low quality high volume sellers instead of protecting the small, finest quality sellers that made the fortune and were (WERE!) the soul of this vintage and handmade marketplace. Now let's delve in our case… we have 5* reviews and sell for the most 99, 6 % authentic vintage items, and a very little part of customized and handmade items… Etsy shutted our shop for good, and more "funny" they have put it in forced vacation mode so the buyers don't get worried about the shop "disappearing"…
They just demonstrated they are slaves to the big companies, other than HUMAN and SUSTAINABLE….
They shut our shop because of some rings We made out of vintage buttons (authentic ones) taken from broken garments that otherwise would have just no use (or they could have just been sold as substitute buttons)… Of course, also if we believe it is totally fair and within the circular / recycled market values to make such objects, we would have removed those listings and never list such items anymore if they just gave us a second chance… but they didn't, and We have more of a suspect on the reason, here some proofs.. they also removed a totally authentic pair of Chanel sunglasses, with absolutely NO REASON if not bending their knees in front of the brand's legal department going around reporting shops without a reason (there is an unreasonable reason: the item was authentic, but they hate circular market and they demonstrated this in the last few years with tons of lawsuits against companies similar Etsy, but with more courage and willing to defend their sellers…and this is also why they shutted us: cause they don't care if a seller is right, they prefer avoiding from the start problems with big companies… and we would have understood if they just removed our items and explained the situation to us… but destroying 2 years of work of a 5* shop and leaving 3 people without a job NO. It is not understandable, and they don't even think we deserve an in depth explaination!
But we have ourselves one: probably they promise to the brand lawyers/reporters hanging around vintage marketplaces to report listings,
to shut the shops disturbing them instead of discussing with their sellers and trying to mediate and protect them…. and Inrepeat, I have proofs, they reported and removed also an authentic pair of Chanel shades, and I have seen Chanel is use to these practices, hav a looked around the web… with the difference that the real real, for example, protected their sellers instead of taking Chanel's part…. by the way, evidently the brand legal department reported our listings and Etsy instead of just asking to remove (we surely would have removed and never list anymore similar items) decided to shut our shop for good, destroying 2 years of hard work listing on this website…..
It is evident that they are just doing so if the big brands report, cause I have been reporting REAL counterfeit items (Cartier sunglasses) which are filling the first three pages of the Etsy website if one searches for Cartier sunglasses, but they never removed them after months… and those are clearly AUTHENTIC FAKES, Sold as Cartier for 70€ when the actual value is around 4K, and they're very hard to find but those listings have like 70/100 PCs for each model… clearly fake also the quality, easily visible in the pictures if one is trained and a connoisseur… so Etsy leaves these cheater in 1st page of searches without a problem, but instead our rings which were described as artisanal pieces made out of buttons, never trying to mislead our buyers (you can see some review with photography of satisfied buyers that purchased them) were enough to shut out shoo for good.
Probably when a big brand reports they ensure them that the seller will just get thrown out of the site to avoid expensive lawsuits, as it happened last year between Chanel and The Real Real.. but The Real Real had balls to go through the lawsuit demonstrating basically that Chanel was lying about the fact the items were fake, and just trying to give a stop to circular market and recycled which takes our a lot of money from their pockets.
It is so sad that Etsy sells itself as a human and sustainable platform and then gives the shoulder to this brands instead of protecting the small sellers that are the soul of this circular market. We understand if one sells counterfeit items, but in our case we have 5* reviews and only authentic vintage items, and the only error we did was making rings out of branded buttons, which in our opinion and also in that of many satisfied buyers were also cooler than most of the actual rings made by the brand! Reviews with photo are available to see! And products are available to see too, described and titled as artisanal items made recycling authentic parts from the brand.
This is disgusting and a class action would be the best thing to do for all the sellers like me.
Will start a gofundme campaign and a petition to start this, follow me and help if you're having similar issues. Reviews with photo are available to see! And products are available to see too, described and titled as artisanal items made recycling authentic parts from the brand.
We just opened our shop and found it as "on vacation" then checked our mail and found a message saying our shop was suspended for good, and that there was no possibility of an appeal on this decision.
It is absurd, dishuman, disgusting.
I thought of suicide for their exploit.
I don't think their contract is of any value, it is just another an attempt to intimidate some right claims against them, but when there is a business relationship within 2 parts, it is not civil, not educated, nor human, non good adjectives can describe a company saying they can take a decision about a business partner (call it dependent, call it workers, call it whatever but it is a business relationship in the end) and literally kick them without an explanation. This is what they make clear in the contract, but this is what should be the focus of a class action against them, they should write a contract that is protecting both parts and not giving them the full powers of a dictator and their "workers" NO RIGHTS at all, not even to get an explaination when they are suspended.
This is not a game, Etsy Trust&Safety.
You are playing with real businesses, families, people.
Somebody would kill himself for your medieval way to treat partners.

Desired outcome: Class action against Etsy for unfair, dictatorial contracts, unfair business conduction, shutting w/o a reason not an explaination businesses relying on them instigating entrepreneurs to suicide.

177 comments
Add a comment
G
G
Ghost3881
,
Apr 17, 2022 4:49 am EDT

Everyone who wants to contact Etsy customer service or corporate sales this is the website to visit:

https://sydneyschuster.wordpress.com/tag/etsy-contact-information/

These are also other customer numbers to call:

North America: [protected] UK: +[protected] Australia: +[protected]

L
L
LilNeenjaStars
Henderson, US
Mar 30, 2022 5:22 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Please include me. I have photographic evidence of the resellers as well if needed. Email 5150neenja@gmail.com Etsy needs to pay for their corruption

O
O
Occult A
New York, US
Mar 22, 2022 7:45 pm EDT

Please contact me as a buyer on Etsy I would love to join this lawsuit I have documented plenty of times they have harassed me.

D
D
Danielle Kristen
, US
Mar 17, 2022 10:59 am EDT

I’d like to be included also! Please email me at rhodesfolds@yahoo.com

E
E
Etsy Fraud
new york, US
Feb 23, 2022 3:37 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I would like to be included - Etsy fails to follow their own terms of service. I would like to sue for unfair and deceptive business practices and fraud. Similar experience about shop put in reserve with no explanation claiming IP trademark infringement (which there is none) while same and exact products are being sold. Etsy had the gall to tell me to report other sellers and of course I declined stating (1) i am not making the determination of IP/ Trademark infringement and have no standing. Etsy clearly cannot manage risk on the platform - I think regulatory like Securities and Exchange would be greatly interested as a publicly traded company.

F
F
Fahad Iqbal
, US
Jan 31, 2022 7:19 pm EST

Not only they suspended y account and refuse to disclose why but they also charged me fees for services not rendered. Furthermore they terminated phone support and show lack of understanding when contacted via email.

C
C
concernedcitizenac
, US
Dec 06, 2021 2:59 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

My shop was suddenly suspended 3 days ago. No reason given. The previous day I had tried to purchase from another seller and received a notice that the transaction couldn't be completed. At that point they suspended my account (including my own shop).

I've been selling prints of my original art and custom portraits on Etsy for 4 years. Nearly 700 sales and all five star reviews (RAVE reviews), lots of returning customers, star seller (so never late shipping out or responding to messages). While my shop has been suspended I've received multiple 5 star reviews including one which said "highly recommend this fabulous businesswoman and artist". And yet apparently I'm not suitable for Etsy...?

I don't sell anything that's even remotely breaching copyright or trademarks since its all my own art.

So I can see no reason whatsoever for Etsy to have done this. Its particularly devastating because this is the busiest time of year. Every day they delay looking at my case costs me hundreds of dollars.

If anyone is starting a class action suit, count me in. I'm beyond angry. I've had customers contacting me asking what's going on. The damage to my business is enormous. Etsy may own the playground but there must be some legal recourse for businesses that have been damaged by their actions.

T
T
Tee0923
, US
Nov 18, 2021 5:20 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Etsy “stole” my customer money and will not refund it. I been selling on Etsy for 3 years with a 5 star shop, as a Senior Citizen, I loved my shop.

In October 2021, I received a email saying my shop is now in 45 to 90 day reserve funding as I was devastated because I live on a pensions and I never did anything wrong. I decided once I have my surgery I will close Etsy and open a website.

Today is November 18, 2021 and I received a sale, I decided to inform the customer that I will be refunding there money. Etsy put the money in 45 day reserve and will not refund it back to the customer, they actually tried to go into my bank account and take it out.

I need help because the customer have not received there refund

F
F
Fetsy
, US
Sep 15, 2021 8:20 pm EDT

Have you created a go fund me? Although they might consider they are offering a free marketplace, my place my rules, it is not true. We are paying for listings and share profit. We are paying tenants. They cannot kick us without warning and explanation.

F
F
Fetsy
, US
Sep 15, 2021 7:55 pm EDT

It just happened to me. No warning. No email. My shop access is stripped. Shouldn't they at least give the final warning so I prepare for my exit? No landlord kicks out tenants without the eviction letter properly served. They certainly abuses their power like a dictator and treats good sellers, who might have made innocent mistakes or are wrongfully accused, like life time criminals. They took away all my sale records, listings without a word. If we can't file a class action suit, at least I wish to find a way to boycott Etsy.

L
L
Lily00
edmonton, CA
Mar 11, 2022 3:00 pm EST
Replying to comment of Fetsy

This kind of action effects your standing with your customers. If you have open sales when they shut you down it effects your business! How do you contact those customers? Explain the situation? Try to fill their orders or reimburse them? If you try to move forward with your business you have lost everything you worked so hard to build. Certainly this can't be legal? There has to be something you can do. You paid all your fees to Etsy to use their platform, make your sales, etc. They have been paid! How can they just strip you of all your rights without any warning? You have invested in and worked hard to build your business. I'm a bit stunned at this information.

K
K
Kaikmgy
sathorn, TH
Sep 07, 2021 4:20 am EDT

My shop was suspended in the exact same way. I'm outside of USA but if my story could help taking them down too, feel free to contact me too.

M
M
Mishmishmishmish
Melbourne, AU
Aug 21, 2021 9:12 am EDT

Guys post your experiences on linked in - clearly the people that work in their stupid integrity teams don't care so why not shame Etsy in a public place for their absolutely disgraceful discriminatory behaviour - I myself have had my store suspended with no explaination I don't believe they should get away with this so seeing Etsy lording themselves as some amazing company who cares so much about community is sickening ! Get on their and post some comments

Jolie Baetzel
Jolie Baetzel
, US
Dec 19, 2022 3:53 pm EST

I post on linked in daily, and believe me, etsy does take notice, at least it's a start

Jolie Baetzel
Jolie Baetzel
, US
Dec 19, 2022 3:57 pm EST

Etsy people read many of my comments and delete them. I make copies of all my posts, and simply repost them, every time.

L
L
Laurie Brassard
, US
Aug 16, 2021 11:39 pm EDT

I, too, am considering legal action against Etsy. Although they are discriminating, that cannot be the basis of argument here because you would need burden of proof and classify into a subgroup to be discriminated against. However, they break their own rules and shut down shops on a whim while leaving up others with similar or identical items. Type Nike in their search and a dropdown comes for hoodies, shoes, t-shirts, etc.. wait...isn't this a homemade crafters venue? Yet we have 409, 000 listings of homemade Nike items? A trademarked brand? But they are shutting down mom and pop shops? This cannot be allowed in this day and age. I for one, will not stand by and let them treat me like this.

T
T
Tee0923
, US
Nov 18, 2021 5:25 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I filed a claim with NY Attorney General and if your going to file a class action lawsuit I am willing to sign on.

A
A
Amber Path
, US
Feb 22, 2022 8:48 pm EST

How can we possibly recruit for class action as sellers who have zero rights - this morning, Etsy deactivated 1/2 of my listings because they contained baltic amber, yet ALL of the European amber shops have had no reprimand! Unbelievable... costing me a fortune in amber investment.

D
D
Dog A
Belfast City, GB
Aug 11, 2021 7:03 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

We would be interested in this as we see Etsy's negligence should be reprimanded

M
M
Mishmishmishmish
Melbourne, AU
Aug 22, 2021 3:22 am EDT
Replying to comment of Dog A

Post your experience on their linked in and twitters - we need to all stand up to this

E
E
Etsy Class Action Lawsuit
New York, US
Apr 16, 2023 5:08 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

We would like to invite you to join us in the Class Action lawsuit against Etsy: https://forms.gle/z7PLgJQnp4Ki7kU19