Tuesday, 19 March 2013

Bear Cabin Miniatures Etsy Store now closed


*** NEWS ***

Sadly I have to announce that my Etsy Store, Bearcabinminiatures.etsy.com has been closed by Etsy.

Last night I recieved an email from an Etsy Integrity Team member asking me to answer a 15 question questionaire and to submit a full photographic, indepth tutorial explaining how I make my miniatures within 5 days or else thay would close my store! 

I replied to this elusive person giving her a series of links to many of my online tutorials and a link to a recent radio interview where I talk about making my miniatures. I also explained that I have a big show this weekend and that unfortunately, I did not have the time to fulfill her request until after the weekend.

She promptly shut my Etsy Store! 


This means that I have no access to any of my followers, feedback (which was 100% and had many glowing reports and all my photographs)


Obviously, I am very upset that a site which I pay for to list my handmade miniatures, have sold on successfully for the last 3 years and who earn comission from me, will just shut my shop at the drop of a hat, without reasonable explanation.

I am appalled and disgusted and have decided not to try have my Etsy store reinstated out of principal.

Hywel has been setting up a website for his new dolls house shop, so I will list my handmade miniatures there from now on.

You can find us at


I apologise for any inconveience caused and I hope you will follow me to our new website.

Julia xx

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25 comments:

  1. The Old Maid19 March 2013 at 18:19

    I am sorry to read that Julia! It just gives me one more reason not to open the store on Etsy. Sad really. But I am sure your own shop is the best solution.:)
    Big hug

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julia and Hywel19 March 2013 at 18:49

      Thankyou. I'm still a bit shell shocked, but if Etsy can treat their honest sellers like that, then I think I am better off without them. Hopefully, the new website will be just as, if not more successful :) xx

      Delete
  2. My Wee Life19 March 2013 at 18:42

    Oh Julia sorry to hear your news. There as another miniaturist who had the same problem but she did end up appealing and had here reopened but you will probably be better selling through your own website.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julia and Hywel20 March 2013 at 08:02

      I have seen it happen to a few unfortunately. It seems Etsy favour the green eyed monsters of the world and not the honest hard working artisans! I'm sure the website will work out better and there's a bonus, no commision to pay to Etsy!:)

      Delete
  3. The Little Things19 March 2013 at 20:29

    That very upsetting! Makes me think twice about doing business with them myself. To treat their members that way is appalling. Good luck with your own website. I think your work is wonderful :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Linda19 March 2013 at 22:05

    I am really sorry to hear this! I wish you the very best on your new site!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Susan@minicrochetmad19 March 2013 at 23:18

    You make me glad I didn't take the recent etsy offer to open a shop for free. I can't understand why they would close a shop with pefect ratings scores like yours and I'm disgusted by such dictatorial behaviour.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julia and Hywel20 March 2013 at 08:04

      I couldn't believe how unfair they were being, but I'm sure the website will be better :)

      Delete
  6. Jane K19 March 2013 at 23:46

    You are not the first person I've heard that happened to Julia, it's not just in traders who deal in miniatures either. I really don't know why Esty are acting that way, surely they want brilliant artists such as yourself selling on their site. Very short sighted on their part.

    It's probably best in the long run to have your own store as at least it gives you more control. The link you put up to it above isn't working though.

    Best Wishes
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julia and Hywel20 March 2013 at 08:05

      Hi Jane, I fixed the link :) I had put an extra 'b' in by mistake! Thankyou for your kind words about my work :)

      Delete
  7. Rosamargarita20 March 2013 at 00:58

    Lamento leer esta mala noticia Julia! A veces he leido historias parecidas sobre Etsy,
    mucho éxito con su tienda.
    Un abrazo

    ReplyDelete
  8. Margriet20 March 2013 at 07:42

    What a terrible thing to do by Etsy, I'm so sorry for you Julia!
    Hope your website will be a great succes, so you can show them you don't need them!
    Have a wonderful weekend and a wonderful show!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julia and Hywel20 March 2013 at 08:08

      Thankyou Margriet. I will post a little Minatura Show report here after the weekend. I am so looking forward to it :)

      Delete
  9. Margriet20 March 2013 at 07:44

    Julia, there's a typo in your link!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julia and Hywel20 March 2013 at 08:07

      I found it, thankyou. Thats what I get for rushing :)xx

      Delete
  10. Marisa20 March 2013 at 13:41

    the best revenge is success :) good luck on your new venture

    ReplyDelete
  11. Irene20 March 2013 at 15:57

    What a strange way to behave. No wonder you're shocked.

    I hope your new site is a great success - perhaps you wouldn't have done it this way if Etsy hadn't given you the nudge. It could end up being all for the better!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Julia and Hywel26 March 2013 at 18:20

    It is Irene, I was very surprised and shocked, but I agree, it is for the best. It gave me the push I needed to do my own website :)xx

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ang's Divine Designs12 May 2013 at 14:22

    So sorry to hear this. Etsy just closed my shop as well. I have been accused of relisting an item which I was informed about a month ago was in violation of copyright policies. The item in question was deactivated by Etsy at that time. I requested further information from both parties and then deleted the item from my shop altogether so it has not been relisted. I have asked Etsy to explain how a deleted item could have been found again and for them to reopen my shop, so far I have heard nothing. I have had so much faith in Etsy during my 3 years here and honestly thought after I had contacted them several times I would have an answer and a resolution, but nothing yet

    I was contacted by Etsy on May 9, 2013 that the item was deactivated due to copyright infringement and because I was notified previously they closed my shop. This same item was deleted by me in April 2013. This is insane.

    Thank you for listening. Just thought I would reach out and find out if you ever got any good news.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julia and Hywel14 May 2013 at 21:15

      Hello Ang,
      I'm so sorry to hear that you have had problems with Etsy too. It is ridiculous how they are penalising genuine sellers. Etsy suspended my shop until i had provided them with a full, in-depth tutorial on how I make my miniatures. Naturally due to the risk of being copied, I refused. Eliza from Etsy refused to supply me with any information on why I had been accused of not making my own miniatures and also told me that I would not be allowed too make any purchases on Etsy! I then did a Google search on Etsy complaints and was horrified at what I was reading, so I decided that I wouldn't fight to keep my Etsy shop open and I closed it.

      I hope that you have had some answers from Etsy, it is ridiculous to say you have relisted something when you had actually deleted it some days earlier. I just cant understand why they act the way they do.

      Julia

      Delete
  14. Heavenly Creatures Art19 August 2013 at 10:48

    They act this way because simply they can. They are spiteful mean people, do you think they care about handmade? not a bit of it, that is just a marketing ploy for them. All they care about is money and power. Sellers give Etsy the power, have you not read the forums with sellers gushing over Etsy like it's a member of their family. So blame the sellers for feeding this monster.

    ReplyDelete

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