Why I Stopped Advertising on Etsy (After Losing $500 in Ads)

As a small business owner deeply invested in crafting premium, eco-friendly candles, I never imagined Etsy — a platform known for supporting artisans — would become one of my biggest business regrets. But after months of effort and over $500 spent on Etsy Ads, I made the decision to stop advertising there entirely.

This is not a rant. It’s a real story — one I’m sharing for other makers and entrepreneurs who deserve transparency before investing their time and money.

🚫 The Problem No One Warns You About: No Human Support

When things go wrong on Etsy, you don’t talk to a person. You talk to a robot. There’s no direct communication line to someone who can actually help resolve seller issues.

That might be acceptable for some, but for a business built on integrity, quality, and trust — it's a complete breakdown in accountability.

⚠️ Reported Photo — No Appeal, No Rights

One of my candle listing photos — which I created myself, 100% original — was suddenly reported for copyright infringement. The shock? I wasn’t even allowed to appeal the decision.

The appeal option literally did not exist in my dashboard. No explanation. No email. No recourse.

This is not just poor support — it’s platform-level discrimination and silencing of the seller’s voice.

💬 Etsy Deleted My Listing and My Verified Reviews

As if the blocked appeal wasn’t enough, Etsy removed:

• The product listing

• All customer reviews related to it

These were real reviews, earned through real sales, from clients who loved the product. The image under dispute had nothing to do with those customer experiences — yet everything was wiped.

This damages your shop’s reputation and your SEO standing on Etsy — and they don’t care.

💸 Over $500 Spent — All for Nothing

In four months, I spent more than $500 on Etsy Ads — expecting a return on investment. Instead, I ended up with:

• A takedown

• Lost reviews

• Zero opportunity to explain

• A penalty for a “policy violation” I couldn’t even contest

Imagine pouring time, money, and energy into building a presence… only to be silenced without the right to reply.

🧨 The Real Truth: Etsy Isn’t Built for Sellers Anymore

What this experience taught me is something many sellers realize too late:

Etsy is not a marketplace. It’s an advertising engine.

It’s built to extract ad spend from small businesses — while hiding behind automated policies, no human contact, and vague “community guidelines.”

They claim to support handmade creators, but in practice, they penalize without proof, delete without context, and ignore honest sellers.

✅ What I’m Doing Now Instead

I’m now building direct channels:

• My own website (where I control the customer experience)

• Select wholesale platforms that actually vet and support artisans

• Real community-focused marketing (like fairs, pop-ups, and ethical marketplaces)

Platforms like Fair, Abound, and even Shopify provide clearer terms and stronger communication.

If you're a handmade business owner, especially in a health-conscious or wellness niche — think twice before pouring money into Etsy Ads.

Final Words: This is for the Makers

If you’re reading this and wondering whether Etsy is still a good fit — let this be your sign to rethink. You deserve more than vague policies, vanished listings, and lost revenue.

You deserve a platform that sees you as more than a source of ad dollars.

💡 Have you faced similar issues on Etsy?

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