Etsy Helped Me Fly. Now It’s Clipping My Wings

May 15
4 min read

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What's Inside

How It All Began: My Etsy Origin Story

If you’re wondering how I ended up here, pouring my heart into leathercrafts and handmade goods, the answer is simple: Etsy. I started my shop back in 2017 with a humble goal — to sell a few handmade wallets each week on a platform that promised to champion artisans and creativity. It was a serendipitous stumble into something much bigger than I could have imagined.

Things took off quickly. My shop grew, my team expanded, and before long, I was making and selling products I truly believed in. Etsy wasn’t just a platform; it became the foundation of my brand.

The Unexpected Takedown: A Shocking Email

Last week, out of nowhere, I received an email from Etsy. No warning, no detailed explanation. Just a notification that one of my listings was being disabled for not meeting their compliance criteria.

That product? The Marshall Padfolio — the third design I ever created and my all-time best-seller.

What Marshall Represents

When I created the Marshall Padfolio, there was nothing like it on Etsy. The market was flooded with floppy, cheap-looking leather covers for legal pads. I wanted to build something better — something structured, professional, and truly functional.

We couldn’t make them fast enough. My workshop in Turkey became expert in producing this one product. When we later moved operations to our new studio in Ubrique, Spain — a town renowned for leather craftsmanship — we refined the design even further.

We never outsourced production. We still make every Marshall in-house. This product has always been the beating heart of our workshop.

The Accusation: Reselling Mass-Produced Items?

Etsy flagged the listing, claiming it violated rules against reselling mass-produced items. That couldn’t be further from the truth. You can’t buy the Marshall Padfolio anywhere else except our Etsy shop, Amazon store, or my own website. And if you do see it elsewhere, it’s likely a counterfeit.

That’s happened before — twice, in fact — right on Etsy. My loyal customers spotted fake shops using my images, my name, and my product description to sell knock-offs. I reported them. Etsy’s response? “Reach out directly to the shops. We can’t help.”

Eventually, those impostor listings disappeared. But the experience was deflating. And now, somehow, my original listing is the one being punished?

Double Standards and a Broken System

What’s even more confusing is that we have multiple listings of the exact same product — same design, same images — and they’re still live. If Etsy has an issue with one, shouldn’t they all be taken down?

We’ve sent multiple emails trying to clarify the situation. We’ve provided context, proof, and a history of our design and production process. Every response we’ve received has been a template — cold, generic, and clearly disconnected from the contents of our messages.

They’re not reading our emails.

We’re Not Alone

After digging around, I realized we’re not the only ones. Many makers and small businesses like mine — the very people Etsy was built to support — have faced similar treatment.

Our shop has over 105,000 sales, more than 18,000 reviews, and an average rating of over 4.9 stars. We’ve proudly held “Star Seller” status for as long as I can remember. I thought that kind of performance meant something. That Etsy would value the creators who helped build the platform.

But lately, that’s starting to feel like a naïve assumption.

Etsy’s Identity Crisis

I am deeply grateful for what Etsy has given me. It helped me build my brand, and for years, it was a beacon for creative entrepreneurs — a place where craftsmanship and authenticity mattered.

But like many publicly traded companies chasing quarterly growth, Etsy is losing its soul.

These days, I see more and more listings selling mass-produced junk from Alibaba or Temu with a “handmade” label slapped on. That’s not the Etsy I joined.

A Call for Change — And Solidarity

I’m lucky. I have a community — you — and a platform to share this story. Maybe this message can spark a conversation, or at the very least, echo the voices of fellow makers trying to keep Etsy true to its roots.

If Etsy wants to become the next Temu, they’re heading in the right direction. But if they still care about what made them special in the first place, I hope they’ll start listening — really listening — to the people who built this platform with their hands, hearts, and hopes.

What Do You Think?

I want to hear from you. How has your experience with Etsy changed over the years? Have you noticed the shift too? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. Let’s talk.

And as always — until next time — stay leathertained.