The Etsy Community includes the Forums, Teams, and Seller Events. These spaces are owned by Etsy but powered by third-party platforms. This policy is a part of our Terms of Use. By using any of Etsy’s community spaces, you’re agreeing to this policy and our Terms of Use.
3. Etsy Community Ranks and Badges
1. Using the Etsy Community
Etsy community spaces include both publicly accessible and signed-in only access areas where sellers can interact with one another. Sellers who use any of the community spaces must be over 18 years old. To make sure that the Etsy community continues to be a place that’s safe, welcoming and respectful, you agree to comply with the following policies in all community spaces:
- Respect other members’ privacy, and protect your own. Don't share private or personally identifying information in public areas of the site. This includes, but is not limited to, transaction details, personal contact details and the verbatim contents of private correspondence.
- Do not use community spaces to discuss interactions with Etsy representatives, or to share verbatim extracts of such conversations ( i.e., emails, DMs or messages, live chats etc.). Remember, most messages between you and Etsy are considered private correspondence and we ask that you respect this confidentiality. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more information.
- Be honest and transparent about who you are. Don't use a fake identity.
- Be respectful towards other sellers and, when in doubt, lead with kindness, assume best intentions and act on that basis. Don't use community spaces to publicly disparage a specific seller, an Etsy representative, shop, listing or category of item.
- Don't use community tools or spaces to interfere with another seller’s business.
- Don't spam. This includes unsolicited or duplicate posts or links to your shop, fundraisers, surveys, social media or other promotional content.
- Don't use community spaces to coordinate pricing or off-platform transactions with other sellers.
- Don't use community spaces to harass other sellers. Similarly, don't post content in community spaces that may promote, support, or glorify hatred, misinformation, or that would be in violation of Etsy’s policies including our Anti-Discrimination Policy.
- Don't publish or post threats of violence against others or promote or encourage others to engage in violence or illegal activity.
- Don't engage in illegal activity or activity that infringes someone's intellectual property, or encourage others to engage in that type of activity.
- Don't use community spaces to encourage others to violate Etsy's policies.
Continue reading below for some additional policies that apply to you while using specific community spaces.
2. Forums
Forums include both publicly accessible and signed-in only access spaces where sellers can gather with other sellers to discuss their Etsy businesses.
By using Etsy's Forums, you acknowledge and agree that:
- Your role is to help us create a safe space for sellers to learn from one another and grow their businesses.
- Your contributions help us build a public database of valuable knowledge and experiences that are available to everyone.
- Tone is challenging to interpret on a public forum and our community spaces are for Etsy sellers at every level. When in doubt, lead with empathy and kindness.
- Your posts will stay on topic. Off topic posts may be removed.
- Your posts in the Forums are permanent and can be viewed in various places including your User Profile (unless they are removed by Etsy).
- Your posts should be helpful, constructive, and encouraging when voicing dissent or criticism. Don't harass, target, insult, troll, or call out other members or Etsy representatives.
- Moderators may take certain actions to keep the Forums welcoming, organized, and helpful for everyone. Such actions are not up for public discussion.
- You will respect others’ opinions and report content responsibly. Flagging posts is reserved for content that specifically violates Etsy's policies.
- Etsy reserves the right to remove content from the Forums at any time for any reason, including, for example, violation of our policies, removal of dormant content, content that causes privacy issues, or due to changes to how the Forums operate.
- If you have concerns about actions taken in the forums, you can follow these instructions to contact Etsy Support.
3. Etsy Community Ranks and Badges
Registered Etsy community members have the opportunity to earn ranks and badges for participation in our community spaces and programming. Community ranks and badges are determined by a number of factors, including but not limited to:
- How much you’ve read in the Community Space
- How many posts you’ve written
- How often members find your posts helpful
- How often you’ve liked other members’ posts
- Participation in Etsy programs
- Features such as Community Spotlights
Ranks you can earn in the Etsy Community include:
- Etsy Seller: You have an Etsy shop.
- Reader: You've read a few threads.
- Avid Reader: You've read a few more, and liked some posts, too.
- Community Navigator: You have a track record of reading the Forums and avidly share your appreciation for posts you like.
- Inspiration Seeker: You posted in the Forums. Thank you for your contribution!
- Post Crafter: You shared your thoughts and questions a few times.
- Crafty Poster: You appreciated others and your posts are appreciated too.
- Conversation Maker: You posted helpful answers to the community’s questions.
- Community Maker: You reliably answered a lot of the community's questions. People like you help make the Etsy Community what it is.
- Inspiration Maker: You're an inspiration to others! You've been helping to build the community with your contributions and have been a member of our Community for at least two years.
Badges are awarded for achieving certain ranks or participating in specific Etsy programs. Badges that you’ve been awarded will appear on your community profile and on your My Badges page. Go here to learn more about ranks and badges. Etsy reserves the right to deem any activity that violates its Community Policy ineligible towards advancing your Community Rank. Etsy reserves the right to add, modify or remove ranks to accommodate product updates or changes in the community.
4. Direct Messages
Members may send each other direct messages using the Community's built-in messaging system. These messages are separate from Etsy Messages and can be accessed and read when you are in community spaces.
By using direct messages in the Etsy Community, you agree to all of the above policies. In addition, you may not send messages that are considered:
- Abusive, threatening, defamatory, harassing, or otherwise in violation of our Anti-Discrimination Policy.
- Obscene or vulgar.
- Unsolicited advertising or promotions.
If you receive an inappropriate message, report the content to Etsy. To do so, go to your Direct Messages inbox, open up the message contents and use the “Report as inappropriate” function to bring it to Etsy’s attention for review.
5. Teams
Etsy Teams is a community feature where you can connect with Etsy sellers to help you grow your business. Etsy Teams are self-organized by members and not run by, part of, or affiliated with Etsy.
By using Etsy’s Teams feature, you acknowledge and agree that:
- Except as set forth below, Etsy is not responsible for or involved in a team’s membership policies, dues, finances, or any other actions.
- Teams that do not comply with Etsy's policies, including our Anti-Discrimination Policy, may be removed, and Etsy reserves the right to remove a team or limit access to the creation of new teams for any reason.
- Etsy will not mediate disputes between teams and outside parties, nor disputes between teams and team members.
- Etsy will not monitor third-party forums or other independent team sites.
- Any use of the term "Etsy," Etsy’s visual marks such as the stylized Etsy name logo or “E” logo, other Etsy Trademarks (all trademarks worldwide owned by Etsy, Inc. and its affiliates), or marks confusingly similar to the Etsy Marks must comply with Etsy’s Trademark Policy and our Team branding guidelines. See below for more details.
- A team may not use mature, profane, or hateful language or images in the team's name, banner, or logo.
- A team may not be used for the sole purpose of redirecting traffic to another web location. Etsy reserves the right to remove links on any profile page or team page for any reason. Unsolicited promotion or advertisement from representatives or affiliates of outside services, websites, or other products is not allowed.
- Teams are created by and run by Team Captains. A team must have a Captain in place in order to function successfully.
- Team Captains are responsible for moderating their Team’s content. In addition, Team Captains may appoint additional roles and responsibilities to their members.
- Teams that are inactive for 6 months or more, or who do not have a Team Captain in place to moderate the Team, are subject to removal from the platform and cancellation at Etsy’s discretion. This includes revocation of the right to use Etsy’s name or the Etsy Trademarks.
- Team forums and on-site publications (i.e., blogs and knowledge base articles) are subject to this Community Policy and may not be used to demonstrate or discuss disputes with other members or with Etsy.
- A team may have a charter detailing membership requirements and expectations for the team. Team leadership is responsible for enforcing the team's charter. A team's charter must abide by all of Etsy's policies, including our Terms of Use and Intellectual Property Policy.
- If a team chooses to use a dedicated item listing tag (also called a “team tag”), it must contain the word "team." Etsy will not mediate disputes regarding use of team tags on item listings.
- Team Captains may be granted permission to upload rich content to their Etsy Teams including videos, images and photos. Any rich content uploaded to the platform must comply with Etsy’s Terms of Use.
- Etsy reserves the right to remove content and users from Teams at its sole discretion, including but not limited to members, Team Captains and dormant or inappropriate content.
- Etsy may limit, modify or remove access to specific Teams tools and permissions without notice to members if a Team’s activity is deemed a violation of the Community Policy or if necessary to improve the product experience and keep our community safe.
6. Branding Guidelines for Teams and Captains of Teams
Teams must adhere to these branding guidelines when identifying as an Etsy Seller Team.
You can use the word Etsy in the name of your Team. (e.g. Etsy Greek Team, Brighton Etsy Team). However, you cannot use the term ‘Etsy’ alone, or the Etsy logo by itself in your Team name, or in any promotional materials that reference your Team in any manner.
Things to keep in mind when creating an Etsy Team Logo:
- You cannot use the Etsy logo to promote your Team without your Team name included at any time.
- You can create a stand-alone Etsy Team logo so long as your Team name is clearly presented on the logo image.
- If you use the word “Etsy” in your Team logo, you must make sure it is not the most prominent or the largest word visually on the logo image.
- If you are promoting your Team or any Team related activities, you must include the terms “Organized by a Team of Etsy sellers” visibly and prominently. It is also your responsibility to make it clear that you are not an agent or employee of Etsy.
- You are solely responsible for any costs relating to your use of all promotional materials, venues or other items used to promote your Team.
Etsy does not pre-approve Team branding and we reserve the right to take action on any usage brought to our attention that causes confusion, potential harm to the Etsy brand, or is in direct violation of our Trademark Policy. In particular:
Teams’ use of the Etsy name and Etsy Trademarks is subject to periodic Etsy’s review at any time, and Etsy may require changes in your use of the Etsy Trademarks to comply with Etsy policies, including our Trademark Policy, Etsy’s marketing needs, or to ensure Etsy’s Trademarks are not used in a way that suggests your Team is affiliated with, or part of Etsy, Inc. In addition, you may not use the Etsy Trademarks or similar marks in a way that tarnishes or causes harm to Etsy’s brand or reputation, or in relation to non-Etsy services. At Etsy’s sole discretion, including if you violate this policy, or any of Etsy’s Terms of Use, Etsy reserves the right to revoke your right to use the Etsy Trademarks.
7. Seller Events
Etsy may promote seller-focused virtual or in-person events and activities including educational workshops, markets and summits. Sellers participate in events at their own discretion.
Etsy does not sponsor seller-led events unless otherwise specified. While Etsy sellers may describe their events as "organized by Etsy sellers", sellers may not prominently use the Etsy name or logo in a manner that suggests the event is organized or run by Etsy. Etsy may periodically review the use of the Etsy name and Etsy Trademark, and may revoke the right to use the Etsy name or Etsy Trademarks at any time, for any reason.
Etsy may take action, including termination or suspension, on any account that violates these policies. For example, we may temporarily or permanently suspend your community posting privileges, remove your community access or close your Etsy account, which will immediately suspend all Etsy shop activity. If we do so, it’s important to understand that you don’t have a contractual or legal right to continue to use our Services, including Community spaces or the Etsy Trademarks. Generally, Etsy will notify you that your account has been terminated or suspended, unless you’ve repeatedly violated this policy or our Terms or we have legal or regulatory reasons preventing us from notifying you.
Last updated on Apr 19, 2024