Status of TVV & Etsy

Hi Etsy Folks... :)

So I just wanted to share some information with you about the status of how TVV functions on Etsy.

Right now as of this writing, we are allowed to have the team there. They approved it after all.... :)

The issue at hand is whether you can post about TVV in your shop and or provide links that lead folks here.

As of right now, I have not gotten an answer that I feel is 100 % clear.

The general rule is that you can't post any links or make mention of any site that takes people off Etsy via your Shop. And that is understandable.

But>>>> at the same time, folks leave Etsy via their Pinterest and FaceBook and Twitter social icon buttons for each and every item, so I am trying to get a better handle on it all. We are a social Networking site too. But the fact that "technically" folks can sell directly from TVV, makes it complicated.

My advice is to not list anything about TVV on your shop pages.

UPDATE: We are permitted to post a link in our shops.

So far the team is fine. I personally just can not be the one to start topics or bring up TVV there, I can only reply to questions in an official capacity.

I am still unsure about any links that take folks here, even if team members post it.

Worst case scenario is that the team can't post any links that go to TVV. Then it just becomes a general vintage themed team.

I am hoping they do not pull the plug on the team itself.

0 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Out Of The Attic 2u on July 10, 2012 at 5:11pm

Are you talking about links in our listings? Our about pages? I am a confused monkey-face. I do have you as a team on my shop but I think that's about it. The funny thing is I tried to rearrange my teams and it just won't move you to being first anymore, etsy success is and it won't budge :(

Permalink Reply by Waalaa on July 10, 2012 at 5:16pm

I have always had a link in my announcement to The Vintage Village...as well as Twitter, Facebook and several other outside websites. I have never had a problem with it - I can't imagine why they would mind. As you said, when we post to Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest from one of our listings, we are leaving Etsy, so this shouldn't be any different. TVV does a LOT to promote Etsy - I would think that would be a good thing in their eyes!

Permalink Reply by CheriShops - Admin on July 10, 2012 at 5:31pm

Waalaa, be careful as I got hand slapped for having a link to TVV in my shop announcement and profile page as they told me it was linking to "an alternative selling site"

I protested but got a very firm warning that it was not allowed so I contacted Lora to let her know....and immediately removed any links to TVV

Permalink Reply by ElsiesAttic ~ CEO on July 10, 2012 at 5:43pm

Well... all I can say is that I am befuddled by the whole thing. They know I am the CEO & Founder (part of why I changed my title here so there is no confusion) and yet they never even hinted at the mention of TVV in my shop info being an issue. Yet Cheri got in trouble!

I am unclear about what is allowed on the team, but as far as your shop goes, the only part that is okay is the team tag.

Permalink Reply by ElsiesAttic ~ CEO on July 10, 2012 at 5:46pm

This is just about Etsy not wanting people to leave Etsy via a link to any off Etsy Site.

We can link TO Etsy (your shop listings) but you can't drive people from Etsy to TVV....

Out Of The Attic 2u said:

Are you talking about links in our listings? Our about pages? I am a confused monkey-face. I do have you as a team on my shop but I think that's about it. The funny thing is I tried to rearrange my teams and it just won't move you to being first anymore, etsy success is and it won't budge :(

Permalink Reply by Waalaa on July 10, 2012 at 6:11pm

YIKES Cheri! That is just crazy! I guess they must consider TVV a threat to sales, which is good news for YOU, Lora - but kind of scary -

I hate to take the link out of my announcement, but I guess I will compromise and take the link out but leave the mention in - hopefully that will be ok :)

Leesa (waalaa)

Permalink Reply by ElsiesAttic ~ CEO on July 10, 2012 at 6:25pm

I think it has more to do with Etsy people being brought to a site that has links to other venues like ArtFire and Ruby Lane etc.,

Waalaa said:

YIKES Cheri! That is just crazy! I guess they must consider TVV a threat to sales, which is good news for YOU, Lora - but kind of scary -

I hate to take the link out of my announcement, but I guess I will compromise and take the link out but leave the mention in - hopefully that will be ok :)

Leesa (waalaa)

Permalink Reply by CheriShops - Admin on July 10, 2012 at 6:41pm

Yes I agree Lora. I don't think they were anti TVV.....I think that if all we had here was Etsy shops promoting, it would be no problem! but because we have the other venues, plus even possibly someone reported it because they checked my page here and saw I still sell on other venues in addition to Etsy?

Permalink Reply by WhimsicalVintage on July 10, 2012 at 7:28pm

When VV started Lora was an Etsy seller and the sellers who joined here were Etsy sellers. It was all about Etsy. As VV expanded and many loyal Etsy sellers began to sell on other venues (separate situations that happened somewhat simultaneously) I think Etsy began taking a closer look and any time since then that Lora has tried to promote on Etsy - something like this comes up...and I expect it will continue to. Cheri, you're absolutely right - the odds are that someone saw the link and reported it...but I do think it's a combination of both situations. You're relatively new to Etsy and you have beautiful items...that brings a lot of attention from certain sellers, they look for it. They should be more concerned about bigger issues at hand but sadly they're not. Flagging and reporting is an Etsy way of life...personally I've never had the time to devote to flagging everything I see, if I did, it would be a full time job.

As already stated - Facebook, twitter and pinterest are linked directly on Etsy and all of those places link to other venues...much more than the VV does.

Permalink Reply by ElsiesAttic ~ CEO on July 10, 2012 at 10:50pm

Okay folks.... the official word.... for at least one aspect of it is that YES.... we are ALLOWED to link our "My Page" in our Etsy shops.

As long as no one is using their account specifically to direct traffic to their Vintage Village pages or selling the same items on both sites, you and the others can safely put links in your shops to your respective pages on TVV.

I interpret this as, don't use Etsy shops as sock puppet accounts to solicit folks.

As far as the team aspect, I have to contact Team support specifically.

I am just going to take a back seat and let the team do it's own thing and that way there is no issue. If folks ask "What is The Vintage Village" then I am permitted to answer and so are you.

There is a fine line between soliciting (spam) and trying to share information with folks that there is another way to promote off Etsy. I will try to stay well on the side of keeping my big mouth shut.... :) Easier said then done! lol

The last paragraph from Etsy Admin was this:

The basic idea for us is that your affiliation is not a problem; we just want to make sure that you're not using Etsy or its features to promote the site with which you're affiliated......

......... There's space in the middle where all of this can work out, I'm confident of that. =)

Permalink Reply by ElsiesAttic ~ CEO on July 10, 2012 at 10:54pm

I think it was odd that you got singled out so I think someone had to of reported you.

CheriShops - Admin said:

Yes I agree Lora. I don't think they were anti TVV.....I think that if all we had here was Etsy shops promoting, it would be no problem! but because we have the other venues, plus even possibly someone reported it because they checked my page here and saw I still sell on other venues in addition to Etsy?

Permalink Reply by WhimsicalVintage on July 10, 2012 at 11:01pm

I'm sorry Cheri, I always think of you as RL and didn't realize that you've been on Etsy for so long:) For some reason I was thinking this shop was relatively new:) The memory ain't what it used to be and I truly apologize!

WhimsicalVintage said:

When VV started Lora was an Etsy seller and the sellers who joined here were Etsy sellers. It was all about Etsy. As VV expanded and many loyal Etsy sellers began to sell on other venues (separate situations that happened somewhat simultaneously) I think Etsy began taking a closer look and any time since then that Lora has tried to promote on Etsy - something like this comes up...and I expect it will continue to. Cheri, you're absolutely right - the odds are that someone saw the link and reported it...but I do think it's a combination of both situations. You're relatively new to Etsy and you have beautiful items...that brings a lot of attention from certain sellers, they look for it. They should be more concerned about bigger issues at hand but sadly they're not. Flagging and reporting is an Etsy way of life...personally I've never had the time to devote to flagging everything I see, if I did, it would be a full time job.

As already stated - Facebook, twitter and pinterest are linked directly on Etsy and all of those places link to other venues...much more than the VV does.