AuctionBytes Blog
Covering auctions, collectibles and marketplace selling.

AuctionBytes Blog The AuctionBytes Blog has been giving a voice to online merchants since its launch in 2005. Named one of the world's top 30 blogs in 2008 by "Blogging Heroes." Weigh in with your thoughts on the joys and pitfalls of selling online.
Mon Dec 4 2023 21:28:07

When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date

By: Ina Steiner

Sponsored Link

A seller sought help on the Etsy discussion boards after she discovered 13 of her listings set to expire on November 30th never expired - they were still visible in her shop even when she was not signed in to Etsy. 

The seller was concerned that shoppers might be able to purchase the listings even though they were not supposed to be active anymore. 

Another seller said it was a known glitch that had been going on for two years and said the original poster's listings were still for sale. 

"The big problem is that Etsy is not taking responsibility for this, so when they finally do expire, Etsy is charging sellers for any listing fees that should have been," they wrote. "And if these are auto-renew items, everything is renewed on the same date, instead of being staggered like sellers may have had them."

A quick search showed another thread where Etsy sellers discussed the failure of listings to expire when they were supposed to - from last year.

On July 29, 2022, a seller wrote, "I've got a listing that is still active and showing up in my shop that has an expiration date of 4/30/22. It didn't expire on that date, and I wondered how long it would stay active and available in my shop AFTER it's expiration date.

"I'm STILL waiting to see when it will finally expire," she said, adding a shrug symbol.

While an expiration date isn't the same for a product listing as for a food item, the original poster in the first post referenced above explained why it mattered to her that Etsy didn't end her listings when they were supposed to: "I deliberately activated them at the end of August to coincide with my planned Holiday shop closure. Ugh."

Comments (12) | Leave Comment | Permalink
Readers Comments

Perminate Link for When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date   When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date

by: Snapped This user has validated their user name.

Tue Dec 5 09:33:28 2023

With somewhat astonished ignorance, he asked, “Is it not possible to end them manually?”

Perminate Link for When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date   When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date

by: Stone Cutter This user has validated their user name.

Tue Dec 5 10:07:29 2023

In your listing manager, hit the “delete” button if you no longer want the listing.  

Perminate Link for When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date   When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date

by: quirkyantiques This user has validated their user name.

Tue Dec 5 10:46:49 2023

lol@ snapped. Yes I suspect the op didn't change settings from auto to manual renew. Besides-you should manually delete or move to inactive items you no longer have, not wait for months for them to "not renew".

Perminate Link for When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date   When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date

by: Lisa This user has validated their user name.

Tue Dec 5 20:30:51 2023

seller didn't realize they had their listing set to auto renew instead of manual renew. (that is the default for certain circumstances)

etsians love to blame etsy  for everything, including user error.

stay out of the forums, they're toxic.

Perminate Link for When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date   When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date

by: Lisa This user has validated their user name.

Tue Dec 5 20:35:33 2023

LOL@snapped

you would think it is the seller's responsibility to control their own inventory, who knew?

Perminate Link for When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date   When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date

by: JustVintageEARRINGS This user has validated their user name.

Thu Dec 7 10:53:01 2023

I've started up a new shop just over two years ago and have had problems the entire time with Etsy adding back in inventory that I marked manually relist. This screwed up my plans for running a new years sale. I think they are after more money. Even if 10% of us are having this type of problem, think of the extra cash Etsy gets out it..

Perminate Link for When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date   When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date

by: AnotherTime This user has validated their user name.

Thu Dec 7 15:39:29 2023

I experienced the same issue.   I have a very small inventory online as I decide what to do with the shop.  When I discovered items were not expiring when they were supposed to this was a problem.
Themed listings and page showings get messed up.
I actively change the look of my page - when they should be done I still want the listing available to work with later on (Expired LIstings).
It's like changing the front store window - things need to be put to rest and out of site.  Deleting completely from my file is not the best option.
But I don't want to spend unnecessary time tracking down over-due open listings either.
Definitely an Etsy glitch.

Perminate Link for When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date   When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date

by: Stone Cutter This user has validated their user name.

Thu Dec 7 19:05:19 2023

@Anothertime

Besides deleting the listing, there is also the option to “deactivate” the listing.

I have two items that have been deactivated for months, and nothing ever happens to them, nor am I charged for them.

When in the “listings” manager, the deactivate function is at the top of the screen.

Etsy is filled with glitches and poor design concepts. We, as Sellers, just need to know how to work with them.

Perminate Link for When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date   When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date

by: gyanarthi This user has validated their user name.

Thu Dec 7 22:56:03 2023

I've been watching this for a long time... I'm letting my 2 shops just fade away.... and not giving etsy any more money unless something sells. If they get so old that the sale is no longer profitable I deactivate them.
It's interesting with long periods of no sales, I watch when someone ''favorites'' an item, and look to see who they are... very few real people, mostly bots.. like etsy trolls low volume shops to give them a little boost to keep them around and filled with hope that maybe someone is really looking.
The less attached I am to selling on etsy, the more I find it amusing.

Perminate Link for When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date   When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date

by: Lisa This user has validated their user name.

Fri Dec 8 00:16:27 2023

not only can you deactivate a listing, but you can copy and move it to drafts.

you actually do get an extended grace period.  notice if your listing falls in a 'short' moth. this isn't  new.

neither is relisting in bulk and the items change to the default automatic re-new.

ultimately, this one is on you. pay attention to what you are doing.

if you had items renew, yet had  them  on manual, pull a ticket  and get an insertion credit.

Perminate Link for When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date   When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date

by: Lisa This user has validated their user name.

Fri Dec 8 00:17:18 2023

*month

Perminate Link for When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date   When Etsy Listings Run Past Their Expiration Date

by: Fruitylovesyou This user has validated their user name.

Fri Dec 15 17:49:58 2023

WOWEE that's a big surprise don't you think? What are the chances that the very same glitch would occur in the wild on another site. I have to think about this a little bit longer but I am about 86% leaning that it happened also in Q4 and did result in completed sales. Spooky ghosting listings. Yes that is a thing!



Login is required to post comments.
To sign in to leave a comment, fill in the form below. If you have not yet signed up for AB Verify, or if you'd like more information, go to the Registration Page.

Login for AB Verify
Be sure and use your email address and password to log in.
 
Email:
Password:
 
 Forgot Your Password?
 Even though you are signed in with the AuctionBytes Blog, you will have to sign in to the EcommerceBytes blog. But you can sign in with your existing AB Verify info.