Etsy Recommended Use of Bot Trigger Word 'Amber'

Etsy sellers who include the word "amber" in their listings say the marketplace temporarily deactivates them, something they've reported on industry boards since February 2022. So imagine the frustration when sellers found Etsy promoting "amber earrings" and "warm amber beading" in a "trends" report one year later.

In the Etsy Seller Handbook article titled, "Marketplace Insights: 2023 Spring and Summer Trends" (February 22, 2023), Etsy offered advice on prepping shops for the upcoming season, including a guide to trends based on Etsy search data and industry forecasting.

The report included the following advice and information:

Beach beads and charm necklaces

As folks continue to dress for their inner child, the "kidcore" style has shifted more heavily into jewelry. Resin and glass beads and charm necklaces are on the mind amongst Gen Z shoppers especially, and charms shaped like nostalgic flowers, mushrooms, and animals are among the most coveted.

134% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing "amber earring"

Stone sensation

Marble has taken the home decor world by storm, and now jewelry is also getting in on the fun. From desert-inspired sandstone rings to warm amber beading, these stones add a regal touch and pair nicely with the loose, shapeless silhouettes that continue to pop up on social media and runways.

135% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing "sandstone ring"

A seller posting on the Etsy discussion boards pointed to the report and asked, "What is going on here? I thought you couldn't use the word amber in listings."

Another seller responded, "Words that flag, like "Amber, Ivory, Persian, Cuba" will cause a new listing to be pulled, and once someone has confirmed it is okay, it will be reinstated. Etsy hasn't banned the selling of all amber."

Sellers discussing trigger words on a Reddit thread also raised the issue in a thread started on May 1, 2023, when a seller asked, "What keywords will alert Etsy Bots to remove listings even if they're not against Etsy guidelines? Specifically helpful for candle companies."

Someone replied, "Amber and cashmere. I know they're both used as fragrance descriptors," to which the original poster responded, "That's good to know. I have a cashmere vanilla candle, and it got removed. I had no idea why, it makes more sense now. Thank you!"

Another seller piped up, "It's so stupid because Etsy just sent out something with what people were searching and Amber was on the list."

Etsy had emailed some sellers in February of 2022 about the use of the word "amber" in listings, according to a Reddit thread at the time. The seller, who called the policy "clear as mud," included an excerpt of the email notification they'd received:

"In accordance with our Prohibited Items Policy, we have determined that as of February 15, 2022, we will no longer be able to accommodate necklaces, bracelets, or anklets composed of a string or strand of small amber beads, chips, or nuggets smaller than 1.25 inches."

Sellers have reported in various threads over the past year that when they list items with the word amber, Etsy deactivates the listing but later re-activates it, which they presume is caused by a bot flagging the listing and then reactivating it after human review. (And, some sellers say, any time they edit an existing listing with the word amber, the process starts all over again.)

"Bots gone wild" is also a common phrase among sellers on Amazon and eBay who deal with marketplaces' use of automated tools to flag listings they deem violate policies.

What can add to sellers' frustration is the often secretive nature of bot activity. For example, in 2018, sellers reported that eBay was removing their listings for military surplus goods that they had successfully sold for many years. As we wrote at the time, "When sellers asked eBay moderators which keywords to avoid, they received this reply: "Specific keywords are considered internal information, as sharing them would serve to educate those looking to circumvent our filters.""

In its recent trends report, Etsy told sellers shoppers are looking for amber, but it failed to include a warning that the use of the term in listings would likely get them flagged.

Note: See more on the bot trigger word "cashmere" in this March 2023 EcommerceBytes Newsflash story.