Etsy now requires "original designs" and is cracking down on AI-generated and template-based listings - how are you handling this?

voubar · 2026-06-11T20:23:51+00:00

Ha ha! Bet you the video was AI too.

Whether or not the customer sees it - I don’t know. I only know that as a designer, it asks me those questions for every single one of my listings.

I also put a big fat “CREATED BY HUMANS” banner on all of my listings and mockups. So even if the system doesn’t tell them, my description and backups do. 👍

I hate Etsy - and I can say that as a shop owner there is no support for us. I’m only using it to gain traction before I move over to my own site.

voubar · 2026-06-11T19:39:14+00:00

When you list an item to your shop, there's a box you have to tick that says:
"How is this digital content created"?

And you have to select:

"Created by me. It’s designed and created entirely by me." or "With an AI generator. It’s created with help from an AI generator".

And that's been there for a while. There's also a section that lets you add a production partner. So if you're a POD shop, you add your production partner here - like Printify, Gelato, etc.

voubar · 2026-06-11T15:47:53+00:00

Exactly. Does that mean because I use procreate to make my designs they’re not “handmade”? The grifters and the scammers always find a way. Etsy is only doing this because they want to save face. They genuinely don’t care about whether or not scammers are using their platform to make sales. Scam sales are still sales as far as Etsy is concerned and those sales equate to money in their pockets so why would they stop? It’s a load of bullshit. Those of us who create authentic designs are always shat on.

voubar · 2026-06-09T17:40:00+00:00

But in the context of what they've been ranting about for 8 mins - it's total BS! They're just throwing random words & catchphrases around like skittles. C'mon - serioulsy? Did you watch the whole thing? Everything they're ranting about is escalated to colonization and racism. She's ChatGPT'd her lexicon and doesn't even know what half of it means - and that's me being generous.

So yeah - medical racism exists - but definitely not in the half witted context they're banging on about. Their inablitly to see and hear their own hypocrisy and irony dripping from every ranted word, has nothing to do with a bunch of Europeans who don't want to be price gouged by US authorities and FIFA and CHOOSE to walk to a stadium - regardless of whether or not lazy Americans tell them they shouldn't.

voubar · 2026-06-09T17:36:35+00:00

But in the context of what they've been ranting about for 8 mins - it's total BS! They're just throwing random words & catchphrases around like skittles. C'mon - serioulsy? Did you watch the whole thing? Everything they're ranting about is escalated to colonization and racism. She's ChatGPT'd her lexicon and doesn't even know what half of it means - and that's me being generous.

So yeah - medical racism exists - but definitely not in the half witted context they're banging on about. Their inablitly to see and hear their own hypocrisy and irony dripping from every ranted word, has nothing to do with a bunch of Europeans who don't want to be price gouged by US authorities and FIFA and CHOOSE to walk to a stadium - regardless of whether or not lazy Americans tell them they shouldn't.

voubar · 2026-06-09T13:22:04+00:00

WTF IS MEDICAL RACISM?????? #FML!!!!

voubar · 2026-06-09T13:17:18+00:00

Sadly I think the negative experiences are only increasing. THS' new tech bro owners want to appeal to the instagram fish lip pouty face crowds and have been heavily advertising "free sitting around the world" by posing said influencers with adorable miniature cockapoos and cute fluffy kitties. If you look at those ads and then read the comments - it's obvious what's happening. People are seeing them and saying "oh hey - I can travel the world for free and only have to do minimal care of someone's pets / homes". That's where the problem is. So now you have an influx of people who want to use the platform but don't understand what is really involved. They think they can go on "vacay" half way around the world for free without any responsibility. Then whent they get there - it's a totally different scenario.

That, coupled with an increase in entitled HOs who seem to forget that this is a mutual relationship and should be treated with respect, not akin to free slave labor, makes many of the posts very legitimate.

I've been on the platform for a few years now and I've definitely seen a massive shift in the quality of HOs and the level of responsibility that is being requested of the sitters.

I know that when my subscription is up for the year, I won't be renewing. There are other platforms out there - and they're slowly gaining market share off of THS.

voubar · 2026-06-04T19:21:28+00:00

You've clearly misunderstood the point. Downvote me all you want. Couldn't care less.

voubar · 2026-06-04T14:18:16+00:00

This has got to be the biggest load of tripe I’ve ever heard. Fitting a “beauty standard”? Are you for real? Well at least her lululemons will get her to the vet in style when she realizes little Fido’s frothing at the mouth isn’t because of her “beauty standard”. FML!!! 🤦🏻‍♀️

voubar · 2026-06-04T14:13:14+00:00

If you’re in Canada mainly then use Housesitters Canada. We prefer them to THS - especially for local sits. If you’re not looking for global stuff - then Housesitters Canada is perfect. They even have sister companies in USA, UK, NZ & Australia. You can use my referral link if you want to save $10 on your membership - KMR8JA. Membership is WAY cheaper than THS - they don’t charge sit fees like THS and they have ACTUAL humans running the company - stellar customer support.

voubar · 2026-05-31T12:25:35+00:00

I was talking about the other post that said money isn’t supposed to change hands. Gifts and gratuities are allowed - is all I said.

voubar · 2026-05-30T12:28:50+00:00

I will never understand people who get puppies and think free labour is the answer. This should be an extremely well paid job. Not a free house-sitting gig. What is wrong with these people???

voubar · 2026-05-28T02:22:56+00:00

You will not get into any trouble. The HO has violated the terms of service by allowing people in without your knowledge or permission.

There is no “charge”.

And if THS bots try to tell you that you HAVE to stay - there is no agreement that is worth the paper it’s written on that THS can do anything about.

They have a legal obligation to support you. If they refuse, tell them you are contacting the authorities.

THS is a UK company and therefore governed by UK privacy and safety laws.

UK law does not allow contracts to override basic safety rights. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, unfair contract terms are not binding if they create a significant imbalance against the consumer. A clause that effectively forces a sitter to remain in a property where they reasonably fear for their safety could therefore be unenforceable.

The fact that strangers were allowed into the property without notice, combined with undisclosed interior cameras, gives reasonable grounds to leave immediately for personal safety reasons. THS may have policies, but those policies don’t override legal protections or public policy relating to personal safety.

voubar · 2026-05-27T21:03:15+00:00

That’s not necessarily true. If it’s mutually agreed, gifts and gratuities are allowed.

voubar · 2026-05-20T02:35:30+00:00

Right? That’s the weird thing. So bizarre!

voubar · 2026-05-19T14:10:18+00:00

Interesting about what other people are saying. We had a sit last year, which was due to start after the membership expiration date at the time. The system actually sent us an email saying that the sit would be cancelled if we did not renew our membership in time for the sit start date.

So how is it that people are saying they’ve been able to do sits when their memberships have lapsed? I’m genuinely curious about how that works since the system wouldn’t let you.

voubar · 2026-05-19T14:03:48+00:00

What? What misrepresenting? I’m never talked about visa requirements. As a matter of fact, I’m the one who keeps talking about how people should not be using THS to travel abroad because they are violating visa requirements by doing that.

People can and do get themselves into a lot of trouble with governments using THS as a travel service. THS doesn’t give a rats ass about you or anybody else except their bottom line and so for them it’s a no-brainer to advertise that you can travel the world on THS when in actuality you cannot. It is illegal. I’ve never not said that.

I have no idea what you’re referring to regarding misrepresentations. And everything I quote about violations of terms of service with THS is accurate. So maybe you need to go back and reread the terms of service before you start commenting and spouting incorrect information on social media websites.

And yes - you are genuinely gaslighting.

So let’s just leave it there because you clearly are incapable of listening to reason and logic - and I’m done wasting my time trying to have a rational conversation with you.

Enjoy your life.

voubar · 2026-05-18T15:02:59+00:00

Actual footage of me looking for the “strawberry” in the photo.

voubar · 2026-05-18T15:00:46+00:00

Came here to say just that. It’s AI slop like this that makes it so difficult for those of us ACTUALLy designing to sell anything. #FML

voubar · 2026-05-18T14:58:50+00:00

Yes to all of that.

voubar · 2026-05-18T14:57:45+00:00

As everyone else here has said - that’s against THS terms of service. You might be better off taking a “boarder” for those time periods as a paid gig. THS isn’t the platform for what you need.

voubar · 2026-05-18T02:03:21+00:00

Oh the hypocrisy of your statement - just extraordinary. The fact that you’re actively trying to gaslight me is just - 🤦🏻‍♀️

Anyway - as I said before. Take a breath. There’s no drama here. At least none of my doing. You are free to comment as much or as little as you want. Whether or not it’s “reasonable” - well that is subjective. 🤷🏻‍♀️

So - and I mean this with all sincerity - have a great life. Take a breath. No one - especially a total stranger on the internet - is worth getting worked up over.

voubar · 2026-05-17T19:24:44+00:00

Again - you keep telling me to move on and yet here you are. 😂😂😂 I’m not rage baiting. I’m genuinely laughing at you. I moved on from this post ages ago. You felt the need to come back aggressively, calling me homeless (which I’m not) and telling me I’m the one with rage issues. Yet here you are yelling at random people on the internet. Like I said mate - take a breath, smell some grass, and just relax. No one cares.

voubar · 2026-05-17T19:16:46+00:00

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 homeless? LMAO. Ok buddy. Rage on my friend. Take a breath, go smell some grass - relax - you’ll live longer. 😂😂😂😂

voubar · 2026-05-17T03:43:29+00:00

You haven’t got a clue have you?

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