Not Happy With New Global Postal Shipping Labels

[Chrysalism]

I’m feeling confused and frustrated with the new Global Postal Shipping Label program. I can’t see any possible benefits other than it must save Etsy money.

For those of you who don’t know yet, Etsy is replacing USPS international shipping labels with a domestic label addressed to an “export processing facility”. Upon delivery to the facility, workers will attach a new label/customs form to the package and send it overseas. Etsy charges the same price for same price for this service as USPS international labels (at least for my <8oz packages).

I am skeptical about the ease and effectiveness of this major change to international shipping, and I have lots of questions.

1) What does the secondary label look like? Does it include our business name and return address, or does it have the export facility listed as the return address? Where can we expect refused/unpaid customs packages to be sent? Will our brand name still be visible to customs officers in countries that have specific requirements like Germany’s packaging law?

2) What about tracking? Will the tracking number on the domestic label match the one on the secondary label? Will we (and our customers) still be able to seamlessly track a package to the destination country, or will there be a new, second tracking number? If not seamless, will the second tracking number be automatically relayed to us/our customers?

3) Does a seller’s responsibility end when the package is delivered to the export processing facility, or are we responsible for the package until delivery to the international addressee? What if the facility makes a mistake or applies the wrong label to my package- is there any protection from the inevitable mistakes that will occur? Will the facility have independent insurance to protect the package in case of an error, or will we be expected to bear the cost of such mistakes? Will the change of shipping label void the insurance I purchase for my packages, or will they be insured all the way to their destination?

4) Will this new program slow the transit time for international packages? Do I need to update my estimated international shipping timeframes?

5) What benefit does this change provide to buyers and sellers?

I’ve read the help page about this subject, but it offers precious little useful information. I am seriously considering switching from Etsy Labels to ShipStation so I don’t have to deal with the potential pitfalls of this new shipping method.

[givemeacrown]

I'm not in the US but I'm curious about this so I dug up the help files. 

Based on this one: https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037382894

It sounds like it's optional based on this: "You can purchase and print Global Postal Shipping labels directly from your Etsy shop." (that's my emphasis on the word "can", and the word "can" is repeated multiple times in the article)

It sounds like it will be cheaper than through USPS based on this: "It includes an affordable international shipping option"

This Delivery Policy page https://www.etsy.com/legal/shipping/ defines responsibilities in general when purchasing labels through Etsy and there's a link through to Asendia's terms and conditions. 

But you've raised some great questions that hopefully Etsy provide answers to.

[Chrysalism]

I'm definitely confused by their wording on the help page- it doesn't seem like they are giving us a choice, and it definitely isn't any cheaper. When I went to purchase shipping labels as normal, a window popped up notifying me:

"How Global Postal Shipping Labels Work

The label you print will be a USPS domestic label, addressed to the facility that will then take the package to the buyer’s country.

We’ve included the buyer’s name at the bottom of the label, so you can package your orders more easily.

Once your package reaches the facility, a global postal international label-with your customs information on it- will be applied.

So just apply the label and ship it like normal, and you’ll be good to go!"

There was no option that I could see to opt out, and my label was automatically created as a domestic label to the “export processing facility”, with my customer's name and country at the bottom. It cost the same as a typical USPS first class shipping label. I'll have to dig around and see if there is a hidden opt-out, but if there is one they definitely did not make it easy to access.

[givemeacrown]

@Chrysalism Erk!  That sounds annoying (and contrary to what the help pages say) if it doesn't give you options.  I'll be interested hear how this rolls out, whether there's a bug in the system, etc. 

[MustardDandelion]

I just had an international order go out today and I was NOT given an option to print anything other than the Global Postal label. 

You asked some GREAT questions that I admit to asking too even after I clicked the print button. I'm really nervous that the package will a) make it to the correct final destination, b) not have any delivery, label, or insurance issues, and c) not get damaged/lost/etc along the way. 

Hopefully Etsy will come around and answer these questions for us, because when I read the original email announcement it sounded like we were going to be given an option, and that wasn't the case. I just feel like there are so many potential problems with this system...

[luxcrafter]

The announcement by She With Dogs says

Is it optional?

For international orders 15oz or less (not including those going to Canada), Global Postal Shipping labels will replace USPS First Class International Package Service on Etsy Shipping Labels as the only option. For international orders over 15oz or going to Canada, USPS International First Class is still the option offered.  

[Former_Member]

I just posted another thread on this as I have my first international order since this was implemented. A nice poster directed me to this thread. I am not happy with this.

To @givemeacrown I do not have the option to use this label. No choice. I am not happy with the fact that there is no buyer name on the label. I can see items being placed in the wrong packages especially when shipping to more than one international address. What about shops that sell 100s a day and the name on the packages is the same export facility. It will be a lot of extra work to ensure items are properly in correct packages.

I have my first international order going to Reunion. Quite nervous about this. I agree with everything the OP posted and would like more answers.

So this is an option Etsy decided to go with? It was not mandatory to them by the USPS? It has to be for no other reason than to save them money.

I do not find this useful at all to myself or the buyer. Just more headaches.

[DoceVikaVintage]

@Former_Member 

Reunion is France, a French "state" or, how they say in French, departément ...

It is like a French Puerto Rico. 

But I get you.

[OliverAndMay]

Yes I agree you are wise to seek an account with postage outside of Etsy. It is obvious they are marking up fees. And whats concerning at this time they are still stating ' pre Covid' transit times that are now unrealistic and nothing like what is being published on the Australia Post website  for one.

[LemurianDiamond]

This is actually the MOST EXPENSIVE I have ever seen first class international shipping so far, at $15.13 to ship an 8oz. package, including insurance... And I definitely was not given the option to choose this or not.

[singingcatstudio]

I had to stop shipping internationally in April after I refunded several hundred dollars worth of international customers whose packages were either sent to the wrong county or who hadn't received their orders after waiting for over a month. I just refunded 50.00 to a buyer in France whose bracelet she ordered in March was sent to Sweden! I would like to resume shipping internationally--I have done so since I opened my shop 10 years ago--but I don't trust Etsy's international shipping.

[AJWinkies]

ALL Ety's processed labels are discounted of you have chosen to select that discount always has been Global is not part of that option .

[TrueResonance]

I never knew about the untrustworthiness of this terrible service - and now have two international packagesthat shipped out a week ago and are both apparently lying in Chicago waiting for their second labels. I’m just as outraged to read the shipping terms That state

D. Etsy is not responsible for any issues you may encounter while items you ship using Etsy Shipping Labels are in transit. That means that if an item is lost, damaged, or arrives later than expected, you will have no recourse against Etsy. Please review the carrier’s terms and conditions for more information on how they handle parcels that are lost, damaged, or delayed.

Because in reality, Etsy pushes their own services and for this one in particular, there’s no OTHER entity I can seek help from, like usps for example. Meanwhile, I’ve a customertruly unhappy and I’m their person to complain to, not Etsy. 
I’d never use this nightmare of a shipping option again. And for the second time this year I consider never using Etsy again. 

[JLApparelMens]

It does not save money. You can't choose not to use it unless you pay priority shipping. It costs us sellers the same as it did before implementing GLOBAL SHIPPING. Now there are longer shipping times and no way to track. They send an email to the buyer that their package was DELIVERED. When it was actually delivered to the 3rd party facility. No updates after that. 

[PristinityJewelry]

"...For those of you who don’t know yet, Etsy is replacing USPS international shipping labels with a domestic label addressed to an “export processing facility”..."

This is news to me.  Have you got a link to any announcement Etsy made?

[Chrysalism]

Sure, here's the link:
https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037382894?segment=selling

[PristinityJewelry]

@Chrysalism 

But did Etsy make an announcement somewhere, or did it just pop up when you went print an international label?

[Chrysalism]

There was no announcement that I'm aware of- I just got a popup when I went to buy labels today:

"How Global Postal Shipping Labels Work

The label you print will be a USPS domestic label, addressed to the facility that will then take the package to the buyer’s country.

We’ve included the buyer’s name at the bottom of the label, so you can package your orders more easily.

Once your package reaches the facility, a global postal international label - with your customs information on it - will be applied.

So just apply the label and ship it like normal, and you’ll be good to go!"

When I printed the label it automatically generated as a domestic label to an “export processing facility” PO box address in Elk Grove Villiage, Illinois, with my customer's name and country printed at the bottom.

[ThisThatAndChristmas]

@PristinityJewelry  I got an email about it this morning?  Maybe you have seen it by now?

[funkydreamsmosaics]

I received an email about it this morning.

[Former_Member]

@PristinityJewelryNo announcement. I found out when I purchased the label just now. Wouldn't you think this would be an important announcement shown on our dashboard?

I am generally an optimist when it comes to Etsy, but not happy at all about this move.

[iKnitForMomsAndKids]

https://community.etsy.com/t5/Announcements/Important-updates-to-international-shipping-on-Etsy/m-p/...

[MaisonettedeMadness]

Hello Pristinity,

I haven't received any notice about shipping changes and today Feb 24, a Monday of all days, I get this surprise notice that some random etsy shipping facility will be putting my label on my sale/parcel and all I get is a weird label to Phili, not ENGLAND. If anyone knows how to opt out of this, please let me know or what other shipping you are using you are happy with. thank you, S

[POSHMIRA]

Nope!

[TheVintageStrip]

Ebay has done the same thing. I personally very rarely order from someone there using global shipping. This is why. The cost to ship anything from US to Canada is usually double the price. They send it to a 3rd party. Takes twice as long to be delivered. The less handling of a package the better. I do not use Etsy Labels at all. I take them to the Post Office where I have a Discount Small Business card.