Phone number request on DC

[CobwebCorner]

When will phone numbers be requested on DC?

I have to have phone numbers for international orders custom forms. Paypal provided this but DC doesn't.

This means I have to contact the buyer and wait for their phone number.

Well over 50% of my international buyers don't respond to my request for at least 3-4 days. Often they never do. Eventually I ship with my phone number entered but I don't want to do that.

Please - this is a simple change. The phone number is REQUIRED when using stamps.com for international shipping labels.

[OriginalsbyLauren]

That would be helpful, to have a phone number for international customers.

Alot of times I just make one up to get the postage to go through. Not the best idea, but with time differences contacting them could hold their order up an extra day.

Great suggestion

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the suggestion, Carla. We definitely understand the need for this. We're working on it!

[Former_Member]

Some sellers will input their own telephone number when a buyer's number isn't readily available.

[timberlineltd]

I just put my own number in there but would prefer to have the customers phone number. I do not understand why it is needed. The invoice I provide for customs has the customers email address and I think that should be sufficient. I will continue to put my phone number there in the meantime.

[Former_Member]

I've had a problem with timely responses for telephone numbers, too. I wonder if asking international buyers in each listing to enter their number in the notes field at checkout would help.

As useless as it is, I enter my telephone number, as well.

[BonnyJewelry]

I use stamps.com for international orders w/ no phone numbers. I just import them, double click their name to open up the shipping information, and enter Unknown in the phone number field. I just continue on from there with no holdups.

[BuzzPlanet]

I never get the phone number since I don't ship with paypal. I just enter my own.

[Former_Member]

Obviously there are ways around this, such as entering your own number, but what if customs does want to call the receiver of the package to verify anything? It would seem much easier to have it right there for them. It does seem like a good thing to have in my opinion.

[BuzzPlanet]

Sure; but as far as I know; never in the history of the world has customs' ever called anyone. And it may be a long stretch to get people to actually ENTER their phone number so I'm not sure it would help. However, it would be a good option for people who *insist* on following the rules, instead of flying by the seat of their pants like some of us free spirits, haha!

I never give out my phone number; so I can sympathize with the customer who may not enter it regardless.

[MarlosMarvelousFinds]

Even before DC, I have had to delay International shipments because I didn't have the customer's phone number. AND I had a note in all of my listings explaining that I require it for International customers. For my last International sale before DC, I emailed the customer daily for 5 days before she responded with a phone number. I now have it in all CAPS in every listing, so maybe they'll read it now. And I state I need "a" phone number, not "your" phone number, so they can give me any number they'd like. I will not put my own out there, I get enough spam/telemarketers/bot calls as it is.

I agree with everyone that this info needs to be captured and provided to us for every international DC sale.

DEAR ETSY DC TEAM
It's one more field. Please add it to the DC form. An easy compare piece of code will determine whether the Telephone Number field is required if the customer's country is different than the Shop's country.