Question about "Processing Time" & "Item Ships In. . . "

[NewportRoad]

I have Direct Checkout enabled. But am unsure about filling in the Processing Time with a number of days.

If I fill it in with 1-3 days, and don't have the item marked as shipped by the third day, does Etsy automatically send an email to the buyer inviting them to file a not-received claim?

[NewportRoad]

Also, is there a way to do all my listings at once, or do I need to edit each one separately?

[NewportRoad]

Sorry -- one more.

I have to fill it in, in order to have Seller Protection, right?

[Former_Member]

I don't know the actual answers to your questions, but I have been allowing myself the 3-5 day Processing Time. Typically, I am able to send out within 1-3 days and I contact the customer to let them know, but when life happens (and it has for me this summer), it is nice to have that extra time.

[NewportRoad]

Kim,

That's a good idea. Just allow plenty of time.

But sometimes I'm away from home for a week or so, and instead of putting my shop in Vacation Mode, I'll just put a note about the delayed shipping.

If it's easy to change all my listings at once, I could shift them to the 1-2 week processing.

[PinchtheMuse]

The processing time: Etsy allows you to change it once after the sale.

The email to a buyer about receiving an item was a shipping improvements team test. They are no longer doing that test at this time.

If you don't fill in the processing time it does not void seller protection. If processing time is filled in it allows some things to happen automatically. I think one is a buyer can't open a case prior to the date of the processing time.

If you don't fill in the processing time and have a case you may still have seller protection it just has to go through an Etsy person not the automated system.

The processing time is in with the shipping profiles now. Depending on how you have your store and shipping set up that tool may work well for you to batch edit the processing times.

[NewportRoad]

Thanks, PinchtheMuse.

It's nice to know I'm still protected, even without the processing time filled in!

[NewportRoad]

Are you absolutely certain about Seller Protection not being voided if I don't fill in processing time? I keep hearing other people in other threads say that it is.

[PinchtheMuse]

From the announcing seller protection thread here:
http://www.etsy.com/teams/7718/site-help/discuss/10975623/

Jaime DeLanghe from peanutbutterandjaime says Highlighted Post

Matt D from collageOrama says Edited on Sep 26, 2012

So, we have to put the processing times in our listings to be eligible for this?

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Hi,

I'm Jaime, the Product Manager for Seller Protection and our new dispute system.

Seller Protection is optional for every transaction. In order to qualify for guaranteed protection, you'll have to have a processing time in your listings. This doesn't mean that you'll necessarily lose a dispute if it's filed against you. Etsy will review a dispute before any action is taken against your account.

Posted at 2:25 pm Sep 26, 2012 EDT - Report this post

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Not having processing times means you aren't guaranteed seller protection. I guess that is why some seller's believe it is "voided".

If you don't have processing times and have a dispute with a customer I think it means what Jaime said...a transaction would be reviewed prior to action being taken on a shop. If a shop is not in line with what Etsy recommends for shops then I would imagine they would lose the dispute.

[NewportRoad]

Thanks for clarifying.

[Former_Member]

Hey everyone,

Here to help! The thread that Pinch had linked is correct -- you're not required to input processing times to qualify for seller protection. Choosing not to include processing times, however, will mean that you are not eligible for guaranteed seller protection.

This is one of those best practices that we've previously discussed here in the team. We will not email a buyer if you haven't marked an order as shipped by the completion of your processing times. Processing times offer a better buyer experience, and will help cut confusion and unnecessary communication for the seller. Processing times will also ensure that cases are not filed due to any buyer confusion.

I encourage you to consult this link: https://www.etsy.com/trust
and read over this discussion: https://www.etsy.com/teams/7718/site-help/discuss/10975623/

-Evelyn

[NewportRoad]

Hi Evelyn,

Thanks for your response.

I'm reluctant to input a processing time in my listings. I've seen several threads where Sellers are confused about whether the time refers to when a package is shipped or when it's supposed to arrive to a buyer.

I assume some Buyers will be confused, also!

So I prefer to stay with the statement in my policies that I usually ship within 1-2 business days.

[Theteepeeguy]

Some of that confusion may have come last week when shipping improvement briefly rolled listings back to the old style of showing everywhere an item ships without a shipping speed. I put the time in especially for made to order items, it is helping me prioritize custom, made to order and ready to ship purchases. And being able to bulk edit or edit individually is great in the event of changes to my shipping processing like a craft fair or something else. That way I can keep my shop online and have time to fill orders.

[NewportRoad]

Evelyn,

You state above that "Processing times will also ensure that cases are not filed due to any buyer confusion."

Please clarify this. Does this mean that the buyer can not open a case, or that Etsy will quickly dismiss any case opened during the processing time, or. . .. ??

[Former_Member]

When purchasing an item that is ready made, I as a buyer would expect pretty quick delivery of it. Just my opinion.

[NewportRoad]

griffincat,

I usually ship within one day. However, sometimes I'm away for a 3-4 day weekend, and there's a delay (in which case, there's a note in my shop banner and on receipts, and I email my buyer at the time the order is placed).

At any rate, I hate to put a blanket "1-2 business days" on my listings and maybe run into problems because of it. And I don't want to have to be changing processing times every time a trip comes up.

[NewportRoad]

So my question remains. How does having a processing time in the listing ensure that cases are not filed due to any "buyer confusion?"

[PinchtheMuse]

Helen,
The date shown in buyer receipt does take into account no shipping on Sundays.

Also, you can go into the receipt and adjust the shipping date once.

I think the buyer confusion Etsy is referencing is the fact that some buyers may not realize Etsy shops are a mix of ready ship, made to order and custom made.

The ships by date clarifies to a buyer within the listing itself how long something takes to process.

I do believe, IF you have the ship dates filled in a buyer cannot open a case prior to the ship date.

I would think if you are sporadically unavailable to ship items from your shop...make your "blanket" times longer something like 3-7 business days. I doubt a buyer would be upset to have their order processed sooner than they expected.

[NewportRoad]

PinchtheMuse,

I've thought about filling in the longer processing times, but worry that buyers of Vintage would be upset that it would take that long for me to ship, especially my seasonal items.

Another reason I'm reluctant to fill in Processing Times is that I've seen threads in the Forums with Sellers unsure about whether the time listed is shipping date or receiving date. So I'm sure there are buyers who might misunderstand!

[Former_Member]

I would suggest in each listing to explain your situation and that you normally ship next day, but can be away for a few days which might delay things. Ask buyer to message you with shipping concerns if the purchase is time sensitive. I believe as long as everything is spelled out in the listing before hand, there will be no disputes filed as everyone will know exactly what to expect.

Many people do not read all of the info, such as processing times, etc. when checking out, so the more places you can write this, the better your odds of someone actually reading it and knowing the situation.

[NewportRoad]

griffincat,

Thanks for the suggestion. I have a little concern about overloading the listing with information, but this might be an important thing to spell out, especially if I do insert Processing Times. I would probably put that in the note on the receipt, also.