Reserved?????

[PineBranchDesigns]

What does it mean when there is a listing for "reserved"?

[miamimere]

I am assuming that is a custom listing?

[Former_Member]

Exactly, it means someone placed a custom order, and it's there for them to pick up. (about 1/2 of my work is custom orders, and it can take a day or two for people to grab them).

[efinegifts]

Reserved means an item is being held for a buyer who requested it. Etsy etiquette says other buyers should respect this. They sometimes don't.

[Former_Member]

efinegifts posted the correct answer.

[PineBranchDesigns]

Thanks. That is what I thought. How does the reserved sign get up There?

[Former_Member]

You need to edit/change your listing for the item and type reserved in the listing title and repeat in the top of the description. Serach all items reserved and you should come up with some listings that will show you how different shops do it.

[Former_Member]

I reserved some items for someone who then was unable financially to take them, so I unreserved them, now I wonder whether I missed some sales opportunities ? A custom order works a little differently doesn't it ? Isn't there more of a legal obligation ?

[Former_Member]

Weeeeell, if you really want to argue that there was detrimental reliance, I suppose you could make a legal case in small claims court, but you don't want to resort to that. If you do custom orders, it's best to get payment up front, or at least a deposit. When I custom design from scratch, I do a deposit first just in case I can't design what the person wants. I put that up as a reserved listing and don't start work on the custom order until the deposit is paid.

Regarding reserving items already made, if you're only sales opportunities were in that little window of time, you've got bigger problems than the fact that you reserved for that time. You've got a business niche that just isn't workable in that case.