Selling Multiples/Variations of One Item & Sold Item Totals

[Former_Member]

Hi all,

This is something I've just noticed and has kind of stumped me:

I recently started listing multiples of certain items, so that customers don't have to purchase separate listings to get more than one. However, when people buy multiples of the same listing, this shows up as ONE sold item in my "Sold Items" number. So even though they've purchased two of something, and even though I'm paying Etsy fees for both items, as well as the .20 listing fee for each, the totals on my shop page don't reflect that I've actually sold more than one thing.

Has anyone else noticed this? Seeing my total sales numbers helps me set goals, so it's not helpful if they don't reflect the accurate number of items sold. If anyone has thoughts, advice, or a similar experience, I'd appreciate hearing it. :) Thanks!

Laura

[Former_Member]

Unfortunately that's the way it's supposed to happen. Something about Etsy doesn't want your competitors to see exactly how much you have sold.

[Former_Member]

Really? That's kind of crummy. It's not as if it saves us any listing fees. I wrote to Etsy about it, so we'll see what they have to say.

[LuAtKeswick]

Why would Etsy have an opinion about your competitors seeing what you've sold?
And if there was an opinion wouldn't it be the other way?
Lu

[HullStreetStudio]

If you went to a brick and mortar and bought ten things it would still be one sale, one customer one sale. That's what etsy reflects. Rather than exact number of items sold. It makes sense but we all would probably enjoy seeing the number of items instead.

[aliciawatkins]

But no, Etsy doesn't reflect "one customer, one sale."

If someone buys 2 different items from my shop in the same transaction, it shows up as 2 sales.

If someone buys 2 of the same exact item from my shop, it shows up as only one sale.

I've noticed it, too, and am curious to see what Etsy says about it!

[HullStreetStudio]

Really? Mine always seem to show up at one customer one sale as far as I've noticed so I just assumed.

[Former_Member]

Erica and Jeb: When customers buy multiple listings, it shows up as multiple sales (as in total items sold), and they can leave feedback for each item. It's not a per-person count, but a per-item count.

When a customer buys multiples of the same listing, though, it counts as only one "sold item."

Since I recently switched to offering multiples of some items (to save me from re-listing), this has really been throwing me off!

[Former_Member]

Still haven't heard back from Etsy, but I will be sure to report!

[Former_Member]

In case anyone's interested, here's the response I received from Etsy Support:

"Thanks for reaching out to Etsy Support. I'm happy to help explain this for you. If multiple quantities of the same item are sold to one buyer at the same time, this number only increases by one, because this is considered one transaction. If you sell three different items, it will go up by three.

I hope this information helps, Laura. Please let me know if you have any further questions."

[StarJewels]

I've noticed it. No biggie. If I set up a custom order for six bracelets that counts as one sale too.I mainly use it on my supply items anyway. If someone buys 5 lots of 20 swarovski cabochons, it really is just the same item...if I had set it up as a lot of 100 it would be one sale too.

[Former_Member]

I have the same thing in my shop too, I have multiple orders that only show up as one order, I don't mind though

[Former_Member]

I've sold large boxes of wholesale items to one customer - that counts as one sale. It doesn't bother me at all, because I know that the sale was a big one. It's the way it is, and Etsy isn't going to change it.

[Former_Member]

Its like in regular retail.

If you have a customer who buys 10 items for a $100 sale, it is still one customer but your UPT (units per transaction) is 10.0 and your average sale per transaction is $100. Its nice to see what your average sale per transaction is and your UPT.

The way I figure UPT is take the number of actual items sold divided by number of transactions.

The way I figure average sale is take the $ amount sold divided by number of transactions.

I use these to help with goals and to see where I am at. For November and december, I am goaling myself higher as people should be spending a little more and buying in multiples for gifts!