listing variation

[Former_Member]

Hello me again...

I wonder if anyone can help at all, I have a question regarding the listing variation tool. I sell elephants I sell them as they are or for an added fee I can have them personalized, this is all straight forward until i come to the dispatch part. if the elephant is plain i can dispatch in a one or two business days. If the elephant is personalised I always say up to 14 working days as i have to take this to another lady and it depends on her work load. I always stipulate this on the description but how do i change this on the final invoice as once customer buys it gives me a date to dispatch by.

the second items are my pillows to sell them with inserts and without again I can sort out the variation bit but to buy a pillow case without the insert results in cheaper shipping is there a way to amend the shipping depending on what variation they buy would i have to create another listing? i hope this makes sense.

Thank you

[TooSplendidSupplies]

The variations vs a separate listing is a debate I've read many times. What I would suggest is if the shipping is significantly different, then make separate listings. If you want to include it as a variation, then add the extra shipping cost in to the variation price.

For the time problem, you can adjust the date to ship after the purchase is made, and Etsy will notify your customer. However, I would suggest also including that information in the variation description. For example: Personalized (14 day prep).

Personally, I make separate listings for everything so that customers can see the price of the item in the search. I don't want them to feel like they were fooled into clicking by a lower price.

Finally, if you use someone else to help you make your items, I believe you must fill out your About page and list them as an employee. If it is a separate business, this needs to be disclosed to Etsy and you need to put it on your About page. I can't find your about page anywhere.

[Former_Member]

do I? i did not know that, she only does the personalised bit if the customer requests it. while i get my machine sorted. do i still have to list her otherwise i would be doing it myself.

[TooSplendidSupplies]

According to the seller guidelines, you must maintain transparency:

https://www.etsy.com/help/article/4507

According to the About Page help information, shop members are, "anyone involved in making your items or running your shop".

https://www.etsy.com/help/article/2661

Therefore, personally, I think it needs to be on your about page. However, the about page help page says you can, not that you must. So I suppose it's your call if you want to follow the letter of the rule or interpret it.