USPS Shipping Delays - Can Etsy Notify People Of This?

[NorthRustic]

For a couple weeks now USPS has had some sever shipping delays. I have every item I offer shipping within 24 hours 6 days a week with USPS. Some times USPS does not scan right away with the delays, and they do not scan in transit right now due to heavy delays and backed up packages. Seems odd to me that Etsy knows about this, but is not sending out any information regarding this to buyers / sellers? I think buyers should be made aware of the USPS delays so buyers are not sending messages to sellers all day and night about the delays, most sellers know of it but many buyers do not. To much to ask of Etsy to inform the buyers by email? Banners? Anything to give them a heads up?

[GRITSGirlz]

See the 12/14/2020 update under the top graph here:
https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/2020-holiday-shipping-deadlines/965593169700

There was a link about this on my Dashboard in the last few days.

If you view any of your listings from your public shop, you will also notice a big teal banner at the top that states "Packages might be delayed..." and the user can click on the banner for more info.

Not sure how much more Etsy can do.

[zsjewelry]

Etsy SHOULD have notified customers about shipping delays WEEKS ago instead of only doing it now. I see a message splashed across my dashboard, and I snort. I closed my shop on Dec 11 because it was just getting way too ugly. Every package I shipped stood a solid chance of not making it in time at that point already.

[MadronaPencils]

I hope they do, plus offer some coupons that can be applied to different shops.  My own experience, an acknowledgement of the issues, this is how we are fixing it, plus here is something for your frustration; can go a long way to gaining customer trust and loyalty.  (note, this is how we are fixing it does not mean a complete refund.)

[CatsBeadKitsandMore]

Under the cart button on the listing is a blurb about shipping delays. No buyer or anyone else can miss it.  What else is etsy suppose to do? Also you can put something in your shop announcement  about shipping delays, you could make a snipet about it and send it to the buyer right after they place an order to let them know, etc. There is plenty you can do as a seller to let buyers know about it.

[bradgoodell]

Etsy has been sending out emails to buyers and added "delayed shipping" notifications on everyone's shop.  Of course, this upset some sellers, who are still promising Christmas delivery despite all the news reports of shippers and mail across the world all being delayed due to a global pandemic and extraordinary shipping volume.  

[FieldsOfVintage]

Etsy has already put alerts on their site.  Also, I noticed not ALL postal locations have delays - some  of my packages are arriving on time while others are not. 

[LadyInStitches]

It all depends on the shipping hub.  Some are hugely backed up and other aren't.  I use the snippet method for my customers, telling them when the item will ship and offering them until noon on the day it will ship to cancel otherwise it goes.  No one has cancelled, but I have had replies thanking me for reminding them.

I don't expect Etsy to give customers anything (coupons, discounts, etc.) because of shipping delays.  All they can do is what they have already done, notifications and messages to buyers.  They have already said they will remove bad reviews if asked that are due to late delivery as long as the seller shipped on time, and didn't make any promises of delivery by a certain date.

[mintprintstudio]

Hi @LadyInStitches Do you mind sharing where you read "Etsy will remove bad reviews if asked that are due to late delivery as long as the seller shipped on time, and didn't make any promises of delivery by a certain date." I've got a lot of reviews coming my way! Thanks

[TickleYourWitch]

You guys want it both ways. You want Etsy to leave you alone to manage your shop as you see fit but then when things get dicey everyone wrings their hands and says why isn’t Etsy DOING something?! Lol 

Really? You didn’t see this coming at all? Never thought Christmas deliveries might be sketchy with far fewer planes, a lifesaving vaccine rollout and oh yeah, that pesky GLOBAL PANDEMIC!?

[LadyInStitches]

Not to mention the massive snow storm overnight in the northeast.  44" of snow in upstate New York for starters.

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

I'm in Massachusetts and my mailman drove right past our house this morning. It was still snowing heavily so we hadn't cleared our driveway yet. I purposely didn't put packages out today because of the storm (they're not Christmas orders). There's always tomorrow. 

[hbhill]

@TickleYourWitch  Well said!

[FenderMinerals2]

@NorthRustic  You have in your welcome message at the top of your page:     orders within the USA arrive about 3-4 days after ordering.

Then in your policies you have :

Estimated shipping times

Australia: 2-4 weeks

Canada: 5-14 business days

France: 2-4 weeks

United States: 2-3 business days

No where do you have any notification, NONE.   First help yourself then ask others (Etsy) to help you.

I am sorry but I disagree with the forum consensus that Etsy needs to handle this for us.

[hbhill]

@FenderMinerals2  I also noticed this in the OP's announcement.  "All orders within the USA arrive about 3-4 days after ordering."  We started seeing delivery delays early in November. I decided to be proactive about this issue. We put a notification in our front page announcement; order email and decided to close our shop on 12/11/20 until after Christmas. Etsy is usually late in responding. When I read their 2020 Holiday Deadline article, dated 12/14/20, it was too late; plus the carrier shipping deadlines are a joke. Sellers shouldn't rely on Etsy to intervene on behalf of any shop.  

[CountryLaneHomeDecor]

Etsy IS sending emails to customers about the delayed shipping. I got one yesterday on something I bought .

[KissedByClover]

Etsy’s message: “Due to shipping carrier delays, holiday delivery timelines may be a few days longer than expected.” They really need to say that deliveries may be very late!

[hbhill]

@KissedByClover  Not all areas of the USA are experiencing  late deliveries so for Etsy to say that deliveries may be very late isn't accurate either. They should just remove 'a few days' from their message.  

[southernyankeetees]

I am currently having the lack of scanning from USPS. Customers are threatening me, accusing me of stealing their money, starting claims against me, and it goes on. I don’t expect ETSY to take ownership of what is happening w USPS and they shouldn’t. Customers need to acknowledge it is holiday season plus a pandemic. I will be curious how ETSY deals w the claims against shops due to shipping delays.