$5 orders shipped without tracking per ETSY rules, counted negative in star badge tracking stats

[Former_Member]

What about TRACKING  stats???  Why are two $5 vintage card sales that require no tracking, penalizing my tracking stats... I ship them first class letter mail. The rules state sales under $10 don't need tracking, so why penalize me for that?

[LeParisMetro]

The rules say you have to have tracking or purchase your labels on Etsy for star seller. Did you purchase your label on Etsy?  If not, that is why.

[EnergyPeace]

Interesting. I had never heard of that rule. 

[audreytherese]

They don't need tracking to be confirmed completed. They do need tracking to count for SS. That's actually 2 separate things. 

In the future, since you are in the US, you can buy FC labels through Etsy. These cost the same as a stamp, you just have to print the labels that have a bar code. It's not a number that can be tracked on the USPS site, but does get updated in Etsy's system and is considered tracked by Etsy. 

[audreytherese]

Not new. 

https://community.etsy.com/t5/All-About-Shipping/Items-under-10-do-not-need-tracking-so-is-my-Star-rating-being/td-p/135226841 

[audreytherese · Accepted solution]

https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015774228-How-to-Add-Tracking-and-Complete-an-Order-?segm...

If you need to indicate an exception other than what is listed, you’ll see an option to indicate This order doesn't have tracking below the tracking number field. You can then add a quick explanation for why you can’t add tracking for an order.

Adding tracking to your physical orders is one of the criteria for the Star Seller  badge. Completing an order without adding tracking will not count as a tracked order towards Star Seller eligibility. 

[CappuccinoLace]

The Star Seller rules state all orders in US$ require tracking.

The US$10 no tracking required rules are for Streamlined US Shipping, a completely different thing.

https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/introducing-a-new-streamlined-shipping/1020417808606