All of my first class flats are stuck in "pre transit" status

[#1]

This is an ongoing issue with etsy, as seen by the literally thousands of threads about this. I still have yet to see them address it or fix it.

Issue: I ship smaller items (under 1 lb) with first class mail, usps, in a "flat." which is defined as a bendable cardboard mailer, which mine is.

NONE of the orders ever update to anything but "pre transit" even after delivered. I get so many messages of people accusing me of never sending their orders because to them, it says "label created, usps is awaiting the item" even after I ship it, and after it is delivered.

I just spent 30 minutes on etsy customer service chat, sending screen shots and explaining all of this, just to get some generic answer of "we are working on it."

I have orders going back years that still say "pre-transit."

I feel like etsy could care less about helping us fix this at this point.

[BagmakerSupply]

@ArtistDakota  Correct wording does not seem to be a strong point on Etsy - consider that a (real) order initially showed: "In transit Estimated delivery: Jul 29-Aug 5" and when it was delivered today it changed to: "Delivered Estimated delivery: Jul 27" Is this just sloppy UI design? But it is incorrect.

[LindaLuFiberStudio]

I have orders stuck in pre-transit and do not use online label shipping.  I have copies of actual receipts of  packages shipping from the post office. Still show invalid on my star status.  Out of my hands,  I even have reviews from the items shipped!

[BagmakerSupply]

@LindaLuFiberStudio: Make sure that the shipped date, tracking number and shipping company show correctly on the actual order. Etsy relies on a third party vendor for tracking (and tracking number validation) and uses the data on the order.

[Octopunx]

It is immensely annoying, which is why I don't sell stickers/ cards.

[TonsOfPaper · Accepted solution]

Hello there,

We usually see this problem when sellers try shipping items that don't qualify as "Flats" or "Letters." Their sorting machines are also used to scan tracking events, meaning if an item can't go through the machines it won't get tracked. It is possible that the items vary in thickness or are too rigid for USPS machines to sort. Kindly refer to USPS's guidance on Flats and Letters here: USPS Postal Explorer

But please know that we're continuously working with our partners to improve this feature. Letter and flat tracking is sometimes limited based on what technology USPS has available. Not all shipping events can be transmitted, so some shipments may not have complete tracking with this method. Please know that we consider this tracking to be proof of shipping to the address on the order if it shows a tracking event in the buyer's town. Read more about our Purchase Protection Program for Sellers and our Service Level Standards.

Thank you very much!

[Adorabilities]

Using any kind of Etsy label is considered proof of shipping, isn't it? 

I was advised by Etsy CS that they are aware that PB letters often get no scans, but that those would not count against us, no matter their status, because the labels were bought on Etsy. 

[MailBling]

I used this "service" for a long time. My packaging for this is never rigid. Always fit the letter specifications, and this was verified numerous times by USPS.

When it works 90% of the time for years, and then stops working except for 5% of the time, it isn't a problem on my end.

Because it's called Tracking, buyers expect tracking. It is not tracking. The barcode is scanned and read only IF the package is scanned by the Post Office. The Post Office has changed what it scans, how it scans. Barcodes provided by PB, and by association Etsy, do NOT work as tracking but it remains called Tracking upsetting buyers.

This is a service offered by, no pushed, by Etsy. It should work as it's intended. Blaming sellers is condescending and blatantly gaslighting the seller. If sellers did the same to our buyers we would have our shops closed.

Thank you very much!

[MailBling]

@AdorabilitiesThe above person said, "Please know that we consider this tracking to be proof of shipping to the address on the order if it shows a tracking event in the buyer's town."

The PB letters have to be scanned in the buyer's town to offer protection.

[Adorabilities]

@MailBling 
Yes, I read that, which is why I asked. That didn't used to be the case. Even the new seller protection says that in order to be eligible,  we need to "use valid tracking and/or, where available, a shipping label purchased on Etsy." There's nothing mentioned about mandatory scans, at least from what I can find.

[BagmakerSupply]

@Adorabilities:  I think the interpretation is that an Etsy label counts for Star Seller, but strictly speaking proof of shipment only occurs when the carrier (like USPS) actually scans the label. The number on non package Pitney Bowes labels is essentially a serial number not a tracking number.

[Adorabilities]

That makes sense. I did specifically point out that we have a choice of either using Etsy's labels with insufficient tracking, or using lettertrackpro, which actually shows updated scans, but can't be verified with Etsy. The advice was that we would be covered if we used Etsy labels, no matter whether they get scanned or not. 

Adding: the CS rep I spoke with completely understood what I was talking about, and wasn't just looking up an answer somewhere. 

That could have been incorrect at the time, or it could have changed since then. But if a destination-city scan is necessary to prove that an order was shipped, that should be made known when we're being advised to purchase those labels. (Because they're currently very unlikely to ever get those scans.)

[BagmakerSupply]

We made the decision long before we had the Etsy Store that all shipments had to have tracking, for our own piece of mind if nothing else. One thing to keep in mind about tracking is that using the official USPS Scan Form or the self serve kiosks does not count "as accepted" by USPS for insurance and proof of shipment purposes.

Hopefully for those who ship with Etsy labels are going to be covered for Purchase Protection whether or not the label has tracking, but since US sellers have to have tracking on orders of $10.00 or more it will be interesting. However since they are only going to cover one package per year at the cost of buyers opening cases against you it seems irrelevant to us.

[BrimstoneHillDesigns]

I've seen that too.  I even spent half an hour at the post office, and days watching a package on Pitney Bowes, never to see the tracking updated. IMO they shouldn't even call it "tracking" if it doesn't actually track the package.

I stopped using flats; the lower postage cost just isn't worth the anxiety!  If I'm sending patterns or books I'll use Media Mail, which is also very reasonable, or regular First Class for everything else.

[HotOffHerHook]

We can use Media Mail?  I'm trying to destash some pattern books and didn't see it come up or maybe I missed it?

[dayspringcollectible]

Patterns would not qualify for Media Mail.  Books would, as long as they don't contain advertisements.

[BrimstoneHillDesigns]

Yep!  You have to scroll down the shipping options, but it's there at the bottom.  I've been doing the same thing with destashing pattern books

[LindaLuFiberStudio]

Mine were sent media mail directly at the post office counter. Tracking...but 4 stayed pre-transit anyway.

[toutpapier]

Just today, I am seeing my very first (to me) actual tracking listed on my first class sold item that I just refunded to a buyer because she says she has not received the item. In the past, I have successfully followed the tracking number to Pitney Bowes and therefore see this or similar information, but with this particular sold item on the completed orders page I see--starting on the line with the PO Logo where it did say "tracking" (with the PB number,) it now says:

- - - - - - - - - (this is a copy of what shows when I clicked 'more') - - - - - - - - -

USPS First-Class Mail $0.97

Delivered (updated Sep 7, 2024)•

 

Status

Delivered

Tracking number

00310110084502519027

Delivered

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19143, US

Sep 7, 2024, 12:57pm

Out for Delivery

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19176, US

Sep 7, 2024, 3:28am

Out for Delivery

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19176, US

Sep 6, 2024, 11:27pm

Destination processing

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19176, US

Sep 6, 2024, 9:00am

Origin Processing

KNOXVILLE, TN 37950, US

Sep 5, 2024, 12:33am

In Transit

KNOXVILLE, TN 37950, US

Sep 4, 2024, 11:57pm

In Transit

KNOXVILLE, TN 37950, US

Sep 4, 2024, 11:37pm

Label created

KNOXVILLE, TN 37914-4348, US

Sep 3, 2024, 10:11pm

Packaging

Letter

(9.25 x 4.12 x 0.25 in, 2oz)

Ship date

Sep 4

Purchase date

Sep 3, 2024

Shipped to

SXXX GXXXX
XXAddress RedactedXX
Philadelphia, PA 19143
United States

Additional options

Signature: No

Reference

Label ID: #243125647836

 

Note to buyer

Thanks so much for your purchase. Have fun!
Rickey

[toutpapier]

I hit return before I finished my message.

The above makes me wonder if Etsy and PB have worked to make this info available to the seller who has sent something totally flat (like stickers) to a buyer without having tracking for proof of delivery. This IS proof of delivery, is it not?

I appreciate all the information on this thread. I offer free shipping on these items bc the idea of the buyer having to pay over $4 shipping for an item that will ship for (in most cases) less than $2 doesn't work for me. The down side is I have gotten a lot of "didn't receive" on these. More than should happen with first class mail, btw.

Thanks,
Rickey