Buyers receiving an order confirmation email as well as this item is sold out email

[#1]

Two buyers in the past couple days received 2 emails directly after their purchase. The first is an order confirmation.....the second is a this item is sold out. They are very confused as we are also. Messages below from our customers.  Is this a glitch, test or something else. Please look into this as it reflects on our shop as well as it is time consuming to try and explain something we are unaware of and have no control of on our end.

"First I got a confirmation, then an email that says it's SOLD OUT - I'm confused!"

"So the order did go through? First, I received an email confirming my order, then received an email saying, "It's gone for now."

[DaisyLaneAntiques]

Same thing just happened to one of my customers.  Whoever had this bright idea to send buyers these sold out emails is wreaking havoc.  DO BETTER ETSY!

[hopeandjoystudios]

I had this happen  few days ago. Someone who purchased wanted to know "if it was still available". I assured her her order had gone through and I would be shipping shortly. This is RIDICULOUS. If it is a glitch FIX IT. If it is a "test" STOP IT! The degree to which shops who are trying to make a living or pay bills are treated like lab rats here for testing and data is beyond the pale.,, just in case that is not clear>

 syn: unacceptable · unseemly · improper · indiscreet · unsuitable · irregular · unreasonable · intolerable · disgraceful · deplorable · outrageous · scandalous · shocking · insupportable · objectionable · offensive · distasteful · not quite the thing · exceptionable

[StainedGlassYourWay]

This happened to me for the first time yesterday too.  Buyer was very confused.  Never had this occur in my 10+ years with Etsy, so I imagine it is an Etsy problem, not a customer problem.

[StainedGlassYourWay]

Happened to me yesterday too.  Buyer was very confused and thought she had to go directly to my website to get it because it was sold out on Etsy.  I wish she had!!   Hmmm, maybe this isn't such a bad glitch....

[ColorfulCastAndCrew]

Hmmm..... if the majority of buyers are this savvy then this could work out quite nicely, lol!

[WendyShrayDesigns]

Haha - might be a good way to direct traffic to your website if you have one. Although then you might have the same problem I had with people ordering 2 of the item (I usually manually re-list every item within minutes of something selling out just to make sure I have all the components to make it), which would mean a lot more returns. And, as in the case with when it happened to one of my customers, she expected me to give send her a postage paid mailing label and offer a full refund on the duplicate item, since she assumed it was my error.

[MotherNaturesStash]

I had a message this morning (Tuesday) like this from a book buyer, got the order confirmation and then a 

sold Out message from Etsy, she was not happy. No duplicates, it is just a problem happening looks like.

[BlackRiverWoodshop]

I see it has been more than 2 weeks and Etsy is still doing the sold out emails to Customers  after a sale.   Shame on you Etsy!

[NaturesHeavenlyArt]

and we still haven't heard a thing from Etsy support from our question/complaint 2 weeks ago. So glad we can count on Etsy to follow through with getting back to us with an update...ANY update on this. Whether it's a glitch or on purpose at least have the courtesy to let us in on the secret so we know what to tell our buyers when they get this message and contact us. 

[CustomGiftsByAvery]

I too have had this happen to 2 of my customers in the last 24 hours. Created a lot of stress on their (and my end). Knowing that it's happening to other shops here, I have to assume it's a technical issue on ETSY's end. 

[Daisyrootsfrance]

Happened to me too today. The buyer was very worried that she’d lost her money. I reassured her that all was well. Uncomfortable for both of us and very bad for Etsy’s profile as a reputable marketplace.

[MyVintageTable]

I had this happen yesterday and the buyer was not happy for the confusion.  All of my vintage items are singles so will this happen every time one is sold!!!????  I won't have to worry about my convo response rate for star seller for awhile!!  With all of the convo's I will have to respond to.  

[SugarTaffySoap]

Did anyone contact support? If so, what did they say?

[NaturesHeavenlyArt]

We did 2 weeks ago when we originally posted this thread. We spoke with Etsy support...she send she would find out what was going on as she saw others having the same issue and either call us back or email, however we have not heard anything back.

[daisysjewellerygifts]

yes i was told that today by one of my buyers, i think its when they fav your item and Etsy send out the emails to say its sold out, not great though when they have just bought the item!! very odd!

[PattensAtticTreasure]

Got it overnight and either the buyer saw a similar piece for less on the sold out email or just had time to rethink a late night purchase as she has asked for cancel & refund. Definite issue for vintage sellers or those doing one of a kind,

[BlackRiverWoodshop]

Not only are they sending a sold out message it also has similar listing suggestions from your competitors.  

[ABondVintage]

Just cancelled one last night, buyer felt like he bought something under the false pretense that it was in stock so wanted cancelled because of the email. Cost me a sale. I thought he was just misinterpreting what the email was about but guess not. What the heck??

[NotOnlyButtons]

I had one last night and buyer requested a refund.  I convo'd her to explain have not heard back.  If this is going out to those who fav'd the items  you would think the coders would fix this so as NOT to send this to the person who bought the item??  

[FrameTowne]

I had one customer tell me the same thing "was I able to purchase this item?  I got an email saying it was sold out."  I checked and indeed that customer had purchased it, I don't know why this happened.  Might be a computer error?

[LouiseFultonStudio]

Same here just now. Nearly cost a $500 sale because of the confusion.

[FishBayElements]

I'm adding my voice to this hot mess.  It just happened to one of my customers.  When she got the email from Etsy telling her the item she just bought was sold out she ordered what she thought would be a replacement item to go with the others in her order.  Not sure how this situation will turn out, but because of the cut off time at the post office intake window (because of the ferry schedule), and me not knowing what Etsy had done to her, I just added the additional item to her existing order (including the "sold out" item) and headed to the post office.  Just got back and read her message to me.  This is not the first time this has happened to one of my customers.  The last one was a few weeks ago, and we were able to make contact so I could reassure her that the item in question was in fact headed her way.   What I find strange is that it only happens every once in awhile, not every time someone buys the last available item in a listing.  

[FunkyJunkyVintage]

This is so unacceptable I can't even find acceptable words to describe how unacceptable it is. The fact that etsy's aware of this and WON'T FIX IT...sometimes you know how that one more thing makes you completely derail?

Sigh.

I think I'm going back to sending out messages after I receive a sale to let my customers know that there's a glitch. However, isn't this just another way etsy's shoving other sellers' items in buyers faces after the fact? Now they're doing it via email? And how many buyers probably think that those emails are coming from us?

And how many times does etsy shove down our throats how whatever such and such is "confusing to buyers"? This is their error, they're pissing people off, both buyers AND sellers.

[TheGildedTassel]

Yes...I have had the same issue this week with two customers.

Etsy, please fix this glitch!

Thanks

[MyVintageTable]

I thought I would go on etsy chat and here is the response I got -

Thank you for waiting Marsha, After reviewing on the order and also the listing I see that that your listing is already sold out after they made an order that's why they received this message. Thanks for your feedback. We really value input from members, and we often take it into consideration when we make changes to the site.

I then replied NO it was the same buyer who purchased it and not another buyer after it was sold.  Or am I reading this wrong and that now if you buy something and it is the last one and then sold out you will receive this message???  God help us vintage and handmade people if that is the case.  Please if you have chat report the problem to them and may we can get this fixed.