Combining digital and physical products

[PaperlikePet]

I've noticed that many wall art listings combine digital downloads and physical products. I was able to add a digital download option to the list of canvas sizes I offer in a listing. However, my question is: if this is allowable, and I sell and send a digital file to my customer, how can I mark this order as complete if I don't have the shipping tracking number?

Thank you for your help!

[Amaradorn · Accepted solution]

You can't. Listings can be physical OR digital. You can't have both types in one listing. Those who do this are not able to mark the order complete if the digital option is purchased. It could be they are finding a way to specify 'other' as the shipping carrier, but in most cases Etsy has removed that option. They also won't qualify for star seller and risk having a payment reserve applied to their account due to lack of tracking.

[Gooeyru]

Hi,

Is it possible to sell a physical object on Etsy that has a digital component - (a downloadable PDF that accompanies it) - and upon sale of the actual physical item - can I manually email or use etsy messenger to send them a link to download the PDF? 

It accompanies the item I'm selling and is included in the price of the physical object. I just don't want to break any Etsy policies - It seems logical that I could send through Etsy message App  - but wanted to check first. Thank you in advance for your time. 

[theUnPoster]

That's all good, but I keep seeing a lot of the the successful POD shops are using this strategy, as they can have the price of the digital version show on the gallery and thus command more clicks and get higher rankings... somehow they are making it work without any issues. They have tens of thousands of sales! And it is unfair for us not doing that getting pushed down on the rankings! 

[PaperlikePet]

Thank you very much for your prompt response and the explanation. I had a few digital "versions" in my physical product listings and I deleted them all.

[MarkedArtPrints]

Can I just ask please. I have many digital posters in my shop and also want to add physical options. Do I just add a new product that's physical then? Is that OK with etsy? Ie New York digital, and a New York Physical? I'll probably only do this for all my best sellers. 

[CraftyCornishMaids]

Yes. that's the way it should be done

separate listings

physical and instant downloads are taxed differently in a lot of countries, so combining them in 1 listing is also illegal, as the wrong tax will be calculated for one of them.