Customers being asked to select a shipping address on digital purchases

[BlackwoodAbbey]

I'm curious why customers who buy digital items are asked to choose a shipping address on checkout?

I'm finding that buyers are already confused due to the removal of "digital download" tags (that used to appear on digital items in search) and that many just don't notice the "digital download" notation that's currently listed under the item details. 

IMO, the fact that they're then being asked to select a shipping address on a digital purchase adds to that confusion.

If there is a way for a seller to opt out of this, I'd love to know it. But I don't think there is.

UPDATE: I'm on vacation mode because I'm in the process of adding big colorful DIGITAL DOWNLOAD tags to all of my images and don't want anymore customers to order until I'm done. But other shops I've gone through checkout on have asked me to select a shipping address for digital items. So it seems to be a default setting.

[SurnamePro]

Examine your shipping profile so it shows as a digital download and not a physical (mailed) product.

[BlackwoodAbbey]

Hi @SurnamePro

Thanks! Yes they are definitely set up as digital downloads.

[NanaLetha]

@BlackwoodAbbey  Since your shop is on vacation mode, I can't check it for you.

[BlackwoodAbbey]

Hi @NanaLetha.

Thanks for trying! A few people did check it for me already. My shop and every other one we checked was the same. Customers are asked to select a shipping address for digital purchases.

I'm on vacation mode because I'm in the process of adding big colorful DIGITAL DOWNLOAD tags to all of my images and don't want anymore customers to order until I'm done.

I got a recent one star feedback because someone thought they were getting a physical item and had another customer 2 days after with the same issue. So it just isn't worth it.

[TastefulArtisan]

Maybe this isn't the reason but it could possibly be that when a credit card is used to place an order, the billing info, the addresses, is important. Not only for the CC companies but also for sales tax collection. Even digital items incur sales tax. And since it's based on the buyers location, then it's sounds logical that Etsy would ask for an address.

No idea if that the cause or not but it's the only think that makes any sense why an address would be needed for something that isn't being shipped.

[CappuccinoLace]

This ^^

As US sales tax is destination based, and international sales require VAT to be charged depending on country, it requires an address to charge the correct tax.

[VibeEnvy]

You sure it's not a billing address?

[NoFrogsAllowed]

I went through the checkout process to the point of them asking for an address.  It gave me 4 address choices and it is huge.  A lot larger than normal text.  I can understand wanting a verified address for credit card and tax purposes, but Etsy should say that not just bluntly ask for an address.

Something else I noticed when I got a sale (all my items are digital) this morning is that on the app it says "Buyer selected  Standard Shipping."

[JMOldeVintage]

So if I decide to order a digital listing all I need to do is find a long lost relative in New Hampshire, a State with no sales tax?
Then give their USPS mailing address for sales tax purposes? But the digital download would still come to me, to my Etsy account &/or email?

Every single digital download I've viewed today has the confirm shipping address page. I can see some buyers getting confused. 

[TastefulArtisan]

It's really confusing, agreed. Etsy should just make it clear and really, they only need the zip code.

All (or most) CC require the billing address to match what they have for the cardholder. So using that same long lost relative in a no sales tax state, an address would still be needed to verify for the CC.

Maybe Paypal only doesn't need a billing addresses to allow a payment but I know most CC companies do. And have for over 25 years.

Supposedly it cuts down on fraud though I've had my cards compromised plenty of times to make that bold statement questionable.

The buyer selected standard shipping though is bizarre. How can a (not made to order) digital download be anything other than instant?! Weird.

[ArtDollsbyJD]

I think it does give address but frankly since I am buying a digital download and know nothing is sent, I ignore it after cehcking that the information is correct. 

I have something digital I want to buy now but the system is choking at the moment.  

[TerrificTemplatesCo]

I can’t comment to how Etsy specifically asks for it but an address for a digital purchase still has the same requirements financially as physical goods. 1. payment verification against fraud (address has to match card)  2. location verification for taxes (digital items are not taxed in most us states but are taxed by some countries - either way you have to have that verification)  3. Most countries have tax filing rules for e-commerce that require a merchant to have a certain amount of information available as ‘proof’ that you have applied taxes correctly.

[90s4ever]

It is surely a bug or oversight on Etsy's part. Nowhere else do you buy a digital product and get asked for a shipping address!