Etsy First Class letter shipping sucks!!!

[jnwalljr]

If I understand correctly, the First Class letter rate labels are printed through cooperation with Pitney Bowes and should provide tracking information. The tracking works less than half the time. Of all labels I have printed, only two ever provided updated tracking information. All other continued to show "Pre-transit" forever. I can't tell if a package has been accepted by the Postal Service, is in transit, lost, delivered or what. 

What gives???? 

[NanaLetha]

Why not just mail as a first class package. then you will get a real tracking number.

[Shelleyville]

It's much more expensive and Etsy claims the Pitney Bowes flat labels will be tracked.

[jnwalljr]

First Class Package minimum $3.30. First Class letter $0.53. I sell some very inexpensive ephemera pieces (postcards, etc.) and Buyers don't want to pay more for the shipping than the item price. And if I offer free shipping, First Class Package rates make the price untenable.

[NanaLetha]

@Shelleyville  Yes, it's more expensive but if the buyer wants the item they will pay the shipping.

[Shelleyville]

Most of my items are in the $5 - $7 range.  Adding another almost $4 for postage would discourage me as a buyer.

[QuirkyMiniatures]

I sell items in that price range and my untracked postage is way more than $4 at $8, if people want what you are selling they will pay for postage. 

[QuirkyMiniatures]

.

[YueCrafter]

Having the same issue here. When I click into the tracking information on Etsy, and also if I look up the number on Pitney Bowes' website, it shows when the envelopes get scanned at my local post office, but nothing beyond that. Even something that should take 1-2 days to a neighboring city is still showing "pre-transit" after over 2 weeks.

[jnwalljr]

I don't even get the initial scan. Just shows "Pre-transit".

[Shelleyville]

I totally agree.  And do you realize you get charged an additional .20 for tracking on the Pitney Bowes labels?  Compare what you pay to the price on the label - .20 difference which is the price of the "tracking".  It's a rip off.  The tracking # doesn't even work on the Pitney Bowes site either.

[hopeandjoystudios]

 I agree..they should not advertise it as "tracking" when it does not even show "accepted".

[dayspringcollectible]

Pitney Bowes is not real tracking.  It is not an individual number that USPS can track.  It is a number Pitney uses with the PO to track batches, not items.  USPS tracking cannot track those numbers because they are not USPS issued numbers or format.   Any "tracking" you see are estimates.  That's why often times you will see "delivered" before it is.  The timing is based on estimated average times, not reality.

If you want real tracking you cannot use Pitney Bowes tracking.  You must use First Class Package rates.

[jnwalljr]

Then Etsy should not call it tracking. Total misrepresentation.

[NanaLetha]

@Shelleyville  My items are also mostly in the same price range but I charge the shipping rate for a first class package and still get lots of sales.

[Octopunx]

As a Buyer I just go ahead and pay for the tracking. I know it's weird to pay $4 shipping on a $5 print or something, but it's my personal preference. 

[jnwalljr]

I sell vintage postcards for $4 to $5 with free shipping. If I ship as a package, that would add at least another $3 to the price and the postcards would not sell.

[PastTimesPastimes]

I've been using the Letter category, printing out the label and pasting it on a regular envelope.  The post office never scans them.  They stay in Pre-transit forever.  I've checked with a few customers and they have received the purchase.  Etsy only wants to know that we have a tracking number - it doesn't matter to making Star Seller whether it is actually tracked. It's just like mailing with a first class stamp - you just have to trust that it gets there.  

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

I've been shipping as flats since last fall and I think it's helped with my sales. I also offer first class with tracking and priority at checkout. I try to make it clear in my descriptions and policies that my lowest cost shipping option does not include tracking. I don't let myself get stressed over the fact that they're not scanned. USPS doesn't scan flats and letters and Etsy shouldn't try to trick sellers into thinking they do. What urks me is Etsy is charging an extra .20 over retail price for flats. I print my labels through Etsy because it's convenient, not for the tracking number. If Pirate Ship offered flats I'd use them instead.