Hand delivering a package now counts against Star Seller because of no tracking number.

[GatheringStars]

How am I supposed to ever receive a star seller badge, when the one package that did not have a tracking number was personally hand delivered by me?   When I found out my buyer was local, I refunded the postage and delivered it myself.  Not that I live for a Star Seller Badge, but this now is counted against me.

[UniqueGiftOrnaments]

This star seller is so flawed, I don't even worry about it. And no star without tracking numbers.

[NanaLetha]

I’m not concerned that I don’t have star seller. I still make daily sales without it.

[GaiasSacredCreations]

Same here, never was concerned with it because many of my small items are sent via Canada Post small packet airmail to the USA, no tracking. Tracking is expensive with CP.  I make daily sales too, no ads, no star seller badge, I don't even self promote anymore. 

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

How many orders do you get in a 3 month period that one missing tracking number will affect your star rating? I have one missing tracking number and my shipping rating is still at 100%.

But like you, I don't live for Star Seller. I missed it for a month and it didn't affect sales one bit.

[GatheringStars]

I do one of a kind items that are truly handmade, so my sales are not high.  I guess this ranking bothers me because I'm being rated as if I "neglected" to do something, when in fact I went above and beyond.

[hopeandjoystudios]

If you hand deliver, to get a "tracking number OR Etsy label" you need to send a receipt or thank you or whatever in a FC envelope with an Etsy label . It costs like 53 cents. You have to do it in your shipping timeframe window. If you do it later it will be counted as LATE shipping. Use an evevelope size thickness of .25 or less to get the option to open. Like 7x4x .25. 

[Donobob]

And how ridiculous is that...

It's a work around for a very flawed program.

[GatheringStars]

Thank you

[bradgoodell]

Hand-delivering takes time, and you have to arrange a neutral place and time that fits both people.  Not to mention they could be someone I may prefer not to meet, or someone who wants to chat when what I want to do is get back to work.  So I hate hand-delivery.  Time is money.

Regarding Star Seller:

1. If I know the person, they buy from my website.  
2. If I don't know the person, I ship.  

Simple as that.

[Donobob]

I have delivered items before. I act as a courier and never reveal that I am the seller. If you do reveal yourself as the seller it can upset the buyer.

For meetings, I only take cash. Meet in a public place with people and not at your home or business. Coffee shops work well, there is a table and coffee if anyone needs to wait a bit. Always get a phone number for meets.

[GatheringStars]

I appreciate the advise on hand delivering.  I normally do not do this but in this case, when I received her order and noticed she literally lived across the highway from me I suggested I drop it off at her house.  She has now become one of my local customers for "off etsy" sales.

[RebekahAnnUK]

Hi We were advised at our local Etsy meet that you can simply write a personal code where you would write the tracking number or even write N/A and send a note to the buy saying hand delivered and this would count as tracking. The field just needs to be filled in in some way to be classed as "tracking."

[hopeandjoystudios]

That worked in the first couple months but not sure it still does. I  have heard here that it doesn't.