How to avoid a ding for no tracking for a local sale & pickup

[AzaleaTrail]

I had a local sale and pickup so did not charge for shipping, hence no tracking either. I marked the completed listing as a pickup but still got dinged for no tracking. Is there a way to dispute this and to fix it for future local sales?

[Marmalady]

Nope

All orders must have tracking for Star Seller purposes

[MaynardMillinery]

No that's how it's set up. Star Seller isn't compatible with local pick up/hand delivery. It only works with tracked mailed items so that delivery can be proved. Or untracked under a certain price. 

[FallenAngelBrass · Accepted solution]

USA shops are required to have tracking for 95% of ALL shipments in order to qualify for a star seller badge.  No exceptions for low cost orders or hand delivered orders. 

[MySoftParade]

I wonder if we can have the customer pay the shipping fee & then reimburse them. Wouldn't that supply a tracking number?

[CappuccinoLace]

@MySoftParade No. you only get a tracking number if you purchase a label.

charging the customer shipping, doesnt buy a label, it just gives you the amount of money charged to then buy a shipping label.

[MySoftParade]

Thanks, Cappuccino! 

[pennyemporium]

@AzaleaTrail :  naturally, you will want to provide your in-the-USA buyer with an invoice for the purchase.  you can purchase "letter" postage thru etsy for a first class USA domestic mailing.  attach that to your envelope with the buyer's invoice, and mail it to them.  voila!  you have fulfilled the tracking requirement for star seller!

note:  this is not REAL tracking, it's just the 57 cents workaround for the tracking requirement of Etsy's star seller game.

[ArtDollsbyJD]

This will not work.  It is only proof that a receipt is shipped.  It does not prove the item was delivered. 

[pennyemporium]

@ArtDollsbyJD:  yes, the "invoice with the stamp" trick does NOT prove delivery, but star seller requirements require a seller to show that they "shipped" on time with tracking..... this stamp-printed-thru-Etsy trick will do just that!

[NancyQstudio]

I still do local Etsy deliveries when requested regardless of the negative star impact.  But, because Etsy no longer supports these orders I do encourage my local customers to purchase from me directly for any future orders.  I haven't experienced reduced traffic yet when losing the star for this reason. This has taken time but it is helping and a nice unexpected result has been more repeat orders. 

We can keep avoid the negative deducted star points by purchasing a envelope with tracking and sending a follow up note.  But, I refuse to do this for multiple reasons. 

[ArtDollsbyJD]

I take items off of Etsy for local purchase.  I only sell locally via craft shows and people who are known supporters of my local craft show.  This way I don't have the ding to worry about.

I am also careful about selling only to people I have some familiarity with.  It only takes one bad time to make a local sale go sour.   Cautious?  Maybe too cautious? But I would rather have my life and health than have a sale.  

[MySoftParade]

I'm going to do this...thanks, JD!

[EightMileVintage]

If someone asks me for local pick up, I move the listing to my 2nd shop. It's empty now and its only purpose is to provide a place for me to avoid getting dinged on my 5 star status.

[MiryamIsDesign]

I see this thread is from last year. Has Etsy come up with a solution? or are people still being punished for selling locally? I just got a local sale request and don't know how it will effect my star status.

[BagmakerSupply]

@MiryamIsDesign: Local deliveries and pick ups still impact Star Seller negatively https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000338067-How-to-Offer-Local-Pickup-or-Delivery?segment=s...

[MiryamIsDesign]

thank you @BagmakerSupply That is a ridiculous policy. First they try to encourage buyers to shop from sellers close to home. Then they punish the seller. WOW! 

[ArtDollsbyJD]

@MiryamIsDesign  It is not a ridiculous policy.  It is the only way Etsy knows that the seller actually shipped the item.  Hand delivery negats seller protection in all forms.

Not only that but it can be dangerous and the seller is diminishing their profit with use of their gasoline and time. 

[globalMarsha]

For local sales out of my studio, I don't even go through Etsy.  It's really silly for a local customer to get dinged for shipping just because I want to avoid the no tracking punishment that counts toward my star seller status.  So while I don't get a sale credit on Etsy, my local customer walks away happy with no shipping costs or delays plus a discount on the item they bought.  Works out for everyone.