Listings requiring shipping updates – what about POD?

[BasicWitchGraphics]

Hi! Like many others I've received notifications that the shipping info needs to be updated, and I read on other threads that it may be because it no longer accepts "Other" as an option in shipping settings. 

I'm selling Print On Demand with Printful who has several factories in different countries and continents, so obviously the carrier varies depending on the receiving end and the location of the supplier, and I have no say in that. They also use some smaller delivery companies that are not listed in Etsy's options. 

So what on Earth, am I supposed to change suppliers because of this? Does anyone have any more information about this? There are soooo many other POD sellers that I don't understand how Etsy did not take this into consideration before doing this.

[Former_Member]

After speaking with a representative of my same problem, they mentioned having to escalate to their engineering department for review. They noted that it is a known problem and they are determining how widespread it is. They assured me that no action is needed on my part at this time and these notices will not affect any potential sales.

For what it's worth, it doesn't appear to be an isolated issue with just a few.

[TheWonkyFox]

I don’t understand how they can say it won’t effect sales If sellers aren’t going to be able to update their listings at all and therefore replenish stock availability ?

[FernValleyCreations]

Thanks for the informative response. Our POD shop is seeing the same issue and are hopeful this is just a technical issue on Etsy's part. Our non-print on demand shop is not experiencing any issues.

Thanks again,

Fern Valley Supply Company

[HollandsWillow]

This was exactly what I came to figure out. I'll continue following for an update. I have over 300 listings with all of them being POD.

[CustomGiftsByCarmen]

So glad to see I'm not alone! I've been pulling my hair out for over an hour and trying everything I could think of, to no avail. Will follow and wait... 

[VIKINGKRISTALL]

Yes, you are not alone... I use many different shipping companies and they offer different shipping times

[EvelynLaStarzaArts]

Following, this is a nightmare for sellers who use POD

[BecauseofAnnie]

I also sell POD items and the shipping profile is automatically set to "Other" by by POD supplier. I have no control over which courier or service they use and it will obviously vary depending on which country the item is produced and shipped in. I can't mess with my POD suppliers shipping profiles either. So now my items will presumably sell or expire and I won't be able to renew them. Genius, Etsy!

I cannot believe Etsy didn't take POD sellers into account when deciding to remove the "Other" option. Again. For the second time this year. Absolutely infuriating!

[PlusAdore]

Same here, feeling very frustrated! Cannot update, cannot upload a new listing and cannot do anything.

[BasicWitchGraphics]

Just a thought, it would be awesome if Etsy could just automatically approve shipping profiles created by the POD companies they have integrations with. I don't know if that would be possible, but this seems so silly, I haven't had any problems with shipping times so far.

[ReImagineBrewing]

I don't do POD but am having the same problem.

[BethGoodwinDesigns]

I don't understand why some etsy customer services reps are telling people it's an engineering problem and then admitting to others that actually it's because of the "other" shipping carrier being selected and they'll be removing this option soon.

[WitticismsRus]

Because the live chat and phone call back support folks are  a call center. They work with a script and can only handle the most basic issues most of which are covered in the Help Center. Anything outside of that they have to bump up the support chain to actual etsy folks. The call center folks are known for giving incorrect info and for just disconnecting when they dont have a real answer or can't help. 

They were likely bombarded with  seller support requests yesterday with this issue. It doesn't surprise me at all that they were giving bad info initially but then seemed to switch to giving some correct info later in the day. Etsy probably failed to tell them just like they failed to tell us. 

[BasicWitchGraphics]

Hey, I just chatted with Etsy customer support + got the same information from my POD company, that for now we should just choose a carrier from the pre-selected dropdown menu that has the closest delivery estimates to those our supplier has given. Printful just informed their sellers that they're working with Etsy to resolve this issue. I don't know about other suppliers though. 

This was one explanation I got from the customer service: 

Etsy automatically adjusts estimated delivery dates for supported services when unexpected things happen outside of your control, such as widespread postal delays, catastrophic weather events, or similar. This way, you don’t have to adjust your own shipping profiles when faced with shipping delays or other carrier changes.

[BethGoodwinDesigns]

Like when they updated Royal Mail estimated delivery times by 1 or 2 days during the postal strikes last year, when things were taking atleast 2-3 weeks, and about 6 weeks for overseas!

[CostumeCoutureNaomi]

I do not have print on demand.

All but 2 of my items are one of a kind, with no renewal option. 

The 2 items set up with multiple quantities each sold one this morning.

I have not yet updated any of my shipping profiles.

Both items sold, processsd and renewed with the old shipping profile, just like they always do. The listings still have the red alert, but the sale and renewal were not affected.

I have not yet completed the orders, so I cannot speak to how this works out when you close the order.

Based on these 2 sales, I suspect that POD and all sellers are okay to wait a day or so to see if Etsy makes any more adjustments, rather than spending hours changing ship profiles for dozens or hundreds of listings.  

The situation might change later today or tomorrow, but for now I am holding tight and leaving my ship profiles alone, except for new listings.

[WitticismsRus]

@CostumeCoutureNaomi

yep, that's been my experience as well. Listings with quantities available renew when sold just fine for now. You can't manually renew them unless the shipping profile is fixed but auto renew sold is working just fine. I'm going to give it a few days as well. 

[RiversEdgeRelics]

@Former_Member

A customer service rep mentioned having to escalate to their engineering department for review. They noted that it is a known problem?

So this language that appears on all items whose shipping was set to "Other" is not true?

"We’ve added some new shipping services and will need an update from your previous choice of “Other.”

When you choose a specific service you can be confident buyers will see more accurate delivery dates, without any change to how you work.  Don’t see your service? Choose an option that has a similar transit time."

Thanks.

[Former_Member]

@RiversEdgeRelics and all… it looks like since yesterday, responses and notices have been sent by Etsy confirming the issue is the need to specifically identify a shipping provider (that best matches the estimated delivery time). I’ve done so for my affected listing and included a note in my listings essentially explaining the potential for variations in shipping services.

On a related note, Printify just sent out an email notice of upcoming pricing and shipping changes—maybe in response to this whole event? More to come… 

[RiversEdgeRelics]

@Former_Member 

I do not believe that including a note in our listings explaining the potential for variations in shipping services (which effects "expected" delivery times) will help when a buyer files a "purchase not received" claim.

The available shippers in the list provided by Etsy are "estimated" delivery timelines only and come with no guarantee.

However, Etsy is not treating these ETA's as estimates - they are treating these ETA dates as a guarantee.

So, if a delivery is a few days late, the buyer can file a claim for non-receipt and get a full refund. When the package shows up, the buyer as no obligation to return it - they can keep it for free and seller's will be out their money.

[Former_Member]

@RiversEdgeRelics unfortunately—I agree. But, sellers would be in the same situation even before this whole thing with the “other” selection issue. So I guess we just standby for any updates or clear next steps? Any other ideas are appreciated.

[artbyjocelyn]

True, possibility.

With Other, I was able to set longer delivery windows which afforded a less risky "promise" to the buyer/receiver.

[RiversEdgeRelics]

@Former_Member 

As artbyjocelyn

mentioned, sellers who selected "Other" were able to set longer delivery windows which afforded a less risky "promise" to the buyer/receiver.

All of my large, heavy pieces were set to "other" because FedEx and the USPS frequently took much longer to deliver than the "estimate" shown.

It seems now that Etsy will be issuing refunds to buyer's who file a claim for non-delivery when - in reality- the package is still in transit.

[ColorfulCastAndCrew]

I'm very concerned about this. Almost all my orders, with shipping and taxes, are over $250 so I have zero seller protection. 

I ship via UPS Ground, Etsy's range is 1-5 days, my West Coast orders, I'm on the East Coast, average 6-8 days in transit. Etsy would be auto-refunding out of my pocket for anyone who claimed non-receipt after 5 days!