Local pickup

[lisabretrostyle2]

It seems weird that this is where the etsy help page sends you to report a "miscalculated" star rating. But here I am. I print all my shipping on etsy, so there is always a tracking number. I did have a "local pickup" recently and see my tracking has been downgraded. I filled out all the requested info indicating it had been picked up by the buyer. Etsy says there is an exception for local pickup...so why the downgrade?

[Adorabilities]

For the Star Seller program, there are no exceptions for US sellers. Everything (95% of everything) needs to be shipped with tracking. 

[AnniebelloPaper]

I think the 'exception' is they won't put a reserve on your payment account for a local pick up ... as long as it 'ships' on time.

The SSP is all about getting sellers to buy more Etsy labels, not so much about providing tracking or getting the order to the buyer. Want proof? An untracked Etsy letter rate label (not available everywhere) counts as tracked for SSP purposes. The Etsy system doesn't recognise other (non-Etsy) tracking labels ... Royal Mail for example. As you have discovered, local pick up is also not counted even if the buyer requested it to save them some shipping dollars. 

[UppNorthEh]

the etsy system DOES recognize other non etsy tracked labels

[TonsOfPaper · Accepted solution]

Hello @lisabretrostyle2,

As of the moment, tracking metrics don’t account for local pickup or delivery. We don't support local pick-up or locally delivered orders, therefore, this would impact your Star Seller tracking & on-time shipping score. We recognize this is a pain point for sellers who use local pick-up and delivery.

While we’re always delighted to hear that our buyers and sellers want to form connections (IRL or otherwise), we don’t currently support local pickup/delivery. That’s not to say you can’t offer local pickup/delivery, it’s just that when you communicate with buyers off-site, without using Etsy tools (Messages, Etsy shipping labels, tracking), it might make it harder, or even impossible, for us to mediate any order issues or disputes.

In the meantime, please know that Etsy understands that Star Seller may not be viable for every shop. Star Seller is not a disciplinary program and sellers will not be penalized for low scores.

Thank you very much!

[WoollySally]

Can I create a custom order for local pickup? 

[PlatypusDream]

@WoollySally 

Sure, you can, but without tracking it will be a strike against your Star Seller metric for not having tracking.

[GlassyFields]

I've had local pick-ups.

If you want star seller credit you, send something small to the buyer with tracking, e.g. a thank you note. Use that for the star seller stats.

I've also let my local buyers know that they're welcome to purchase directly from me.

I can understand why Etsy doesn't have an option for local pick-up or delivery. It would be a giant loophole for disreputable sellers. They could claim local pickup/delivery without doing anything at all.

[WoollySally]

Thank you.  That's very helpful.