On time shipping

[LotsastuffSalem]

Some of the items we ship are sent lettermail by Canada Post/USPS.  There is no tracking with regular postage.  I don't think that this should count against my on-time shipping score when I complete the shipment on time and I send the customer a photo of the envelope with the cancelled postage stamp.

[PlatypusDream]

You can still marked the item as shipped and it will be on time. You just have no proof of shipping, as the photography technique isn't proof that the item was shipped.

Etsy sets the rules. They are slanted towards US shops.

If you continue to ship without tracking for orders you won't ever get the Star Seller shipping badge.

I have NEVER had the Star, as I also live in Canada and ship with Lettermail for items within Canada. 

My customers won't pay $15 to ship something that will ship for $4.50.

I've come to peace with it, and still get the sales volume I want.

[LotsastuffSalem]

Thanks! I see you know where I'm coming from when I say we're trying to keep our shipping prices down.  For tracking, I always use Etsy's Canada Post labels because they are so much cheaper than going directly through CP.  I can live with my rating not being 100%.  It's just the principal of the thing.  Thanks for your reply.

[StickerPlannerShopCo]

I can never find a straight answer. If we mark something "complete" without tracking before the ship by date or on the ship by date, does it meet Etsy standards?

Somebody on Reddit said that an Etsy employee, on the phone, told them you need tracking in order for it to meet the service standards.....?

[BagmakerSupply]

@StickerPlannerShopCo: "If we mark something "complete" without tracking before the ship by date or on the ship by date, does it meet Etsy standards?" There are TWO metrics for shipping - one is shipped on time and the other is shipped with verifiable tracking (or Etsy label) when tracking is required. https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-gb/articles/29665255990039-How-to-Track-Your-Progress-Towards-Becoming-a...

[LastCentury]

you need to be clearer since there is important info missing here:

are you sending items to the USA by lettermail?

what do you mean Regular Postage? What kind of parcel is that? To where?

[BootifulLabels]

If the value of the order is above the minimum at which Etsy requires tracking in your country, you have to have a tracking number so that Etsy can confirm activity on the shipment.  Under that minimum you can ship without tracking but must mark the order as shipped promptly. I am not sure what that is for Canada, for US I believe it is zero (meaning all orders require tracking) and in AU, where I am, it is $10.   It is not unreasonable for Etsy to require tracking, it is verified proof of actual shipment.

[BagmakerSupply]

@LotsastuffSalem: There are two separate metrics at play here - for Customer Service Standard you need to ship (and mark as completed) orders on or before the scheduled to ship by date. For Star Seller you must also have verifiable tracking (or use an Etsy label where available).

[CraftyCornishMaids]

you have to ship on time with tracking for items over $10 for star seller (95%)

you have to ship on time with tracking, or buy etsy labels, for seller protection , no min

you have to ship on time for customer service standard (80%) no min

It's not new, it's been like it for many years

photos have never counted, ever

[PoochandTabby]

Yes, photos have counted in past. Not now, but in past yes, and it was Etsy support that advised to either take a picture of the envelope with the PO stamp or a picture of the package going into the mail box.

I've fought off a few non-received claims in past with these pics to Etsy and it was accepted, mainly because the buyer gave the wrong address and I could prove it was 1. actually mailed and 2. mailed to the address on file that ended up being wrong.

Obviously it's changed now, but it used to count.

[CraftyCornishMaids]

@PoochandTabby 

photos never counted for etsy stats, ever

photos never show you actually sent the item, just you bought the label, if etsy ever gave you seller protection for that, you were one of the lucky ones

[PoochandTabby]

@CraftyCornishMaids

Sorry, I wasn't clear enough. I didn't mean with regards to stats on Etsy, but with regards to the fact that we used to be able to provide proof of shipment through pics if actual shipment of the item was in question. So it "counted" in any dispute of that nature.

[LotsastuffSalem]

I've been shipping on time for many years.  Including with etsy labels.  To keep shipping costs to a minimum, as I mentioned originally, sometimes we send items lettermail, which does not have tracking.  It would be nice if that was taken into consideration.

[LastCentury]

again, you need to be clearer since you haven't said for which country you use lettermail... so...

Lettermail within Canada? Yes, I understand why you use this service to ship small items.

Lettermail to USA? Nope! If you are shipping merchandise to the USA, it needs a CN22 filled out and now HS code & country of origin also. 

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/support/articles/customs-requirements/required-customs...

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/support/articles/customs-requirements/customs-declarat...?

[LotsastuffSalem]

If somebody buys a postcard from us, even if it goes to the US, we just send it inside an envelope and send it regular postage, like a greeting card.

[BagmakerSupply]

@LotsastuffSalem: "To earn the Star Seller badge for on-time shipping & tracking, however, you’ll need to ship 95%+ of orders on time, with tracking or a shipping label purchased on Etsy (when required, based on where your shop is based and the order value). " [Emphasis Added] https://www.etsy.com/starseller

[CraftyCornishMaids]

@LotsastuffSalem 

you have to ship with tracking, OR labels bought on etsy,

as you are in Canada, you can buy etsy labels.

...

legally, you are sending merchandise, so you should ship with merchandise postage and customs label

[GlassSlippersCC]

Etsy could care less