Please stop with the ETA!

[time2split]

Etsy’s ETA is unrealistic to customers, and sellers are regularly getting people unhappy because they see an ETA making it appear that their package could arrive to them the day after their order is placed.  There’s no explanation as to how the ETA is calculated, and customers can no longer see processing times posted by the seller.  All they see is an estimated delivery date.

For example, my current processing time is set to 3-5 business days (I don’t have weekends included).  My listings show an expected delivery date range of September 5-10.  Tuesday (September 2) is the earliest my orders are even supposed to begin processing.  For a customer to receive something by September 5 is nearly impossible, as even Express Mail is in transit for 2 days.

This is something that needs to change.  Either provide more info to the customer about how the ETA is calculated (ETA is dependent on shop processing time plus postal service time).

[BrooklynStVintage]

I agree it sets up unrealistic expectations that will turn into an angry buyer.

[NanaLetha]

Etsy is not doing that. It's USPS or however you ship.

[GlassyFields]

@NanaLetha 

Agreed

However, when I read the fine print on the USPS or UPS sites, they make a point of saying these time are estimates and that they are NOT guaranteed.

The only guaranteed options are much more expensive (e.g. $80 for what is a $6 charge for USPS Ground Advantage).

I can't blame Etsy for just picking up what the carriers publish as estimated or typical times.

But Etsy refunds buyers who open cases if the estimated time is exceeded. That's the part that seems unfair. Etsy is turning timeline that are expressly not a guaranteed by the carriers into guarantees.

[PWOriginals]

^^^ Exactly!

It's Etsy who is changing the dates estimated by USPS to dates expected, and then hold us to those dates.

To make things worse, USPS made no delivery adjustments for those of us in the new RTO areas (more than 50 miles from distribution center) where mail sits until next day before leaving our local post offices. 

[OneEyeCatStudio]

"It's USPS or however you ship."

Then Etsy should stay TF out of it.

Stop slapping promises based on blissful ignorance on our listings and let "USPS or however you ship" do it.

[moonbeamgifts]

I would concur.    And this is going to seriously backfire when the late shoppers come through the door for 4th quarter.     

There is something seriously malfunctioning on the calculation side, I feel like it's back to not taking the processing time into account but also offering the priority "best case" scenario even if that's not how the package is slated to ship.     

Last week I had a buyer inquire as to whether it was really correct that they would order Tuesday and have their item by Wednesday.   I can't even do that while shipping to my own state WITHOUT any handling!    It is not only frustrating for the buyer but looks foolish.   We're not Amazon.

[PiecesofMeCardsnMore]

Etsy has admitted that estimated delivery dates can be based on your shipping history. So even though you have a 3-5 day processing time, if you consistently ship sooner than that, Etsy will go by the shorter processing time. The lesson here is to stop being efficient!

https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001922768-How-to-Set-Up-Estimated-Delivery-Dates

”In some instances, Etsy may take your past shipping behavior into account to help ensure buyers receive accurate estimated delivery dates. This is based on historical tracking data and does not impact your processing times or “ship-by dates.”

[GlassyFields]

@PiecesofMeCardsnMore 

But Etsy says that "does not impact your processing times or “ship-by dates.”

I'm not sure what Etsy is trying to say ... really doesn't make sense.

I've kept an eye on mine, and even though I almost always ship same or next day, Etsy has consistently shown my 1-2 day processing time as the 2nd day. My extra day is contingency that I've rarely needed.

[PiecesofMeCardsnMore]

@GlassyFields 

I agree that the second sentence I quoted doesn't make a whole lot of sense. 

My processing times are set to at least 3 business days. I always try to remember that if I ship earlier than that one too many times, I'll start getting messages from buyers asking where their order is. I've had buyers order over the weekend and then complain when it didn't arrive by Tuesday. Seriously?? 

[GlassyFields]

@PiecesofMeCardsnMore 

I think I figured it out.

Etsy is saying they won't dink with the seller's settings ... but they'll give the buyer information based on the seller's shipping history.

Which seems really mixed up to me.

I happen to be an under-promise and over-deliver person. I really don't want someone over-promising for me.

[AnchorRoadVintage]

if you consistently ship sooner than that, Etsy will go by the shorter processing time. 

________

The reason I consistently ship sooner than my latest processing time is because there is no disaster going on. My processing time was specifically set up to accommodate for natural disasters, illness, and other situations that mean a day of no shipping. And yes, I can always put the shop on vacation but it would be silly to do so for 1 day when I could just as easily ship the next day. 

[OneTribeJewelry]

I saw that too!  I ship same day or next day if at all possible and I've noticed that Etsy's ETA's are often unattainable.  I will literally ship something an HOUR after someone buys something and still get that annoying blurb about 'may arrive late' when I print my shipping label.  Please for the love of all that is good in this world, stop telling me that on literally every order.

[TBQSC]

@time2split -- "There’s no explanation as to how the ETA is calculated,"  Actually there is ... see here @ https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001922768-How-to-Set-Up-Estimated-Delivery-Dates?segment=...

How are you shipping ... USPS GA or other?  Are your rates calculated or manual?  Do you have FCM & PP enabled?  If only FCM, that could be why your dates are showing sooner.

I also have a 3-5 day processing & ship via USPS GA (calculated) ... all my listings show arrival Sept 8-15. 

[Jewels2at]

I have my shipping set 5-7 days out.  On my announcement, which is now see is at the bottom of the page says where no one will see it, "Welcome to my shop! All my items are a finished product. I usually mail same day, or day after the order. If ordered on a Sunday or a holiday, I will get in the mail the next day. I cannot be responsible for Etsy's projected shipping times."

[PrimFun]

Well work around that.  I use 3 to 5 days but I ship the 2nd or 3rd day and my items arrive very close to the date stated by USPS.

Did you exclude holidays too?

As a buyer I use informed delivery.  I find that works very well.  I know when things are arriving and can look out for my items. A day difference doesn't bother me if I can see the item has arrived in my area. 

Oh and the ETA is based on your processing time frame.  If you excluded weekends and holidays and the service most frequently used.  It's all based on what USPS has irregardless of any issue USPS may be having. 

[PrimFun]

Oh but I would check too to make sure you have 3 to 5 days on your listings.  It looks more like one to two days.