Quantities for items over 20.00.

[putnamandspeedwell]

I understand that not showing the quantities for listings over 20.00 is the rule. 

But, I simply cannot understand the reasoning for this practice. . . . 

Many times, buyers will message to check on quantity; but, I cannot help but wonder how many do not think to ask since I am one of those buyers;-)

Recently, I have had buyers make multiple purchases to arrive at the quantity needed. It is not a big deal to refund for the shipping overage. But since combined shipping is a benefit to the buyer, why not let the buyer see the quantity? Transparency seems to require showing the actual number of an item in stock. 

 But, again, if someone needs three more cups to complete their set and does not want to bother messaging and waiting for an answer, a sale is lost.

And then the seller must also pay 0.20 x 3 instead of the 0.20 re-listing fee. . . .

New buyers do not necessarily trust that a seller will refund the shipping overage in full. 

The holidays are here, why not give the busy buyer all of the information needed?

[BootifulLabels]

????  If I am reading this right, you think that Etsy hides the quantity on listings with more than 20?

What makes you think that?

Most of my listings have more than 20, I mostly list 100, and top it up as the numbers go down.  I have never experienced any trouble with the quantity not showing.

Unless you are talking about the teaser line under the thumbnail on your shop page?   That is a gimmick Etsy uses to create a sense of urgency and to encourage buyers to buy now and not risk missing out.  The actual quantity available shows in the listing itself.

[FancyTogs]

@BootifulLabels 

The quantity dropdown is hidden on listings with a price over $20 USD.

They only get the add to basket / cart button.

If the buyer wants more than one they have to edit the quantity in the basket / cart.

It is totally bonkers.

Lawrence (Clare's other half)

[BootifulLabels]

Oh, I see.  Thanks for clarifying, I had no idea this was the case.  I can see now why the OP was frustrated, it doesn't seem to make much sense not to show it.

[FancyTogs]

It is a bad user interface.

However, editing the quantity in the basket / cart does not affect either the buyer's shipping prices or the seller's listing fees.

Within one order the multiple quantity shipping price is dependant on the "additional items" price in the listing or shipping profile. If you set up zero for additional items it should charge nothing for additional items. It will then only multiply out the shipping price if the buyer places multiple separate orders.

Sellers are always charged re-listing fees for the quantity purchased.

Lawrence

[FruteJuce]

I hadn't realised this was a thing. It is very unusual for the things I sell in my shop that anyone would buy more than one of something. Everyday's a school day I suppose. 

[PillowDetails]

I have never seen any reason given - or guessed at - for this.  Most of my items are over $20, and I've received a few messages asking if I had more - when there were more in stock.  So I get to explain that Etsy makes shoppers add an item to cart, and then chose the quantity.  Makes me feel like a doofus, like I'm trying to trick them into adding to cart - just to see the quantity available.  There's no telling how many sales are missed - by all of us - because a Buyer left, thinking there wasn't enough for what they need.

[ZeldaandFitz]

I agree, needs to be addressed.

[JJewellerySuppliesUK]

It's totally ridiculous and seemingly unfounded!!

[FallenAngelBrass]

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@putnamandspeedwell wrote:

And then the seller must also pay 0.20 x 3 instead of the 0.20 re-listing fee. 

---

Just clarifying that the seller fees are the same no matter how the items are ordered.  Sellers pay 20 cents per listing.

[putnamandspeedwell]

Three separate purchases for the same item means 3 X .20

I get that if the buyer purchases three there is only one .20 listing fee. 

[PrimFun]

@putnamandspeedwell   Depends on the set up of the listing.  A listing with quantity will renew itself each time the item is bought.  So an item bought three times from a listing with quantity will charge 40 cents.  That is for two renewals.

If the listing is offering 3 items as one unit then the listing fee initially is 20 cents.

If the listing has, for example, a quantity of 3 for 3 items then the first cost is 20 cents.  Then the listing renews itself so that listing costs 20 cents.  If a buyer were to buy all sets of 3 then the cost is 40 cents as the initial cost of listing has been paid for. 

Fees and Listing Multiple Quantities – Etsy Help

[PrimFun]

However this thread is about how at a certain price point the number available is hidden until the buyer goes into the order.  Then the can order more in quantity.

I want to say $20.00 (USD) is the deal breaker for showing but I don't use this as a seller and mostly what I buy I don't run across this much. 

[LastCentury]

@putnamandspeedwell sometimes I will make quantity a variation for the listing and use it to offer minor deals when they are buying more than one (since I am making one box instead of 2 or 3). That way a buyer can choose the quantity and see how much stock I have at the same time.

[FancyTogs]

@LastCentury 

They won't be able to see how much stock you have.

Let's say you have 5 in stock and list variation quantities of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Buyer A purchases 3, and 10 minutes later Buyer B purchases 4, and you won't have enough stock.

Or buyer C decides to purchase 3 and 5 in the same order, expecting to receive 8. Oops.

To offer variations of 1,2,3,4,5 you would actually need to have a stock of 15 available.

Lawrence

[LastCentury]

@FancyTogs 

I only list a quantity of 1

My variation is set up (as an example):

1 mug $10

2 mugs &18

4 mugs $32.

and I would only have 4 mugs anyway. the end.

If someone only buys 1 or 2 mugs, I renew the listing and revise the variation accordingly.

It works for me.

[FancyTogs]

@LastCentury 

With variations of 1, 2 and 4 then you will need to have a physical stock of 7.

With a physical stock of only 4 someone could purchase the 4 and the 2 in the same order and you would not have enough stock.

Lawrence

[LastCentury]

@FancyTogs 

I am only listing a quantity of 1

They can choose to buy the:

1 mug for $10 variation

1 set of 2 mugs for $18 variation

or 1 set of 4 mugs for $32 variation

Buyer B can't make a purchase until I have renewed the listing with revised variations since there is only quantity of 1.

I know what I am doing. I do not need 7 mugs to cover all the sales here.

[NancyQstudio · Accepted solution]

 It's intended programming.  It can deter a purchase since a shopper may be specifically looking for multiple matching items to purchase.  They will likely assume only one item is available.   I'd assume Etsy feels giving the appearance that only one item is available in a listing gives the impression that it's more desirable. This may work for some orders but lacks transparency and will be problematic for others. Etsy has a habit of not thinking things all the way through or understanding multiple factors when making changes.  

[Motiflady]

Absolutely 

[RustyCrustyRepurpose]

WOW

[TinLizziAntiques]

You can make a statement in your listing how many items are available. If needed, as a sale is made, rewrite the sentence. Etsy wants customers to think merchandise is unique and often hard to acquire. The other choice is sell in sets of four or six or eight, whatever suits.

[ZeldaandFitz]

Fancy Togs ideas for creating in variation sets would work for me.....I'll give that a try.

[FancyTogs]

@ZeldaandFitz 

I am not suggesting that people do it.

I am pointing out problems with the idea.

If you have variation options each of a single quantity it could sort of work. So options of 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1. Each with an option stock quantity of 1.

If you have variations with multiple quantities then you need to have enough stock to satisfy the total quantity listed.

For example, if you have a physical stock quantity of 10, then you could list with variations options of 1, 1, 1, 2, 5, each listed with an option quantity of 1.

That is still not a good solution, it is a ridiculous workaround.

The real solution is that Etsy should be displaying the quantity available on the listing page.

I think that Etsy's listing page functionality of hiding quantities over $20 is stupid and that it will be reducing sales. They are adding roadblocks to the purchasing process for buyers.

Lawrence

[LastCentury]

@FancyTogs here is an example. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1604149799

You can only add 1 of the variations to your cart.

It has been easy for 2 customers already.

I do it with other items for which I have limited quantities as well. Not ridiculous at all. I'm happy to offer small discounts for larger quantities & eat a bit of the shipping cost to sell more at one time.