STAR SELLER - SHIPPING ISSUE

[PAINTINGPEEPS]

Please help! Managing my shop to earn Star Seller status tanked this month from no fault of my own, and after chatting online with Etsy for a while, I know of no solution to improve my shipping rating. I have worked hard to build a solid Etsy presence with an excellent review, message, and shipping status, but recently, when I announced the cutoff date to place a made to order listing for guaranteed Christmas delivery, I suggested customers choose a gift certificate instead. To my surprise several sold immediately, but when I choose "tracking is not needed on the order" and I ship my certificates directly to customer for the price of a single stamp $.55, it tanks the shiping rating. If I purchase First Class postage from Etsy, it's $5-$6, which is not feasible or equitable to my business.

After chatting with Etsy, I am told that if I don't having a tracking number (and there's no option to purchase a single envelop stamp), then it will lower my rating. I have in less than a week gone from a 99-100% tracking to 80%. I am very disappointed this glitch cannot or has not been addressed. Surely, I am not the only seller experiencing this issue. If you select tracking is not required it should not lower your rating on timlely shipping. Also, I have tried selecting a "digital download with no tracking required", and it continues lower my rating.

Someone, please help, if you can. Tell me what I am doing wrong or how I can address this furhter. The very nice person I chatted with on Etsy told me this issue is not something that can be a quick fix. I can either stop selling gift certificates or I can purchase postage from Etsy only to be sure I get my rating back up. I requested an overridge be made to my account to manually adjust my shipping rating to correct the issue, but was also told this would not happen. Any advice would be greatly appreicated. ~ Sincerely, Kathy

[GlassyFields]

You're not the only one. The forums are bursting with complaints about SS.

I think your suggestion of gift certificates is really cool and customers obviously thought so too. I think real customer service is far more valuable than the flawed and arbitrary SS system. Congratulations to you. And given some of the other posts I've read about Etsy refunding customers when an estimated delivery date is missed, I think you avoided a very pricey risk. So double congratulations to you for being honest with your customers, coming up with a creative and acceptable solution and avoiding an impactful business risk.

[SeasideRoseCreations]

This is how it's set up, and unfortunately some sellers get caught up in lower ratings.  It also hinders international sellers that can't/won't pay for high priced tracking.

[RocktheJewels]

I wish there was a Good fix for your issue, But unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the case. So Many others have had issues with the 'Star Seller' system as well, myself included.

You have found a Wonderful way to help your Customers and That to me is what is truly important. Great job!! 

I Do believe Many Customers, Myself included, have come to realize Customer Service is what is Most important......

'Change what You Can, and leave the Stress for the rest'

[CappuccinoLace]

 I ship my certificates directly to customer for the price of a single stamp $.55, it tanks the shiping rating. If I purchase First Class postage from Etsy, it's $5-$6, which is not feasible or equitable to my business.

You have the ability to buy a letter rate label through etsy labels, which would satisfy star seller requirements.

https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360039466434-How-to-Deliver-First-Class-Large-Envelopes-Flat...

[IndustrialBlonde]

@CappuccinoLace  is correct. 

[MilwerkModern]

My star seller shipping status went from 100% to 80% because I hand delivered an item. The person in Etsy chat says Etsy doesn't support "outside of Etsy" communication or something to that effect. The item was purchased by a close friend who works with my wife so my wife delivered it personally. When I gave the person in the chat this information along with the fact that she was buying through Etsy to support my shop and could have bypassed Etsy altogether, I was given the link to the community forum and he abruptly left the chat. Rude. Shortest Etsy chat ever! 

[bradgoodell]

@MilwerkModern 

Etsy's Star Seller policy doesn't work with hand delivered items.  That is clearly spelled out in the Star Seller policy.  Talking to Etsy Chat won't change that.  It may be rude, but why continue the chat? To what point?  Your reasons are irrelevant if he can't do anything.  

[JJewellerySuppliesUK]

This post is from last December!

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