STAR SELLER - Shipping compliance issues

[Prairieblossomvintag]

I have had ongoing, monthly issues with orders in which the status of tracking numbers are not being updated by the USPS, which has kept me from obtaining the Star Seller badge.  In every case, I have had accurate tracking numbers and have shipped on time.

Currently I have paid receipts for 4 of these "non-compliant" orders within this evaluation cycle, that proves on-time shipment with tracking numbers issued from the post office.  These numbers are NOT incorrect, but USPS is not consistently updating their tracking systems - or there are errors within their own system! 
This is an ongoing issue that I have seen many sellers experiencing, that we should not be penalized for.

The Star Seller badge is a reward system by Etsy that evaluates a seller's performance - NOT the performance of a shipping carrier!  Sellers have no control over packages in transit, and therefore a "Delivered" status should not even be considered by the "bots" as part of the criteria in which a seller is evaluated for - from a performance standpoint.

 
**Suggestion:  Etsy could consider an option for a seller to submit photocopies electronically, of paid receipts as proof for on time shipping/tracking in these cases.  This procedure would allow a more fair and accurate assessment of a seller's performance, and should be considered during these evaluation cycles.

I realize that the Star Seller status is not regarded to be very important for many sellers, and may not affect actual sales or shop rankings.  This is more about principle.  If Etsy is going to offer special badges, then the criteria should be fair and obtainable for everyone.  Or, if the program is not providing value to everyone, then perhaps, it should be discontinued?
Just my opinion.

[bradgoodell]

"I have had ongoing, monthly issues with orders in which the status of tracking numbers are not being updated by the USPS"

So USPS is showing the packages pre-transit when in fact you shipped on time?  Sadly, that is an issue you need to take up with your local post office.  Here are reasons why:

1. Photocopies of receipts can be faked easily, and as much as a loathe to consider it, there are plenty of sellers on Etsy who would happily do so.  
2. Receipts only show that someone mailed something to someone, not that you mailed a package to the buyer.  
3. Plus there is the time Etsy staff would have to take to review the documents, decide their legitimacy, and make a judgement.  It is obvious that Etsy simply doesn't have the staff to do that.  

Star Seller has become more important than ever, now that Etsy is using shipping late as a reason for Reserves.  So my advice to you it talk to your post office staff and request they scan every package in front of you.  Work your way up to the Post Master if you need to.  Demand they do their job.

Good luck!

[BagmakerSupply]

@Prairieblossomvintag: "tracking numbers are not being updated by the USPS" Agreeing with @bradgoodell - if usps.com is still showing the tracking number as "pre-transit" 24 hours after the package has actually been scanned then it is an issue you need to take up with the postal facility where you drop your packages off. Etsy (through AfterShip) is only passing on what USPS reports as the status of the package.

[JenMRamosHandmade]

Agreed. From what I understand, if it really matters to you, your best bet is to wait in line at the post office to have it scanned in person. 

etsy would argue that this is not a punishment, but a reward. They’d possibly also say that it deters those sellers who overpromise and under-deliver when it comes to shipping, and that cases like this one are the minority. 

Honestly, there’s one rating I can’t get consistently because I just don’t sell enough some months, but I have to accept that. I can’t ask that they ditch that rating because I personally can’t achieve it. 

[JMOldeVintage]

@Prairieblossomvintag  - You state you have paid receipts for 4 orders. So I am assuming you took these packages directly to your local Post Office & paid the retail rates to ship them? When you paid for the shipping, at that time USPS would have assigned the tracking number to the package. So if nothing else the package/order should at least immediately say "mailed or accepted at your town PO". You then need to mark the order complete and enter the tracking number.

Or do you use Etsy labels or another services postal labels? In which case to protect yourself, especially if you are going to the PO, have these labels scanned by the clerk & get a receipt. They should hopefully move from "label created" to "accepted at PO location".

Yes, there can be glitches when your local PO uploads their data to USPS. If all these packages shipped on the same day, that may be the problem. If they were shipped on separate days you could discuss the problem with your local PO. 

Etsy and USPS do not always have the best communication lines. What shows up on your shop's order page versus what USPS' website shows can be entirely different. If USPS' site is accurate (shows in transit, delivered, etc.), you could consider sending Etsy screen shots and there is a small chance they will update your orders. 

While I agree that Etsy should not use USPS' errors in updating tracking against shops, I would also understand their reasoning for wanting to see movement in a package's tracking. Sadly there are shops out there that do try & sneak around timely shipping by simply printing a label but then not mailing until who knows when.

[Prairieblossomvintag]

Thanks everyone.  I always purchase my postage directly at my local post office (yes, I stand in line), so my packages are always scanned immediately, and a I receive my receipt w/tracking.  I input the tracking and update the shipping notification to my buyers as soon as I return home - always well before my ship date. 

So, there are definitely questions I have with the USPS in not fulfilling a timely tracking and status updates.  But, sadly those issues are ongoing, and are out of my control, as well as time consuming on my part of needing to follow up/file complaints.

That being said - I wish there were alternative options to provide proof of actual shipment in cases like mine (such as photocopies of shipping receipts, per my suggestion - when they originate from an actual physical post office lobby purchase (and not from online or kiosk postage purchases, where seller's can, and have abused the process by not dropping off their packages - in those cases, I would expect a completed delivery status for confirmation). 

[bradgoodell · Accepted solution]

Completed delivery status only shows the package delivered, not that the package was shipped on time.

There is something seriously wrong with your post office if they are actually scanning the packages in front of you, and yet aren't entering the information into the system in a timely manner.  That is where you need to start.

I mentioned this before, but have you spoken to your Postmaster about this?  

[BagmakerSupply]

@Prairieblossomvintag: If usps.com is still showing the tracking number as "pre-transit" 24 hours after the package has actually been scanned then it is an issue you need to take up with the postal facility where you drop your packages off. Etsy (through AfterShip) is only passing on what USPS reports as the status of the package based on the information you entered in the actual order during the complete order step.

We check daily the previous day's shipments to make sure that they are all showing as 'in transit"  and have not had an issue with USPS (or Etsy / Aftership) for months.

Your wish for alternate methods of verifying tracking are understandable, but did you read the post by @bradgoodell above?