Shipping Transit Times incorrect, Etsy claims there's a known bug

[DebraAnnmarieStudio]

I've had a customer reach out to me expecting their order sooner than my processing time/any transit time should show. I checked out one of my listings in a private browser and entered their California zip code. It was showing ONE business day after I put the order into the mail as the beginning of the Estimated Delivery date. Which is totally incorrect because I live on the East Coast, they're on the West Coast and don't offer Priority Express mail as a shipping options. This was even showing as the beginning date estimate for First Class mail. This wasn't an issue before, I've been using the same processing times and shipping profile for months. This is an error in the shipping estimate. For example, I ship it out on the 12th, it says estimated arrival 13th-18th. That first number is what customers pay attention to, not the middle or end number.

So I reached out to Etsy about this, they let me know that they're aware of a bug that causes listings to show the Estimated Delivery Date incorrectly to the customers. There's no estimated date for the fix and to basically deal with it until it's resolved. 

I'm assuming it's due to them messing with the shipping settings trying to adjust Ground Advantage (which is another mess in itself since it's still not showing to buyers). So be aware if your customer messages you about the estimate being MUCH sooner than it actually should be. 

It's also showing the same delivery dates for First Class and Priority Mail so very clearly a bug and a serious one but Etsy will fix it.... eventually, maybe?

[DebraAnnmarieStudio]

Can't edit my post but if you see the same error within your shop, please contact Etsy support to let them know it's widespread. Even though they told me "it's been occasionally reported". Which I guess is why they aren't in a rush to fix it.

[CryzalisDesigns]

I just sent an order to CA from Europe on Monday, so rushed to check the estimated arrival. The shipping glitch does not seem to have affected my orders shipping & estimated arrival dates, maybe just affecting delivery dates within the United States? 

[DebraAnnmarieStudio]

This was meant for the other comment but this went under yours instead, sorry!It could just be US since the Ground Advantage shipping setting that they're messing with is for delivery within the US

[Duckwells]

I had this happen a few weeks ago.  I’m on the east coast and a buyer in California actually thought I could overnight her item due to the expectation in her confirmation email.  I was baffled until I read it myself.  

[VibeEnvy]

So far every time a customers ever sent a screen shot of confirmation from Etsy there's inaccurate information

[SeasideRoseCreations]

I have my listings set at 1-3 days.  I NEVER ship in one day (because Etsy).

My listings show ordered today, ships tomorrow and arrives the following day.

Even if I did ship in one day, nothing would get anywhere the next day, even in MY OWN town.

[hopeandjoystudios]

Agree. Mine are set 3-5 since covid. I may ship same day or next day depending on when purchased.  I generally ship M-W-F but if something happens like a holiday or appointment I can move that around. Don't  fall for Etsy's 1-2 day shipping setting baloney.  They make it unattainable and they slap a reserve on you. Under promise, over deliver.

[SeasideRoseCreations]

@hopeandjoystudios 

I changed my to 3-5 during Covid too.  I still have some floating around.  

I'm not so sure this is a "bug".

I don't think the farmed out support staff are made aware of bugs.

[DebraAnnmarieStudio]

I see that too, it's showing it would be here in 2 days from you. Ridiculous that this is widespread and they made it out to be it was just a bug on "some" listings.

[SeasideRoseCreations]

@DebraAnnmarieStudio 

The help desk reads from a script and has very limited knowledge about much that goes on here.

For all we know, it could be a test or even intended behavior.

[BagmakerSupply]

USPS Ground Advantage is going to be a nightmare for estimated delivery times if it is not coded correctly - since the equivalent of First Class Postage is no longer limited to under 16 ounces, the time in transit is also affected by the weight of the package.  For example, and these all use the exact same package size, just the weight changes: a 4 ounce Ground Advantage package Chicago to Alaska has 5 day estimated transit time, a 1 pound Ground Advantage package has a 16 day estimated transit time per USPS.

[DebraAnnmarieStudio]

I didn't even realize that, yikes! Etsy can't fix basic things let alone trying to figure out those transit times based on weight, this is going to be absurdly bad.

[DebraAnnmarieStudio]

Also just checked your estimated delivery dates and it's also showing the one business day after the processing time, which is impossible from PA to IL even with Priority Mail. I just sent out a Priority mail package to IL and it took 2 business days so yikes, Etsy, yikes. But they tell me that it's only been happening occasionally LOL, yeah don't think so.

[AlohaNaturals]

I just had someone order an item that is less than 4 oz and ships out within 3 days and she was concerned because the system said it might not get there till July 27! First class takes 3-5 days from Hawaii to the mainland so this is way off. Pretty sure this will cause me to lose sales if it's not fixed

[PWOriginals]

I noticed this, too, but didn't know when it started. Packages I'm sending today have estimated delivery times starting tomorrow (they've not even been picked up yet) but there's an 8-day window for estimated delivery (up til the 21st) so I wasn't worried about it.

[BagmakerSupply]

@AlohaNaturals: Out of curiosity we checked what Ground Advantage Chicago to Honolulu is : 4 ounces has an estimated in transit of 4 days, same package at 16 ounces has an estimated in transit of 15 days. Maybe Etsy has not coded the estimated delivery date to account for package weight but is going with the maximum.

[AlohaNaturals]

Yes, exactly! Which leads me to think that if I used Ground Advantage for a package over 16 oz it would go by boat (like Parcel Select did), which takes at least 2 weeks, sometimes up to 6 weeks!! I hope they fix that quickly but I'm not holding my breath.

[BagmakerSupply]

@AlohaNaturals: You have captured it exactly - we had to code the new in transit time internally and basically Ground Advantage under 1 pound is First Class Package and 1 pound or greater is Parcel Post, no change in service just rebranded. The problems will start for calculated shipping users when Etsy starts to charge 1 pound and larger packages as Ground Advantage instead of Priority Mail.

[funkydreamsmosaics]

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@DebraAnnmarieStudio wrote:

 That first number is what customers pay attention to, not the middle or end number.

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I think that's the issue. Those delivery dates don't change based on the zip code you put in.  On the listing page, Etsy basically says all packages from the US to the US could arrive in 1-7 days after the processing times.  I believe the shipping notifications give more realistic estimates. 

One more reason to extend processing times, regardless of what Etsy urges us to do.  

[DebraAnnmarieStudio]

Exactly! I wish they wouldn't have edited any of that until they had the transit times more worked out than a generic 1-7 days because I could see people ignoring the shipping noti emails and just remembering the date given during checkout.

For sure, extending processing times is definitely needed right now. I'm already well ahead of my estimated processing times but I may bump it up another day just to try to push that 1 part of the 1-7 days back.

[DebraAnnmarieStudio]

Still happening and people aren’t upgrading to shipping because it’s showing such a similar shipping time between Ground Advantage and Priority mail even though it’s not. So frustrating that Etsy will add pointless features like “accept best offers!) instead of fixing the shipping estimates.

[funkydreamsmosaics]

I don't think they will fix this.  I know someone told you it was a bug, but based on what I noted above, I think this is working as designed. I certainly wouldn't expect it "fixed" soon.  

[SimplyInvitingLLC]

I just am seeing this now pop up on mine, I wound up stating in my note to buyer that they can expect their delivery by the (last date shown). It’s definitely confusing. I also have those red late delivery notice show up on orders that are shipping earlier than their ship by date. I give up on trying to figure that one out.

[DebraAnnmarieStudio]

Same! I always ship mine earlier than even my actual processing time (to try to combat this awful shipping estimate they're giving customers) and I'll still get the red late delivery notice and I'm like uhhh I'm shipping it well ahead of schedule? 

It's frustrating when customers see that they could receive their order ONE day after we ship the order out which is impossible unless they live in the same neighborhood or purchased Priority Express. But instead, they're seeing this for every shipping method as the start number.

That does nothing but cause headaches for sellers because Etsy is too lazy to change the Ground Advantage to 2-5 business days and Priority Mail to 1-3 business days. I've had customers not upgrade their shipping because it shows the SAME start date for both shipping methods so why would they? But they expect it in the earlier timeframe.

Not looking forward to the holiday season when people are purchasing gifts and expecting them much earlier than they should be because the estimated delivery date is so broken.