Star Seller Calculates All Local Deliveries as Never Delivered

[CasaraModernShop]

This is probably the third month now that my shop has lost the Star Seller badge because of local deliveries. I am personally delivering to my local customers as it is cheaper for me than paying someone and I can give them the best service possible. When these orders go out, I mark them as shipped via local delivery and select the option that there is no tracking because it is a local delivery. The orders are marked complete before the required ship by date and it reflects that on my "Completed" tab in my order history. However, I am not getting Star Seller because of "orders missing tracking info" and when I export Shipping Stats via the Star Seller page, it shows these orders as "Shipped on time? - no". But, again, as stated earlier, they are showing as completed before the required ship by dates.

I can get around this issue entirely by providing a fake tracking number instead of marking it as local delivery, but that seems like the wrong way to deal with this. 

[CappuccinoLace · Accepted solution]

"What if I offer local pick-up or delivery for my items?

At this time, orders that don't have tracking because they are delivered or picked up in person will be considered dispatched without tracking, and will not meet the Star Seller criteria for dispatch. "

https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-gb/articles/4403058372503-How-to-Become-a-Star-Seller?segment=selling

[CasaraModernShop]

Thank you for this. I looked for something along this lines first and couldn't find anything.

Guess its time for me to establish my own shipping company and an algorithm to create my tracking numbers!

[AaronEmingerArtist]

Please let me know where I can find this explicit language on Etsy's Star Seller criteria. Thanks!

[NanaLetha]

From the help center: 

At this time, orders that don't have tracking because they are delivered or picked up in person will be considered shipped without tracking, and will not meet the Star Seller criteria for shipping. 

[AaronEmingerArtist]

Etsy, it would be great to have the above language on the Complete Order tab as well. So when we select the option "No tracking needed" for the reason option "Local delivery," it flashes: WARNING--IF YOU CHOOSE THIS OPTION YOU COULD LOSE YOUR EXISTING STAR SELLER BADGE. With a clear unambiguous message, you'll break far fewer sellers' hearts--especially during the Christmas shopping season.

[BootifulLabels]

@AaronEmingerArtist 

Many sellers would prefer it if Etsy kept their fingers out of their businesses and let each of them run things as they see fit.  There are too many pop-ups and poorly worded warnings already.

Etsy sets the rules, it is up to sellers to keep abreast of those rules.  Star Seller is not a requirement, but an aspiration.  It is not up to Etsy to coach us in the nitty gritty, if we want the badge, we need to ensure we know and adhere to the criteria that grants it.  

Personally I prefer to carry on with my own brand of customer service, which involves putting my customers' needs at the forefront, not the spurious priorities of a flawed badge system that would actually see me disadvantage my customers.  

[anythinggoeshere]

This is a known issue that Etsy is not at this time fixing.

[AbodeDecorGifts]

This is terrible and I can only imagine how many sellers are 

[AbodeDecorGifts]

This is terrible and I can only imagine how many other people are affected by this flaw!  I can not even mark an order "Complete" if it was a local pick up.  It just looks like I never filled the order.  Etsy allows me to go as far as selecting "Local Pick Up"  but once I do that it will not let me click on "complete".  Why is this an option if you can't even click on it???  So frustrated.

[PrimFun]

@AbodeDecorGifts  Use Other and you can mark it complete.

Tracking is for your protection.  Without it no Etsy seller protection.

You are also diminishing your profits by spending your time and gas to deliver the items to the buyer.

Not to mention the possible risk of a sale going wrong if you don't know the other person.

This information is in the SSP in the shop manager.

It is not terrible at all.  I don't hand deliver to anyone I don't know.  To the few I do, I take the item off of Etsy so it avoids any issue.  These are to people I know only.  

[OrnamentBoutique · Accepted solution]

Star seller does not support in-person delivery. If you choose to deliver that way you will not be eligible for the program, Etsy states this in the star seller guides. I would not use “fake” tracking numbers, that could lead to all sorts of issues for your shop. Either ship with tracking or just accept you won’t receive star seller and carry on as normal.

[AAANativeArts]

Yes, they tell you that right in the rules for the star seller program. If you want the star seller badge, you must deliver with a method that has a valid tracking number if the price of the item is over $10.00.

[PrimFun]

Note exactly.  For star seller all US orders have to have tracking.

The $10.00 limit for without tracking is only if you are not interested in getting the badge. 

[AaronEmingerArtist]

No, they don't. The rules should explicitly state that "Star seller does not support in-person delivery. If you choose to deliver that way you will not be eligible for the program." That would be a clear warning to sellers. Etsy only says "Dispatching at least 95% of your orders on time with tracking will earn you the Smooth dispatch customer service badge." This is different from being penalized and losing Star Seller status for local delivery.

[BootifulLabels]

@AaronEmingerArtist 

Look further up this post.  @CappuccinoLace posted the actual text from the Star Seller FAQ that defines this.  

It can be found on the star seller stats page, just scroll down to the FAQ section and you will see it there.

Local pickup is not supported simply because there is no valid proof of delivery for Etsy to see.

[bradgoodell]

My local friends, family, and businesses know to shop on my website, not Etsy.  Or I invoice them.  

Local people I don't know, I ship. 

If Star Seller is important to you, find a different way to deal with local business.  

[AaronEmingerArtist]

How about taking a photo of the item as delivered on their porch? Or having the sender verify receipt via Etsy messaging? This proof is as valid as USPS showing they left an item on someone's doorstep.

[BootifulLabels]

@AaronEmingerArtist 

Etsy only recognises tracking numbers as these are backed by the shipping service and verifiable.

The Star Seller System is automated, Etsy doesn't have people checking all 8 million Etsy shops individually, the AI program just looks for a valid tracking number.  You don't have that with a local pickup and there is no way to upload your photo evidence. Even if there was, it would require a human to check it and despite Etsy's catchphrase of "Keeping Commerce Human", they actually don't.  Most functions are run by AI programs and are therefore limited.  

Your photo and signed receipt would be useful in the event of a dispute with Etsy over non-receipt, but it won't help you with Star Seller.  Fortunately Star Seller is all smoke and mirrors anyway, it has no real impact on sales or placement in search, even though Etsy would like us to think it does.

[PrimFun]

@AaronEmingerArtist   A bit late to the party but a photo is not proof.  Photos can be faked.  

[DesertChains]

Buy an Etsy letter label and send them a receipt before the ship-by date.

[BootifulLabels]

Since you are in the US, you have an inexpensive solution for this.  You can buy a letter size label from Etsy labels for under a dollar and send a thank you note to your buyer and this counts as tracking.  Those of us in other locations just have to accept that we won't be able to get a badge.  It tugs at my heart, NOT, but I can live with it.  (TIC)

[HenNChicksVintage]

I did not receive Star Seller this month because I didn't reply within 24 hours to a SELLER I bought something from, who is an Etsy friend of mine.

[BootifulLabels]

That is right.  ALL new messages require a response within 24 hrs  whether from buyers, sellers or spammers.  Either answer or mark as spam within 24 hrs.  You can setup an auto reply that lasts up to five days so that you don't miss any, or you can use a snippet with a simple thank you or other acknowledgement with just a few clicks.  The system is automated, no-one from Etsy reads your messages (and I expect there would be an uproar if they started to).  It is up to you to stay on top of this or resign yourself to not having a pretty purple badge.  

[MStatesEclectic]

I'm JUST now waking up to this local delivery issue. And may I say it's a very hard pill to swallow in DECEMBER!!!!! I see the language and now I know. It's interesting that by delivering and SAVING my customers money (they are thrilled) it makes me "look bad" - NUTS. I will take the above advice and try to get my local friends and clients to "buy direct". On the bright side, Etsy won't get a cut. Signed, Ms. Grinchy-non-star-seller-poopy-pants.