I have the same problem. I opened my first Etsy shop, iMergination nine years ago, and my other, Crozroadz, eight years ago. My first sales on Etsy were to friends, neighbors and fellow teachers—all due to my ‘grass roots/word of mouth’ advertising. I would hand deliver their purchase(s), pick up my check/cash (if they had chosen ‘other’ for payment) and mark the sale ‘completed’. Sadly, these buyers no longer have the ‘cash’ purchase option and I MUST provide a ship-tracking number to be considered a Star Seller.
I have retained those customers (acquired more like them due to participation in the local Artisans’ Showcase) and continue my ‘local’ service with a BIG adjustment. Now, these customers PM me what they want to buy—I ‘deactivate’ the item(s) and within 24 hours the sale has been wrapped, delivered and paid for. The SAD part for my customers—now,they can only pay cash/check, The SAD part for Etsy—no commission; the SAD part for me-- I don’t get the reviews and have to keep a separate financial accounting ledger for my ‘other’ sales. Just five days ago, I had to use this adjusted process on seven items totaling $469—all for the same woman who was my VERY first customer nine years ago and a regular ever since.
In the Financial Settings section of our stores, Etsy notes that the more methods of payment available to buyers, the more sales there are for sellers. Yet, they have eliminated an option so important for those of us with local customers. AND, they have not bothered to add a ‘hand delivered’ option for those of us who have a ‘local’ sales base/participate in local art shows.
I know Etsy, or any company, needs to have criteria to maintain quality of products offered and service rendered (those 'hoops'), but they need to expand to include ALL the ways we sellers can get buyers--global, national AND local-- and keep them happily coming back to our shops.
