Star Seller

[ChickadeeTextiles]

I have achieved all benchmarks for star seller status except providing tracking for 95% of orders. When I did an Etsy support chat the representative said the tracking criteria isn’t necessary for shops outside the USA. Is that true? If so I would like my badge. My location does not give the option to mail with Etsy partners and most of my shipping is through letter mail and doesn’t have tracking. It’s unreasonable for me to pay 4x the amount on shipping for a tracking number. I also hand deliver some items. 

[SoigneTreasures]

According to the handbook "Orders of a certain value will need to have tracking or a postage label purchased on Etsy. The requirement values are based on currency. 

GBP	£10 and above
EUR	€10 and above
CAD	$15 and above
AUD	$15 and above
All other currencies (inclusive of USD)	Tracking or a postage label purchased on Etsy required for all orders.

[JustMeToo]

@ChickadeeTextiles   It is NOT true what that person told you. You were speaking to someone in customer service who doesn't know what they're talking about.  I use tracking for every destination EXCEPT Canada, and I don't have that star because of it.  Tracking rates in Canada were not even considered when the star seller program was launched.  I will NEVER have the shipping one because, like you, I'm not paying for exorbitant tracking on small items shipping within Canada.  It's fine selling to the U.S. because with the discount we get at the Post Office, tracking is nearly the same price as NO tracking, so I do use it there.  Try not to worry so much about the star seller program.  Buyers don't even notice it most of the time.  Great products, great customer service, and great reviews are what count.  Having just the two stars has never hurt my sales.

[PlatypusDream]

"an Etsy support chat the representative said the tracking criteria isn’t necessary for shops outside the USA."

For orders valued under a certain dollar amount (varies by country).

Without tracking for all orders over that amount, you'll never get the shipping badge.

I've never had the Star because I live in Canada (same as you) and it is IMPOSSIBLE to ship all orders with tracking. My items aren't expensive enough to soak the cost, and buyers won't pay $20 to ship a $6 item.

I ship with letter mail via Canada Post... so my shop is complete shut right now.

I have come to peace with the fact that the Star Seller program is heavily biased towards the USA and certain products.

Shrug.

[JustMeToo]

@PlatypusDream   I completely agree with everything you said.  I have the same experience.  The Postal strike that's going on also wasn't considered when the $5.00 discount was just launched.  Terrible timing so we can't take advantage of it. Canadians are often forgotten by etsy.

[BagmakerSupply]

@ChickadeeTextiles; The answer depends on your country and currency. Have you read https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/4403058372503-How-to-Become-a-Star-Seller?segment=selling particularly "On-time shipping & tracking" ?

Hand delivered will always affect Star Seller negatively https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000338067-How-to-Offer-Local-Pickup-or-Delivery?segment=s...

[SoigneTreasures]

Just my thought on Star Seller. My shop has had this for a couple of years. I am in the UK so all my overseas parcels are tracked, local ones I send via Royal Mail Tracked 48 which is inexpensive. My daughter's shop does not have star seller, as she is very busy in her "other" life and dips in and out of selling. This last month she has outstripped me for sales. We both have good reviews and take pride in our customer service and the quality of the items that we list. I know this is only a sample of 2 shops, but I think it shows customers are not really bothered about Star Seller

[leinweberstudio]

Just so you know, there are requirements beside the selling and service metrics to get SS badge, and I see some stuff in your shop that could prevent you from getting the badge in the future unless changes are made.

I recommend you read ALL the fine print re SS requirements.

[CeremonyCord]

My daughter was disappointed this month. She met all the criteria for the Star Seller badge, except for one issue related to a package she sent in September. She shipped the order on time, and it was delivered to the customer, who even left a 5-star review on her shop. However, Etsy’s system still shows the package as "in transit."

According to DHL’s tracking system, the package was successfully delivered. Etsy acknowledged the issue and informed her that the update could take 24 hours or more, but there has been no change, and they are no longer responding to her messages.

I’m wondering, will Etsy still grant her the Star Seller badge for this month?

[PrimFun]

@CeremonyCord   The month of September is still important for December.  It will drop off for January.

[BagmakerSupply]

@CeremonyCord: "However, Etsy’s system still shows the package as "in transit."" The Star Seller metric for shipping does not consider whether or not a package has been delivered. What counts is that the order 1) was shipped and marked as complete on time, 2) was shipped with verifiable tracking where required, and 3) has a processing time.

Your daughter needs to check the applicable CSV file on your Customer Service (Star Seller) page (previous review period for December 1st star) to see what Etsy thinks is late or otherwise has something wrong with it. In particular make sure that *Had processing time?* = yes, *Ship by* has a date, *Tracking/label date* has a date, and *Shipped on time?* = yes. Remember that Star Seller dates / times are in UTC not your time zone.

[PrimFun]

@ChickadeeTextiles   Under $15 (CAD) can be sent without tracking.  Anything over needs tracking.

Reaching star seller is not for buyers,  It is demonstrating to Etsy that you are willing to exceed their minimum standards for having a shop on Etsy. Etsy wants to see a shop working towards such.  They know there are reasons a shop cannot attain everything but they want to see a demonstrable effort to do so. 

[JustMeToo]

@PrimFun   "They know there are reasons a shop cannot attain everything but they want to see a demonstrable effort to do so.  Etsy could try that for themselves, concerning customer service, especially!

[tildeathstudios]

JustMeToo, Well said! I waited a WEEK for a response to my email to CS & have been cut off from Chat in the past. Practice what you preach, Etsy!