Unable to edit listings- "Shipping profile shipping service is set to Other"

[#1]

I'm unable to save changes to any of my listings. I keep getting the error message "Shipping profile shipping service is set to Other". I've had my shipping profiles set up the same way for years and haven't made any changes recently.

I need to use the "other" option to set my own timelines for international packages- Etsy's dates for First Class International tend to drastically underestimate transit time. It seems like the only way to edit any of my listings is to change my shipping profiles. Is anyone else having this problem? Any idea if it's a bug or intended behavior?

[cindylouwho2]

@millyandpip "the answer they received was "We don't know yet, it's too early in the update to understand what this means for sellers" - Sadly, this is typical Etsy. They've crunched numbers and decided that since most sales don't include "Other" as the shipping method, they can just get rid of it. They don't have a clue how many are using it because we actually use other carriers or methods, and their systems can't figure out how bad the estimates are for some untracked services, so they'll penalize all that use them. If this kills your shop or my shop, they simply do not care.

"Keep commerce human", indeed.

[OneEyeCatStudio]

Etsy has always been and likely always will be of a "shoot first and ask questions later" mentality.

[ArtTeaLife]

ohhh jeepers and this is typical !argh. Thx tho for posting / going to effort to find answer , etc. I appreciate it !

[TickleYourWitch]

If you think like a buyer, most probably do want clarity around which carrier is shipping their order and how fast it is going to get there. Some sellers are not good at this. I've had parcels take an absurd amount of time to arrive for no discernible reason other than the seller's BS about when they shipped or how they shipped it.

I use calculated shipping and have never used Other. The time estimates provided by the carriers have been reasonably accurate and I rarely get inquiries about where is my package.

I can see how furniture shippers and the like have special needs and that would be frustrating. Hopefully they'll add more carrier options as @cindylouwho2 said.

Etsy is doing everything they can right now to attract and retain customers. 

At least you can see SOME logic behind this decision, unlike some of the other "improvements."

It's probably the same reason they continue to push tracking and have the cheaper tracked option Can-US now. Lots of us were shipping small packet.

I think we should expect further blows to our shop autonomy as they try to turn the ship around. Customers will be the priority, not sellers. 

[cindylouwho2]

@TickleYourWitch Etsy doesn't even list the cheap UPS category I use for the US, which ships faster than CP tracked packet to the US. They list only one UPS option from Canada. 

Etsy doesn't list most of the good tracked options from Royal Mail, yet requires the sellers to use tracking in some situations. UK is the second largest Etsy country. 

There is no logic in doing this now, when Etsy's shipping programming is completely inadequate. 

[TickleYourWitch]

@cindylouwho2 

But that's a seller's viewpoint. Their logic is that streamlining carriers, having predictable timelines, and overall creating a more homogeneous experience will be attractive to buyers. They're probably also looking to make things easier to deal with on their end. Cheap, fast tracked shipping will be rewarded. Some of us will be at a disadvantage, I agree, but am not surprised.

I can see the reasoning in their approach even if I don't like it as a seller or agree it will have the outcome they want. Their capacity to deliver on their intended outcomes is often lacking. Lol

[cindylouwho2]

@TickleYourWitch "Cheap, fast shipping will be rewarded." - except that they aren't offering us those options so they can reward them. They are removing our ability to use cheap & fast, such as the UPS 5-day delivery to the US, which sometimes arrives in 4 days and also delivers Saturday. I don't offer Xpresspost to the US anymore, as UPS is more reliable at just over 1/3 of the price. I ship several packages with that option weekly, between here & my website. (On my way to UPS today, in fact)

They also don't offer any DHL or FedEx options, which are used by Canadian shops with expensive items that ship worldwide. I have local friends regularly using these services; I almost set up a DHL acct myself before I got a commercial account with CP. 

And over the years, I have found the small packet estimates for the UK and Australia in particular to be woefully inadequate. You don't ship to those countries, so you don't understand the issues that "Other" can solve. In the last 3 months, 12% of my Etsy sales have been to places other than Canada and the US. They are removing my ability to ship with accurate times on 1/8th of my sales. 

Etsy can simply tank shops with long delivery times in search if that's what they want to enforce. Same result, except for not penalizing the sellers who aren't doing anything wrong. 

[SmallthingsbyAmanda]

“I use calculated shipping and have never used Other.” only US and possibly Canada have calculated shipping the rest of us can not use it. I some times have to go from postal service to other providers for large orders  I sell items where some buyers buy 5-10 others 100-200 and so size and weight varies massively. Its clear in my listing what i do so buyers know what to expect. Then the biggest problem etsy says sending RM 2nd class will take 1-3 days no it wont or not often anyway 2-4 days possibly often longer I received an item today sent 7 days ago. Most of the companies available in UK are not an option one of the ones that is is so bad a lot of people wont buy from sellers who use that company. As a buyer I want my items sent at a reasonable price by a company who will deliver in a good time but I want to know when buying realistically how long delivery will take not what in might possibly be if everything works 100% perfect and RM are having a good day with no staff shortage  no bad weather or any of there delivery vans breaking down. There are so many reasons this just doesn't work for sellers and is not giving buyers the best service. 

[millyandpip]

@TickleYourWitch Calculated shipping is not available in the UK and Etsy's timescales which their have quoted for the majority of Royal Mail services (our main delivery provider in the UK) are far too short, which is the reason why lots of sellers use 'other'.

For example, I send Royal Mail 1st class, Etsy states that 1st class will be delivered in 1 day. This is very optimistic and this is not just an opinion, this is fact. So much so that Royal Mail are currently being investigated by Ofcom because currently only 70% of 1st class mail is delivered in 1 day.  So to manage customer expectations, I used 'other' so that I could state that delivery will take 1-3 days. 

Etsy also haven't included all the services which Royal Mail provide and they haven't included loads of other delivery providers either.  

Etsy have stated "We're asking for an update from your previous choice of "Other" to help give buyers more accurate delivery dates. This won't change your dispatch-by-dates, and could mean more sales for you!" 

We are effectively being forced to choose delivery options which we don't even use and we're being forced to advertise delivery timescales which are unrealistic. I'm at a loss at how this helps to give buyers more accurate delivery dates.

[OpalKobus]

As per cindylouwho2

At a guess, I'd say that many of UK sellers who ship to the USA and Canada, (and probably ROW) wil be using OTHER as their shipping option so that they can provide the most accurate delivery time expectations  possible.  Royal Mail's estimate is 3-7 days.  I'd say maybe 1 in 10 of my parcels get there in a week and most in between 1-2 weeks (outside of the holiday season)  

I use Royal Mail tracked (rather than tracked and signed) in general. That's not even an option on Etsy's drop down list.   However I have found the following quote in the Etsy guide:

I don't see the shipping service I want to use 

If you don’t see your preferred shipping service when setting up or editing a shipping profile, choose another option that has a similar transit time. Choosing a specific service results in more accurate delivery dates for your buyers, without any change to how you work.

So hence I guess I'll use a different option from their menu and send it with a method that isn't accurate because that's what Etsy would prefer... 

I struggle to see where the customer benefit comes from.

Do i really care what shipper is used when I place an order? No, not really, I just care when it will arrive tbh. (an accurate estimate)

By shortening expected delivery times, all I can see happening is more refunds by Etsy due to parcels not being delivered on 'time'  Surely making it easier for scammers to claim both a parcel and a refund?

[digitaldoodlebug]

Except they're still wrong. Never added ground advantage so whatever option I choose is not right. Ground advantage has also been having a few issues and goes past 5 days before the holiday season even. 

But hey, they'll be the ones paying out for late deliveries since we can no longer buffer times. 

[animalartbyjess]

@opalkobus

Yep, the 3-7 days timescale for RM International is wildly inaccurate. 3-5 days was just about feasible to EU countries before Brexit, but nowadays you can't send to anywhere in the world in less than 5 days, tracked or not (tracked isn't any quicker). 7-14 days is more reasonable and what I have set under "Other". Before I changed it from RM I was spending half my time dealing with messages from US customers asking where their items were.

[MaddyVintageHostess]

I have longer deliver times due to Royal Mail strikes in the past , they are still very slow to deliver and certain countries  where custom  depots that take  ages to push parcels onward ie Rep. Of Ireland. One order has taken a month and still not delivered despite the correct documents. How will Etsy account for those problems.  They are simply going to make sellers responsible for this as far as l can tell.

[RiversEdgeRelics]

@TickleYourWitch 

"Their logic is that streamlining carriers, having predictable timelines, and overall creating a more homogeneous experience will be attractive to buyers." ?

There is no such thing as "predictable timelines."

Etsy is issuing full refunds 1-day after the "estimated" date of delivery.

USPS Priority Mail comes with no guarantee but Etsy now expects sellers to provide one?

[PaintedHouseCraft]

I ship furniture, large and heavy. I use various shippers depending on destination and their availability.

All my listings are set with profiles with fixed shipping cost (Other option). What do I do if Etsy would not let me list new items with this option? 

Is it the end of my shop? 

[AmberBethany]

don't end your shop! see my comment below on what I plan to do. I also know a few other furniture dealers that deliver the good themselves and what they do is put royal mail shipping as the option, but arrange delivery directly with the customer and they send an invoice via royal mail through Etsy - so Etsy get the tracking they want and are happy that the item has been shipped. you could try this too. 

[cindylouwho2]

@PaintedHouseCraft from some of the Support responses, it appears Etsy may only be doing this with some sellers who ship most of their orders via carriers Etsy recognizes in their coding. If so, you would be safe for now. 

[RiversEdgeRelics]

@PaintedHouseCraft 

I too ship large, heavy pieces and have always chosen "Other". Doing so builds in a delivery delay cushion.

Etsy is doing away with "Other" -

"We’ve added some new shipping services and will need an update from your previous choice of “Other.”

When you choose a specific service you can be confident buyers will see more accurate delivery dates, without any change to how you work. Don’t see your service? Choose an option that has a similar transit time."

There are no reliable transit times and if the package arrives 1-day late, the buyer gets a full refund.

Etsy has gone off the rails.

[thewoollydog]

After giving feedback in a questionnaire about shipping on why I wasn't using etsy for posting... I thought something bad was on the way. I explained that they have absolutely no idea how Royal Mail works in the UK and the reasons why I use it. Since the start of the free giveaway to customers claiming non delivery started, I still use Royal Mail, but tick 'other' to cover myself and write in the descriptions that I use Royal Mail. I think etsy want UK sellers to use Royal Mail through etsy, but because of the 'free giveaway' (due to another un thought through idea) it isn't going to work for me or a lot of people, I might as well just add 'free' to all my items...f that.    

[AmberBethany]

I'm in the UK, I have the up to date app and always use my desktop computer to list. I'm having the same exact issue. not able to create new listings with existing shipping profiles or edit existing listings. Etsy are definitely changes things and not telling people anything! I sell larger items which require a courier service so I select the option 'other' as the delivery service I use isn't available on the drop down. I first spoke to Etsy support on live chat and they couldn't confirm if it was a glitch or something that could have changed and they hadn't been informed about. The next day I requested a call back and was told they had no idea why this was happening and was going to escalate to the technical team 48 hours later no one had got back to me so I requested another call back and it was confirmed to me that this is new thing that Etsy are doing. I haven't yet worked out what I will do but was assured by 'Bryan' from etsy support that if i choose a different option such as royal mail but send with a different carrier, as long as tracking is added when the item is dispatched I shouldn't get any problems from Esty or backlash. So I plan to make it clear in my listing description that the item will be sent with a courier and tracking will be provided to them directly. very frustrating! just when I thought things couldn't be anymore annoying I checked my star seller rating today and it has plummeted as apparently i havn't added tracking to 7 orders - coincidence?  im sure this is all linked i have contacted them AGAIN and confirmed that they all do have tracking apart from 1 order because the buyer wanted to have the item dispatched way after etsy would let me move the dispatch time to and i couldn't update tracking after. Why are they changing so many things! if things are fine then why try to change them! my sales have also plummeted due to not being able to list for over a week because of the issue   

[MyOrganisedHome]

@AmberBethany  Hmm…. Cynical Tin-Foil-Hat time…

Idly wondering here, but… if you select Royal Mail as your delivery service, but then enter the tracking number for a different courier, are the two going to marry up? Etsy are clearly up to something with regards to shipping and tracking so I’d be wary of believing Support claims that this really won’t make any difference whatsoever. Etsy have been known to backtrack on assurances in the past. If you ended up in the dreaded Payment Reserve would Etsy deem that your orders had been shipped without tracking? Also, Etsy seem to believe that Royal Mail can deliver within 1-4 days (ha!) so could a customer potentially open a case for non-delivery if you’ve had to wait a day or so for collection of a large item by a specialist courier? I guess you’d have to delay marking orders as shipped, but again this opens you up to someone wanting to cancel between marked-as-shipped and actually-shipped.

Etsy is increasingly turning to AI auto-refund bots, so it’s wise to be wary of anything that may be outside of their expected norms. Your suggestion upthread about sending some paperwork via RM to satisfy the tracking component from the list of displayed shippers may work, but again this could leave you open to a Not As Described  claim by an unscrupulous customer.

May be worth looking into other selling platforms, or even your own website if you don’t already have that?

Between this new shipping fiasco and the $250 seller protection limit I really do feel for sellers of furniture and large or expensive goods on this site.

[cindylouwho2]

@AmberBethany "I haven't yet worked out what I will do but was assured by 'Bryan' from etsy support that if i choose a different option such as royal mail but send with a different carrier, as long as tracking is added when the item is dispatched I shouldn't get any problems from Esty or backlash." - I can see doing that if you are using one of the Royal Mail services that Etsy does not code for, but I suspect that could cause significant problems otherwise, since Etsy struggles to identify the correct tracking at the best of times. 

[CappuccinoLace]

@cindylouwho2  but regardless of who you select on the listing, when you go to enter tracking, you have to select a provider. it's not like it's auto filled from your shipping profile.

I've not read all the thread, but wonder whether Other has been removed the tracking pop up (as I don't see how they can).

[cindylouwho2]

@CappuccinoLace True. At a bare minimum, I'd make sure that service is on that provider list. For various reasons, I do not trust Etsy to get this right anyway LOL

I can't test this, as I can still use Other, for some reason. 

[InkwellThreadsShop]

I'm having this problem in one of my shops, but not the other, so far. And the shop I am having the problem in is POD linked up to Printify. I use the automatic shipping profile option for all of my products. So the "other" that Etsy is wanting to change is coming from Printify's shipping profiles they are automatically assigning to my products. I just spent 20 mins or so with a Printify Chat agent. They chickened out when I sent them the link to this thread, saying, "I'm sorry, that shouldn't happen!" and they sent me a bunch of links to report a problem with my order. I don't have any orders! I'm trying to fix the shipping profiles! Agh!