international shipping from UK

[TheWhistlePress]

I'm having issues with international shipping from the UK. Lately, customers seem to be expecting unrealistic delivery times and I think I've worked out why.

Why when I set my delivery profiles does it say 'Royal Mail international Standard 3- 7 business days? Royal Mail has always stated 5-7 business days.

To then make the matter worse- when I go to dispatch an order and chose a label, it says it may arrive and states 'Royal Mail international Standard 5 - 12 business days?

someone please help, the help chat has been useless lately unfortunately and just advise I update the dispatch date. I'm dispatching something early, not late.

[ReginaldSpleen]

I don't use Etsy labels, so this may not be possible for you.

But I use 'Other', rather than selecting Royal Mail 1st Class, etc. I can then enter my own, more realistic, delivery estimate.

[TheWhistlePress]

Thank you, I do also have mine set to other but I do then purchase labels through Etsy for the ease and speed. I may look for an alternative though. I think what’s caused todays issue is when I go to purchase a label it’s stating delivery 5-12 days working days in the label generatorpart

[ElsieLaviniaEclectic]

I set it to 'other' and input my own dates. I use 5-20 working days. I had a lot of issues with mainly US customers who were annoyed when their items didn't turn up within Etsy's ridiculous 'estimate' times. They'd open cases and get refunds even after I would politely explain that these times were just estimates. 

Since switching, I haven't had a case opened yet

[TheWhistlePress]

Thank you for replying

I do use other too but then I use Etsy labels. Do you not use labels directly from Etsy then? 

[CuriosAnCollectibles]

I use "other" too, I push the dates out as far as possible, this probably costs me sales but it prevents unrealistic delivery times and anxious customer.

The majority are very happy when their package arrives much earlier than anticipated. 

[TheWhistlePress]

Thank you, I do also have my settings to other and have 5-10 days set. I do then purchase labels through Etsy though. It’s weird because in the label generatorpart it’s now saying international delivery is 5-10 working days. Who knows! I wonder if Etsy have just updated it because of international delays. I’ve experienced a few lately and just seen on the RM site in the bulletin it says there are known delays currently 

[WantableDesigns]

It may not be suitable for all your items but I've recently switched to Transglobal Express for USA orders. I live in a free collection area and most of my items are large letter size under 100g but I can send something for around £4.35, fully tracked and insured and it gets there in about 5 working days.

RM with tracking is more than twice the price and takes 2-3 times longer.

[TheWhistlePress]

Thank you for replying and for letting me know about trans global. I’ll look them up. I did switch to other couriers during the so called  ‘cyber attack’ so maybe I’ll look into it for a longer term solution. Thank you  

[CraftyCornishMaids]

@TheWhistlePress 

I also put "other" as the carrier, in my shipping profile, then you can put in delivery days of up to 45 working days, which is 9 weeks,

I have 9- 24 days at the moment for USA, and not a single peep from any customer, about where there items are

[CappuccinoLace]

RM state International standard is 3-5 for Europe and 6-7 Worldwide, so etsy puts 3-7 which is a reasonable based on what RM says. 

As above, use Other and pick your own.

[TheWhistlePress]

For me, stating from 3 days to US is not reasonable at all. I do use other within my shipping profiles but then use label through Etsy. I’ve just noticed today though that oddly when you purchase a label Etsy now are saying 5-12 days when you purchase a label through them 

[CappuccinoLace]

The trouble with etsy is it can't define mail class with a country.

So you put International Standard, it has to cover that you can select it for any country, and saying 6-7 for EU would be wrong based on what RM says.

It's basically a ignore pretty much everything etsy says, and define it yourself for an easier life.

[CraftyCornishMaids]

@TheWhistlePress 

Etsy is meant to pick up most up-to-date delivery days from Royal mail, and since the cyber attack, they have definitely been taking longer, so Royal Mail may be giving etsy more accurate info, but I think 12 days is still too short, as that would be when they can open a case

[Former_Member]

I find it quicker to buy direct from the Royal Mail website.

Plus, there are more shipping options available than Etsy labels have.

Often, sending just tracked (as opposed to Tracked & Signed) is far less expensive, but this isn't a service you can buy via Etsy.