soonest time a review can be left?

[Sassydoggs]

Has there been a change on how soon a review can be posted after an item has been shipped?  It used to be that a review could not be left before the estimated delivery date estimate. If a negative review about non-delivery is left on a Sunday, 2 days after purchase of an item, it seems to me there is a problem with the system that allows this.  In the past, I have been denied the ability to leave a review when I received an item very quickly, sooner than estimated delivery.

[CraftyCornishMaids]

you have min delivery estimate of 2 days from dispatch, so that should be when they can leave a review - etsy uses utc

did you buy the labels earlier than you actually dispatched, so it was marked as dsipatched sooner than it was?

from etsy..........

For example: If the processing time for an item you purchased is 3-5 days, and the transit time for the shipping method you chose is usually 2-4 days, your estimated delivery date is 5-9 days from today.

If the seller completes the order earlier than the expected ship date, the estimated delivery date will be recalculated accordingly.

[Sassydoggs]

So if shipping for my shop is stated as 3 - 5 days, than it appears that a review can not be left before 3 days except if it was received?  What about time zones, since I am in a Pacific USA time zone, and a package shipped on Friday can technically allow a buyer to leave a review on Sunday?

[CraftyCornishMaids]

@Sassydoggs 

this is what I see on one of your listings

05 Dec.
Order placed

06-08 Dec.
Order dispatches

08-14 Dec.
Delivered!

If you dispatched on 6th, they could leave a review on 8th
if you bought a label on 5th and it marked it as dispatched on 5th, they could leave a review on 7th

etsy uses utc time

[GlassyFields]

I hope being able to leave a review sooner than the item is expected is not another Etsy test.

And to clarify the various dates in the process:

Dispatch date is the latest date I say I'll put the package in the mail.

Estimated delivery date is the date of the actual date I put the package in the mail plus the estimated time for the carrier to get it to the buyer.

It seems logical that the review window would start once the item was supposed to be in the buyer's hands.

If I buy the label sooner - that moves the dispatch date to the date I purchased the label which causes the estimated delivery date to be sooner. I buy my labels when I am packaging the item ... the day of and sometimes the night before I put them in the mail but never sooner than that.

I've never been able to leave a review until the estimated delivery date. Sometimes, especially with international orders where presumably packages spend some time in customs, I get the Etsy's prompts to leave a review.

[Sassydoggs]

@GlassyFields  I have never been able to leave a review early before the expected delivery date, so this is why I ask.  I do not print my labels until right before a package or box is shipped, so I ship the same day as labels are printed. 

[GlassyFields]

@Sassydoggs 

I really hope that a review received sooner than the expected delivery date is a fluke.

But I would encourage you to contact Etsy regarding reviews left earlier than the expected delivery date.

[JMOldeVintage]

@Sassydoggs  - I looked at your vintage wood owl puzzle - it states you will ship between Dec. 6th thru the 8th. So your processing time is 1-3 days?

However, the estimated delivery dates shown are Dec. 8th thru Dec. 15th. I'm in Florida, you're in California, so I seriously doubt it would get here on the 8th, even if you mailed it today.
I am not shown any upgrades for shipping (me, the buyer, being able to select express mail). I'm guessing you are using USPS & this would probably have to go Priority?

If you're using calculated shipping, obviously you have no control over what estimated delivery dates are shown to buyers. 
If you're using a fixed price for shipping but show USPS as the carrier, the estimated USPS dates must still be included?
And if you choose "other" as the carrier (which Etsy seems to be frowning on lately) I honestly don't know what I'd be shown.

In the past I've never been able to leave a review on a domestic purchase until the package scanned delivered - or - the last estimated delivery date has passed.
I have had the review window pop open "early" on international purchases, but I ignore, since everyone fails to remember that Customs is involved & they can move at the pace of molasses. 

[Sassydoggs]

@JMOldeVintageThis is what I have understood.  I know that Etsy has extended the time out several months now to leave a product review, but I am wondering if they now allow reviews within 2 days and are not considering how far a package travels, or if they are starting to count Sundays as delivery days when estimating  delivery.  I do not ship international, and I use USPS calculated and Etsy labels with tracking only.

[JMOldeVintage]

@Sassydoggs - Calculated shipping is wonderful for shops selling vintage items. The only downfall is that the shipping usually tied to USPS & their at times cheery estimated delivery dates.

But the review window opening to domestic buyers based on the first possible date a package may be received?
Your last processing date is the first day I'm shown as an estimated delivery date. That is bad enough for buyers with unrealistic expectations. IMO it's also a slap at shop owners who take the time to inspect the item before shipping, package carefully, etc.
But to allow buyers to leave a review based on these estimates would be over the top. I'm hoping this is a glitch. 

[ArtDollsbyJD]

@Sassydoggs  The minute the tracking number says delivered, the review window can open.  I have seen a delay of a day or two but seldom any longer.  

[Sassydoggs]

@JMOldeVintageThis is a real problem!  My processing is 1 -3 days because it is good customer service to ship promptly, and buyers have those expectations for same or next day shipping, but if my shipping dates show as 2 days from purchase for a delivery date, that is what a customer is going to expect, to receive in an order within 2 days.  That is unrealistic during December with clogged systems due to any number of reasons.

[CraftyCornishMaids]

you can change the estimated delivery days

in your shipping profile, choose "other" and you can put in up to 10 weeks

[ArtDollsbyJD]

@Sassydoggs  The tracking saying delivered opens the review window for the US.  This is not like other countries.  

IF tracking is not used then the formula comes into play.

I have used 1 to 3 days with no issue with priority even when there are delays.  I use 2 to 4 now but ship earlier and still no issues even if the packlages experience mild delays.

USPS is generally very good and within the time frames given.  There will always be issues with weahter and such which can be easily handled by sending an email to the buyer to discuss a delay.  I have done so in the past and most buyers are appreciative and will work with me.

I don't believe in extending time frames in the US if not needed.  Countries outside the US face different issues than we do internally.     

[Sassydoggs]

@GlassyFields I agree, I do not think putting a bandage on a problem by extending out processing times by days or weeks is an answer.  I am concerned about the scams that are now popping up with buyers claiming non delivery 2 or 3 days after an order is shipped out the same or next day that said item is purchased.  I see that there are numerous issues with sellers having funds removed from their accounts for items they have shipped and buyers claiming non receipt.

[Sassydoggs]

@ArtDollsbyJD  I don't think that has always been the case.  I have received several orders in the past that arrived very quickly, and I had to wait a week or more to leave my review.  But then I do not order a lot on Etsy, so that was probably a while back that I could not leave a review when the order was delivered.

[CraftyCornishMaids]

etsy has never said the item has to be delivered, before a review is left,
they have to have some method of calculating , as many people don't buy tracked postage

[Sassydoggs]

@ArtDollsbyJDI agree, that USPS is very good, and up until  recently there has never been an issue.  I also do not believe in extending shipping times if not needed.  I was just trying to find out if things have changed recently regarding leaving reviews, especially negative for non receipt.

[JMOldeVintage]

@CraftyCornishMaids  - My personal experience has been that the review window does not open until after the package scanned delivered - or - until after the last date shown for 'estimated delivery'.
This is for my orders from other US shops. All of my orders from US shops have been sent via USPS. 
I don't know if all those shop owners used calculated shipping or not. The delivery windows I'm shown are usually rosy to realistic.

And as mentioned, calculated shipping is tied to USPS here in the US. The shop owner gets the perk of not going nutso when they sell a wide variety of items, which many vintage shop owners do. So picking "other" isn't an option unless they want to be setting their own shipping rates. Which gets more complex based on size & weight of package, where a possible buyer may be located.  

[CraftyCornishMaids]

calculated shipping would be great for all of us, it's always a guess for more than 1 item,

it would be great to have the choice,

At least USA sellers do have a choice, 

.... bottom line - it's the sellers choice what they do, the USA has extra choices from most of us

[Sassydoggs]

@JMOldeVintageAgain, your answer has been my experience as well.  I am asking only about USPS etsy calculated and shipping profile labels for items sent within the US system through USPS, not international shipments or shipments through other providers.  I am trying to get clarification about whether an item shipped on a Thursday/Friday, same day as  payment was made is given a Sunday estimated delivery date.  Is Etsy now considering weekend days as part of the 1 to 3 days?  I thought weekends were not counted in the shipping days?

[JMOldeVintage]

@Sassydoggs  - When purchasing I have never seen a Sunday date as an estimated date of delivery. 
USPS probably does include weekends in their estimated times since if I mailed a package on a Friday, it would make its way to Jacksonville on Friday but more likely Saturday. Then it would be sorted & I'll guess stuffed into an airplane or truck but that could be on a Sunday. 

As for processing times, I thought Etsy did not count weekends. So on a 1-3 day processing time for an order placed late Friday, Dec. 9th, the ship by dates should be Dec. 12th thru the 14th. I'd certainly hope that Etsy uses the processing times plus USPS' current estimated delivery times to calculate & display the estimated delivery dates.

Though I have seen a few threads where shop owners 'lose' a day if they are on the west coast. So there can be oddities not being in Etsy's time zone. (Or how Etsy utilizes UTC)

[Sassydoggs]

@CraftyCornishMaidsI really was looking for a simple answer about what dates/days are included in the shipping and delivery estimates. Perhaps my communication skills are lacking. I did not want to spend all day on this for an answer that should be simple.  I have not had problems in my previous 14 years as an Etsy seller, and I do not think I am so dense as to not understand why shipping estimates includes non business days. It seems like these days everybody wants to divert or muddy the issue.  I just get the run-around, and passing the buck when I should get a straight answer.  I can understand why you are frustrated by not having the same choices as USA sellers.  My question was  not asking for advice about my listing or shipping choices. I just want to know how it is possible for a buyer to leave a review 2 days after I ship an order Priority/First class  (not expedited or overnight), When that order is shipped on a weekend, why is it that those weekend days are being counted the same as business days.  Maybe I should just take my question to the post office customer service, but I suspect I will not get a clear answer from them either.

[CraftyCornishMaids]

I replied before......

this is what I see on one of your listings

05 Dec.
Order placed

06-08 Dec.
Order dispatches

08-14 Dec.
Delivered!

If you dispatched on 6th, they could leave a review on 8th
if you bought a label on 5th and it marked it as dispatched on 5th, they could leave a review on 7th

etsy uses utc time

.....

So, what days were the actual days you bought the labels, and the days the reviews were left,  in UTC times?

[BagmakerSupply · Accepted solution]

@Sassydoggs: Not really am answer, but we have noticed that there is an issue with how Etsy calculates the scheduled ship by date (and this probably affects the estimated delivery date) - the root cause seems to be the conversions between time zones and, in our case at least, seems to mostly affect orders placed late in the day particularly on weekends. It could be that for Etsy the estimated delivery date was on Monday but by the time it was converted to your time zone it became Sunday.