Queries, Questions, Chit Chat

[#1]

If anyone has any problems or questions then please feel free to reach out here. And I hope if anyone knows anything that would be useful then please comment.

[seasidecollectibles]

www.etsy.com/teams/21915/promos/discuss/17923603/page/1

A new Etsy Forum ~ Best Book Buys!

Let's see your book & book related items! POST Up to 5 OF Your ITEMS AND SHOW THEM OFF TO GET THEM SOLD........ HEART A FEW ABOVE YOU....... COME BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN....... ☆ º ♥ `•.¸.•´ ♥ º


Post anything to do with books - except: no pin-ups or digital, please.
☆.¸¸.•´¯`♥ Enjoy! pj

Useful hashtags to get noticed on SM:
#Vintagebooks #paperephemera #bookprints #bookends #oldbooks #giftsforher #giftsforhim #magazines #booklover #bookcollector

[OurBoudoir]

the BB blitz is called WEEKEND now

https://www.etsy.com/teams/20462/vintage-vogue/discuss/17921805

The ads are not free. They are worth doing so that you get noticed more readily, but pay attention to how much you pay for them. You can set them as low as you like, which of course means you will not be viewed so often or near the top. You can pay more and be featured on the front page, but it would rapidly erode your profit.

If you promote items that have less competition - Ciner, Trifari, Coro etc and list these tags at the beginning of the listing then you are likely to be high in the searches anyway. But you do have to be active for that, visiting activities on different teams to collect hearts and views.

Items that are attractive, but difficult to describe will do better with the ads IMHO!! as they are artificially promoted depending on how much you pay for the ad.

[HighClassHighway]

I have a dilemma - I sold a piece on June 12 and it came back to me a week ago. I immediately send an email and then again 4 days ago with no response. It was a $72 item so I had insurance and signature confirmation on it. How long do I wait for a reply before I re-list the item? Do I just refund the money now or wait? I have never had this happen before. Has anyone else encountered this? Help!
Thanks

[BrightgemsTreasures]

Did it come back via the post office as undelivered, or did the customer send it back? need more info;0) Patsy;0)

[HighClassHighway]

Since it had signature confirmation it would be taken back to the post office if no one was home to sign for it. They would leave a card for it to be picked up at the post office. It is stamped unclaimed. I asked at my post office how long they hold something that requires a signature and they said usually 15 days.

[BrightgemsTreasures]

Looks like they decided not to pick it up. I think you have waited long enough, maybe shoot off one more email, and then if you dont hear back within 72 hrs, relist it and refund the purchase price only, dont refund the shipping. Thats what i would do, maybe they moved, got sick, lots of things can happen.

Good luck, Patsy;0)

[ravished]

Needing some advise please 😉

I sent a purchase to the UK June 20th. Received it back today. It appears that there was Customs Fees to pay, so they didn't claim it. I haven't contacted the costumer yet, I thought I would see what you all suggest I do.
Thank you!

Feeling a little uneasy....
Lana

[bohemiantrading]

Hi Lana,

This has happened to me on a few occasions. It does make you feel uneasy. Why I put in my Policies no refunds for Customs Refusal.

That is really there as a deterrent, and I will then attempt to feel out the customer with a kindly worded message.

I would contact the customer, and say you received the package back, and ask if there is a problem. Possibly, the customer will not respond. But, if they do, you should refund the purchase price including shipping. I know, "bummer"!

In order to be able to cancel a transaction, you must have attempted communication with the buyer. You must also refund in full (including shipping, and no "re-stocking fee.") to be able to cancel. Canceling a transaction will remove the item from your visible "sold items" that many customers might look at before making a purchase, for whatever reason. If that transaction isn't canceled, and you re-list the item, a customer could conceivably see the item was sold, and is now available again, wondering what is "wrong" with the item. I had this happen on a bracelet once, before I knew about canceling transactions. And though I was able to explain to the customer why the return was made (since I don't generally accept returns, unless I have made an error), it caused a lack of confidence with the buyer. Something we try to avoid like the plague.

So, in short, sorry to say, if you are going to re-list the item (after all, it is in your possession), you will need to refund, whether or not you actually hear from the customer. Give them the benefit of the doubt-- one customer had a problem getting to Customs in time, and I re-sent the package (she paid again for shipping through PayPal).

This is called, "the cost of doing business."

[ravished]

Hi Lynne!

Yes BUMMER....

Especially when the Shipping was more than the actual cost of the purchase...

I will definitely be adding in my Policies No refunds for Customs Refusal.

I am also Very Grateful to know about the cancellation of a transaction. Didn't realize that was the case....

Lets just say, if they do not respond and I choose not to relist, do I have to refund anything?

Thank you~

[BrightgemsTreasures]

I need to clarify my answer to Lynn HC. I meant not to pay for the return shipping, not the original shipping. Etsy says, "buyers are obligated to pay for the return shipping". I believe in refunding the entire amount as long as the item returned is in the same condition as when I shipped it, if its been damaged, then we would have a problem? I think we need to evaluate each situation, as all are different, but in general, I do refund the purchase price including original shipping, no matter the reason. Patsy;0)

[bohemiantrading]

Lana, as a good customer service practice, I would at least contact the customer to give them the benefit of the doubt. If they don't respond, then fine. Don't refund, if you're not going to re-list. Should they contact Etsy for any reason in the future concerning the item, you would have your conversation to point to to back you up. I understand about the cost of shipping being greater than the value of the item. Makes you wonder why they did it in the first place!

Patsy, I agree. Return shipping does not need to be included. But it depends on the reason for the return. If I made a mistake, I would definitely refund return shipping.

[OurBoudoir]

The customs fee always includes a high admin fee and a card is left. So the buyer is made aware, but not when purchasing.

On a different subject here is a link to the Etsy Up conference in New York.

https://www.etsyup.com/watch-live

[bohemiantrading]

Hi Krista,

I would contact Etsy, and let them know of the situation, just as you have done here.

Currently, Etsy does not provide a way of blocking anyone.

Sorry, just reread your message, and see that you have contacted Abuse@Etsy.

https://www.etsy.com/legal/sellers
Scroll down to Communication.

In future (since this is public), ask other teammates to contact you privately.

[bohemiantrading]

I am reposting this for Krista, and removing the person's Profile. You can contact Krista privately, to find out more info.

I'm just putting this out here so others can be aware. I've already reported him to abuse@etsy.com. This man is not "right" and has crossed the line, I have said nothing to threaten him or egg him on. And I do not think that asking me about kids or being married is offensive, it is THE WAY he is doing it. I have met very nice people here on Etsy and have conversed about kids marriage and life, but this guy is not being nice, not normal all! I want others to be safe too!

This person just joined on Etsy and is sort of freaking me out. He wanted to conduct a sale outside of Etsy, and at first I thought he just wanted to pay by Paypal and purchase the item because he did not have automatic checkout. Then he started being rude and making way too personal of comments about my kids, and asking if I was married. Creeper! Get him off! I will not conduct anymore conversation with him! Can I block him, or make him unable to view my store? This is the first time I've had to deal with such on Etsy. Freaky! I just want my family and I to be safe. Don't feel safe with this man on Etsy.

Sincerely,

Krista Morrison

[FrenchBricABroc]

Hello Teamies,

here is an interesting discussion:

https://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/discussions/discuss/18013731/page/1
IS ETSY ASKING US TO STOP HEARTING AND VIEWING?

Nelly

[HighClassHighway]

That is interesting Nelly. Looks like maybe I need to spend my time elsewhere, ie more social media which I suck at!

[SheWhoSparkles]

Really interesting info re favouriting. Think I agree with you Lynn- time to spend more energy grappling with the mysteries social media!

[OurBoudoir]

As you all probably know, treasuries end on 4th October. VJSE have asked if anyone would like to do or comment on interteam treasuries. A last minute blitz!

If you all would like to then I will open a thread, otherwise I shall add anymore I get to the general treasury activity.


https://www.etsy.com/treasury/ODIxNzM1N3wyNzI4NjUyMTM0/vintage-jewelry-from-four-teams

[AKitschIsJustAKitsch]

Question for you all.
This is a message I got from a customer this morning:
"Very disappointed this bell has no clacker in it and you did not say that there was no clacker so there fore the bell is worthless. I would never order again."

Here is the listing:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/292005449/sale-vintage-hummel-wayside-harmony-bell?ref=shop_home_active...

Am I missing something?

Thank you,
Carrie

[YoursOccasionally]

Carrie,
No, she is the one who is missing something. You wrote a crisp, clear message the the clapper was missing. I'd convo her a copy of the description, with a simple note stating that the description does in fact mention the missing clapper.

I'd also take it back IF she requests you to do so, however, when I have done that for a customer or two, I remind them that my policies state that there is a restocking fee (I charge 20% of the item's cost). Some have kept the item, some have returned it.

[HighHatCouture]

Hello everyone! I haven't checked in in a while. My shop more than doubled its profits this year, and I've been crazy busy. I am thankful for this team community!

Have you had a recent change in traffic? My shop continues to sell well, but over the last week my views are down.

Also, I used to appear on the front page of the search results for most vintage hat searches, now I am on the 4 or 5 page! It's concerning to me, so I have adjusted my titles wording hoping that helps.

Is there anything going on with the etsy SEO? I'm out of the loop and haven't had the chance to read through the forums.

[HighHatCouture]

Hello again ladies, I did take a look through the forums, and I answered my own question. Lol.

[hipcricket]

I have a question about hearts and am hoping someone might be able to give an answer!

Why is it, that even after seeing 148 hearts from whatever thread im entered into - my item still says" 2 people" favorited this? I am at a loss to explain that!

Cheers all!

[AKitschIsJustAKitsch]

Hi all!! Beautiful day, but--- I am a bit frustrated. My sales were pretty good, I have not had one sale since treasuries were discontinued! I do a lot of SM promotion, instagram, FB, Twitter, We Heart it, WANLEO, Polyvore, Pinterest...so maybe they did not work for everyone, but I know they were working for me, because I promoted them outside Etsy. Not sure what to do now.
I have checked my SEO, I am always on the first or second page. I just do not get it.
I would appreciate any input!

[VintageVogueTreasure]

Hi Carrie, many of us are experiencing the same thing, I went to the forums to take a look this morning and found this page about sales being clustered by names
https://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/discussions/discuss/17919971/page/46
When I went to my orders page, 4 of my last 6 sales were to a Stephanie!!!
Can't make this stuff up!!