Let me preface this by saying I am not upset with the sellers at all.
I tried the Etsy Gift Mode feature. I appreciated that it let me select the date by which I need the gifts. I am frantically shopping because my boyfriend forgot to mention his sister’s birthday is coming up, and I REALLY want her to like me. He’s seeing her on Saturday, so I selected Friday as my date.
I ordered gifts from two different shops, so I know it’s not just one seller messing up. Neither gift is expected to arrive within the weekend timeframe. One is now anticipated to arrive by the 16th. I even offered to unethically Venmo a seller more money for quicker shipping—not my proudest moment.
I’m curious if others have noticed this trend. I understand this is newer and expected to have some bugs at launch. I’ve enjoyed the categories, but mostly I find myself concerned about the shipping timeline that Etsy provides compared to the actual shipping times from the shops. I usually keep track of important dates, but this has been frustrating for a time-sensitive purchase.
From what I understand, ‘Gift Mode’ acts as a filter for searches. The desired delivery time shown is based on the seller’s estimated shipping times.
We as sellers often don’t even know if purchases were made through this mode. Plus, if a package is marked as a gift, we are instructed not to include pricing info, which can become irrelevant if shipping internationally due to customs requirements.
@Brogan
That’s good to know! I’m not worried about the gift pricing side since it’s being sent to my place, but I’m frustrated with the shipping Etsy promised compared to what I’m actually facing. I selected the items by the 8th, but one won’t even ship until the 29th, which totally defeats the purpose. I think I will avoid using this feature for time-sensitive purchases in the future.
When I ship next day, many of my orders still show alerts like ‘may arrive late.’ I’m shipping on time, and yet Etsy gives those warnings based on USPS, often leaving me losing sales because customers doubt the timing.
Frances said:
This feature is not great. Etsy’s platform has gone downhill, and it’s saddening to witness.
I liked the idea initially, but the suggestions felt predictable. For instance, if someone loves cooking, they might get a cheeseboard as a gift. I was excited about the delivery date function, but it appears the entire launch has been a disappointment for everyone involved.
I wasn’t aware of how Gift Mode worked before. As a seller, my estimated delivery times tend to be longer since Etsy bases them on USPS, while I utilize UPS without the option to adjust for accurate timelines. My business suffers when customers see extended delivery times and dismiss my items.
@Chao
I feel bad about that. I wasn’t aware sellers had these constraints. It’s unfortunate you miss out on sales due to customers not fully trusting shipping timelines.
Etsy’s estimated delivery dates are often not accurate. In one case, a customer aggressively harassed me when their package didn’t arrive on time, according to Etsy, even though I dispatched it next day. The dates they provide are unrealistic.
Etsy’s transit estimates are overly optimistic. My listings may state, ‘Arrives in 0-4 days,’ which is only true if the customer picks it up from my shop personally.
Oren said:
Etsy’s transit estimates are overly optimistic. My listings may state, ‘Arrives in 0-4 days,’ which is only true if the customer picks it up from my shop personally.
They are all over the board. After I shared this, I ordered a sweatshirt from another shop, which initially said it would take three weeks. Then, surprisingly enough, it’s now scheduled to arrive Friday based on updated USPS tracking.
I would rather travel to pick it up locally instead of worrying about shipping delays. I feel so uncomfortable placing orders rather than just driving there. However, I find the local vendor pop-ups exciting and may hint to a friend at Etsy about these problems.
Shipping usually presents a window of 3-4 days shown during checkout but there’s no guarantee of shipping by a certain date since sellers can’t anticipate each case once they hand over packages to USPS. I have had customers inquire if it will ship by a specific date.
@Cassian
I used to sell too and get some sales from reselling items I no longer needed. I understand the shipping timelines involved and that once it’s with the shipping companies, there isn’t much control left. However, I was frustrated when I selected an item by the 8th, just learned one gift wouldn’t even begin shipping until the 29th. I don’t think this is on the seller at all; it’s a usability issue related to delivery commitments.
Cassian said: @Olin
I didn’t mean to offend. I was only highlighting that sellers don’t see the same screens as buyers may.
No offense taken! I’m genuinely concerned about how this could affect sellers adversely. I don’t want them to face losses because customers might not conduct due diligence.
I look forward to exploring gift mode and verifying how it aligns with item delivery projections since that’s a true hassle.
@Olin
I might have to check the Gift Mode more to see how accurate it is versus the outcomes at checkout. I don’t want customers to be disappointed with my processing speeds going forward.
Cassian said: @Olin
I might have to check the Gift Mode more to see how accurate it is versus the outcomes at checkout. I don’t want customers to be disappointed with my processing speeds going forward.
I’m heading out to Google for a local vendor pop-up right now, but I find real-world interactions overwhelming. However, I am excited to see their display and may consider notifying a friend at Etsy regarding these shipping issues.
I read Etsy’s corporate release about the gift mode feature, and it seems like they rushed it just to sell something appealing to investors without getting it ready first.
Furthermore, I ship from outside the US and can’t accurately project my delivery times anymore.
For example, I can only claim a 30-day shipping estimate to Australia, even though it might genuinely take up to 60 days with typical shipping methods. I’ve included this info in my listings, but it still raises issues.