Etsy is a renowned American e-commerce platform. Launched in 2005, the platform has now become a global platform for buyers and sellers to interact. Among the many features that make Etsy stand out, one of the most cherished ones is Etsy shipping. It guarantees a smooth delivery process, ensuring customer satisfaction and satisfying sellers’ concerns. In this guide, we will uncover different aspects of Etsy shipping, from basic strategy and time taken to tracking facilities and more. So, without any further ado, let’s begin exploring!
How Does Etsy Shipping Work?
Unlike other e-commerce platforms, Etsy enables its sellers to fulfill orders themselves with their preferred shipping labels. Thus, the fulfillment practice of a seller plays a crucial role in determining its ranking on search listings and conversion rate. That’s not all. Etsy also helps sellers in different ways, such as by allowing them to purchase shipping labels directly from Etsy at discounted prices. Let’s figure this process out in detail.
In self-fulfillment, sellers will have to arrange their shipping means for order deliveries with Etsy shipping labels. They must ensure on-time shipment within the span allowed in your shipping policies. However, sellers can skip getting labels if they want to ship an order that’s too heavy to be shipped with the Etsy label or if they want to ship from a country where Etsy shipping isn’t supported. There can be multiple other reasons that make a seller ineligible to purchase labels via Etsy shipping. Wondering what exactly is the eligibility criteria?
Those who want to purchase labels must be based in India, Australia, the US, the UK, or Canada, and they must receive payment for their order via Etsy Payments. If requirements are met, sellers can obtain labels from courier services like USPS, FedEx, Yakit, etc. Apart from the discounted prices, sellers also obtain additional perks from these labels, like a positive impact on your Star Seller status metrics.
How Long Does Etsy Take to Ship?
By now, you have explored the basics of the shipping process; let’s now delve deeper into how long Etsy takes to ship orders.
Processing Time
Processing time refers to how long a seller takes to create or prepare the items you have ordered. Once the order is ready for shipment from the seller, the processing time ends, and transit time begins.
Carrier Shipping Time
Also known as transit time, carrier shipping time is the time required by the shipping carrier to transit the order. It depends on several factors, like the shipping carrier, weather complications, etc.
Estimated Delivery Date
Lastly, the estimated delivery date is determined by summing up the processing time and carrier shipping time. Its formula is given as:
Estimated Delivery Date = Processing time + Carrier transit time
For instance, if the processing time for your purchased item is 4 to 5 days and the shipping carrier requires 5 to 9 days to transit, then your estimated delivery date will be 9 to 14 days from today. You can view your order’s estimated delivery date by signing into an Etsy account online and navigating to Purchases and Reviews. If you are using an app, simply tap You and select Purchases to view the time.
If you don’t see the date mentioned in your order, don’t worry. It’s because all orders don’t have this date mentioned, as it depends on several factors, like the order’s shipping settings, which the seller determines. However, you can still shop confidently from the platform, as all the orders are under Etsy’s Purchase Protection program. It implies a full refund on a delivery item that doesn’t match the description, has never arrived, or is damaged during the shipping process.
Why is Etsy Shipping Taking So Long?
As mentioned earlier, each seller is responsible for shipping orders and can have certain policies for shipping methods. So, the shipping time varies from seller to seller. If one shipped the order in less than a week, another might take longer based on its shipping process. Moreover, Etsy mostly offers handmade products, i.e., certain items take days or even weeks to be crafted once the order is placed. This can significantly increase order processing time, increasing the time required to deliver orders.
Etsy Shipping Times – Domestic vs. International
Etsy shipping times are variable for domestic and international orders. Domestic ones can take three to seven days, based on the shipping carrier chosen by the customer, and international ones take around ten to thirty days. However, the transit time might vary based on the location where the order needs to be shipped and from where, the courier service, the season in which it needs to be shipped, and several other factors.
How to Track My Etsy Parcel?
If your seller has provided a tracking number, you can use it to track Etsy parcels on the website or the app. Here are the detailed tracking guides:
How to Track Etsy Parcels via Website?
- Grab your device and visit the official Etsy website.
- Sign into your account using your credentials.
- Once signed in, hit the user icon in the top right corner with the label You.
- Select Purchases and Reviews from the pop-up menu.
- Find the order you need to track and click on the Track Package button beside it.
- If you can’t find the button and the order is being labeled as shipped, then your seller doesn’t offer tracking numbers.
How to Track Etsy Parcel via App?
Launch the Etsy app and log into your account using your credentials.
Hit the You button on the bottom toolbar and tap Purchases & Reviews.
Scroll down to spot the order you want to track and look for its shipment status towards the right of the store’s name.
If there’s a Track Package option, click on it to reveal tracking information.
If there isn’t any, then you can’t track that specific order.
How to Track Etsy Parcel as a Guest?
If you have placed an order on Etsy as a guest, i.e., you don’t have an Etsy account, you will receive mail regarding the shipment notice. Though each customer gets updated regarding the shipment status, other information specific to the seller will also be mailed.
Ship Your Etsy Parcel with NextSmartShip
If you are an Etsy seller looking for a reliable 3PL service for order fulfillment, we recommend checking out NextSmartShip (NSS). It’s an innovative platform that integrates advanced technologies for seamless inventory management, sustainable order packaging, and on-time deliveries. Not only will your customers be able to track their orders, but you can also obtain real-time inventory updates. NSS offers an escape from a lot of hassle with exceptionally discounted shipping rates. They have a widespread network around the globe to ensure quick deliveries with minimal transit times.
So, why not partner with them and focus on the more important things, like the development of new products, rather than being stuck with shipping issues? Visit their website for more exclusive details regarding their service. You can also obtain quotes. Their responsive customer service will get back to you in no time.
Conclusion
Etsy has emerged as a reliable e-commerce platform connecting sellers and buyers on a global level. If you have ever placed an order with this platform or thought about becoming a seller, you must wonder about the shipping and order fulfillment process. Being a seller, one has two choices: either ship with the Etsy shipping labels if eligible or without them. In both cases, sellers must not ship a damaged item or cause any trouble for the customers, as Etsy’s Purchase Protection program protects all orders.
If you are an Etsy seller looking for the best shipping carrier to deliver your goods, check out NSS. It’s a smart platform with widespread shipping routes to help you complete the order fulfillment process without any hassle. Hope this information proved helpful. Stay tuned for more.
