I have ordered things quite a few times and have had positive results. But have run into my first very negative experience. I ordered something on November 27th and have yet to receive it. I am getting the run around about delivery. The shop owner claims it was mailed on December 11th but the tracking number he gave me has shown it in pre shipment status even as of today. He claims he is having courier problems. It makes no sense to me and on December 13th another customer complained in a review that she had ordered something on November 20th and had not received it and was getting the runaround as well.
I am considering either disputing with my credit card or making a complaint with Etsy. However, I googled Etsy complaints and found many negative comments about their lack of help with issues. I was quite surprised at the number of negative complaints, from both buyers and sellers. I was disappointed . I would just try to cancel the order altogether but is a personalized Christmas stocking and usually things that are personalized are harder to cancel or return.
Etsy is just the conduit and it takes no responsibilities for orders. You have to dispute it with the selling company.
If they’re giving you the run-around, I would dispute it with your credit card company. I’d also tell the seller that you’re going to do that… see if it mysteriously shows up once you threaten to cut the payment.
You have to have a lot of patience if you order on Etsy. I’ve ordered about a dozen items and have had several problems, most having to do with slow shipping. Unfortunately, a lot of creative people have time management problems. One item really did get lost in shipping and Etsy refused to help. I had to deal with PayPal, my method of payement, and they refunded me.
Thanks. Etsy does suggest in their online info, that you try to resolve things first with the seller. And I have been trying too do that. Etsy does have a mechanism to file a complaint if that has not been successful. But, not sure that is worth doing, based on some of the complaints about their system and lack of support I have seen.
I actually have had no trouble with sellers before this and have ordered from about a dozen different sellers over the years. All have been responsive to questions,been helpful with suggestions, shipping has been as expected. So, this is a first for me.
I had something similar happen to me on ebay–seller claimed he sent the item, but I never received it. After I complained the seller sent me a registered letter saying the item was on the way. I signed assuming it was my item–seller used it to say that I got the item. The only way I got my money back was to good through my credit card company (AMEX). I would go through your credit card company and explain the circumstances.
I’ve had nothing but success from things ordered from Etsy. Both last year and this year I even ordered a piece of jewelry from Israel and while it took longer to arrive, I could track it and it arrived fine.
I’ve also ordered so many things that have some with extra touches like in a cute gift box, or wrapped in beautiful tissue paper, etc.
I would only use my AmEx for some of those sites because of their refund policy. I think shippers are having a lot of issues this season due to the volume. I have a dress I ordered from yoox.com before Thanksgiving that has not arrived yet. The shipper was UPS.
Same here @abasket . Have never had a bad experience until now. Which is part of the reason I fell for this. It was a good deal -60% off something I was interested in.I will be more cautious after this. There were very few reviews before I ordered but all were positive. Now, the recent reviews beginning on December 13 have been negative. Same complaints- never received the order, delayed response and communication from seller, and now the shop seems to be closed down. Reviewer from today called them scammers . Very frustrating and makes me concerned about what, if any, vetting of vendors that Etsy does. I will only consider now ever buying again through Etsy from sellers with multiple positive reviews going back over a period of time. Buyer beware with some sellers!
Dispute it on your credit card but tell the seller you will be happy to re-pay for it again if you receive it on time. If he’s really already made it and shipped it to you, he’ll be better off if you do pay for it but he can take the risk. If he hasn’t made the personalized item yet, he won’t.
Have ordered several times from Etsy without issue. However, I had one experience where the package didn’t show up. Used the Etsy complaint system and they were very responsive. The seller shipped another one - which did arrive. Of course, as always happens, the first one showed up many weeks later also. The Etsy process was very good - I opened a complaint and they didn’t close it until I was satisfied.
Thanks @twoinanddone . He’s already well beyond his stated shipping guarantees. It was supposed to ship within 3-5 business days and I ordered it November 27th. I would never have ordered it if I had thought it wouldn’t be here by now. The stockings are already hung and this new one was supposed to be for my sister who will be visiting. I already bought a backup yesterday for her when I was out shopping as I doubt this one I ordered will materialize. It might still, you never know, but I needed to buy something else in case it doesn’t. I have always loved Etsy , so this experience has been very disappointing. Happy Holidays to all and thanks for letting me vent!
I ordered one thing from Etsy and it was a nightmare. Although I received it in a timely manner, she shipped it in a flimsy envelope so the item was damaged in the mail. She claimed it wasn’t her responsibility to package it properly. Fortunately I paid with PayPal and they handled the dispute, giving me a full refund.
Because of that incident, I researched buyer protections on Etsy, and they are virtually nonexistent, so no more Etsy for me!
Sometimes carriers fail to scan a package. It could be on its way. The fact that the seller is communicating with you is a positive. Calculate how many business days it ought to take to reach you assuming he actually did mail it when he said she did, and if it has not come by then, start the claim process.
I did have one problem when a seller I had bought from before suddenly closed his shop-- in other words, there was no shop, no reviews to read-- it just poofed. Probably Etsy closed it for some violation. I filed a claim right away and got my refund through PayPal, since that was how I paid. Now Etsy has its own payment system, in addition to stand-alone PayPal; if you used that to pay, look for links on how to file a claim for non-receipt. You can also ask on the boards there how to file a claim, if it becomes necessary: https://www.■■■■■■■■/forums?ref=ftr
Credit card companies give you quite a while to dispute, why not both tell the seller you are prepare to dispute and also check with the company to determine the timing and restrictions.
I don’t think Etsy is good or bad, it’s a neutral swap meet online location, but PayPal or your CC should have plenty of built in protections for you.
Credit card companies give you quite a while to dispute
60 days by law, but if you wait until the bank has paid and cannot get the funds back, then the bank eats the cost, which they of course pass back to the cardholders in higher rates and fees. It is best to report it as soon as possible.
I have had luck recently with actually getting the items, but many people are just home crafters and they get to it when they get to it. I ordered a piece of jewelry last November and it didn’t arrive until March. It made me very nervous to order this go round. However, I used much better places this time around. I think the key is to leave feedback so the buyers know if the items are shipped in a reasonable time or not.
Remember that Etsy basically rents a storefront (so the vetting is limited): that incompetence/human error is as likely as dishonesty, esp with a small business/crafter; that shippers can and do screw up/have regional issues, and that using a payment method with good protection is worthwhile.
I lovelovelove etsy, and happily have had only 1 bad (no delivery) experience. I agree with @eyemamom that feedback is crucial.
Good luck, @sevmom - Remember that Etsy basically rents a storefront (so the vetting is limited): that incompetence/human error is as likely as dishonesty, esp with a small business/crafter; that shippers can and do screw up/have regional issues, and that using a payment method with good protection is worthwhile.
I lovelovelove etsy, and happily have had only 1 bad (no delivery) experience. I agree with @eyemamom that feedback is crucial.
Good luck, @sevmom - I hope that your stocking shows up. Of course, if it was in transit, and it was transiting through Atlanta, it may be a while before it arrives- they are going to be digging out for days!
Sounds like more of a case of a bad vendor not a bad website experience. If you read reviews of products or a vendor on other site, of course you should do that for Etsy, Ebay, etc.
The world of online consuming (be it a product, a podcast, etc.) has made “reviewing” not only helpful but necessary. I think people tend to comment more when they have a negative experience than when they have a positive experience - sort of natural.
My H sells on eBay - he knows well that it is in his best interest to do a good job on his end - it pays off in ratings - and his/our pocketbook!!!
He sent me a message today in response to mine and said that it had shipped. Of course, he has been telling me this since December 11th. So, we’ll see. I will be more cautious with Etsy in the future. When I bought from this vendor last month, there were only 3 reviews and all were positive. Now, there are 12 and most of the recent ones were very negative, with similar complaints. And, if you put in his shop name, it doesn’t even come up anymore. I can see the new reviews only by going into my purchase and clicking on the review button. Luckily, this is only a $19.60 purchase!
