Boring question about Etsy and delivery times

[MustardMitt]

Bit of advice needed.

I ordered personalised Nutella labels from a seller on Etsy on 2 Dec. They were noted as dispatched 6 Dec. 16 Dec I emailed to ask if it had definitely been posted and seller said yes, 1st class, but there were ‘considerable delays with RM’.

It’s now 21st and still not here. Annoying but not the worst thing to happen. But what should I do next? Is it worth me emailing now and asking for it to be resent tomorrow? Or should I just ask for a refund? Seller is UK based.

I do still want them, but with everything that is going on I’m just not sure what to do. I’ve had other RM post, most has been delayed but not to this extent.

WWYD?

Just wait. Royal Mail are vastly behind, up to two weeks and if the seller is anything like me, they will be absolutely swamped with messages demanding more things be sent and refunds be issued which is extremely stressful, very upsetting for us small retailers and there is absolutely nothing we can do. I have been reduced to tears on several occasions due to the sheer volume of these messages every day. No one can afford to replace or refund every order that will get to you eventually.

There was a massive backlog caused from 6th-11th December and things sent more recently and therefore at the front of the pile are getting delivered quicker.

Royal Mail say that if an item has been delayed for 10 days or more its treated as lost in the post and you should claim a refund.
Its the sellers responsibility to refund you or send a replacement.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/post/if-you-think-your-post-is-lost/

If they send out another one tomorrow, it won't arrive before Christmas. There are so many delays going on with Royal Mail. Some parcels really are taking weeks to arrive.

@Thelnebriati

That is incorrect, it is ten WORKING days and terrible advice during a pandemic when the whole country has done their Christmas shopping online with a company trying to deliver with social distancing going on in every aspect of their business as well staff absences of 10-14 days at a time for isolating. These packages are not lost at all. They are sat in cages at the back of depots behind more and more mail so no one can get to them to deliver them.

Just to note I have had a particular problem with ETSY sellers, still have two packages not arrived which were ordered on 28 November.

I'm a seller. I have the buyers money and they want their item. OP bought her item at the start of December, its not like she left it to the last minute.

I've also bought and sold several parcels that have been ripped open, its a nightmare for sellers at this time of year.

Just ask for the tracking information. If they cant provide it then ask for a replacement or a refund.

They do have 30 days to get your item to you, unless an alternative date was agreed, so they can ask you to wait for the 30 days.

Of all the things I ordered on the same day, this is the only one not to turn up.

I don’t wish to reduce someone to tears but I have ordered and paid for something which was posted 11 working days ago now, and it’s three days before Christmas.

@delilahbucket what do you suggest if by Tuesday next week they still haven’t arrived? That’s not meant to be snarky btw!

I've also had issues with Etsy. Trying to be patient but everything else through Royal Mail has come on time or barely delayed, except my Etsy order from 4th Dec, despatched on 10th and not arrived!

@lofthouse I have several buyers who ordered items from me then that have not arrived. I have a 1-2 week dispatch time for items to be made, and then Royal Mail taking up to two weeks to deliver. This is not just Etsy sellers, but if you are buying items that have to made, they will take longer than cheap Chinese tat that is in stock.

@WhereverIGoddamnLike I am really fed up with being asked for tracking information and being accused of not sending things because an item isn't tracked from my door to the customers. Unless you use a courier or Special Delivery, or you send thousands of parcels a day and get Royal Mail tracked 24/48 which is what really big companies use, things aren't tracked. Even Signed For isn't scanned until delivery is attempted. I send mostly large letters, I don't think people would be happy paying three times the postage price so they can have a fully tracked service on a £5 item.

@MustardMitt it doesn't matter what you ordered on the same day, when you ordered is not relevant to the post, when it was sent is the important date. Given that my orders from the 8th and 9th are starting to arrive, and dp had something turn up today that was sent to him on the 6th, I would hazard a guess yours will arrive any day now. They won't get you another before Christmas, so I would personally wait until after Christmas and then request a refund if it hasn't arrived.

OP Etsy gives you an estimated delivery window upon ordering. I wouldn't bother the seller until that window has expired to give them a little breather.
After that, and if you really really needed your item by a certain date, you can request a refund. Tell them if it arrives after the estimated window you can't use it as a gift anymore. They should then send you a return label and refund you.

I'm a seller too, I've had 1st class items take 12 days+, it's been horrific.

@delilahbucket

I dont know why you're talking to me as though I need educated. I'm an independent. I'm a jeweller. I started in etsy, now I sell through my own website asni became quite well known. When people say "tracking" they mean that they want proof of postage. It doesnt cost much extra to have it sent record, and you are given a tracking number which shows the date and time the item was posted. If you choose not to get that, and you've got customers asking for proof that you posted it then that's your own fault. Dont complain to me about it and please dont condescend to people as if you're the only person posting items out and having them not arrive.
You should be able to provide proof that you sent it.

Thanks, I’ll just wait. It’s not critical although the kids’ll be slightly perplexed to just receive random jars of Nutella!

I posted something on the 5th and it hasn't arrived yet, so they could just be delayed

Just to let you all know, the parcel (well, letter really!) arrived today. I knew posting about it was sure to make it show up