Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Etsy Wish List

When most people think of an Etsy Wish List, they think of all the things they want to buy. All the things in their favorites account. But me, my mind is always on the business side, and my wish list consists of the things I'd like Etsy to change or add as features for their sellers. Below is the my Etsy Wish List:

1. Change a buyer's address on the receipt
Right now, all we can do is add a note to remind ourselves to change the address before shipping. Since I do so much custom work, the item might not ship for a couple of weeks. And when I'm printing 10 labels at a time, I can easily overlook my note and forget to change their address. I would like to be able to change it the minute the buyer requests the change.

2. The ability to upload a file during the checkout process
When engraving photos and recipes, I need the buyers to upload images of their items. Some buyers new to Etsy aren't aware that they need to send this image to me in a message/convo. It creates unnecessary messages and sometimes delays in production when I can't get ahold of my buyers right away.

3. Create a custom listing from a message I started
Right now, sellers have the ability to create a custom listing from a message when they buyer contacts you to create a custom item.
But there are times where I am the one who contacts the person first. Maybe they purchased something, but requested an add-on or to upgrade their shipping. If I message the buyer first, I can't create a custom listing for them via the messaging system. Instead, I have to create a public listing for them to buy.
It would also be nice to be able to create a second custom listing from the same message.

4. Separate quantities for different variations
Etsy definitely doesn't help keep inventory straight. If I have 3 pair of 1/2" earrings and 2 pair of 3/4" earrings, I can only make 3 pair available rather than all 5 because I don't have 5 of all one size. So I can only list 2 and then have to do a new inventory count when the item sells out.
Or for items like my recipe books where I offer them As Shown or Personalized, I'd like to be able to offer the quantity As Shown books I have made and on-hand, but have unlimited inventory for the Personalized option. Again, this makes keeping inventory a pain when I have to go to my shelves and recount when the listing runs out.

5. Separate shipping costs for different variations
It would also be so nice if we could add separate shipping costs for variations as some items weigh different amounts. My 4x6 frames weight just over one pound, but my 8x10 frames weight almost three pounds. With the current system, I have to build some of the shipping cost into the cost of the frames. I don't feel this is right and doesn't portray the true cost either.

6. More characters for variation titles
Variation titles can currently only be 20 characters long, including spaces. This honestly doesn't let you fully describe your variation in many cases. I've come to realize that too many buyers simply don't read the description and Etsy's mobile app isn't user-friendly when it comes to buyers trying to read the description. It would be helpful if we were able to have longer variations to explain more to the buyers, since they might not read it if it's only put in the description.

7. Photo overlays
Okay, I'll admit this one is a long-shot and not really a necessity, just wishful hoping. It brings me back to the fact that many buyers don't read the listing description. I had numerous buyers during the holidays that didn't see my shop announcement that I was closed for Christmas orders. I also had this stated in capital letters in the first line of the listing (case and point that they don't read the description). It's so frustrating to have to cancel orders because of this. It also takes time away from other needs in a very busy time.
My thought was that photo overlays would allow me to write right on the first photo that I am closed for orders. I don't want to close my shop during this time so buyers who don't need their items until after Christmas can still order.
In fact, I am considering doing this on my own any way. It's just such a pain to change them all for a 2-3 week period, then have to change them all back after the holidays. (And remember what file all those photos are stored in!) Photo overlays would allow you to add it on top of your photo, rather than uploading a new photo and having to replace it. This way you would just add it and remove it. Still time-consuming, but much less so than the other option.

This is definitely one of my more wordy posts! I'd love to hear your thoughts. What is your Etsy Wish List? Would any of these changes be beneficial to you as well?

25 comments:

  1. 1 and 4 would be on my wish list, too!! I'm so frustrated with variations, I'm almost ready to just do separate listings because of the inventory confusion.

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    1. 1 and 4 would be at the top of my list too! Of course I'd like them all :) But these would be the 2 I'd start with!

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  2. These are all valid points!
    Like LeAnn I'd like to see #1 and #4 implemented. It is easier for me to list seperately than use variations...

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  3. My shop has been closed for a long time now, but I think all your wish list items are good ideas. You should pitch it to Etsy...you never know what they might do!

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    1. I wish I knew exactly who to contact! But yes, I hope to find someone to pitch these ideas to.
      Thanks :)

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  4. These are all really good points and easily enough done (you'd think). Hopefully Etsy takes notice! I would like to see improvements in variations too.

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    1. I know some will take more work than others, but I agree that some of these should be simple changes. The address change for sure!

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  5. Great wish list! I've had some annoyances with not being able to build a custom order when I initiated the conversation, and you are so right about people not reading the listing. I've also had problems with too few available characters for listing variations.

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    1. They seem like such small things, but added together, they would save us so much time!

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  6. My etsy shop is more of a side project but it gets really busy around the holidays and #1 would be huge! It's hard to keep notes straight when you're swamped and would be so much easier just to be able to change it on the receipt.

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  7. All fabulous suggestions. I get frustrated when Etsy puts a lot of effort into something that doesn't directly benefit sellers, like new team features or favorites features, when there are so many issues that need to be addressed.

    There should be a way for buyers to put in a different shipping address during the checkout process. And the entire variations system needs to be overhauled. Having just two possible variations with a limited character count isn't sufficient.

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    1. I completely agree. It seems their efforts could be better served elsewhere sometimes!

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  8. Now that's an impressive list, and there are a couple of things on it that I had never thought about. I especially like the last one on photo overlays. That would be super helpful in so many ways.

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    1. Yes, it would be nice to advertise sales, announce deadlines, etc.

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  9. I've neglected my shop so badly that I just wish I don't pay for this later when I finally do get back to it.

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  10. love this wishlist! the thing with announcements is really annoying, as you said nobody reads it!that part of the shop should show up with listings too, so that we don't have to mention it on every item!same goes with coupons no one checks the announcement and so they never use it!Or even if the banner shows up with all listings we can write on it in BOLD!

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    1. It would be so nice if our shop announcement showed for every listing! It's such a pain during the holidays to edit every listing, then to not have it read!

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  11. All awesome points. I don't get many clients from Etsy anymore, but I get a few, and I'd REALLY like it if they could upload files during checkout. It's a total pain to email them after and be like, "Heyyyyy, can you send me pictures of the room we're working on? And also all of your inspiration photos?"

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    1. Yes, I can see where the upload would be very beneficial for you!

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  12. These are fantastic suggestions! They would be so beneficial to those shops like yours who do tons of custom work. Hopefully over time Etsy will incorporate some of these to make it more user friendly.

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  13. Maybe you should write wordy posts more often--these are terrific ideas!

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  14. Ahhhhhhhhh!!!! 2 & 5 would be soooooo nice!!!!

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  15. If you do end up editing all of those photos have you tried Hive? It allows you to bulk edit etsy listings much more quickly: https://myhiveonline.com/

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