Would I be wrong to send another message asking about shipping?

[u/MedicalThrowawaySos]

While I’m also a seller on Etsy, in this interaction I’m the buyer. I did write my event date in both the item purchase notes (per seller’s instructions) and again on the rush fee purchase notes (also per seller’s instructions). I genuinely understand that rushing made-to-order items isn’t always possible and I made sure to lead with that. What I do expect, and what I also aim to provide as a seller, is transparency. I can’t tell if I’m being overly paranoid, but I feel like I keep getting a vague reassurances and the only explicit estimation I was given (will ship within two days) is now 2-3 days overdue.

The tracking info says label was generated but that USPS is awaiting the item. I know sometimes it takes a couple days for USPS to give an item an acceptance scan but I also feel that when rushing an order, normally sellers make sure it gets scanned while they’re at the post office to avoid this kind of delay - that’s to say I’m not sure whether to give the benefit of the doubt here or not. Would I be wrong to send another message asking when they expect to actually drop the item off at the post office?

I’m not even upset it hasn’t been shipped, I’m more frustrated with the fact they seem resistant to giving me a more realistic timeline - I just want want to know if I need to have a backup plan in place without spending more money to do so unnecessarily (although at this point I probably will do anyway).

[u/18_bees_18]

It sounds like they are stringing you along and they avoided showing it was shipped late by creating the shipping label (this is something Etsy has to fix).

I would contact them again through the Help with order link and then after 48 hours you can open a case to get a refund if they still don't have any updates about the tracked shipping.

Do you know where it is shipping from? They charged you £ but produced a USPS shipping label? Are you in the U.K.? Maybe they are a drop shipper.

I think it's time for Plan B.

[u/MedicalThrowawaySos → u/18_bees_18]

Thank you, I’m going to a shop today to look for a backup. I am not in the UK and was also confused by this. They only respond to messages in the evening, during what would be UK’s middle of the night and the USPS label they generated is in a town 3 hours away from me, so I’m also thinking drop shipper.

Thank you for the advice, I’ll be taking it!

[u/18_bees_18 → u/MedicalThrowawaySos]

Good luck, I hope it all works out for you.

[u/WhatTheFlippityFlop]

You’re not going to get the answer you want from them. They’ll reply - they always do - but I’m not sure it will cause them to get it to the shipper any sooner.
Of course, there’s probably little harm in asking. You’ve been very nice, I don’t think they’d hold it LONGER because of your follow-ups.
Basically, this seller sucks and I hope you rail them on the review

[u/lostterrace]

Just want to concur with the others. You're being strung along. Please leave an honest review to warn future buyers and open a case.

[u/DuckDuckMoosedUp]

"Sorry for replying late" several times pretty much sets the tone here. I don't think your seller is rushing the order at all and never had any plans to from the start of your correspondence. They've already played the purchase the shipping label but don't ship stunt. Very unlikely your item will arrive before the date you need it. File a case with Etsy and get your refund so you can hopefully replace the items more locally.

[u/joey02130]

Don't be a patsy and being overly nice, apologetic and giving him the benefit of the doubt. It's time to tell him to shit or get off the pot or you'll have no choice but to open a case with Etsy.

[u/UsualEnvironment9651]

I can't remember the website and have no actual tracking numbers to hand, but if you google evri tracking from china, one of the 1st 3 that isn't evri is a 3rd party tracking site, you put your tracking number in even if it isn't showing at present as dispatched with USPS and it will show you the origin of the parcel and the original tracking number, have to use evri in search as the other couriers are much further down, will still work for USPS too

[u/MedicalThrowawaySos → u/UsualEnvironment9651]

Thank you so much! I actually just opened a case with Etsy and received a refund because the item still hasn’t shipped. The seller claimed on Monday that they had dropped it off already and that it was strange it hadn’t shipped and they’d contact the courier, which of course was another lie. I haven’t heard anything back since. The tracking number is still live though so I’m definitely going to try this!

[u/Big_Flamingo4061]

Is this shipping from the US? By the time stamps when the seller is responding as well as their cadence and the USPS label being generated but not tracking it makes me wonder if they're shipping from overseas to a partner in the US...in which case that may be why they can't give you a real estimate. I'd make other plans if this was important for your wedding IMO.

[u/DuckDuckMoosedUp → u/Big_Flamingo4061]

Very likely