As an Etsy seller for over 10 years and buyer for even longer, I know the anxiety of watching an order make its way to you or your customers. Where is that handprinted linen fabric? Did your custom pet portraits get lost in transit? Tracking orders puts your mind at ease.
In this beginner‘s guide, I‘ll decode the tracking process on Etsy‘s platform from both the buyer and seller side using my own experience plus data-driven research.
Why Track Etsy Orders?
Etsy‘s massive growth with over 90 million shoppers makes order tracking essential. In 2021 alone:
- 741,000 sellers offered goods
- 106 million items sold for $12.2 billion in sales
- 213 million orders shipped
For buyers, tracking means:
- Ensuring special gifts arrive on time
- Monitoring shipments of cherished craft supplies from favorite Etsy shops
- Avoiding lost or inaccurate packages
For sellers, tracking equals:
- Providing 5-star customer experiences
- Qualifying for Etsy‘s Star Seller program
- Managing reputations and repeat business
Without tracking, buyers experience anxiety and sellers risk negative reviews over late orders they can‘t explain.
How To Track As A Buyer
Etsy offers tracking visibility from the mobile app or desktop site. I‘ll cover both.
Option 1: The Etsy Mobile App
Over 87% of Etsy purchases happen on mobile devices. Conveniently, tracking orders works seamlessly there too.
Let me walk you through it:
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Tap your profile icon – Locate and tap the "You" icon from the bottom menu. This opens your account details.
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Select purchases – Scroll down and tap on "Purchases" to view order history.
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Choose an order – Pick the specific order you want to track and tap the "Track Package" button.
Once tapped, you‘ll see detailed tracking information directly from the shipping carrier including delivery status, maps, and expected arrival date.
If the Track Package button is missing, it likely means the item has yet to ship from the Etsy seller. Check back in a few days for an update.
Pro Tip: Enable push notifications for delivery alerts the moment your items ship! I‘ll cover how in the tips section below.
Option 2: Etsy‘s Desktop Website
Prefer to track from a laptop or desktop? Etsy‘s browser experience makes monitoring orders there convenient too.
Here‘s how:
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Click your profile icon – Locate and click your profile picture in the top right corner. A dropdown appears.
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Choose Purchases & Reviews – From that menu, select the Purchases & Reviews option.
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Click the Track Package button – Just like on mobile, a Track Package button appears on each individual order. Click it to access the full tracking details from the shipping provider.
If the Track Package option is greyed out or missing, it indicates the order has yet to ship. Bookmark the page and return once it‘s on the move!
Insider Tip: Around the holidays, I track orders daily to ensure handmade gifts get delivered on time for Christmas.
Tracking Etsy Orders as a Seller
alipay actively shipping orders quickly and accurately is critical for Etsy sellers. From item materials to shipping labels, our success relies on precise tracking.
Here are key policies to follow:
Etsy‘s Tracking Requirements
To maintain integrity as a seller, Etsy instituted order tracking rules:
- All US shipments must have tracking numbers uploaded
- International tracking isn‘t required but highly encouraged
- Failing to provide tracking can lead to policy violation flag
Important Note: As of 2022, tracking information is mandatory to qualify for Etsy‘s Star Seller program too!
Violating any of these directly impacts your shop‘s standing with customers.
How To Track Outgoing Orders
The process for tracking orders going out is similar to buyers. Follow these steps:
On your Seller Dashboard locate and click "Orders & Shipping" from the left-hand menu.
A list will populate showing all purchases customers have made. Select any order number to access complete details.
Inside the order information screen, you‘ll see tracking number, carrier selection, addresses and more once the shipment goes out.
Double and triple checking tracking here lets you instantly notify buyers when their purchase ships plus confirm safe delivery!
Expert Recommendation: Integrate shipping manager software to auto-upload and validate tracking numbers when orders get fulfilled.
What To Do If There‘s A Problem
Most Etsy orders proceed smoothly to their destination but hiccups occasionally happen. Don‘t panic! Here is advice for common issues:
Problem: Order tracking information never appears
Buyers: Politely contact the seller asking for updates on ship date or tracking number. Most happy to investigate and provide the Post Office receipt if available.
Sellers: Double check orders for any missing tracking. Upload numbers into Etsy platform. Notify buyers when resolved.
Problem: Package gets delivered to wrong address
Buyers: Alert the seller immediately on the improper location. We‘ll correct it quickly! File an Etsy case if needed.
Sellers: Apologize to buyer reviewing address errors. Provide return labels for miss-delivered items and reship the proper one fast.
Problem: Order delayed indefinitely without explanation
Buyers: Reach out to seller first politely. If unresponsive or unable to explain, contact Etsy support to investigate.
Sellers: Over-communicate with buyers on inventory shortages, shipping issues, or other delay causes. Send replacement items rush delivery.
Things go wrong even with meticulous handling. By tracking closely and communicating, satisfactory outcomes happen!
Tips For Order Tracking Success
After years selling and buying, here are my top 10 tips for stress-free tracking:
For Buyers
- Enable push notifications on your phone when packages ship
- Bookmark browser tracking pages for easy access
- Contact sellers fast if orders run late
- Follow up with Etsy support if sellers are unresponsive
- Confirm addresses are correct during checkout
For Sellers
- Integrate shipping manager software to auto-upload tracking
- Refund or rush reship items to unhappy buyers
- Over-communicate with customers on shipping status
- Double check addresses on packing slips before sealing
- Upload international tracking even if not mandatory
Key Takeaways
I hope this guide brought insight into successfully tracking Etsy orders! Here‘s what we covered:
- Why tracking shipments provides peace of mind
- Step-by-step tracking instructions for Etsy buyers
- Step-by-step tracking instructions for Etsy sellers
- What to do when orders have problems
- Pro tips and best practices
Monitoring orders closely and communicating promptly provides the ultimate customer service for shoppers and sellers alike! Please reach out with any other questions. Happy selling and buying to you!
