Road Blocks To Etsy Shop Sales

This post was made by HeyMichelle one of my favorite Etsy Admin Peeps. My comments and additions are highlighted. Some of this post has been edited.
HeyMichelle says                   

YOU'RE GETTING VIEWS, BUT NOT SALES
1.  Perhaps the buyer has questions that are not answered in the listing. Between the photos and the descriptions, the buyer should know everything they need to to make the purchase decision. If you get a convo with a question( Take this information and add it to you listing asap) consider that there may have been more buyers with the question, but they didn't want to ask!

From another post ...here is what customers are looking for..

1. What color is it? The color on your computer monitor may not be the same as mine.
2. How big is it? As a buyer I don’t want to guess if that painting will fit over my fireplace or if those earrings are going to hang past my shoulders.
3. What is it made from? What materials and techniques are used?
4. How do I care for it? Can I wash and dry that wool sweater?
5. Who should buy it? or Who should NOT buy it? Is it appropriate for pregnant women? Children? Pets?
6. What is it used for? Is it decorative? Does it have a function? Both?
7. What does it feel like? Is that scarf soft to the touch? What’s the texture like? Is that necklace very heavy?
8. How does it work? Does it slip over my head? Is there a clasp? Do I tie it around my waist?
9. Why is this one better than the one in the next shop? What special skills, materials, or ideas do you use that make your item the best?

If you find that you're getting views but no sales, post in the Critiques forum ...I recommend the SASSY Team.

2. Shop policies that are blocking the sale: for example, saying that you're not responsible if the item doesn't arrive will turn the buyer away. Include insurance in the shipping price. See Shipping Choices Post for cost effective private insurance.

3. "Convo me before purchasing": do everything so the buyer can just purchase it.
4.  Add more items to the shop. Buyers like selection! (magic 100 number reminder here)
5. Prices are unusually low or high (I rarely see prices that are "too high"- almost not worth mentioning). Very low prices are more common, and may make the buyer question the quality of the item, and whether it's actually handmade. See Hitting the Sweet Spot Pricing Post.
                                                                                                                                                                                     

6. Shipping is unusually high:
Calculating Rates
Depending on the shipping service you use, you may need to calculate weights. For example, US First Class Mail uses weights, while Priority Mail rates may depend on the type of box or envelope you send the item in.
So whip out your measuring tape, kitchen or shipping scale.  You can get shipping scale cheap on eBay. Now that you know the weights and dimensions of the packages you offer, you can use your country’s postal service shipping calculator to determine the domestic and international rates for the countries you want to ship to. You may decide to factor in the price of your shipping materials into your shipping cost.

• USPS shipping calculator
• Canada Post – Find a Rate
• UK Royal Mail – Price Finder
• Australian Postage Assessment Calculator

7.  I read a while back that 30% of transactions involved a buyer and seller from different countries. Since buyers can choose to show only sellers who ship to them, having international shipping will increase your exposure. Again See Shipping as Part of Your Marketing Plan.

Eco-Friendly Vintage Jewelry Shipping Packaging

I sell vintage jewelry, in part because it is eco-friendly and gentle on the environment.  I would like my shipping packaging to be eco-friendly, light as possible (uses less jet fuel), durable (to protect my items) and as attractive as possible. So, I am always keeping an eye out for some creative solutions to my shipping problems. Here is an inspiring one from TrashN2Tees:


TrashN2Tees: "Green" Your Packaging
It’s really important for me, that my packaging reflects my product. It should be important to you as well- after all how you package your items have a lot to do with your shops brand. Here are some tips to “green” your packaging and add to your customers buying experience.

I started out shipping in handmade brown paper bag envelopes, they offered just the touch I was looking for. They were affordable, eco friendly, but not water proof or durable enough to handle the rigorous routes of the USPS. I suppose I should mention that they can get to be a tad bit time consuming when your shipping out several packages a week. Soon after opening up on Etsy (and running low on glue sticks) I decided to explore other shipping options.

Boxed Up:

• Right size your boxes! Choosing an appropriately-sized box for your product saves energy, cushioning supplies and reduces carbon emissions. You can also make smaller boxes out of bigger ones with a mat knife and a little packing tape. Get creative with green shipping!
• Find cardboard boxes made from recycled content – ask your shipping supplier for options. Recycled boxes are as strong as their counterparts, and by using them, you save trees, water and energy.
• If you can’t ship your products out in the same boxes you received them in, find another local business that can use them. You may even find a source for boxes to package your own merchandise

www.lifeboxcompany.com

I also found out about Life Box its a cardboard box that contains approximately one tree seed per square inch, so whether you send a Life Box or receive a Life Box, you could be responsible for starting a brand-new ecosystem. (Oh, how I wish they made envelopes! So neat!)

Fillers:

• Use shredded scrap paper or crumpled newspaper.
• Use previously-used peanuts for your green shipping endeavors. If you don’t need the peanuts you receive for your own shipping needs, call the Peanut Hotline at 800-828-2214 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 800-828-2214 end_of_the_skype_highlighting to find a drop-off location near you. Drop-off locations may also sell you the used peanuts they collect.
• If you need new peanuts, buy recycled or biodegradable. The ones made from cornstarch dissolve in water!
• Use recycled or recyclable bubble wrap and ask about take back or recycling programs offered by the manufacturer or your municipality. Even better, find a replacement for bubble wrap like cushioned craft packaging wrap.
• “Regift” what you can’t use! Many shipping storefronts will happily take used packing materials for future use.
• Using bubble wrap? Give it another chance- try using rubber bands to hold it in place instead of tape.
  
• Help your customers reuse and recycle. If you are using recyclable, reusable or biodegradable materials in your shipping, include a small note in your package or packing slip that instructs people how to reuse or recycle the packaging.

Green Field Paper Company

Don’t forget to include a handwritten note on plantable paper!

Shipping Choices are Part of Your Marketing Plan

99%  of the vintage jewelry I sell weighs between 3oz and 9oz. So the best choices are all from the USPS: first class mail, priority mail, and first class international. You need a tracking number (delivery comfirmation)and  you need insurance.You can go to the post office and pay but that is time consuming and you don't have a paper trail. You can get your labels off of paypal which is a great option for everything except first class international which doesn't offer insurance.https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/ship/center-outside

US Mail Assistant allows you to print First Class International Labels and customs forms (but no insurnace) http://www.usps.com/shippingassistant/  and you can get first class international insurance from Shipsurance
http://www.shipsurance.com/ which I hear has the best service and prices. Another alternative insurer for first class international mail is listed under the esty apps http://www.etsy.com/apps/25219144/shipsaver-insurance .No insurance is offered for all countries so I only sell to the countries I can get the insurance. I don't mail international without insurance.

I use Stamps.com which offers the ability to print any label (including first class mail and media mail) and offers first class international insurance for a very good price. They have a free 4-week trial. You receive a free 5lb digital scale ($50 value), $25 in free postage and a free supplies kit ($5 value). To continue I recommend you use the Stamps.com Pro at $15.99 per month. The scale plugs right into your computer and captures the weight right on the label. Very cool. The cost of the service is a wash for me, with savings on insurance and opening the world market to me for eBay and Paypal .http://www.stamps.com/legal/trial/

Note about Customs Forms: always be honest and never send an item as a gift, if the customer requests it. Warn in your policies that they are response for customs duties. Also, for safety sake, I describe my jewelry as used fashion accessories to deter theft.

I charge flat prices for mailing $3 for US and $7 for all international which includes insurance. If a US buyer purchases something over $35 then I upgrade to priority mail, as a thank you. This upgrade is $4.80 if you use the two flat rate options that I use: flat rate mailing envelope and small flat rate box. This packaging is free via post office or order on line. I don't offer free shipping , it never has worked as a marketing device for me, but the upgrade to priority is a welcome surprise to my customers.https://www.prioritymail.com/home.asp?purl=

Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Severe Weather,, War, Strikes....find out how this effects your shipping plans...
http://www.usps.com/international/serviceupdates.htm.