Etsy's Handmade Blog
Customer Care Tip: Creating a Reserved Listing
Story by CustomerCare, daniellexo
Published on September 16, 2008 in How-To 		Photo by

Anda

Dear Sellers,

Wondering how to reserve a listing in your shop for an inquiring buyer? It's easy as pie! Here's how:

1) Edit your item listing by going to Your Etsy>Currently For Sale>Edit

2) Click the edit icon (pencil) next to your item's title to change the title. Here you want to boldly state that this listing is reserved for your customer. For example, *Reserved for DANIELLEXO only - Diamond Necklace*. Making "reserved" the first word in your listing ensures that buyers can clearly see the item is reserved in the search results, both Gallery and List views.

3) Scroll down and enter this info in the item description as well. (Just in case the title was not sufficiently obvious!)

4) It is optional to use a special graphic or add text to your first photo stating this item is reserved.  This is an effective way of visually communicating to buyers that the item is not intended for them!

[Custom order image by CozyMoments]

5) Make sure you complete editing your listing by continuing to Step 5 and clicking "Finish".

And you're done! Now the item is back in your shop and clearly reserved for your customer. 

For more support Tips and Updates, check out our CustomerCare Featured Column on the Storque.

Tags Alchemy, Customer Care Tips, Customer Support, custom listings, custom orders, help, How-To, HOW-TO, reserved, reserved listings, Seller Handbook, sellers, selling, transactions, Your Shop
All articles in How-To
Related Items
This article was reported by:
Etsy Admin
CustomerCare
shop . profile . contact

Etsy Admin
daniellexo
shop . profile . contact

48 comments     Login to add your own!

Sept. 16, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. SushiGirl

Great article, thanks for putting this up!

Sept. 16, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. AdorableBaby

Thank you for this info. I didn't know you could do that. I had just created a whole separate reserved listing for a customer. Wish I'd read this first.

Sept. 16, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. PhospheneDream

Seems easy enough...thanks!

Sept. 16, 2008 at 8:17 p.m. beadnchainjewelry

Thanks, it's amazing how much you can learn if you just read.
I printed this article. Is it possible to print a user friendly in order to avoid all the extra print.
Jeannine

Sept. 16, 2008 at 9:05 p.m. rkdsign88

Thank you for sharing this useful information.

Sept. 16, 2008 at 9:38 p.m. WingsDove

This is so helpful. I have been creating new listings for reserved items. Thank you!

Sept. 16, 2008 at 9:59 p.m. mpaperarts

Smart idea to have the first word be "reserved" - didn't think of that! Thanks.

Sept. 16, 2008 at 10:09 p.m. ChicHatsandMore

Perfect information! Thanks for all your helpful ideas. Lotza Etsy Love!!

Sept. 16, 2008 at 10:09 p.m. batfineart

Great info! We appreciate how things can be expedited. Thanks!!

Sept. 16, 2008 at 11:23 p.m. OceanGrrl

so soon my photoshop is coming and i can make cool graphics once again!!! yay for etsy "how to"... thanks!

Sept. 17, 2008 at 12:24 a.m. BirdWatching

Great article! I need to make a new custom order image...some people have some really cute ones!

Sept. 17, 2008 at 12:26 a.m. CarolsCraftsAndMore

Thanks for that info! I was wondering how people did that!

Sept. 17, 2008 at 7:16 a.m. armorgan

Great article. I use Reserved Listing Graphics all the time!

Ang

Sept. 17, 2008 at 8:14 a.m. LillianAerin

Thanks for sharing!! I have always put up a new listing for my reserved items! Great tip!! ;)

Sept. 17, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. julietaromano

great article, very usefull.
thanks!

Sept. 17, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. KissCurl

Worth noting, for buyers who might want to keep a purchase private, you can omit the name or username in the title. This would get picked up in both Etsy and Google searches.

I've found just having RESERVED in the title works just fine.

Sept. 17, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. ArleenDesign

Great info! Now I know how to do it, when time comes. Thanks.

Sept. 17, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. MelaniesCreations

Good Info! Makes me feel better knowing that I did everything right!Thanks!

Sept. 17, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. BlackStar

I capitalize RESERVED in the title. I think it stands out more. And I have a Reserved section in both of my shops for these listings.

Sept. 17, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. rycrafty

I think the only thing I might change about this article, is to make it very clear that this does NOT reserve your item in the sense that only the username mentioned will be able to buy it. Technically, anyone can still buy it (if they can't read...).

Sept. 19, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. makemesmile

If you sell something that you can recreate:
I also edit the description by adding that if a viewer does like the item that is reserved I do take custom orders. =^x^=

Oct. 3, 2008 at 2:48 a.m. stoneandbone

Perfect, It was exactly what I needed.

Oct. 9, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. TheSpeeceCollection

I couldn't have discovered this at a better time! Thanks.

Oct. 14, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. ajsdesigns

Thanks for steering me in the right direction. And for your speedy response to my question. Thanks again!

Oct. 28, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. Dreastore

Just what I was looking for! Thanks!

Oct. 29, 2008 at 11:25 p.m. BebeToby

Cool! I never thought about doing a Reserve Image/Graphic! Great Idea!!

Nov. 28, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. bfas59

HOW LONG SHOULD I RESERVE AN ITEM??

Jan. 10, 2009 at 1:23 p.m. inkadinkadoodle

We've done it.... this works very well - Thanks!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. eleen

I know this is an old article, but wow I just loooooove craftpudding's reserved listing image!

March 1, 2009 at 11:34 p.m. tina4ron

Another nice thing on etsy to serve people! Thanks.

March 4, 2009 at 10:33 a.m. KellysGifts

This is a great article, thank you.

March 25, 2009 at 8:14 a.m. lizziboo

Thank you so much! A customer has just contacted me about making some more pins just like the ones she has already purchased. Now I know just what to do after I have made them! Awesome!

April 1, 2009 at 1:51 p.m. BarNoneProducts

Thanks for the information

April 14, 2009 at 4:04 p.m. StitchinStyle

Thank you Etsy, this is very valuble information

April 18, 2009 at 4:09 p.m. MarciaHovland

Thank you so much for the speedy answer,next time I can try your suggestion.Everything etsy is always explained carefully.

May 1, 2009 at 4:08 p.m. lovinglymadecards

thanks so much! want to be in the know to serve my customers better!

May 5, 2009 at 3:39 p.m. RomanceCatsAndWhimsy

This was very helpful -- good for sellers and good for Etsy. Thank you!

May 8, 2009 at 1:15 a.m. winksknits

I'm a newby and appreciate all the great info you send out to promote success. Thank You!

May 9, 2009 at 1:02 a.m. jANonCapeCod

great info, AND JUST IN TIME AS I just put up my first reserved sign, followed your directions to the letter, worked for me!

IT WAS MAGIC, READ YOUR ARTICLE, THEN RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM AN INTERESTED BUYER.....TA-daaa what did you put in that ink! (smile)

However, if the "RESERVE" changes their mind do I just delete,
the intro, sounds like it would work, hope I don't have to find out..........I had my first sale this week and now a "reserve",
perhaps the world is looking to ETSY for good stuff, hand made sounds really nice in this economy..."I'M GIDDY WITH EXCITEMENT"...
...thanks again for the 411.
jAN

May 13, 2009 at 2:55 a.m. BaysideBoutique

Excellent and easy to follow. Thanks.

May 21, 2009 at 11:51 p.m. jessicarogers

I was beginning to wonder about this - thanks for the info, very helpful!

Aug. 13, 2009 at 11:22 a.m. GlassTortoise

Excellent tutorial!

Aug. 31, 2009 at 10:20 a.m. JackieSpicer

Thank you for the info. Would love a way to make a special invoice for wholesale orders that includes items already listed with new the wholesale prices. PayPal has a way to make your own, but that would be after the purchase on Etsy.

Sept. 21, 2009 at 7:29 a.m. judygovintage

I was wondering what the protocol was when indeed, somebody (really new to etsy), purchased an item despite a reserve having been placed. Now I have to refund thru paypal so 1st customer is happy. There sounds like there will be one unhappy customer no matter what I do!

Oct. 23, 2009 at 5:56 p.m. StupidShinyDesigns

Thank you so much! I have quite a few custom orders and love to share the wonderful combinations I'm asked to put together just as examples of what can be done without having to keep all the supplies on hand to make more of the same. This totally works for me.

Mandy

Oct. 24, 2009 at 12:55 a.m. AnthroPhilanthropy

I'm so glad you addressed this! Just what I needed. Thank you.

Nov. 12, 2009 at 3:04 p.m. cissysdollfashions

Thank you so much for the information, we have some special orders and needed to know how to list them correctly for our customers.

Nov. 22, 2009 at 9:22 a.m. dolmakrtoo

Thanks for the info,Love this website there is something new everyday.I want to get some new things on sale real soon.

Previous Page | Next Page