on 05-03-2019 10:08 PM
Solved! Go to Solution.
on 06-03-2019 11:20 AM
@wp_extras wrote:
I’m a seller on eBay and have been complaining to CS because the estimated time they show to buyers are over inflated. What I mean is that if a customer buys something from me now (10pm local on a Tuesday), it is showing that it would arrive by Friday of the same week.
I was going to point out that the estimates eBay show are based on the postcode set for the person viewing the item, but I'm in SA and the first item I looked at says Friday 8th - Tuesday 12th. The problem likely stems from the fact that the buyer's who are complaining, are conveniently forgetting the estimation had a range. This wasn't an item that had the handling time changed, though - it shows as same day dispatch if I purchase within 3 hours - the estimate would change by 2-3 days if it had a 2-day handling time.
The estimates are based on the delivery quotes given by Aus Post, yes, but eBay (say they) modify them based on recorded delivery timeframes. But the thing to remember is eBay doesn't really care about managing buyer's expectations, they care about getting the sale, so they show the optimum information. This means sellers who do want to more adequately manage buyer's expectations (for their own sake as well as their buyers), have a choice to make - be honest about what you do (post same day), or be realistic about what your buyer will get. I prefer the latter, though I know I lose a sale here and there, it's worth it to not have to deal with angry people, but instead have a lot of impressed buyers because their package arrived a little earlier than ebay said.
on 06-03-2019 12:26 PM
05-03-2019 10:11 PM - edited 05-03-2019 10:11 PM
on 05-03-2019 10:13 PM
on 05-03-2019 10:13 PM
Add a few days to your handling time to allow for AP being slow.
on 05-03-2019 10:21 PM
on 05-03-2019 10:26 PM
I take it you use letter post instead of parcel and the ebay system would be allowing parcel post times not letter. I try and add a few days handling time on items posted by letter as it will go over estimated times otherwise.
on 05-03-2019 10:35 PM
on 05-03-2019 10:39 PM
on 06-03-2019 07:28 AM
There are lots of Sellers getting into strife because of their short handling times. Personally I wouldn't have a short handling time, no matter what carrots eBay dangles (carrots generally contain a hidden hook). It is just not worth the hassle. I really doubt that a short handling time makes any difference to most customers, it certainly doesn't to me when I buy. I have a 10 day handling time and this gives the "estimated delivery time" plenty of scope for the items to arrive in time. I post same or next day and everything arrives ahead of estimated time and the customers are extremely happy. I have noticed of late that the 10 day handling time does not show on my listings, only the estimated arrival time, and that has the ten days included as a buffer. As I do not own a crystal ball, and believe in Murphy's law "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong", and then considering how erratic Australia Posts delivery times can be, and also all the possible things that could go wrong...all sorts of emergency situations that could arrise and prevent me from getting my parcels out in time, then I would not dare to offer what I cannot guarantee to fulfil, and this is what eBay asks you to do when you list a short handling time. Then Sellers wonder why they have hassles. I am sorry, but I am not very sympathetic, it is, after all, a matter of common sense.
on 06-03-2019 11:20 AM
@wp_extras wrote:
I’m a seller on eBay and have been complaining to CS because the estimated time they show to buyers are over inflated. What I mean is that if a customer buys something from me now (10pm local on a Tuesday), it is showing that it would arrive by Friday of the same week.
I was going to point out that the estimates eBay show are based on the postcode set for the person viewing the item, but I'm in SA and the first item I looked at says Friday 8th - Tuesday 12th. The problem likely stems from the fact that the buyer's who are complaining, are conveniently forgetting the estimation had a range. This wasn't an item that had the handling time changed, though - it shows as same day dispatch if I purchase within 3 hours - the estimate would change by 2-3 days if it had a 2-day handling time.
The estimates are based on the delivery quotes given by Aus Post, yes, but eBay (say they) modify them based on recorded delivery timeframes. But the thing to remember is eBay doesn't really care about managing buyer's expectations, they care about getting the sale, so they show the optimum information. This means sellers who do want to more adequately manage buyer's expectations (for their own sake as well as their buyers), have a choice to make - be honest about what you do (post same day), or be realistic about what your buyer will get. I prefer the latter, though I know I lose a sale here and there, it's worth it to not have to deal with angry people, but instead have a lot of impressed buyers because their package arrived a little earlier than ebay said.