topic Re: Increase handling time? in Selling

Increase handling time?

jdlmk11 — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 00:13:57 GMT

I am considering increasing my handling time from 24hours to 2 or 3 days to allow for slower mail delivery by Aust Post. Will this affect my Premium Service status on eBay?

Re: Increase handling time?

robinsonmarineparts — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 00:25:01 GMT

Hello, IMO there is no " Premium Service" on Ebay.

Yes it will affect the badge, but it will give you so much peace knowing that you have a little extra time up your sleeve.

It, hasen't effected my sales so far.

Re: Increase handling time?

jdlmk11 — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 00:31:14 GMT

I have read on a few forum topics that Premium Service does not exist. Does this mean that eBay does not reward PS sellers with better search positions etc? Does it just mean you get the badge that looks good to buyers?

Re: Increase handling time?

robinsonmarineparts — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 00:42:41 GMT

I certainly don't know 100% either way, but in my field i can say without prejudices that other sellers with dearer prices, less sales, not as good feedback, charging seperate for postage, no badge,longer handling times have been known to have higher search ranking than us / me on Ebay search, hence why i'm changing to what suits us.

Re: Increase handling time?

jdlmk11 — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 00:51:10 GMT

Thanks I think increased handling time will save me grief with people opening eBay cases and not willing to wait for the snail mail. To arrive, even though out of my hands.

Re: Increase handling time?

robinsonmarineparts — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 01:20:56 GMT

I did, i still get ' wheres my item' but alot less now than before.

I can see Ebay having to change this ridiculous handling time system, because people are opting out of the same day or 1 day system because of unrealistic delivery times.

Ebay's lives in a fantasy world where as most of us have to live in the real world where things do go wrong.

Re: Increase handling time?

kopenhagen5 — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 02:00:38 GMT

@jdlmk11 wrote:
I have read on a few forum topics that Premium Service does not exist. Does this mean that eBay does not reward PS sellers with better search positions etc? Does it just mean you get the badge that looks good to buyers?

Yes, I think so. Just a gold star on your page.

And going by what others have said over time, Prem Serv doesn't appear to effect sales once it's gone.

Re: Increase handling time?

elegant--u — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 04:50:01 GMT

I have changed all my letter post to 3 days handling and 2 days for all parcels, and I have never been busier ??? go figure

I am also getting hardly any "Where is my item", get lots of feedback about fast postage, so it is working for me.

Re: Increase handling time?

*tippy*toes* — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 05:44:33 GMT

SInce changing my handling time from 1 day to 5, I've had no, I repeat NO, "where's my parcel?". I have also not had a reduction in sales. I still aim to post same or next day (work permitting). The only messages I get now are thanks for getting the item to them before the first estimate date. All that has happened is I've relaxed a bit and a lot of pressure has been lifted. It also allows me a bit of breathing space on the rare occasion that it takes 2 days to get to the PO.

As long as you keep posting same or next day as you've been doing, your buyers will be happier because the items will arrive before the first date or smack in the middle of the estimate.

As for the badge, from a buyers perspective, I take absolutely no notice of a badge and won't buy from one seller as opposed to another because one has a badge and the other doesn't. I am the same with TRS. Couldn't care less if a seller is TRS or not. I doubt I'm the only one that feels that way.

Re: Increase handling time?

clarry100 — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 06:23:05 GMT

I 100% agree with Tippy on this one.

We have changed our handling time out to 3-days and the only change we have noticed is that the little Premium Service badge has disappeared. Of course, we are still mailing on the same/next day as we always did.

But no additional complaints of item not arrived yet.

So I'd advise go ahead and increase your handling time for peace of mind and reduced late arrival defects.

Re: Increase handling time?

rocket2retro — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 23:47:32 GMT

I have also changed miine from 1 day to 3 days. I have not noticed any difference and I still post everyday. It just goes to show how ridiculous the eBay system is when sellers who've had 1 day handling for years feel the need to to extend it (just to comply with the useless system).

Re: Increase handling time?

clarry100 — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 21:38:24 GMT

Just as an add-on to this....

What we are noticing since we increased our handling time to 3-days...

We are seeing more & more in the feedback comments saying things like "extremely fast postage" or "arrived well before expected delivery time", and similar.

And we are not getting any NO answers to the delivery date questions.

So its looking like xtending out our handling time is a positive thing to do.

Re: Increase handling time?

*tippy*toes* — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 23:34:37 GMT

I think eBay has shot themselves in the foot with this postage defect thing. I believe over time more and more sellers will opt for an extended handling time and give up their precious badge due to defects. Call it self preservation.Tracking shows that 2 items arrived yesterday to interstate buyers. Both arrived 5 days before the first estimate date!

I don't generally check tracking numbers unless there's an issue, but My Post notified me that both had arrived. About 4 weeks ago I started adding the ETA's to my sold items as a "note", just as a short term, 3 month study to see what happens. Once a tracked item is showing as delivered, the ETA disappears, so no way of checking. So far everything has arrived before the first estimate date. I was quite happy with yesterdays deliveries arriving 5 days before the first date!

I saw someone the other day had a handling time of 20 days. Probably a bit excessive, but if that's what stops them being defected off eBay for something that is totally out of their control, good luck to them! Interestingly, their feedback were all saying similar things. How impressed the buyers were that their item arrived well before the estimate.