topic Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops? in Selling

Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

pennyforum14 — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 06:20:13 GMT

I need to set my shops AWAY at the end of May for about 6 weeks. Is this likely to cause me any issues? I use 30 day listings with free relists on one and GTC on the other. The GTC shop has less items than my free monthly allocation so if the clock keeps ticking while I am on Away settings, presumably they will relist and the free listings will prevent any account buildup? Is an out of office message and invisible listings the best way to go?

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

twyngwyn — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 06:46:03 GMT

I went away for a week....didn't leave any invisible listings but changed my handling time to 10 days, then reverted when I returned....all good feedback

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

egglesdtp — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 06:47:45 GMT

Penny - if you are going to be away for 6 weeks, I think it would be best if your listings were invisible.

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

pennyforum14 — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 07:01:20 GMT

Definitely eggles, that was the plan. I just wondered if there was a limit to how long you could be away for, and if I needed to actually end everything rather than just making them invisible.

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

kopenhagen5 — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 08:11:50 GMT

6 weeks holiday, who's a lucky penny.

Don't know what type of stores you have but is worthwhile just closing the stores until you return ?

Save a few dollars.

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

pennyforum14 — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 08:32:12 GMT

Very lucky kopes, heading OS, never done that before.

I'd rather not close the stores, I think I will just make everything invisible and add an out of office message. I don't plan to even check emails while away, too much to cram into the trip. Is the shop itself visible even though the listings are not? Is there a way to put a message in the shop front? I want to cover all bases and make sure no sales slip past.

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

englishrosegardens — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 08:50:29 GMT

@pennyforum14 wrote:
Very lucky kopes, heading OS, never done that before.

I'd rather not close the stores, I think I will just make everything invisible and add an out of office message. I don't plan to even check emails while away, too much to cram into the trip. Is the shop itself visible even though the listings are not? Is there a way to put a message in the shop front? I want to cover all bases and make sure no sales slip past.

I set my shop to away for 24 hours every weekend. Your listings will roll over as normal, whether they're on gtc or auto relisting.

The shop is visible but it'll show 0 listings if you hide everything (which is definitely advisable). People can still see items they have on watch but they aren't able to buy them.

You can put a message in your shop front. It happens automatically - when you tick the holiday setting you can select a return date from the little calendar but there's also a box where you can put a message. The standard message is ebay's one about "this seller is currently away, blah blah blah" but you can change that to whatever you want. I put mine in bold, large writing in a bright colour and put a couple of returns above and below it so it stands out.

I never have an out of office response. If they can see my shop is closed then they can jolly well wait until I'm back for a reply! I've been away for over a month at times and rarely had more than one question for the whole time. Most say "when you return" so I don't think it's an issue if you have a return date clearly displayed. You could also put in your message to please not send messages as they'll just clog up your inbox.

Edit: forgot to add that I think I was away for 6 weeks once. Ebay aren't going to care whether you're away or not, so long as they're still getting fees from your shop.

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

englishrosegardens — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 09:05:29 GMT

If you've never set your stores to away before you can experiment and do it for 5 minutes and then set it back again to normal. It takes a while for your listings to 'disappear' (and to show again) so you can click on your shop page to check what others will see before they have a chance to disappear.

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

digital*ghost — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 10:42:25 GMT

@pennyforum14 wrote:
Is the shop itself visible even though the listings are not? Is there a way to put a message in the shop front? I want to cover all bases and make sure no sales slip past.

The shop structure is visible, the listings aren't, unless someone has a direct link to a listing (such as via a watch list), then the listing is viewable in full, but they can not purchase (if they try, eBay will say they can't buy right now, but they can add the item to their watch list to purchase later).

I don't know how long a shop can be on holdiday settings for, but I have seen a few that had visible listings and were showing as away until a date about 2 months ahead. I just tried to check how far ahead eBay's calendar would go for the return date, but I stopped halfway through 2017

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

pennyforum14 — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 10:54:32 GMT

Thanks everyone, sounds like I have nothing to worry about then. I haven't had this big a break in 15 years. The last thing I need is to be worrying about things back home.

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

*tippy*toes* — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 10:55:02 GMT

I'd also be inclined to shut up shop a week or so before departure. Last thing you need is a sale just as you are about to walk out the door. Even a sale the day before that you can post before you leave, you want to allow enough time for any potential issues. You don't want to come home to 10 closed disputes in favour of the buyer that you would have won had you been able to respond.

Where are you off to? I'm very jealous, I've never had a passport, let alone gone overseas anywhere (unless you count Tassie!)

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

pennyforum14 — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 11:18:32 GMT

England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, with a side trip to Paris for a couple of nights (anniversary celebrations). Trip of a lifetime, so I can't wait.

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

egglesdtp — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 11:38:42 GMT

Have a wonderful trip Penny.

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

kopenhagen5 — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 12:35:52 GMT

Fantastic penny.

Definitely make sure you don't need to think of emails or anything else.

First time overseas, what an eye opener.

Hope you have the best time. Pity you couldn't fit in Denmark, Lol.

Maybe next time.

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

*tippy*toes* — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 13:45:09 GMT

@pennyforum14 wrote:
England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, with a side trip to Paris for a couple of nights (anniversary celebrations). Trip of a lifetime, so I can't wait.

Oh wow! That sounds awesome! You won't want to come home after 6 weeks. I plan to own a passport before I die. I'd love to feel that first feeling when you walk out of the airport "holy cow, I'm in a different country!"

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

phorum_junkie* — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 05:32:29 GMT

Give me a wave as you go between England and Scotland, I go home at the end of April and live about 10k south of the border with Scotland on the west side. Right on the edge of the Lake District National Park one of the must sees if you are 'doing' the English countryside.

When I go home if I have a lot of variation listings I have sometimes set my store on holiday mode for the entire 6 months, the twenty bucks a month is worth it not having to revise all the variations to account for sales in Turbo Lister.

Other than the cost it has never caused many problems, occasionally there have been category changes but I do check my ebay account now and then and can update or change things even though they are not visible to everyone else.

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

clarry100 — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 06:38:28 GMT

Ooooh! Lakes district. Wonderful part of England.

We lived in Lancashire in a little village called Hurst Green (between Longridge and Clitheroe) for a couple of years. Work related trip with BAE Systems. So not too far from your Lakes District PJ

Penny I hope you have a lovely and well deserved break.

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

pennyforum14 — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 06:49:28 GMT

Wow, you get year round summers PJ, how cool is that!

What would you recommend for clothing to pack for June and July? I have been watching the weather sites and they all say it should be warm across England and Wales, but I thought it might be cooler up in Scotland? Should we pack some winter warmers too?

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

twyngwyn — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 07:03:10 GMT

yes, and long johns....

Re: Is there a time limit on Away mode for shops?

clarry100 — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 08:41:50 GMT

If it gets up to 20C in Scotland they will be sweltering. LOL

When we were in Edinburgh it was a balmy, but beautiful, 16C and they were out in the parks everywhere with shirts off. We had our cardies on.

Where we were in Lancashire they were complaining of the heat at 23C.

London area at around 30C.