topic Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates in Selling

Ebay estimated delivery dates

yoda007 — Sat, 20 May 2017 07:49:40 GMT

Hi all, just thought i would share a response from ebay about estimated delivery dates. I have just put a sentence on all my listings to NOT rely on the ebay estimated delivery date as they are often incorrect. We are getting more cases opened against us from international buyers because the item had not arrived in expected time, yet we posted same day as purchase.

This is their response

Just to inform you that eBay estimated delivery date, is not incorrect. It is eBay system who calculated this, it is a collective data. We based it on other seller who delivered the same item from the item location, same as to you, posted to the location of the buyer. As long as your listing has the correct handling time, dimensions and weight. Then there is no reason for your item to be posted to your buyer, late.

What a joke, customs and postal delays overseas are plenty of reasons for delay in delivery. Sellers can never be on the right side, no matter if you post instantly, it is still our fault if the item is delayed.

I'm starting to get very tired of their nonsense and we have been selling for 19 years.

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

Anonymous — Sat, 20 May 2017 07:51:50 GMT

ebay also believe that there are mail deliveries on public holidays

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

davewil1964 — Sat, 20 May 2017 09:30:05 GMT

@yoda007 wrote:
Hi all, just thought i would share a response from ebay about estimated delivery dates. I have just put a sentence on all my listings to NOT rely on the ebay estimated delivery date as they are often incorrect. We are getting more cases opened against us from international buyers because the item had not arrived in expected time, yet we posted same day as purchase.
This is their response
Just to inform you that eBay estimated delivery date, is not incorrect. It is eBay system who calculated this, it is a collective data. We based it on other seller who delivered the same item from the item location, same as to you, posted to the location of the buyer. As long as your listing has the correct handling time, dimensions and weight. Then there is no reason for your item to be posted to your buyer, late.

What a joke, customs and postal delays overseas are plenty of reasons for delay in delivery. Sellers can never be on the right side, no matter if you post instantly, it is still our fault if the item is delayed.
I'm starting to get very tired of their nonsense and we have been selling for 19 years.

They might like to edit that - 'not incorrect' equals correct. And they admit it is a guess.

Plus you're assuming buyers read the fine print, much less any of the description. Also, your disclaimer will not prevent a buyer opening a case for INR, nor stop eBay refunding them with your money if tracking doesn't show delivered.

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

springyzone — Sat, 20 May 2017 09:53:11 GMT

@davewil1964 wrote:
@yoda007 wrote:
Hi all, just thought i would share a response from ebay about estimated delivery dates. I have just put a sentence on all my listings to NOT rely on the ebay estimated delivery date as they are often incorrect. We are getting more cases opened against us from international buyers because the item had not arrived in expected time, yet we posted same day as purchase.
This is their response
Just to inform you that eBay estimated delivery date, is not incorrect. It is eBay system who calculated this, it is a collective data. We based it on other seller who delivered the same item from the item location, same as to you, posted to the location of the buyer. As long as your listing has the correct handling time, dimensions and weight. Then there is no reason for your item to be posted to your buyer, late.

What a joke, customs and postal delays overseas are plenty of reasons for delay in delivery. Sellers can never be on the right side, no matter if you post instantly, it is still our fault if the item is delayed.
I'm starting to get very tired of their nonsense and we have been selling for 19 years.
They might like to edit that - 'not incorrect' equals correct. And they admit it is a guess.

Plus you're assuming buyers read the fine print, much less any of the description. Also, your disclaimer will not prevent a buyer opening a case for INR, nor stop eBay refunding them with your money if tracking doesn't show delivered.

They wouldn't want to edit it as that is exactly what they mean-they believe the ebay estimated delivery date is correct.

But yes, it it based on a best guess.

Presumably they look at all the replies to "Did your item arrive by such and such a date?"

This is where it would be good if they didn't use the answer to penalise sellers who posted on time but whose goods arrive 'late'. At the moment some buyers don't reply at all if an item was late, they don't want to affect the seller.

People really need to be able to give honest answers because if all the time they see people ticking yes, they assume their estimates are bang on accurate.

And often they are not.

Not much point putting a sentence like that in an ad though, I agree. Just puts buyers' backs up to some extent. Sounds a bit like making excuses for slow postage. I know maybe it is not, but it can sound like it.

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

yoda007 — Sat, 20 May 2017 10:53:37 GMT

The reason I thought I should put it on is we have buyers that are upset that their item didn't arrive as ebay estimated as they need the item for a special event and want their money back if it doesnt arrive in time for the event.. The last one said she would never have bought if she thought it would not get there in the specified time.

I realise as sellers we don't have a leg to stand on and cases will still get opened regarding this but thought it might limit it.

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

*tippy*toes* — Sat, 20 May 2017 16:38:57 GMT

@yoda007 wrote:
Hi all, just thought i would share a response from ebay about estimated delivery dates. I have just put a sentence on all my listings to NOT rely on the ebay estimated delivery date as they are often incorrect. We are getting more cases opened against us from international buyers because the item had not arrived in expected time, yet we posted same day as purchase.
This is their response
Just to inform you that eBay estimated delivery date, is not incorrect. It is eBay system who calculated this, it is a collective data. We based it on other seller who delivered the same item from the item location, same as to you, posted to the location of the buyer. As long as your listing has the correct handling time, dimensions and weight. Then there is no reason for your item to be posted to your buyer, late.

What a joke, customs and postal delays overseas are plenty of reasons for delay in delivery. Sellers can never be on the right side, no matter if you post instantly, it is still our fault if the item is delayed.
I'm starting to get very tired of their nonsense and we have been selling for 19 years.

I read that as them thinking you were posting outside of your handling time, hence the item arriving after the estimate.

The really annoying thing about the estimate is buyers see it as gospel. I've lost track of how many feedbacks I've seen for sellers where they have complained it's 1 or 2 days late. I blame ebay for that. After all, they tell buyers if it hasn't arrived by the date in the listing, they can have their money back and then keep the item when it arrives the next day.

This is the very reason I blew my handling time out to 5 days, but still post same or next day. It fattens out the estimate.

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

springyzone — Sat, 20 May 2017 23:22:55 GMT

@*tippy*toes* wrote:
@yoda007 wrote:
Hi all, just thought i would share a response from ebay about estimated delivery dates. I have just put a sentence on all my listings to NOT rely on the ebay estimated delivery date as they are often incorrect. We are getting more cases opened against us from international buyers because the item had not arrived in expected time, yet we posted same day as purchase.
This is their response
Just to inform you that eBay estimated delivery date, is not incorrect. It is eBay system who calculated this, it is a collective data. We based it on other seller who delivered the same item from the item location, same as to you, posted to the location of the buyer. As long as your listing has the correct handling time, dimensions and weight. Then there is no reason for your item to be posted to your buyer, late.

What a joke, customs and postal delays overseas are plenty of reasons for delay in delivery. Sellers can never be on the right side, no matter if you post instantly, it is still our fault if the item is delayed.
I'm starting to get very tired of their nonsense and we have been selling for 19 years.
I read that as them thinking you were posting outside of your handling time, hence the item arriving after the estimate.

The really annoying thing about the estimate is buyers see it as gospel. I've lost track of how many feedbacks I've seen for sellers where they have complained it's 1 or 2 days late. I blame ebay for that. After all, they tell buyers if it hasn't arrived by the date in the listing, they can have their money back and then keep the item when it arrives the next day.

This is the very reason I blew my handling time out to 5 days, but still post same or next day. It fattens out the estimate.

That is how I read it too. In fact, if i were the seller, I would be highlighting that sentence and replying to ebay. Don't let accusations like that slip past. I would say that no, I post very quickly after a sale, within 24 hours, but have no control over the postal service.

But to do that, the seller would need to have proof of date of postage.

I think it is sensible of sellers to extend their handling time out to cover themselves. I also think ebay is not happy this is happening as it is making estimated delivery times look slower. I am sure at times they think to themselves- eg this or that seller should not be taking 5 days to post an item. They don't realise often the sellers post within a day, they are just covering their backsides.

Ebay would be better to take note only of postage dates, not arrival dates. And reward sellers who have proof of postage within 48 hours of a sale.

Yes, buyers do see the estimated arrival date as pretty much the benchmark. Nothing is going to change that.

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

collect247 — Sat, 20 May 2017 23:30:50 GMT

Very simple solution is to get rid of the estimated arrival dates all together and finally stop punishing sellers for things that are out of the sellers control.

Rules need to be based on facts and not fiction

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

springyzone — Sat, 20 May 2017 23:49:39 GMT

I read somewhere else in another thread that ebay was thinking of introducing some sort of category for sellers where they could opt in to a system where they guarantee to post items within a certain time frame. I forget exactly what the time frame was, but 24-48 hours I assume, or something like that.

I think if sellers could opt into that (and only that condition) where they uploaded proof with tracking number, then ebay could change the focus to 'Recommended seller, Guaranteed postage out to you within 48 hours.' That is something that sellers have control over, it's factual and can be proven.

Although ebay writes estimated arrival times, they are just that, estimates.

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

mystical4573 — Mon, 22 May 2017 01:42:41 GMT

The last 8-10 late shipping defects/feedbacks I have had removed because items were posted on time but it is still a pain having to ring ebay constantly to get them removed.I did notice before all my sales died that when recieving these late shipment defects that my sales dropped until they removed them??

I have now worked out that I have had to include a leaflet in with my items explaining that if the buyer leaves me a late shipment defect due to Australia posts delivery time it is affecting my ebay.Sice doing this I have hardly had any late shipment defects put against me.

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

trawlerocean — Mon, 22 May 2017 03:08:21 GMT

l wrote in my ads for a while that the Australian postage time and system is out of my control, and l could not promise when an item would be delivered, Ebay wrote to me and told me l was not allowed to say that in my ad.....go figure!

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

yoda007 — Mon, 22 May 2017 07:29:40 GMT

Yeah, a leaflet is a good idea, will do that, thank you.

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

yoda007 — Mon, 22 May 2017 07:33:01 GMT

Thanks
I have written back to them, highlighting that sentence and letting them know we send within 24 hours, I will see what they get back to me with.

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

digital*ghost — Mon, 22 May 2017 12:23:09 GMT

@yoda007 wrote:

Just to inform you that eBay estimated delivery date, is not incorrect. It is eBay system who calculated this, it is a collective data. We based it on other seller who delivered the same item from the item location, same as to you, posted to the location of the buyer. As long as your listing has the correct handling time, dimensions and weight. Then there is no reason for your item to be posted to your buyer, late.

Haha, love it! The same item, from the same location, to the same location? What are the odds of that happening often enough to even collect enough data to calculate a reliable ETA?

I love how they make it sound like that's a perfectly reasonable response to have to the issue - I have some international buyers who will receive some of their orders in a week, and other orders in around 4-5 weeks, so eBay would be well aware of there being virtually no consistency to delivery timeframes. It sure would be nice if they stopped pretending like there is.

Australia Post should be taken to task over this issue as well, half the reason international ETAs are so short is because Aus Post quote the time it takes to land in customs in the other country, and more often than not, it's the optimum timeframe to boot (i.e. when they say 6 business days to the US, they mean it will be at US customs in around 6 days), but eBay use that as the basis for delivery timeframes. If you actually go to the PO and send a parcel OS, their computer systems almost always quote a different, longer timeframe - you the words I've heard said by staff countless times in response to customers saying things like "it says 6 days online"?

"Let me just look up the actual timeframe".

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

springyzone — Tue, 23 May 2017 01:19:40 GMT

@digital*ghost wrote:
@yoda007 wrote:

Just to inform you that eBay estimated delivery date, is not incorrect. It is eBay system who calculated this, it is a collective data. We based it on other seller who delivered the same item from the item location, same as to you, posted to the location of the buyer. As long as your listing has the correct handling time, dimensions and weight. Then there is no reason for your item to be posted to your buyer, late.

Haha, love it! The same item, from the same location, to the same location? What are the odds of that happening often enough to even collect enough data to calculate a reliable ETA?

I love how they make it sound like that's a perfectly reasonable response to have to the issue - I have some international buyers who will receive some of their orders in a week, and other orders in around 4-5 weeks, so eBay would be well aware of there being virtually no consistency to delivery timeframes. It sure would be nice if they stopped pretending like there is.

Australia Post should be taken to task over this issue as well, half the reason international ETAs are so short is because Aus Post quote the time it takes to land in customs in the other country, and more often than not, it's the optimum timeframe to boot (i.e. when they say 6 business days to the US, they mean it will be at US customs in around 6 days), but eBay use that as the basis for delivery timeframes. If you actually go to the PO and send a parcel OS, their computer systems almost always quote a different, longer timeframe - you the words I've heard said by staff countless times in response to customers saying things like "it says 6 days online"?

"Let me just look up the actual timeframe".

Delivery times are out of a seller's hands as they aren't necessarily consistent even if it is the same item to the same place.

True story: My 2 daughters were in London & both went into a post office together to post their sleeping bags home here. (They were continuing on another tour & wanted to lighten their luggage.) The sleeping bags were in 2 separate parcels.

So-identical packages, identical weights, identical postage paid in exactly the same PO at exactly the same time to exactly the same address.

One arrived here within the week.

The other didn't. We in fact gave it up for lost as it still was not here even a month after the girls got back from their trip.

One day it arrived-must have been over 2 or 3 months after being posted.

No idea why the difference-maybe one came air, the other sea?

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

sugarbydesign — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 23:43:06 GMT

When will eBay rectify this issue. I have my listings showing as fast and free, Can I remove this? I’m darned sure Australia Post can’t get a letter from nsw to wa in under 4 business days. It all goes by road.
I am genuinely gobsmacked by the stupidity displayed y such a large company.

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

clubesquire — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 00:40:57 GMT

Gobsmacked goes close, but sort of fails for a more appropriate word to explain away gross stupidity and absence of responsible due diligence, in my opinion.

Try this with an important delivery you have to make. In our case I'm talking about AP. Ask if they can 'guarantee' delivery on a certain date. You know what the answer will be. They can't and don't. The closest you'll get is, 'Yes it should arrive by then'. Yet eBay, in its greater wisdom will guarantee 'delivery by dates' on behalf of agencies that can't and won't. I don't like using words like gross stupidity, because it's confrontational and belittling, but in the face of what are the facts of the matter, I just can't find a more deserving or appropriate descriptor.

All it does is add to the existing confusion, create false expectations and pre-emptively lay out the criteria and scenario of what must inevitably lead to disharmony between seller and buyer. Gross what!!

The responses from eBay appear to be based on anything but evidence based fact - how truly unprofessional and amateurish.

We've not been 'stung' yet, but this policy also 'guarantees' that at some time, we inevitably will.

Common sense left the building long before Elvis did.

Melina.

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

davewil1964 — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 01:05:14 GMT

Have you put in a WA postcode to see what the postage time says?

If you are logged in as yourself and have one day or less handling time (and 'free' postage) then of course your items will show 'fast and free' as it shouldn't take long for your items to get from your postcode to your postcode.

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

lyndal1838 — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 01:17:30 GMT

sugarbydesign wrote:
When will eBay rectify this issue. I have my listings showing as fast and free, Can I remove this? I’m darned sure Australia Post can’t get a letter from nsw to wa in under 4 business days. It all goes by road.
I am genuinely gobsmacked by the stupidity displayed y such a large company.

Using a WA postcode your items are just showing as Free Postage with estimated delivery dates of between 4 and 11 days.

Fast and free will only show to buyers who are in a postcode area where the items can be delivered within the timeframe.

You also need to remember that ebay rarely take weekends and public holidays into account.

Edit....SNAP Dave....you type faster than I do, obviously.

Re: Ebay estimated delivery dates

sugarbydesign — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 01:19:53 GMT

I wish you were right davewil, post from here takes 2-6 business days according to Australia Post.
Unfortunately my WA customer is given a delivery date of this Friday if purchased today. That’s 4 business days.
I’m not exactly sure how long that mail truck takes to get from nsw to wa but I’m pretty sure it’s a darn long drive. Sadly there is no other option for a longer shipping timeframe from the drop down list to select.
My experience is that the letter sized ‘fast and free’ packs I send take approx 10 days, 8 if I attach a priority stamp.
Maybe someone has a solution or a way that I can remove this ‘ fast and free’ option.
Until then, happy new year!!!