How long should a seller take to post?

[springyzone]

I completely understand some sellers are moving their postage time out so that the estimated delivery dates that ebay comes up with will give them a bit of leeway.

I also understand that sellers can't be expected to be posting every day.

However, I recently bought a couple of similar, small craft items-the sort that could easily go in an envelope. One item from Australia, one from UK. Both with postage included.

That was about 10 days ago.

The aussie seller posted out a day or so later and it arrived soon after, I was extremely happy with it, so that was all done and dusted a week ago.

Now, the UK seller has not even posted it yet. They are a large concern-they have over 6 million listings on ebay. They do give themselves a handling time of 10 days but I honestly thought-big business, they are covering themselves, they are probably likely to ship it within a week.

My question is-am I being unreasonable to feel so annoyed? I think any business of that size should be capable of posting out in 7 days.

My perception is they are slack and I will probably ding any postage time star, to be honest.

[lyndal1838]

As long as they post within their handling time you have no cause for complaint IMO and to ding their stars would be petty.

[phorum_junkie*]

That is a new one, getting annoyed with a seller because they are up front and honest about their handling time. I can well understand why a large company would have a longish handling time, they are not just going to the cupboard to find one item amongst the hundred or so a small time seller may handle. It probably takes time for warehouse staff to locate items and then for other staff to process, package and wrap the item ready for sending. If you were going to be put out by the 10 day handling time you should not have purchased.

[Anonymous]

How do you know they have not posted it? did you ask if it's been sent  and they said no,or is it just they have not 'marked as sent' ? 

If it's the later, could they have simply forgotten to mark it has sent,or be otherwise engaged? 

Have you considered it was quite possibly sent the same day/day after you paid?

Even IF it has not been sent, you knew their handling time before chosing to buy from them, so I can't see why you're complaing now because you 'assumed' they were going to post sooner. Seems they were transpaernt and up front with their handling time from the get go

One would hope you would look at the post mark when it arrives before 'dinging' their stars

A bit pointles to compare it to another seller from another country, IMHO (and, after all, I'm assuming you asked to get other's opinions?)

[davidc4430]

a seller has to mark an item as sent/posted. i'm guessing this seller sells a lot of items. maybe your item was missed being marked as sent. i'd send a friendly message asking if it had been posted yet. as its overseas unless it was being tracked it might not get priorty in being marked as posted.

[springyzone]

Yes, I am interested in getting other opinions.

And yes, I did ask so it is fine if people give me the thumbs down, I was sort of expecting it.

I sent a message and received a reply that indicated (to me) that they employ a lot of people & office staff/factory staff don't necessarily communicate. I was told I will be sent an email once an item is posted & I have not received one.

So no, it has not been posted.

The ad said items were generally posted within 10 days.

Sorry, but I would expect most big sellers to be able to post out easily within 10 days. I often buy from Catch of the day and they don't post immediately either but always in under 10 days.

Yes, they were upfront but then again, I think a lot of buyers would expect 10 days to be the outside time, not the norm.

They have a few negs for not posting within the month. Mine will be joining them if they tried that on me.

I suppose the point that struck me is I don't think I am a bad buyer, I am usually pretty understanding. I don't think I am overly harsh. Unlike a lot of buyers, I do know some of the problems sellers face as I am occasionally one myself (not on this ID).

Yet I am feeling disgruntled. So if I am, I bet a lot of other buyers would be too. Just saying.

If they post within the next 48 hours and I get my item in time, I'll be quite reasonable. But I still think it is no way to run a business, puts people offside.

[twyngwyn]

if they have 6 million listings, I wonder how many items they SELL/NEED TO POST, everyday.....have a look at the sold items on the day you paid....you could very well be in a queue

[twyngwyn]

In Feb I went on a houseboat....before I went, I put my store on 'holiday mode' and didn't hide listings. I then, changed my handling time to 10 days, then changed it back to 1 day when I returned.

Who knows what the 'rules' are for UK sellers....

[lyndal1838]

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@springyzone wrote:

I suppose the point that struck me is I don't think I am a bad buyer, I am usually pretty understanding. I don't think I am overly harsh. Unlike a lot of buyers, I do know some of the problems sellers face as I am occasionally one myself (not on this ID).

Yet I am feeling disgruntled. So if I am, I bet a lot of other buyers would be too. Just saying.

If they post within the next 48 hours and I get my item in time, I'll be quite reasonable. But I still think it is no way to run a business, puts people offside.

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I would suggest that you got out of bed on the wrong side today.

"I am usually pretty understanding" definitely does not describe you in this case.

You knew the handling time and presumably accepted it at the time you paid and now you think it is unreasonable just because the seller has a huge number of listings. 

I suggest the huge number of listings (and presumably sales) is the very reason for the long handling time.

As long as the seller posts within their handling time I think it would be very unfair to ding their stars and put you firmly in the "buyer from hell" category, which I don't believe you really are.

[pennyforum14]

Dinging the seller's stars IMO would be petty and inapprorpriate.  If the listing shows a handling time of 10 days then they are entitled to post any time within those 10 days, and should not be penalised for doing so just because you think it should be quicker.  From my experience, the bigger the operation, the more time it takes to process adn fulfill orders.  The average home-based seller tends to move things out the door quicker.