Postal system from China has gone to pot

[aps1080]

This free postage that ebay likes, in the past - a year or two ago - if I purcahsed something, I had it really quickly.

Now, yes, free postage but in the last 2 weeks, I have had to ask for refunds from 3 sellers because items hadn't turned up.

And since getting the refunds 2 days ago, 2 of the items have turned up, nearly double the expected delivery time - going by the chart the seller provides.

Yes, I wanted the items faster but I wasn't chamoing at the bit because they were very low $ value and I only asked for a refund based on people on here telling me that don't let it go past 43 days.

Anyway, I have messaged the sellers and told them I am sending the money back to them !

[digital*ghost]

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@i-love-my-sheep wrote:

There's obviously some reason why the mid October shipping from China was delayed, but who knows what it could be? Hopefully we'll get our stuff soon!

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The seller of the 15th October purchase has blamed customs, but who knows - the tracking status "sent abroad" means it's cleared customs (because it comes after processing and clearance 😄 ), and the next update was when it arrived in Oz, so it either sat around waiting to be moved for a while, came by ship, or didn't do anything when it hit Australia....

In thinking about it, I suspect October to be a high volume selling month for goods from China - 2-3 months out from Christmas, vendors stocking up and consumers making sure they have plenty of time to receive (or sort things out if they don't), it's certainly the last time I did a lot of purchasing from there that wasn't from an independent wholesaler.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend being as lax as I am to others, but I haven't bothered asking for refunds or even letting some of sellers know the stuff is late yet - the packages I'm waiting on are all from the same company (different eBay IDs, but same business none the less), and I've dealt with them a few years now, I know that even past the cut off for disputes and feedback, if I ask I'll get a refund, but I'd rather not because if I have to repay, I'll be paying more cos the Aussie $ is lower than it was in Oct. 

[i-love-my-sheep]

One of my sellers said the delay could be due to the APEC summit in China and the G20 summit in Aus. Not exactly sure how that could cause delays, but that's their theory.

I'm more inclined to think it could be what you said. Mid Oct being a peak buying time. My delivery guy normally drops off around 8am, so it looks like nothing is going to arrive today. The postie is due soon, so I'm hoping he might have something, even just a little red card.

[i-love-my-sheep]

I got all excited. The postie knocked on my door with a small package. Sadly, it wasn't one of the delayed ones. It was one posted on the 11/11 😞

There's always tomorrow!

[i-love-my-sheep]

One of my missing orders arrived today!! This one was posted 13/10. I'd already received 2 later orders from this seller, which is why I was worrying. I now have hope that my other missing ones might turn up too! YAY!!

[jerryman12a]

About 90% of my items ( jewellery making components) purchased from sellers in China offering free postage take 28-40 days to arrive . Sometimes they arrive in 14 days which might be because some sellers use a better postage option .

by 28 days I ask the seller when they posted and when the parcel arrives I check if it co-incides with the date supposedly posted on ebay . Most of those show that the sellers have about 7 days between when they say they posted on ebay and actually posting the item/s. So maybe that is why it takes a little longer as well.

Basically buying from China means you need to factor in that postage ( free) will take at least 31 days . Anything sooner then that is a bonus 🙂

[i-love-my-sheep]

I have bought a LOT of stuff from China over the years (mostly mineral specimens, but a few other things along the way). My regular sellers are all honest and reliable. If they mark the item as sent on the 13th, it was sent on the 13th and that is evident by the post mark on the box.

Given how reliable my sellers are and the fact most things arrive inside 2-3 weeks (5 at the most), made me worry. I was relieved when I read that others also had 'missing' parcels from that same week in October. Even more relieved when they started receiving theirs. As one of mine turned up today, I'm hoping the rest will appear over the next few days.

I guess it depends on the seller. Mine all have 'free' post, yet still get here quicker than what it takes for me to send something from NSW to WA. If I opt for the airmail option if I want something quick, it's normally here in 3 days.....and I am not in a city.

[alicia89blue]

I've got two out of four October parcels from China they took over 40 days to arrive. However my five November orders have already arrived. Definitely must be a delay for some reason with October shipments from China. Hopefully my other two MIA parcels are still out there and on their way along with everyone elses MIA parcels.