Seller is currently away until (WHEN)?

[Anonymous]

Yesterday's Listing showed that the Seller will be back today.

So I bought.

Today the Listing (new Listing same Item) shows Seller will be back in 14 days time.  This is confirmed by the auto reply that I got.

Is this a new stuff-the-buyers tactic?

I learnt a new lesson today and found another example of why buying on eBay is turning into an ordeal.

Never believe what you read and never assume the Seller will be back when they say they will be.

PS This guy is in Queensland (I in NSW).

Though I get auto replies when I email them, they did reply to my first email offering to REFUND my money WHEN THEY GOT BACK.

[springyzone]

My take on it is I don't mind if sellers have a listing when they are away, with the date they will be returning.

Buyers can then make up their mind if they are prepared to buy and wait, or want to move on and view other sellers.

But it would be frustrating to buy an item with one holiday return date listed, only to find the seller had extended that date by 2 weeks.

For all we know, the buyer might need the item before that, they may look at the return date and factor in that they have time to receive the item, then suddenly the goal posts are changed.

So.. the seller should explain the situation & should offer them a cancellation. The buyer should not be held to a sale where some of the terms and conditions have changed.

[lane-ends]

The rule is dont assume anything if you are in a hurry.

Return dates are expected dates. Not locked in concrete, Life happens. Put the item on watch, check back on due date store is expected to reopen, when it is, then buy.

Delivery estimates are nothing to do with the seller, they are nominal figures made up by Ebay.

[digital*ghost]

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@lane-ends wrote:

The rule is dont assume anything if you are in a hurry.

Return dates are expected dates. Not locked in concrete, Life happens. 

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I have to respectfully disagree (not with the life happens part, though :D), otherwise the return date could be perpetually extended. The ETA is an estimate, and it has disclaimers along with it noting fluctuating delivery times etc, but there's no such disclaimer about the date a shop will be back in full operation. 

I don't think think buying from a listing that states the seller will be back to process orders on X date is making an assumption, IMHO it's a reasonable expectation that the seller will be back to process orders on that date - same as if there was no holiday notice at all, it's a reasonable expectation that the seller will process the order within their own stated handling time. If something happens to change that, with or without the holiday notice up, the buyer really should have been given more options than a refund when the seller returns. 

[phorum_junkie*]

Absolutely agree the seller should have made an immediate refund with a promise to relist the item in a form only the buyer was likely to purchase on their return.

[*crikey*mate*]

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@phorum_junkie* wrote:

Absolutely agree the seller should have made an immediate refund with a promise to relist the item in a form only the buyer was likely to purchase on their return.

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PJ, the item is for $2.09 set of 10 batteries of which they have more than 10 in stock.

[ucancallmejools]

The seller I want to buy from is awa with no indication at all when he/she will return. I've been watching the item for about five weeks. I can't buy it because I get a 'Not available for purchase' message telling me the seller is in 'vacation', with not the slightest indication when he/she will return. There are no other items like this one, so I'm stuck waiting ... forever?

[jo_arabhorses]

I have the same issue. Said seller was away till the 7th, then it changed till the 12th so i bought on the 11th.
Go to check if it's been posted and now seller is away till the 20th!!!! I need the items before the 2nd week in feb ( i thought a month was enough time....) and if they had put they weren't going till be back till after the 20th in the first place then i wouldn't have purchased from them!! So very annoying!

[jo_arabhorses]

Thats exactly what has just happened to me 😕 went from the 7th to the 12th... I bought on the 11th thinking i'd be safe. Now i look and its changed till away till the 20th!!! GAH! i left a full month (need it by end of first week in feb) thinking that would be enough time... 😞