Another Australia Post and Late Arrival Defect Thread

[jfmgray]

The last week has been a disaster for me in terms of items not arriving or arriving later than eBay's estimated delivery dates.  I have had 10 messages or items not received cases from buyers in NSW and Queensland (I am in Melbourne).  And whist I continue to communicate with buyers to try and minimise the damage, I have received 3 late arrival defects this month (compared to nil for the rest of 2016) and will refund the 3 item not received cases by the due date if the item has not arrived.  My business model exists on posting at large letter rates so there is no need to recommend tracked postage for me as I can't affort it (nor can buyers for most of my low cost items).

Is anyone else noticing an increase in late arrivals?

What are seller's experiences in using the 50 cent priority stickers for letters expecially for destinations in galaxies far far away?

I have avoided increasing my handling time from 1 day basacially as I have not needed to do this.  But the increases in late delivery defects and the grief (and time) being caused by late deliveries has made me rethink.  I know most sellers who have increased handling times would say heir sales have not been affected but are there any sellers who have noticed a negative consequence?  Additionally how far can you stretch out handling time before there is an effect on things like Top Rated status or best match placements or anything else?

In saying all this, my late arrival defects are an 0.5% and I can never see them reaching 5%.  So this may all be an over reaction for one bad week!!

[jfmgray]

Things are going bad to worse.  3 more cases opened today bringing my total to 6 cases and 6 other "where is my item" messages.  Its curious that most are only a few days over the estimated delivery date and i can't recall buyers jumping this early previously (except for the odd one).  Is eBay doing something different with its advice to buyers about late arrvals?  I have no time to list as I am tied up dealing with the buyers and Australia Post.  When will it end!!!!!!!!

[davewil1964]

I received a REGISTERED PRIORITY letter today. In Canberra. Posted from Lakes Entrance VIC last Tuesday.

So FIVE days for priority post for something that was 2 days before the 2 tier postage.

[jfmgray]

Ebay's dates are all over the shop.  the item in one of the cases was posted on 17th.  eBay's estimated delivery date was 21st (from Vic to Northern Qld).  I just tried the Aus Post calculator which states on or before 25th.

[digital*ghost]

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@davewil1964 wrote:

I received a REGISTERED PRIORITY letter today. In Canberra. Posted from Lakes Entrance VIC last Tuesday.

So FIVE days for priority post for something that was 2 days before the 2 tier postage.

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That was a pretty average timeframe for my registered letters pre the introduction of priority (I found it to consistently take the longest out of all the AP services I've ever used, with only a select few arriving before 5 business days, and many taking 7 or so - I had a regular buyer in Vic who always seemed to get their registered letters in 2-3 business days, but by and large that seemed like the exception). 

After the introduction of priority, there didn't seem to be any change in the timeframes for registered with or without a priority sticker on, until recently when a few seem to have actually been given priority and arriving in 2 days. 

The only other AP service that they always seem to stuff up (just on my experience) is express. I don't know what it is, but about 70% of the delivery issues I've had, have always involved express post. The most recent one was a high value, insured and SOD, express package within the next day network, that took 6 business days to arrive  (posted 11th, arrived 20th).  

[jfmgray]

Express, parcels and overseas have all been working great for me, in fact I have had items delivered to Sweden and USA quicker than items to Frankston (20 minutes away).

So three more missing items this morning.  15 all up in the last 2 weeks - just enough to get me to the 5% late item defect limit if all buyers answer that silly question.  The scary thing is how many more are out there where buyers are being a bit more patient as I have not received any feedback on other items during this period (apart from overseas, parcels and express).

Australia Post is interested now I have talked about my situation on their facebook page.

So in addition to extending my handling time to 3 days, I am "experimenting" with some priority stickers.  Today I had two items going to the same suburb in Qld and two items going to the same suburb in Tasmania.  I have put priority stickers on one of each of the items.  Lets see what happens!!

Prior to October, I never received any late item defects and never envisigaed being in this position.  Just shows how vulnerable some of us are when our business model is premised on large letter shipping.

[spottymeg53]

I do not use the Priorty Stickers Personally but have Received mail with them attached. Registered Post. Ummmmmm Not sure how it works but I buy items from a reputable Seller on eBay fairly regular, If my order is under $50 it is sent Normal Mail with a Priorty Sticker. Usually takes 2 Maybe 3 Days, If my order is greater than $50 it is sent Registered Mail and can Take up to 5 Days. My Seller and I are both In Adelaide about 20 minutes drive.

Getting back to the original topic. I have my handling time set at 5 Days enven though I post the same day or Next Day, But I do not mark the item as posted until 2 or 3 days after it has been posted, this way it is still within my handling time and I believe eBay work on the time you mark it as Sent.

[jfmgray]

" I believe eBay work on the time you mark it as Sent

Can other comment on this please. I understood eBay commenced its countdown by adding the handling time to the paid date and not the actual date the item was marked as sent?

[padi*0409]

Pretty certain you're correct jfm, I purchased an item today and it has an ETA on it but hasn't been marked as posted yet.

[digital*ghost]

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@jfmgray wrote:

" I believe eBay work on the time you mark it as Sent

Can other comment on this please. I understood eBay commenced its countdown by adding the handling time to the paid date and not the actual date the item was marked as sent?

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That has been my understanding / experience, also. 

i.e. The paid date, + seller's handling time, + whatever they use for transit time = ETA, so when an item is marked as posted shouldn't affect that (I recently had a custom order that I put a 30-day handling time on, first part of the order was delivered well before the ETA, but I didn't mark as posted until I sent the second part of the order - the ETA never changed). 

[helenm777]

I went on holiday recently and of course put the Store on Holiday mode with message for buyers  advising of this.on each listing.

When buyers did purchase items, i immediately sent an email advising I would send when I got back home. 

I then noticed a "Late Postage Defect" this related to an item Sold when I was on holiday, therefore Ebay assumed it was posted late.

I telephone them today and they checked the messages I had sent to each buyer adising the of the postage date

The CSO advised these would be removed.

So if any one else has the same problem just give them a call