New ebay policy is unfair and had me restricted because ebay gives low arrival date estimations

[oldmanbeefjerky]

Heres whats happened, ive been a long time seller, i sell mostly low price items which go through the letter service, which ebay does not have a shipping option for. With this my ratings dropped, mostly from international orders, because ebay said it would take some 2 weeks to arrive but the reality was it took 4-5 weeks, or it could. Also australia doesnt have tracking options other than for its parclels, a service which starts at more than anything i sell is even worth! about $25 or so.

One day, ebay suddenly decided "hey, why dont we replace the contact seller about shipping button with an automatic case opening button"

Now ebays warning me too many people are opening cases against me, which used to be a last resort for buyers who need help, but instead, im getting about 2 cases a week from people asking if i can provide a tracking number, or if i can give them the tracking information, which not even the postal service can, because theres no tracking.

Because ebay cant provide accurate ETAs, because the majority of my stuff is sent with a stamp in a letter sized box, most of my orders end up less than the unrealistic averages ebay says.

Pretty much every day i reiterate what i say in my listings to someone, that ebay is not providing accurate ETAs or the ability for sellers to manually set them, because ebay thinks its god and knows everything. Thats why their letter send fro maustralia to nigeria did not take the 10 business days ebay said, it could, but it probably wouldnt, a realistic eta would be 10-30 business days.



Over time these built up more and more, and all the while buyers still dont understand im not a corperation and give me negative feedback i cant reverse, for not providing company logos on the things i sell, like pigments i packaged myself, which dont even come with logos either, its like putting a logo on generic salt.


But what really hurt me was the fact ebay was setting unrealistic standards for my business and also the fact i would have cases opened by people even asking general questions, unaware of the serious implications of opening cases, its just way too casual.



Do you think this was unfair? ive been a seller for 4 years prior then as soon as this system was introduced everything spiralled out of control.
Where i live and the business i do alone, being incompatible with ebays ideals was enough by themselves to ruin everything.


Do you think i would be able to contest the selling restriction?


Keep in mind, if i sent everything by the most expensive service, just for a tracking number, i would lose 99% of my business, the only reason i can compete in the market is because my prices are slightly lower, since i dont overprice products and the australian dollar is doing terribly also which means everything is even cheaper for others.

Because of the nature of what i sell also, i cant really open my own online store either, unless i got lucky and people noticed the store.

[iscrap76]

I have have numerous conversations with ebay on items not arriving in their estimated time and all they can suggest is making your handling time longer.

[kopenhagen5]

As iscrap suggests, most buyers don't look at handling time.

[clarry100]

The items we sell all go by large letter.
And for the very reasons you state here we do not sell internationally at all.
To deal with these crazy estimates we have just recently increased our handling from ZERO out to three days but we still mail on the same day if at all possible. If not then the next available day.
So far we have not noticed any drop in sales due to doing this. And so far we have not had any of the delivery questions answered NO by our buyers.
And so far we have not used the priority mail stickers either.
We will keep an eye on it for a while to see how it all goes.

[ourphonecase]

I sell internationally in large letters at that rate with no shipping. I do get alot of opened cases and defects, but I have been keeping a hawk eye on my defects to make sure it doesn't go down too low (it is inevitable). I have blocked countries that consistantly have bad shipping experience/delays and other stuff.

Its things like that, which kept me afloat. But I guess I do sell in higher volumes so I do get leeway.

I have also increased my handling time from 1--> 3 days and notice no change in shipping. Might extend it to 7 days just to give myself more leeway as the new updates shows me that "late shipment" is what prevents me from TRS, but I learned not to care about that no more.

[harley_babes_hoard]

you and millions of other sellers are affected. Do as a lot of us have done increase your handling time and stop selling overseas if that is a big part of your problem.

[co-au13]

Yep feel your pain. Greedy inconsiderate morons is what i would call ebay and paypal. Im in the "Guilty until proven innocent" situation at the moment with an international letter size item. 8 bucks to post, dont get a tracking number. Buyer just says in England 18 days later "i didnt get item", paypal funds held and account in the red.

Funniest one yet i just got a request for more postage FROM A BUYER. Posted a letter sized item to UK, $33 all up inc $8 postage. They wreckon now UK customs want 12pound soething or wont give them the item??? hang on i paid at Australia post, stamped, ID recorded....and i owe money now to UK customs? **bleep**

Im over this place! Told ebay too, They got until 1st Feb 2016 to generate me $400+ in sales or im leaving for good. Between the scammers, idiots that will jump straight on here and try to debunk me, the lot YES YOU!

[co-au13]

Do a TV campaign, Lower Fee's, take your mit out of the postage costs, COMPLETELY OVERHAUL EVERYTHING from site bugs and glitches to the way you treat people! I understand. I understand. I understand. All you lot ever bloody say! I dont think you do though!

[davewil1964]

I understand.

[lyndal1838]

It is pretty obvious that you have no idea.....UK Customs has nothing to do with underpaid postage.

The buyer has been hit with Customs duties and fees which the seller is NOT responsible for at all.

Just explain to your buyer that Customs charges are her responsibility and nothing to do with you at all.

You should also add in your listings that all buyers are responsible for Customs charges in their country.

And may I suggest if you say it nicely it may save you from a negative.  If you reply in the abrasive manner you are displaying here I think you are sure to get a red dot.