Should I increase my handling time to avoid 'Fast N Free' logo?

[justajunk]

I don't know if it's just me, but I'm very weary of eBay sticking 'Fast N Free' logos on my listings. Sure, it says that delivery time is just an estimate, but the last thing that I want is disappointed buyers who expected their item one or two days earlier as per the 'Fast N Free' estimate.

I'm strongly considering raising my handling time from 2 to 3 days to prevent the logo from manifesting itself on my listings... unless I am just worrying for nothing (I do state in my listings that delivery from Perth to other states can take over a week).

This seems worth asking before using the balance of my 40 free listings this weekend (before they expire). Any thoughts are appreciated.

[dylan11235813]

I don't think the logo would appear very often (if at all) with a 2 day handling time. From memory the total estimated delivery time needed to be a maximum of 4 business days to qualify for it, I could have the a bit wrong though, it might be 4 days for the lower delivery estimate.

A lot of sellers increased the time because of the risk of INR cases being opened early and getting hit with a defect.  I am finding Australia Post to be delivering quite quickly lately but to/from WA might be a different story.

Unless you get asked all the time like "have you posted my order"  I wouldn;t worry about it.

[i-love-my-sheep]

I used to offer a same or 1 days handling time, so that fast and free appeared on some of my listings. Some buyers did assume that it was going to arrive much faster, basically express post times, whereas in actual fact it means that it will be posted fast and the postage is free. I now have a 5 day handling time. Not because it's going to take me that long to post, it's to fatten out the delivery estimate in the listing that the buyers take as gospel. 

Interstate buyers I send a message to let them know that AP can be slow and it's possible that it could take longer than the estimate in the listing. I then give them MY estimate. At the moment, I am telling Victorian buyers that it could take 3 weeks (from NSW) as most have been taking that long! WA buyers I tell them 2-3 weeks. SA, NT, FNQ and Tas I say 2 weeks. SE Qld 1-2 weeks and NSW and ACT up to a week. They are for large letter items with no tracking. Parcels to NT, WA and FNQ usually go by air, so usually arrive within a week.

[2106greencat]

Yo sheep,

does having a longer handling time affect search results ? I think it used to.

I always had 1 day handling, but that was before eBay assumed Au Post had Superman delivering goods to justify their ETA.

[i-love-my-sheep]

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@2106greencat wrote:

Yo sheep,

does having a longer handling time affect search results ? I think it used to.

I always had 1 day handling, but that was before eBay assumed Au Post had Superman delivering goods to justify their ETA.

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I really have no idea! I do know that since I increased the handling time my sales have increased quite a bit. This month has been particularly busy. I've had trouble keeping up!

[davewil1964]

All my listings, with 2 day handling and postage included, show 'fast and free'.  To me. eBay reckon they all need to be amended to get f&f.

Try looking at them without logging in.

[dylan11235813]

try changing the postcode

[bettyboopsadaisy]

I have an issue with what ebay estimate as delivery times for my items.

For instance, items listed (10 day auctions) last night (28th Feb) are estimated to be delivered betw 4th and 11th March. I have queried this before and ebay has told me that since I list my items as both auction and Buy-it-Now the earlier date reflects when a buyer could receive the item IF they Buy-it-Now, but that still doesn't explain why the later date is only one day after the auction is due to end ! I have a 2 day handling time and the dates are suppose to reflect that !

Surely, this is a recipe for dissatisfaction on the part of buyers. I do not offer Express post (unless specifically requested by a buyer) so there is no way they will receive their item the day after the auction finishes.

Are ebay actively employing ways to irritate both sellers and buyers ???

[justajunk]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and ideas.

I decided to go ahead and just re-list with 2 day handling time. I only decided to up my handling time to 3 days for 1 item. The result of this at the moment is:

Selling Reminders
(Last 31 days)
Qualify for Fast & Free to attract more buyers for 37 listings.
Get eBay Premium Service for 37 listings.
Add item specifics for 37 listings.

I have only one item selling at the moment... out of 39 listed.... 39 subtract 1 = 38... so it would seem that one of my listings at the moment qualifies for Fast N Free, but only one, and I'm not sure which one it is.

I suppose it is good though if the majority of mine don't come up as Fast N Free, due to buyer expectations etc.

Very confusing in any case.

[i-love-my-sheep]

I'm guessing the eBay bots have missed one because none that I could see came up as Fast & Free. I changed my postcode to Perth in case I don't qualify for F&F in NSW. Interestingly, when I changed my postcode back to my own, the delivery estimate dates didn't change. Still said 11-18th March.