eBay Guaranteed Delivery

[retrogamestoreau]

What are everyones thoughts on eBay's new Guarenteed Delivery program? For those that don't know about it information is available here:

https://sellercentre.ebay.com.au/content/ebay-guaranteed-delivery

I have mixed feelings about it at the moment. I think this might be a way of combatting overseas sellers that lie about the items locations in their listings as it would be very unlikely that they could meet the postage time requirements.

However, if I'm understanding this correctly it seems like genuine Australian sellers with premium listings may need to offer Express postage as the default method of postage on all their listings in order to comply, (for example if someone from a remote/rural location purchased one of your items.) This would obviously mean you would need to increase all your prices which would result in higher eBay fees and less competitive pricing.

I'm interested to hear other opinions, so let me know what you think.

[enigmabear]

I personally think it is just another way for ebay to screw sellers

[go-tazz]

I'm not in an Express postage area so it doesn't apply to me.

Which is great as it means I couldn't get "done" when parcels don't arrive in time due to an outside agency

failing to deliver items.

IMHO it's just another step in buyers getting free items and the sellers getting hammered again,

[*sparklz*]

Offer express to meet the ranking criteria and charge it as $1,000.00

If the buyer pays for it then YAY to the seller LOL

[jellybirddesigns]

I'm definitely NOT opting in.

If Australia Post can't guarantee their delivery times, neither can I.

[imastawka]

Keep an eye on it though.

You might have to opt out instead.

[retrogamestoreau]

For those that are choosing not to opt-in, are you concerned that this might effect your best match ranking and sales as you'd most likely be competing against people that do offer the guarentee?

[davewil1964]

No.

Best match is a con. My prices are around market rates, and my items aren't particularly time-sensitive. Why would I, or anybody, open themselves up to punishment by eBay by guaranteeing something I/we have no control over?

Why does eBay expect us to? Because they want to be Amazon without the risks of stocking, selling and guaranteeing their own stock.

[go-tazz]

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@imastawka wrote:

Keep an eye on it though.

You might have to opt out instead.

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A bit like the GSP,(if they opt me in then they can explain to the buyer that I don't live in the Express network

so it can't work the way eBay wants).

The Express Post delivery network is the network within which we guarantee next business day delivery for

Express Post items.

Outside of this network, Express Post items will be delivered as fast as possible using existing transport links.

https://auspost.com.au/sending/send-within-australia/delivery-speeds-and-coverage

If your item is for an address outside the Express Post network, we'll use the fastest possible transport links,

but it won't be covered by our Next Day Guarantee.

[digital*ghost]

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@retrogamestoreau wrote:

However, if I'm understanding this correctly it seems like genuine Australian sellers with premium listings may need to offer Express postage as the default method of postage on all their listings in order to comply, (for example if someone from a remote/rural location purchased one of your items.)

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  "Who sets up my Guaranteed Delivery timeframe?

Once the program is launched and once you are opted-in, you will be able to override eBay’s Estimated Delivery Dates with your own timeframes, provided by your carriers. For example, if you know that you can deliver an item in 3 days and are able to provide tracking, you will be able to update this in your Rate Tables, which we have updated to make this possible."

(^that's from eBay's FAQs)

Rate tables provide the option to set up delivery costs by region, and I suspect given the above, they may also provide the option to set up expected delivery times by region.

That being said, I am unlikely to participate, for I have no interest in providing guarantees on behalf of Australia Post, based on either my experience or AP's stated timeframes, and them compensating buyers out of my pocket if it gets there the day after. I will continue to offer express for those who want faster deliveries, and will fix problems to the best of my ability if they arise, but I won't go out of my way to create problems where currently none exist.