On Time Away now, but items still visible
Summary: sin-n-dex expressed concern about items still being visible in their eBay store despite setting it to 'Time Away' and selecting to hide them. Some users, including flipistics and lacemaker3, confirmed that they could see the items initially, but noted they eventually disappeared, possibly due to an indexing delay. sin-n-dex was worried about potential duties being imposed on shipped items that customers might refuse, leading to costs for them. Later, lacemaker3 mentioned a delay in removing the de minimis tariffs, alleviating some concerns about shipping duties and tariffs, due to a new executive order. Another user, regs43, shared that it usually takes a few hours for all items to hide when using 'Time Away.'
It's only a few items... sometimes I see 5, sometimes 15, sometimes 36. I don't think anyone can buy them, someone tried and got the error "this seller is taking a break".
But when you go to my store, items still show up. That kind of concerns me, yet another eBay feature not working correctly. I selected to hide items. It obviously did hide items, I had 11K in items and now there's less than 36, but stuff is still visible.
Can you see them too? Or is it just me?
C.
lacemaker3
·1 year agoHi @sin-n-dex,
I could see your listings when I glanced at them yesterday, but they are gone now. I think this is a kind of indexing delay. They have to be changed from visible/searchable status to non-visible status, and it can take a while before the change takes effect on all servers, and for all search modes. But I think you're good now.
Also, I think you'll be glad to know that the de minimis removal has been delayed yet again. As of yesterday, March 2, 2025, there was another executive order issued, which specifically amends the tariffs on Canadian goods by making the de minimis exemption available again. (There was another one issued for Mexico the same day, with essentially similar wording.)
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/amendment-to-duties-to-address-the-flow-of-illicit-drugs-across-our-northern-border/
Basically, this is acknowledging that USCBP and USPS are not currently capable of inspecting/evaluating/assessing all of the packages below $800 declared value, and collecting the tariffs from the recipients, on delivery.
The kicker is that the de minimis will be removed again once they decide that USCBP and USPS are able to manage the work flow, and with about as much notice.
regs43
·1 year agoIt can take a few hours to hide everything (more time when you have a large store). Mine usually takes about an hour or two when I have used the feature before.
It takes just as much time if not more to unhide them when time away stops
hansatrade
·1 year agoI shut down my store on Friday - 0 items listed.
Here what my traffic graph shows: 😀
sin-n-dex
OP1 year agoSeems I can't see them anymore...
C.
recped
·1 year agoI was going to say that.
First thought, when you start Time Away the time you pick is a minimum of 30(?) minutes ahead of the current time.
sin-n-dex
OP1 year agoWhen I selected time away, it was 2:03PM, it gave me 3:00PM is the soonest I could do time way (that's EST, it shows me the time away in PST, but this was what time I was doing it in EST).
After 3PM I checked to see if my listings were visible and some still were, after an hour I was becoming a bit concerned... but it seems no one was able to buy them, it showed the message "seller is taking a break" if you picked by it now.
C.
flipistics
·1 year agoYeah, I can see them.
sin-n-dex
OP1 year agoSo the question is, how exactly do I hide them? I'm on time away, I selected hide items for up to 30 days. It hid most of my items, but some are still visible.
There's two points of consolation, one is that it seems no one can buy them (someone tried), and two if something does accidentally sell, it's not as if I can't ship anything, it's just the uncertainty with the tariffs means I'm not sure how I'm going to ship things.
I'm afraid if I start using CP and items start showing up with duties owed, people won't pay the duty and the item will be returned which will cost me money. The last time someone didn't pay duty, the tracking on eBay didn't reflect it was refused at customs (but on ParcelsApp I was able to see it was refused by addressee). ebay told me I had to refund because I couldnt PROVE it was refused. I'm not interested in this becoming a regular occurance where it costs me money to sell my stuff and I get no benefit from it.
C.