eBay

momcqueen · ‎12-06-2016

So this is interesting. I saw this for the first time this afternoon. On my own listings but only when viewed on ebay.ca and ebay.co.uk and NOT ebay.com or ebay.com.au.

Here's the thing, though:

Canada Post says the deadline for Tracked Packet International service and 2016 Holiday Delivery passed on Friday, Dec. 2. It's Dec. 6 now. Will those items arrive to the UK within eight business days? Probably, but Tracked Packet is NOT a guaranteed service.

My concern is that this is setting dangerous expectations for certain buyers overseas whose CPC-assigned deadline has passed while ignoring completely for some reason our USA buyers who are actually still within the CPC comfort zone.

So, er, what the heck?

This one from ebay.ca as shown to a Canadian address for delivery.

This one from ebay.co.uk as shown to a buyer with a London address:

For the record, these are the actual Canada Post deadlines and I put them in the Payment Instructions on all my listings mid-November:

Seller's payment instructions

CANADA POST DEADLINE FOR 2016 HOLIDAY DELIVERY: WITHIN CANADA EXPEDITED PARCEL is DEC 12 and XPRESSPOST is DEC 21 /// USA TRACKED PACKET is DEC 12 and XPRESSPOST is DEC 16 /// OVERSEAS (EUROPE ASIA AUSTRALIA) TRACKED PACKET is DEC 2 and XPRESSPOST is DEC 9. PLEASE SELECT YOUR SERVICE WISELY

momcqueen · ‎12-07-2016

All the estimates for Australia are messed up. Canada Post says ELEVEN days by Tracked Packet, there's nothing vague about it. And it's futile to think anything would be there in five or six. That has never happened in my experience. Anything delivered in less than 15 days is a miracle, never mind the glut of orders in the postal system at this point in the year.

momcqueen · ‎12-07-2016

Plus there should never be a 'varies' next to Xpresspost anything. That's the only international service where the customer is GUARANTEED on-time delivery.

momcqueen · ‎12-07-2016

Ebay Canada responds. Message 18 of Raphael's final Weekly Session.

http://community.ebay.ca/t5/Weekly-Chat-Session/December-7th-2016-Weekly-Session-Raphael-s-Finale/td...

momcqueen · ‎12-09-2016

Here is where this is going to get me into trouble. Ebay is promising this will arrive in Australia in the eleventh hour but before Christmas with its 6 to 10 business days BUT Canada Post with an eleven-day standard for Tracked Packet knows it will take 11. That puts it past Christmas. December 27 to be exact.

musicyouneed · ‎12-09-2016

MJ, I wouldn't like to be in your shoes. This is probably a Christmas present and they expect to receive it by Christmas because ebay told them they would.

Because of what you sell, I would just start blocking countries that shipments won't make it by Christmas. And then after Christmas take off the blocks. It might be too late for this year, but I might keep that in mind for next year.

I cringe every time someone from Australia buys something from me. I have 2 right now that are already overdue and they were mailed mid November. I sell a lot to Australia, so I would hate to block them. I'll just wait to see when these arrive and if I get dinged for late shipment. I have one late shipment from before and that is from Australia. I did send the late shipment note to them and sent them an email too advising them that ebay estimates are out of wack.

musicyouneed · ‎12-09-2016

Also where you are sending to is in the middle of no where, an island. Population 5,000.

Midway Point is an outlying suburb of Hobart, capital of Tasmania, Australia. It is in the local government area of Sorell Council, and is located on a small peninsula with Orielton Lagoon on its eastern side and Pittwater (Tasmania) on its southern and western sides. The suburb meets the mid-way point of the Sorell Causeway from Hobart to Sorell, hence the name. The suburb lies close to Hobart International Airport and is approximately 21 km to Hobart via the Tasman Highway. In recent years Midway Point has become a popular commuter town for people working in Hobart.

momcqueen · ‎12-09-2016

I long considered doing that but have not since it unfairly punishes people who are shopping for birthday presents for children born between Dec. 26 and mid-February who get noting but sloppy seconds when it comes to toys because there is nothing left to buy after Christmas. (Believe me, I know. Nephews and sons.)

My only saving grace is the tracking. At least the buyer will be able to mentally prepare for post-Christmas delivery if they can see it is still sitting with Customs on Dec. 22. Only Santa has no excuses for post-Christmas delivery, parents and aunts and uncles can maybe get away with it. Hopefully, it's not a Santa obligation. And my payment instructions DO indicate the Canada Post deadlines for Holiday delivery if anyone stops to read that.

I honestly don't see where ebay can think they know better than the postal carrier how long it takes to deliver something. That's cuckoo.

momcqueen · ‎12-09-2016

@musicyouneed wrote:
Also where you are sending to is in the middle of no where, an island. Population 5,000.....

Good heavens, so it is the Australian equivalent of Rankin Inlet. Awesome. Add another eight business days then to the Estimated Delivery Date. Actual delivery date: January 7, 2017.

Should we start taking wagers about how this will end?

dutchman48 · ‎12-09-2016

I said I was not going to post anymore, but this is getting to me.

Tracked packet has no on time guarantee so how ever many days it takes, it does. The estimated time from Canada Post and EBAY are mute under these conditions.

If you are going to take the risk selling internationally at this time of the year and expect everything to turn out the way you want, it is not going to happen.

If you are so concerned about defects don't sell internationally this time of the year.

Sales are awful, but my store has been closed since the beginning of the month as I don't take the risk and then expect Ebay to support me when it was my decision with no guarantees of delivery.

Enough said.

Hope every one has a great Christmas and New Year

ricarmic · ‎12-09-2016

I've mentioned this in other threads, but I would be interested to know if anyone has actually been punished for exceeding the late delivery %?

I've noted that the ebay documentation says they "may take action" if the percentages are exceeded. I find the word "may" interesting.

I would be interested to know if anyone has experienced any action that's been taken when the percentages are exceeded.

(aside from the per transaction stuff around refunds etc etc)

So far nobody's ever said yes when I've mentioned this in the other threads.... but I don't watch the US boards so maybe someone has brought this up there that has had action taken.........

momcqueen · ‎12-09-2016

It's nice to see you here again.

A toy seller cannot stop selling toys in December, it would be madness to do so. But thank you for the advice, I see it is coming from a place of good intentions.

Tracked Packet carries the same guarantee that ebay's EDD does and that is as much credibility as a verbal guarantee. But then even Xpresspsost which is a 'guaranteed' service does not actually GUARANTEE you get that parcel on time. It's not like it explodes en route if it doesn't reach its destination like a time bomb that hasn't been disarmed by 00:00, all that happens is that the sender gets his or her money back. This is true no matter where it is being sent. I've also sent orders Priority within Canada before Christmas that did not meet their guarantees. That is the nature of online mail-order.

Managing buyer expectations is another matte entirely.

That is the reason I always put Canada Post's deadlines in my listings. To adequately manage buyer expectations.

Ricarmic, I don't think any seller on the ebay Canada Community Board has come forward to date to say they've been sanctioned for Late Shipment Defects. None come to mind. I might be wrong about that, someone will no doubt correct me if that is the case. I think we all worry about it more than it is worth.

zee-chan-jpn-books · ‎12-09-2016

@mjwl2006 wrote:
@musicyouneed wrote:
Also where you are sending to is in the middle of no where, an island. Population 5,000.....
Good heavens, so it is the Australian equivalent of Rankin Inlet. Awesome. Add another eight business days then to the Estimated Delivery Date. Actual delivery date: January 7, 2017.

Should we start taking wagers about how this will end?

I would've messaged the buyer immediately and notify them what the realistic delivery dates are as eBay's estimates were inaccurate for their rural location, and ask them if they need this urgently (ie, by x'mas) and would they like to upgrade to xpresspost and quote a cost. If they are not happy with the extra cost I'd ask them if they would like to cancel order and I'll send full refund. Or it could be that they didn't need it urgently and doesn't mind waiting another couple of weeks. When I'm overwhelmed by school and work and made a sale that I really can't spare the extra energy to dig it out, pack, ship, I always ask the buyer if they'd be okay if I ship next week instead as I'm busy due to work obligations, and I haven't had anyone said no to me, or left me poor feedback because of it. Though I'm not a toy seller but a comic book seller so that could be a bit different. I do have one sale sitting around now that I'm not gonna touch until tomorrow because I must finish my paper today (and should get my butt off eBay lol) but it's a repeat buyer who left me positive for previous sale, so I don't think it's gonna be a problem... eBay's estimate delivery for this book to US is Dec 22-29. Pretty sure it's partly because I set 5 days handling.

Communication is key and it's not the buyer's fault that eBay has stupid shipping estimates.

ricarmic · ‎12-09-2016

I've always stayed open over Xmas as well.

I am fortunate though that my buyer base (stamp collectors) have been used to the "mailorder" concept for decades and therefore are usually much more understanding.

I do have problems from time to time when someone is buying stamps for grandpa/ma or dad/mom for Xmas, but so far things have worked out.....

rose-dee · ‎12-09-2016

@mjwl2006 wrote:
@musicyouneed wrote:
Also where you are sending to is in the middle of no where, an island. Population 5,000.....
Good heavens, so it is the Australian equivalent of Rankin Inlet. Awesome. Add another eight business days then to the Estimated Delivery Date. Actual delivery date: January 7, 2017.

Should we start taking wagers about how this will end?

No, far from the equivalent of Rankin Inlet!

It may sound remote, but I have friends who live in Tasmania, and it's no more cut off from services, etc. as Vancouver Island or PEI are in Canada. One extra day for delivery, perhaps two at worst, would be my guess. The Australian postal system is well set-up to deliver to areas like this.

I feel for you. There is no easy solution if you need to sell for Christmas delivery and it happens to be your best time of year to sell. I consider myself fortunate, given eBay's stupidities around delivery times during this season, that Christmas is always a slump for me anyway.

rose-dee · ‎12-09-2016

Actually, to add to the above, since Sydney, Australia isn't too far from Tasmania, and chances are international air mail will first land and get sorted in Sydney (or Melbourne, even closer), you're probably just fine.

BTW, if it's any consolation, Tasmania (the island) has a population closer to 500,000, not 5,000, and Hobart accounts for nearly half of that. So your parcel isn't going into some wilderness outback by any means. Really, think more P.E.I.

momcqueen · ‎12-09-2016

That does bring some relief. Thank you.

musicyouneed · ‎12-09-2016

Hi Rose, I quoted the population of Midway not the whole island of Tasmania, I think the whole island is about 500,000. I The population of Midway in 2011 was 2,598. It will be interesting to see when it does arrive. MJ you have to let us know.

musicyouneed · ‎12-09-2016

From Sydney to Midway point, Australia Post states it is 5 to 6 business days.

momcqueen · ‎12-09-2016

You betcha. I'll be back to report how it all came to pass. Delivered on eBay time is my hope, delivered on CPC time is my expectation.

i.am.vivian · ‎12-09-2016

mjwl2006 wrote:
I honestly don't see where ebay can think they know better than the postal carrier how long it takes to deliver something.

That's it in a nutshell, really. It seems to me that eBay uses the threat of late shipment defects to scare sellers into mailing things quickly, only as you pointed out they don't actually DO anything about it. They make a promise about early delivery times to buyers that they are not qualified to make, just to urge shoppers to spend who might look elsewhere otherwise. And what about that neg removal if the content complains about a post-Christmas delivery? Will eBay say "Ooops, My bad", and remove it? No, apparently.

I'm sick today so maybe I'm just cranky. 😞