eBay

ricarmic · ‎12-02-2020

Just sent off my 3rd response/update to INR cases/queries in 2 days! Almost zero in the several weeks before this!

Folks have been patient, most of them have waited (much) more than the minimum time, they're scattered all over the continent/world.

Looks like all the communication, refunds, repayments and accounting paperwork experienced in the early days of COVID will be with me/us for the next few weeks....

It is interesting that often this happens where a bunch come in all together, despite having been sent significantly separately shipping dates wise, its as if on a certain couple days folks altogether decide to ask about their "overdue" packages....

Good thing I have my form letters, I've got the responses down to minutes now, simply cut and paste.

PS For those who haven't seen them in the several times I've put them up before, here's a couple of versions, use what you want when you want....

This for non-case inquiries:

Hi! THX For your note! Hopefully you received my message on Monday July 13th advising that they were shipped on that day?

Unfortunately COVID-19 related delays are affecting a lot of shipments. Some items move at normal speed or even more quickly, some like yours are slowed down significantly. A lot depends on which sorting centers are affected and for how long they are impacted. I am not sure how the postal distribution network is affected in your local area (I am in Canada). 99.5% of the time parcels just take longer than they should to arrive, especially now.

This package will also go through your customs there which also adds an unpredictable delay. It is becoming more common for shipments to Italy to take 10 weeks or more to arrive, but again no rhyme nor reason as to which ones where!

I would really appreciate it if you can wait another couple weeks or so before we decide the package is lost and I refund your money, but I will be ok whenever you decide. If it gets to the point that you think it has been long enough, please just open an item not received case and I will refund your money out of my own funds. Assuming the parcel does arrive after that, let me know and I’ll send another invoice so you can pay again (this is my full time job, small parcels like this are not insured so I am out 100% if they do not arrive).

Thank you in advance for your continued patience and have a great day! RICARMIC (Ron)

This once a case is opened:

Hi XXXXXX!

I'm sorry to hear that this lot has not yet arrived. The COVID situation continues to cause unpredictable delays, especially now that we're also into the Christmas rush which is exacerbating the problem. I have had a number of folks across the continent experiencing the same delays, so far they have all eventually arrived.

Unfortunately when a case is opened, the only options eBay gives me are to send a message and refund. There is also a time limit, regardless of the messages, I have to refund by December 7th. If the item arrives before then please cancel the case, otherwise I will refund and on the assumption it does eventually arrive you can let me know so I can send another invoice so you can pay again (these small lots are not insured, this is my full time job and I am out 100% if they do not show up).

Anyway, thank you for your patience to date, please keep me updated as you are able, hopefully you'll get it in tomorrows mail! (You would be surprised how many times the item shows up the next day!).

Have a great evening!

teenytrinkets · ‎12-03-2020

Any CP lettermail INRs? I have had good luck so far this fall with my lettermail but I worry it will slow down significantly in the next week or so, as it gets busier...

ricarmic · ‎12-03-2020

Yes a couple to BC.

Others in last couple days are SP to NY and Serbia (Serbian's first purchase outside their country so uninitiated as to realistic expectations, but they are good about it so far!)

doc_scribe · ‎12-04-2020

@teenytrinkets wrote:
Any CP lettermail INRs? I have had good luck so far this fall with my lettermail but I worry it will slow down significantly in the next week or so, as it gets busier...

After receiving an INR from a Nov. 23rd cross-country shipment via Lettermail, I just finished changing all of my free (included) domestic shipping from Lettermail (1 - 7 days) to Economy (1 - 15 days). This INR was filed by an otherwise good buyer whom I expect will soon receive the item, and probably close the case before I am forced to refund.

The thing is, delivery certainly won't be within the [sic] "normal" range currently being promoted for domestic Lettermail. At this time, Canada Post won't guarantee delivery for any of its services - not even expedited and express with tracking.

Although I usually avoid selecting Economy from the shipping dropdown because the word itself suggests corner-cutting and/or indifference, this selling season it's "CYA" any way possible.

pjcdn2005 · ‎12-04-2020

Although I usually avoid selecting Economy from the shipping dropdown because the word itself suggests corner-cutting and/or indifference, this selling season it's "CYA" any way possible.

Lettermail is considered an economy service so even when you state that you are using lettermail, shipping in the top part of the listing shows as 'economy shipping'. Other than the estimated delivery time, that section looks the same whether you use the generic economy shipping or lettermail.

I think that the lettermail estimates they have can be too optimist at the best of times so I always use the term 'economy shipping'.

ericsells75 · ‎12-04-2020

I'm actually thinking of just shutting down for a bit because of this. Most of my listings would be perfect for Christmas but I suspect few of them would arrive on time at this point which will probably make normally patient people angry.

Other than the Time away setting is there an easy way to make all my listings 'disappear' for a little bit if I decide that route?

pjcdn2005 · ‎12-04-2020

You could use the out of stock function and mark your listings as zero quantity and they wouldn't be able to be seen by anyone. But why wouldn't you want to use the time away function?

ricarmic · ‎12-04-2020

I send an eBay message to all my customers regarding potential delays.

This is what I send to (new) customers, feel free to use/expand upon whatever you like if it makes sense for you... (PS if it is going to Latin America or the likes, I often add something saying it can take up to 8 to 10 weeks to arrive and I thank them in advance for their extra patience if it does infact take longer than normal*)

Thank you for your purchase and quick payment. Your parcel has been shipped out today, Friday December 4. Note that the global pandemic may impact the parcel delivery timeline. Some parcels move at normal speed or even more quickly, some are slowed down significantly. A lot depends on which sorting/customs centers are affected and for how long they are impacted. Once the parcel arrives, I hope you will find everything satisfactory. If you are not completely pleased with this transaction, please feel free to contact me. I will do my very best to resolve any problem you may have. Thank you very much in advance for your extra patience while the parcel makes the journey. Regards, RICARMIC (Ron)

PS as a note, given the current global pandemic concerns, any of the shipping components that are not self adhesive like envelope flaps, and stamps on the parcel are affixed using the sponge and water approach, not the licking approach.

*potential add on:

PS Please note, this package will go through your customs there, which can add an unpredictable delay. It is not uncommon for packages like this to take 6 to 8 weeks or more to get from here in Canada to you there in Albania. Hopefully they will arrive much more quickly, but if they don't, thank you very much in advance for your patience while the stamps make the journey and have a great day!!

doc_scribe · ‎12-04-2020

@pjcdn2005 wrote:

Lettermail is considered an economy service so even when you state that you are using lettermail, shipping in the top part of the listing shows as 'economy shipping'. Other than the estimated delivery time, that section looks the same whether you use the generic economy shipping or lettermail.

True, just habit on my part.

...but not without reason. There was once a time - and not that long ago - when the Lettermail classification actually meant something to many media Buyers (i.e. "your item will be travelling with other mostly flat, paper weight mail, thus much less at risk of damage from larger/heavier packages").