eBay Expected Delivery Dates.... Ummm.

[cardcentral_ca]

eBay had extended the expected delivery dates.  As of yesterday I was seeing December 18 to 24.   As of today I just noticed this has changed back to normal dates, I am seeing November 28 to December 4.  Even if I could ship tomorrow, with the line-ups at the post office, likely not to be recieved by the 4th of December.  But of course I can't ship tomorrow according to the search I just did.

Is anyone else seeing this?

Does eBay know something that we, or I don't?

Or are sales down for eBay (I'm sure they are)?  I have gotten more sales today as compared to previous days, but it is the weekend.

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

I am unsure about eBay changing the expected delivery dates, but I think you are supposed to extend your handling time if you are using Canada Post. So you should really have your handling time at 20 days or whatever the maximum is. Otherwise, you're taking sales that you unlikely cannot deliver on.

If you already edited your handling time, it's possible that eBay bugged out and set it back to 3 days and that is why you're seeing the different expected delivery date. 

[cardcentral_ca]

I did not change my handling time as eBay extended delivery dates right off the bat, I made note of this in earlier threads.  You would have seen this if you didn't change all your shipping to UPS.  I figure sales are way down for them.  Will be changing my handling time now.

I haven't because eBay will not load all my items at once to bulk edit, I guess 20 pages 50 at a time it is.  I know I can make a policy but I have a combination of free and paid shipping.  I just went in there and eBay must have done something as there are a bunch of policies I did not make.  All 2 day shipping. 

After deleting over a page of policies I did not make (all shipping).  No more than a few minutes later there were 2 more, one for returns and one for payments.  What is this garbage.  I have found this is a problem in the past with a search.

I wish I would have taken screen shots of the numbers as I think they were individual listings.  I bet the ones I sold today were in there.

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

eBay recently updated shipping policy pages and they can be buggy. I noticed at certain times that listings I had marked as same day were automatically updated to what I assume is the default 3-day handling time. That is what lead me to wonder if a bug might have changed your handling times back. Otherwise, I was aware of the original changes to eBay's delivery windows. 

Bulk editor has also not been working for me over the last few days. So it must be an issue with all the updates they are making. 

[cardcentral_ca]

I never changed my handling times, but I do like hockey jerseys.

How come you went away from the plant pictures?  That was you, correct?

[femmefan1946]

Lineups?
Anything I ship without tracking goes in the nearest mailbox , half a block from my house. It says it has a9am pickup, but the truck is there around noon.

If I printed a Tracked label, I usually take it to the PO, but if there is a lineup, I just walk to the front of the line, drop it on the counter and say, "when you have a minute", because I already have the receipt from when it was printed.
At Christmas, the PO puts a cart beside the counter (security) and commercial mailers like me just drop our parcels in there.
Private /occasional mailers could do the same if they printed out their labels.

For the record, to the best of my knowledge, most of those parcels are not going to be "accepted" until they get off the ferry from Vancouver Island, and postmarked in Richmond BC at the international terminal anyway.

There may be some carryover paranoia here from USPS standards, which haven't allowed parcels to be mailed in mailboxes since the active period of the now dead Unibomber.
But Canada Post has no such rule.

[cardcentral_ca]

I expect there to be BIG lineups at all post offices and retail outlets when this is over. 

I have enough stuff that I have to go to the post office, and I always need postage.  Ever since they changed the mail boxes by my house, I can't put over sized in, not the over sized letter mail I ship.  They don't fit.  Plus I have too many for the new tiny compartment. 

I do not live by one of the mail boxes you refer to.  The only time the post office is lined up, is at christmas, but I expect there to be big line ups with the people like me whose only option is Canada Post for shipping. 

I have continued selling as normal, but now need to extend handling times as eBay has gone back to normal times for some reason.  I am guessing because sales are down.  Opting out of business policies changed nothing as more sold since.  I am hoping they know something I don't and the strike will be over TODAY.

Anything in the mail already, will be fast.  It is all the stuff that will be delivered once strike is over that will take longer than usual.

[femmefan1946]

and I always need postage.

I use postage stamps myself, purchased at a discount over the years, but eBay's printed labels have up to a 53% discount from counter rates for stamps.

And your tracking number is automatically uploaded to eBay when you buy there.

When you have the shipping label affixed, you don't have to wait in line to drop off. Just put it on the counter or in the bin.

Are you referring to the community mail boxes? Look around in town, near the business district. The "old style" boxes still exist.

[cardcentral_ca]

If only I could print my own letter mail postage..... I am aware how it all works, but thank you for also letting me know.

Plus I have crushes on all the ladies working at all the post offices I go to, so I like going in!

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@femmefan1946 wrote:

and I always need postage.

I use postage stamps myself, purchased at a discount over the years, but eBay's printed labels have up to a 53% discount from counter rates for stamps.

And your tracking number is automatically uploaded to eBay when you buy there.

When you have the shipping label affixed, you don't have to wait in line to drop off. Just put it on the counter or in the bin.

Are you referring to the community mail boxes? Look around in town, near the business district. The "old style" boxes still exist.

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@cardcentral_ca 

@femmefan1946 

I'm in Calgary. The old red boxes have become few and far between. Even the small mail slot type drop offs in residential areas can fill up super fast. And you can't tell how full they are without testing. Maybe the big boxes are more visible in downtowns and in front of malls. Not so much in residential area. As for using them right now I would consider very risky due to possibility of vandalism or "chance" of theft when they become full.

-Lotz

[cardcentral_ca]

Go Oilers Go!  Haha.  

I think the new style is because they don't want the drop offs at the mailboxes so full for carriers (most use their own vehicles for these) with the increase of oversized letter mail.  I was also told because of vandalism, with example of people dumping their coffee cups in them.  I guess that is using them as a trash can.

If I can't use the one on my street (too many these days), I always go in somewhere. 

[flipistics]

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@cardcentral_ca wrote:

If only I could print my own letter mail postage..... I am aware how it all works, but thank you for also letting me know.

Plus I have crushes on all the ladies working at all the post offices I go to, so I like going in!

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You can print your own lettermail postage, but you have to hand the stuff in at the counter because they have a paper (for the entire lot, not each letter) they have to sign in order to accept it. Look up postal indicia with Canada Post.

[cardcentral_ca]

Interesting.  Do you know if it has to be printed on sticker labels?  Or can it be cut from a sheet of paper and taped on like I do with tracked labels?

I have asked and mentioned a few time at the post office that I wish they had a stamp for 100 to 200 grams over sized letter mail as I prepare everything else I can at home.  I guess it would cost me more if I had to print it all.  

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@cardcentral_ca wrote:

Interesting.  Do you know if it has to be printed on sticker labels?  Or can it be cut from a sheet of paper and taped on like I do with tracked labels?

I have asked and mentioned a few time at the post office that I wish they had a stamp for 100 to 200 grams over sized letter mail as I prepare everything else I can at home.  I guess it would cost me more if I had to print it all.  

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@cardcentral_ca 

At a postal depot like Shoppers Drug Mart you should be able to purchase stamps in 1.40, 2.09 and 2.92. Maybe others. What they have will vary. You may have to check several locations. You can also buy directly from CP with a small business account. I purchased sheets of 100 in smaller denominations awhile back. 1,5,6, 10 and 22. Use as required. The store link is currently down so unable to include. As a disclaimer getting them mailed to you right now might be challenging. Sorry had to include that!! 

-Lotz

[flipistics]

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@cardcentral_ca wrote:

Interesting.  Do you know if it has to be printed on sticker labels?  Or can it be cut from a sheet of paper and taped on like I do with tracked labels?

I have asked and mentioned a few time at the post office that I wish they had a stamp for 100 to 200 grams over sized letter mail as I prepare everything else I can at home.  I guess it would cost me more if I had to print it all.  

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You print them on individual sticker labels (alternatively you can also put the addresses and postage on a single 4x6 shipping label, which is what I do now). I don't think you're allowed to tape them. Depending on your printer and type of mailer, you may even be able to print it directly on an envelope.  When you're ready to ship them, you fill in a form on the Canada Post website and pay the applicable amount. You print off the resulting sheet of paper and take it in to the post office along with the envelopes. That proves to them that you paid. 

The nice thing about it is you never have to keep stamps on hand. You also get full statements each month for your records which makes book keeping a lot easier.

[cardcentral_ca]

I tape over my tracked labels and they all scan fine.  I will have to enquire if I can do that.  I would imagine the sticker labels cost a bit.  Is there a discount on letter mail prices for doing this?

Thanks for the info

[cardcentral_ca]

That is funny.  I buy the booklets of .99, 1.40, 2.08.  The 3.43, 4.78, 5.48 and 5.89 all have to be printed.  I had to do some math as I know the prices with tax.  All these are supposed to go up 25 cents I think, after christmas.  So I was told.  May buy 100 of the P stamps.

I may look into what the other poster does.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@cardcentral_ca 

My plan in the new year when postage goes up. 

P Stamp plastered!!!!

[flipistics]

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@cardcentral_ca wrote:

I tape over my tracked labels and they all scan fine.  I will have to enquire if I can do that.  I would imagine the sticker labels cost a bit.  Is there a discount on letter mail prices for doing this?

Thanks for the info

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No, there's no discount.

[cardcentral_ca]

Funny.  I have gotten some purchases like that in the past.  Years ago I had a lovely lady at the post office put all P stamps on one of my parcels to get rid of them.  Thought that was funny.