Buyer requesting a shipping delay...
Summary: kennyjo completed an order and printed a shipping label but was asked by the buyer to delay shipping due to their vacation. Various participants advised maintaining compliance with eBay's handling time to avoid account penalties. Suggestions included recommending the buyer hold their mail or cancel and reorder later. Emphasis was placed on the importance of shipping on time and the risks of not following established guidelines.
Completed the order, printed the shipping label, and advised the buyer that his item has been packed and will be shipped out first thing Monday (the 14th) morning. He wrote back and asked if there was a way to delay shipping the item since he was on vacation and wouldn't be back until the 21st. Anyway good way to handle this without getting dinged or flagged by eBay? Tks!
shire123
·3 weeks agoYou need to ship within your handling time. Suggest to them the follow one of the following steps.
If USPS, have the USPS hold the mail. They can do this on line
If UPS, have them sign up for UPS My Choice. There is an annual fee but most services are free. They will then be given the option of changing the delivery date.
if FedEx, have them sign up at FedEx. They can change the delivery date for a small fee. They can then change the delivery date.
I have used all 3 services without any issue.
johnrj1226
·3 weeks agoAdvise them to have the carrier to put on a hold.as you must ship within the stated time limits.
fatpugowner
·3 weeks agoI have had this happen many times. You cold send him another invoice with a slower shipping method? The buyer shoudn't have ordered it it he wasn't going to be able to retrieve it. I would inform him that you have strict guidelines that you must adhere to, and that you must ship it in a timely manner. The buyer could probably give someone else permission to sign for it, like a neighbor. This would be worked out with the carrier by the buyer, it's not your responsibility. He should have been responsible, and only purchased it if the buyer had been able to retrieve it (repeating myself, lol). I would ship anyway. As you know, not shipping on time, could cost you future "Top Rated" status. Some buyers use the "delayed shipping method" as a scheme to cancel the order, citing "lack of funds", "illness"etc. Ship it!!
inhawaii
·3 weeks agoEasy.
Tell them no.
You are required by ebay to ship within your handling time.
You have to ship it now -or- you will be glad to cancel their order.
albertabrightalberta
·3 weeks ago · EditedI'm with @christworks
I'd offer the buyer 2 options:
Suggest that they have their mail held by the p.o. since you have to ship within your handling time and cannot hold off shipment.
Ask if they want to cancel and offer the option to rebuy (if the item is still available) after they return from their vacation. If they respond that they want to cancel, you can legitimately cancel for "buyer requested."
christworks
·3 weeks ago@kennyjo You have to meet your handling time or you will be an account ding by eBay. There is no option for a buyer to request delayed shipping. What a nightmare that would be for sellers if eBay ever added that as an option. There are a handful of sellers who are happy to take a ding like that. I'm not one of them as there are a variety of issues that can pop up by not sending the order on time. The shipping label you've also bought and printed may no longer be accepted if you wait more than a few days.
I would politely let your buyer know that you must meet your handling time or you will be sanctioned by eBay. One buyer is not worth risking your account, because what happens when your car breaks down or something else comes up on your end and you can't get an order on time? Save that ding for yourself. You can tell the buyer they are welcome to put in a cancellation request, and reorder when they are back home.
One more thing...you invite issues like this when you are writing buyers to tell them when their order will ship. Buyers shoud already know that based on your handling time. I see no reason to bother them further or give them pause to rethink their order.
I like your CD selection. I'm saving you and will keep you in mind next time I'm looking.