eBay

seller_news_team · ‎04-03-2020

COVID-19 is a complex and fast-moving situation, and we know it may be more challenging to run your eBay business now because of disruptions to your daily routines.

As we’ve seen, this is not a problem that can be solved by one person or group alone. Government leaders around the world are taking action and many decisions will lead to immediate changes in how or where you can ship packages. 

Our carrier partners are updating us daily.

As it relates to shipping domestically and internationally, please keep checking this page for updates. We will inform you of changes to any services and how we will help manage buyer transactions and protect your business.

Many members of our community have asked if it is safe to send and receive packages.

You can continue to ship and receive packages, according to today’s guidance from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the U.S. Surgeon General, and the Public Health Agency of Canada. We will continue to monitor their guidance and keep you updated.

What you should do now.

Communicate with buyers about potential shipping delays. If you don’t think your orders will be delivered on time for any reason, let your buyers know and keep them updated with information from shipping carriers.

We’ve received questions from sellers specifically about domestic USPS services and procedures. To help everyone in the community, we are updating this shipping announcement with specific information below about USPS pick up and delivery.

What you need to know about shipping packages within the US.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an essential service and will remain open and operational in states or municipalities with “shelter in place” or other social distancing restrictions in place. To understand the service modifications they have made, you can read the USPS Service Alerts for more details or the USPS Statement on the Corona virus. Remember, instead of going to the post office, you can schedule a free home pickup with USPS. You can also order packaging supplies online, directly from USPS.

[Added 4.27.20] USPS announced changes to their service standards adding 1 day to most First Class Package and Priority Mail transit times. We will be updating our estimated delivery times as needed to accurately reflect this change by USPS. You do not need to do anything. You can read the news announcement here.

Both FedEx and UPS are operating at normal capacity and both carriers, deemed critical by the government, have the appropriate exemptions for mandates such as imposed curfews.

FedEx domestic operations are fully operational at this time. Packages can be dropped off through third party retail locations such as FedEx Office, FedEx Drop Box locations, Walgreens, Dollar General. Find a location near you here. If you are in a highly affected area, please check your local locations for availability. If you have a FedEx account for your business, you can also schedule package pickup. Learn more. To understand the service modifications they may make, you can read the FedEx service alerts related to COVID-19 Coronavirus here.

UPS domestic operations are fully operational at this time. Packages can be dropped off through third party retail locations such as UPS Stores, CVS, and Michaels. Find a location near you here. If you are in a highly affected area, please check your local locations for availability. If you have a UPS account for your business, you can also schedule package pickup. Learn more. To understand the service modifications they may make, you can read the UPS service alerts related to COVID-19 Coronavirus here and how they are responding to the virus here.

As outlined above, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is an essential service and will remain open. Instead of going to the post office, you can schedule a free home pickup with USPS for prepaid postage and labeled packages. You can also free order packaging supplies online, directly from USPS.

The USPS services eligible for free pick up are Priority Mail (including flat rate packages), First Class Package, Returns, First Class Package International, Priority Mail International and Priority Mail Express.

The USPS process for package pickup.

You need to schedule pickups one day in advance and by 2:00 am Central Standard Time, Monday through Saturday. Please consider updating your listings to add a day to your handling time if necessary.

USPS allows you to schedule a pick up time convenient for you in locations eligible for this service (more than 98% of zip codes are eligible) for free as long as it is during the hours of regular mail delivery. Regular delivery hours vary by location but this means the time when your USPS carrier would be delivering daily letters and packages. There are options to specify a time for pick up outside of regular hours but they may come with a fee.

You do not have to be present when your USPS carrier picks up packages. USPS offers the flexibility to pick up packages in a location that is convenient for you. You can let USPS know exactly where to look for packages by selecting the precise location you plan to leave your packages. (i.e. porch, side door, mailroom, backdoor, office, reception, etc.)

Remember - packages must have a prepaid label. Please do not leave money for your carrier. The most convenient way to print postage for your eBay sold item is to use eBay Labels services (print from the transaction order) once you have been paid for your item.

If you include an email in your pickup request, USPS will send an email confirming packages are picked up.

Your USPS carrier will scan packages at the time of pickup but those scans may not be available in tracking events until later in the day.

Frequently asked questions about USPS scheduled pick up services.

What if I schedule a pick up for packages but then have more packages before the carrier comes, can I include them?

Yes, USPS requests that you go back into your pickup request and select “Edit Pickup” to update the changes. If you have included an email address, USPS will email you the number of items picked up.

I am in a rural or limited service location. Can I schedule a free pick up?

USPS does not offer free pickup nationwide. While more than 98% of zip codes are provided this service, certain zip codes are ineligible.

Can I cancel a pick up if I no longer need it?

Yes, USPS requests that you go back into your pick up request on the USPS website and select “Edit Pick Up” to cancel the request.

Is there a limit to the number of packages I schedule pick up for?

You can request a pick up of multiple packages but please use discretion due to the limitations of your carrier. You should not request a pick up of a single package greater than 130 inches (length + girth) or 70 lbs.

Changes to “Signature Required” process for USPS, FedEx, and UPS.

As the coronavirus COVID-19 affects our communities, essential services such as USPS, FedEx, and UPS are maintaining normal operating procedures while maintaining World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention health advisories; and where it makes sense, adjusting efforts to safeguard the health and safety of our their carriers. All employees of these carriers are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines for hygiene and social distancing. Also, the following precautionary adjustments have been made in how “signature required” packages will be delivered:

USPS is modifying the signature requirement to eliminate direct contact with customers. They will:

Avoid ringing the doorbell when possible. They will knock on the customer’s door and avoid areas that may be frequently touched when knocking.
Carriers will maintain a safe, appropriate distance, and will request the customer’s first initial and last name.
For increased safety, carriers will ask the customer to step back a safe distance or close the screen door/door so that they may leave the item in the mail receptacle or appropriate location by the customer door.
If there is no response, employees will follow the normal “Notice Left” process.
If there are delivery points on the route where social distancing recommendations are difficult to follow, alternative delivery methods will be explored.

FedEx is modifying the signature requirement to instead receive a verbal acknowledgment from the recipient and sign on their behalf.

FedEx carriers will not require the recipient to physically sign for most deliveries.
If the courier is unable to make contact with the customer for a verbal acknowledgment, they will follow normal procedures to make another delivery attempt.

UPS is modifying the signature requirement to eliminate direct contact with customers.

The courier will leave a delivery Info Notice on the customer’s door, ring the doorbell and wait.
Couriers will maintain a safe, appropriate distance, and will request the customer to sign the Info Notice on the door with their own pen.
They will ask the customer to step back inside their home or business with the Info Notice left on the door. The courier will then collect the Info Notice, record the delivery and the courier will leave the item in a convenient place for pick up such as a mail receptacle or appropriate location by the customer door.
If the courier is unable to make contact with the customer for a verbal acknowledgment, they will follow normal procedures to make another delivery attempt.

What you need to know about shipping packages outside of the US.

There are service disruptions around the world as local shipping carriers decide to suspend in-country deliveries. Below we are listing the countries that are impacted.

If buyers from one of these countries have already purchased an item from you but it has not yet been shipped, you will not be able to print a shipping label. As of March 20, we will suspend label printing services for the listed countries.

To deter future purchases, while they are not able to be delivered, buyers may be able to view listings in search, but if they select the listing they will see a message that ‘this seller’ (you) does not ship to their country. Buyers will not be able to checkout and will be warned throughout the experience the product will not ship to their location.

If you recently shipped a package to one of the countries that have since suspended their postal operations, the status of that package depends on the service you used to ship it.

For packages shipped with USPS international services, USPS will hold any shipments en route and deliver them once when the postal system in the buyer’s country resumes operations.

For eBay international standard delivery, the process will vary based upon whether the package has already been processed by our consolidation center at the time of country suspension. If the package has been processed by the consolidation center and is in transit internationally, we will hold these shipments and have them delivered once the postal system in the buyer’s country resumes operations. If the package has not been processed by our consolidation center, we will be returning the shipment to you. You will be refunded the cost of the eBay international delivery label on your next invoice and will not be charged for the return shipping label.

There is minimal impact on eBay’s Global Shipping Program due to the use of both in-country postal systems and private carriers. However, estimated delivery times have been extended in many areas experiencing some delays.

Updated 4.9.20

Shipping Service

Adjusted Estimated Delivery Date

(delivery dates extended on eBay)

Suspended in-country delivery

Direct USPS international

Armenia (4/6)
Austria (4/6)
Azerbaijan Republic (4/6)
Belgium (4/6)
Brunei Darussalam (4/6)
Bulgaria (4/6)
Canada (3/27)
Croatia (4/6)
Cyprus (4/6)
Czech Republic (4/6)
Estonia (3/27)
Finland (4/6)
France (4/1)
Greece (4/6)
Honduras (4/6)
Hong Kong (4/6)
Hungary (4/6)
Iceland (4/6)
Ireland (4/6)
Italy (3/19)
Italy (3/27)
Japan (4/6)
Kazakhstan (4/6)
Latvia (4/6)
Lithuania (4/6)
Luxembourg (4/6)
Malaysia (4/6)
Maldives (4/6)
Malta (4/6)
Netherlands (3/19)
Netherlands (3/27)
Netherlands (4/6)
New Zealand (4/6)
Norway (3/27)
Norway (4/6)
Poland (4/6)
Qatar (4/6)
Serbia (4/6)
Slovakia (4/6)
South Africa (4/6)
South Korea (4/6)
Spain (3/19)
Spain (3/27)
Sri Lanka (4/6)
Sweden (4/6)
Switzerland (4/6)
Taiwan (4/6)
Turkey (4/6)
United Arab Emirates (3/20)
United Arab Emirates (3/27)
United Arab Emirates (4/6)
United Kingdom (4/6)

Angola (4/6)
Antigua & Barbuda (4/8)
Ascension (3/27)
Bahamas (3/27)
Benin (4/6)
Bermuda (3/27)
Bolivia (3/31)
Bosnia & Herzegovina (4/6)
Brunei Darussalam (3/25)
Burundi (4/9)
Cameroon (4/6)
Cayman Islands (3/19)
Chad (3/25)
Congo, Republic of the (4/6)
Cook Islands (4/6)
Corridor closures:
Costa Rica (4/6)
Cuba (4/9)
Democratic Republic of the Congo (4/9)
Djibouti (3/19)
Ecuador (3/20)
El Salvador (3/23)
Fiji (4/1)
French Polynesia (3/19)
Gambia (4/6)
Guatemala (4/6)
Guinea-Bissau (4/9)
Guyana (3/23)
Honduras (3/19)
India (3/26)
Iran (3/27)
Ivory Coast (3/26)
Jamaica (3/27)
Kenya (4/9)
Kiribati (4/9)
Kuwait (3/19)
Kyrgyzstan (4/6)
Laos (4/6)
Lebanon (3/19)
Lesotho (4/9)
Libya (3/19)
Luxembourg (4/8)
Madagascar (3/25)
Mail (4/1)
Malawi (4/6)
Maldives (3/19)
Mauritania (3/23)
Moldova (3/19)
Mongolia (3/19)
Montenegro (3/23)
Montserrat (4/8)
Morocco (3/19)
Mozambique (4/6)
Myanmar (4/7)
Nepal (3/30)
New Caledonia (3/25)
Panama (3/23)
Papua New Guinea (4/6)
Paraguay (4/6)
Peru (3/19)
Philippines (3/19)
Saudi Arabia (4/1)
Senegal (4/6)
Seychelles (4/6)
Solomon Islands (4/6)
Somalia (4/7)
South Africa (3/25)
Sri Lanka (3/19)
St Lucia (3/27)
St. Kitts & Nevis (3/27)
Sudan (4/6)
Suriname (3/23)
Tajikistan (4/6)
Tanzania (4/6)
Timor-Leste (4/6)
Togo (4/8)
Tonga (4/6)
Trinidad & Tobago (3/27)
Tunisia (3/19)
Turkey (3/23)
Uganda (4/6)
United Arab Emirates (4/9)
Uruguay (4/6)
Vanuatu (4/6)
Venezuela (4/6)
Wallis & Futuna (3/27)
Western Sahara (3/27)
Western Samoa (3/25)
Zambia (4/9)
Zimbabwe (3/26)

eBay international standard delivery

France (3/19)
Germany (3/19)
Indonesia (3/27)
Israel (3/19)
Israel (3/27)
Italy (3/19)
Japan (3/19)
Japan (3/27)
Lithuania (3/27)
Malaysia (3/27)
Netherlands (3/27)
New Zealand (4/6)
Norway (3/19)
Norway (4/6)
Portugal (4/6)
Romania (3/27)
Singapore (3/27)
Spain (3/19)
Spain (3/27)
Sweden (3/20)
Taiwan (3/20)
Taiwan (4/6)
Thailand (3/19)
UK (3/19)
United Arab Emirates (3/27)

Angola (4/6)
Antigua & Barbuda (4/8)
Ascension (3/27)
Bahamas (3/27)
Benin (4/6)
Bermuda (3/27)
Bolivia (3/31)
Bosnia & Herzegovina (4/6)
Brunei Darussalam (3/25)
Cameroon (4/6)
Cayman Islands (3/19)
Chad (3/25)
Congo, Republic of the (4/6)
Cook Islands (4/6)
Costa Rica (4/6)
Cuba (4/9)
Democratic Republic of the Congo (4/9)
Djibouti (3/19)
Ecuador (3/20)
El Salvador (3/23)
Fiji (4/1)
French Polynesia (3/19)
Gambia (4/6)
Guatemala (4/6)
Guinea-Bissau (4/9)
Guyana (3/23)
Honduras (3/19)
India (3/26)
Iran (3/27)
Ivory Coast (3/26)
Jamaica (3/27)
Kenya (4/9)
Kiribati (4/9)
Kuwait (3/19)
Kyrgyzstan (4/6)
Laos (4/6)
Lebanon (3/19)
Lesotho (4/9)
Libya (3/19)
Luxembourg (4/8)
Madagascar (3/25)
Mail (4/1)
Malawi (4/6)
Maldives (3/19)
Mauritania (3/23)
Moldova (3/19)
Mongolia (3/19)
Montenegro (3/23)
Montserrat (4/8)
Morocco (3/19)
Mozambique (4/6)
Myanmar (4/7)
Nepal (3/30)
New Caledonia (3/25)
Panama (3/23)
Papua New Guinea (4/6)
Paraguay (4/6)
Peru (3/19)
Philippines (3/19)
Saudi Arabia (4/1)
Senegal (4/6)
Seychelles (4/6)
Solomon Islands (4/6)
Somalia (4/7)
South Africa (3/25)
Sri Lanka (3/19)
St Lucia (3/27)
St. Kitts & Nevis (3/27)
Sudan (4/6)
Suriname (3/23)
Tajikistan (4/6)
Tanzania (4/6)
Timor-Leste (4/6)
Togo (4/8)Burundi (4/9)
Tonga (4/6)
Trinidad & Tobago (3/27)
Tunisia (3/19)
Turkey (3/23)
Uganda (4/6)
United Arab Emirates (4/9)
Uruguay (4/6)
Vanuatu (4/6)
Venezuela (4/6)
Wallis & Futuna (3/27)
Western Sahara (3/27)
Western Samoa (3/25)
Zambia (4/9)
Zimbabwe (3/26)

Global Shipping Program (GSP)

Australia (3/26 - 4/9)
Austria (3/17)
Bahrain (3/20)
Belgium (3/17)
Brazil (3/20)
Bulgaria (3/17)
Cayman Islands (3/20)
Chile (3/20)
China (3/20)
Colombia (3/20)
Croatia (3/17)
Cyprus (3/17)
Czech Republic (3/17)
Denmark (3/17)
Estonia (3/17)
Finland (3/17)
France (3/17)
Germany (3/17)
Greece (3/17)
Honduras (3/20)
Hong Kong (3/20)
Hungary (3/17)
Indonesia (3/20)
Ireland (3/17)
Italy (3/17)
Kuwait (3/20)
Latvia (3/17)
Lithuania (3/17)
Luxembourg (3/17)
Maldives (3/20)
Mexico (3/20)
Netherlands (3/17)
Norway (3/17)
Peru (3/20)
Poland (3/17)
Portugal (3/17)
Qatar (3/20)
Romania (3/17)

Russia (4/1)
Saudi Arabia (3/20)
Singapore (3/20)
Slovakia (3/17)
Slovenia (3/17)
South Africa (3/20)
Spain (3/17)
Sri Lanka (3/20)
Sweden (3/17)
Switzerland (3/17)
Taiwan (3/20)
UK (3/17)
United Arab Emirates (3/20)

Antigua & Barbuda (4/8)
Barbados (4/1)
Colombia (4/1)
Montserrat (4/8)
Oman (4/1)
Saint Lucia(4/8)
South Africa (3/27)
Sri Lanka (4/1)
Ukraine (3/23)

We will protect your business.

We're taking several steps to help the eBay seller community. We are constantly monitoring the dynamics impacted by Covid-19 to ensure we are taking the appropriate actions, and we will keep you updated.

Please also check the following pages for more information.

For more eBay news and updates related to the coronavirus outbreak, please visit our seller community center. For information on government support for small businesses, visit eBay’s Government Relations site at eBayMainStreet.com/covid19.