eBay

foxboxfashions · ‎07-02-2019

My expedited shipping options are now blocked because the estimated delivery dates have always been incorrect. In my business policies we offer First Class (FREE), Priority OR Express. Since this new change only the First Class (Free) option shows up in my listing. What a bummer I have many customers each day asking if they can pay more to get it sooner. Anyone else running into this? Is there a work around to get all the options to show?

berserkerplanet · ‎07-03-2019

(This isn't a technical issue and would have been more appropriate in Selling or Shipping& Returns)

That behavior is intentional (don't want to confuse poor snowflake buyers with choice - their heads might explode and they will run away to sites that treat them like toddlers)

The first shipping option in the listing will always appear. Other options (like PME) that cost much? more than Priority or First Class and don't have significantly? sooner estimated delivery dates (EDD) will be ghosted. The exact balance of faster and more expensive is unknown (and eBay would have to kill us if they told us).

Options disappear more the closer the destination to you where the EDDs are closer together or the same (ie: if you look at your own listings where PME, PM, and FCM are only 1 or 2 days). Cross country zipcodes will show most or all options unless totally price/time redundant (I thing the cheaper option is shown then).

This started out appearing to be tied to Guaranteed Delivery and Fast N Free, and I don't know if there is still a linkage. Defeating Fast N Free by not offering free shipping (using a shipping cost or a 1¢ or 2¢ shipping charge if wanting to still be close to free) and/or extending handling time to more than 2 days (mine is 2 and my options get ghosted anyway) may help if the shipping option ghosting is still linked to FnF and GD.

If not, then I don't know. I haven't gotten around to trying to fix that myself yet, and didn't pay close attention to any posts on the issue once I discovered it wasn't a bug, and eBay wasn't budging on the new policy.

You might want to search and skim Selling and Shipping and Returns forums (google searches from outside often work better).

foxboxfashions · ‎07-03-2019

Thank you so much for the insight. I'm in Florida I just put in a California zip code and you are correct....the Priority 2-3 day option does show up. The Express (1-2 day option) still isn't showing. I sell sunglasses and everyone wants to order them 2 days before they go on vacation. I receive 2 - 3 messages a day asking if I offer upgraded shipping. It's pretty cumbersome to coordinate upgraded shipping outside of a transaction. Bummer situation.

Anyway, thank you very much for your suggestions. Much appreciated 🙂

berserkerplanet · ‎07-03-2019

Your welcome.

PME option should show - it is 1 or 2 day, and PM is 2-3 day. (again, my eyes glazed over when others started debating and questioning that so I don't recall if it was deemed a bug or just a stupid move).

Wonder if it would work if you made PME the first option (that would never be ghosted), and then PM and FCM options 2 and 3 (or vice versa)?

(my FedEx options are getting disappeared in listings where I offer USPS PM and PS, and FedEx SP and HD which is also a problem if a buyer prefers FedEx. Haven't gotten around to trying to figure out how to fix that if it is fixable or workaroundable.)

berserkerplanet · ‎07-03-2019

Followup:

I added PME to one of my listings that already had free MM shipping and a PM upgrade option.

For my own 3 digit zip prefix (958), the PM option disappeared. For all other zones, and other 3 digit zip prefixes in Zone 1 (like towns 10 miles away), all 3 options were present.

Although I like it, and it harkens back to the before times (2 months ago?) when eBay wasn't disappearing shipping options, it doesn't seem right in light of what eBay has been doing. Maybe the 4th of July holiday is skewing things. Have to try to remember to take a look next week after the holiday and see if it behaves the same.

namele365 · ‎07-03-2019

@berserkerplanet wrote:
Followup:

I added PME to one of my listings that already had free MM shipping and a PM upgrade option.

For my own 3 digit zip prefix (958), the PM option disappeared. For all other zones, and other 3 digit zip prefixes in Zone 1 (like towns 10 miles away), all 3 options were present.

Although I like it, and it harkens back to the before times (2 months ago?) when eBay wasn't disappearing shipping options, it doesn't seem right in light of what eBay has been doing. Maybe the 4th of July holiday is skewing things. Have to try to remember to take a look next week after the holiday and see if it behaves the same.

eBay monkies scratching their heads...

still sooo confused and overwhelmed...

foxboxfashions · ‎07-03-2019

Thanks....your idea of putting the PME first does indeed work for California (I'm in Florida). That forces all 3 shipping options to show. It seems the issue is the transit time calculation for each service. The Priority and Express options both return the same delivery date. If I change the zip code back to Florida then it only shows First Class and Express and it has the same delivery date for both options. Screen captures attached.

I'm going to change it back to having the free option first because I'm fairly certain most shoppers won't intuitively think to toggle though shipping options (they will just see that I'm charging $29.95 for shipping and move on the next item).

The delivery dates for PM and PME have always been incorrect (on my items) so I'm fearful this issue won't be resolved anytime soon. I'm sure this has to be affecting other sellers.....It's surprising that such a major issue goes overlooked. Especially since I know ebay wants to compete with Amazon on shipping time. Thanks again for your help....

Anyone else out there having similar issues? Please speak up...let's try to get this fixed.

p1repair · ‎01-22-2020

My god... what a mess!

I noticed incorrect shipping options in my listings a few months ago and figured it was some glitch that would work itself out. NO.... it's a FEATURE! Sure....

I am getting daily messages from customers asking for faster delivery options and after calling "support" 3 times now and them acting all surprised each time, I now learn this is INTENTIONAL??! **bleep** these people are nuts!

Priority mail option is being ghosted on all my listings. Apparently if I'm shipping locally then PM is an option but further away it's hidden. RIGHT..... who's the genius that dreamed this ***** up? How many millions will they get for a bonus this quarter?

nobody*s_perfect · ‎01-22-2020

@p1repair wrote: .... Apparently if I'm shipping locally then PM is an option but further away it's hidden. RIGHT..... who's the genius that dreamed this ***** up?...

I agree that the system is terrible and crazy, but it might not be as bad as you think. I tried a few ZIP Codes in the shipping section of one of your listings. Expedited shipping showed for farther locations (Boston and Los Angeles) but not for a FL location.