10-day handling, 10-day auctions

[keziak]

Trying to decide if it's worth switching to 10-day auctions and 10-day handling because of a trip. Does that just mean aggravated buyers?

[nobody*s_perfect]

Yes, it certainly can mean aggravated buyers, and also potential bidders who skip your auctions because they don't want to wait 10 days to find out if they've won.  You can alert potential bidders/buyers about your trip, or shut down your fixed-price listings entirely, using the "Time Away" option. Note that it applies only to fixed price listings, not auctions.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/selling-tools/time-away?id=5137

[rosszonebricks]

1) I haven't bid on an auction in years.  If I'm buying online, I want to order it and know it's on the way.

2) I want what I ordered quickly.

So... all just my opinion, but if I wanted something, but saw I wouldn't have it for 25 days....   I'd just move on and buy it elsewhere.

Even using the 'Time Away' feature, where the handling time and delivery estimates are automatically adjusted (yeah I know it doesn't work on Auctions), this has lead to the last two negative feedbacks I've gotten.   People don't read and just assume I'm being lazy and not shipping their item out.

[hartungcards]

"...because they don't want to wait 10 days to find out if they've won."

Not to mention waiting another 10 days for it to ship, and then another week for it to arrive.

[fern*wood]

Why not pause your store and stop the auctions until you return?  You say you don't need the money, I doubt the lack of items going out the door matter that much since you are still sourcing more items, so take the break and avoid angering your buyers.  Why go looking for more stress?

[chapeau-noir]

If I'm gone for weeks I just hide my listings and have automatic reply enabled. If someone purchases something during that time I just message them about the delay in shipping. If I think I'll be out of reach for weeks at a time (i.e., out of cell phone/internet range) I just delist everything.

[stainlessenginecovers]

Would be the exact opposite of what ANYONE on this planet wants. As stated, auctions are dead in the first place; everyone wants it now so if you do 'auctions' you should also have a BIN as I know for me, I don't 'wait' for auctions. 

[albertabrightalberta]

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@keziak wrote:

Trying to decide if it's worth switching to 10-day auctions and 10-day handling because of a trip. Does that just mean aggravated buyers?

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I wouldn't do it. I've gone on vacation and always go on time away with my listings not viewable.

[12345jamesstamps]

I did "time away" for 2 weeks and let buyers purchase from me.

I was away on an International cruise but had internet. Buyers knew I was away...but I sent every buyer a reminder in an email I am away and when I return I will mail item out on such and such a date..

Had about 80+ items sold during time away.

No complaints and quite a few said enjoy the vacation. It was An October vacation.

Day I returned I got a ton of more sales.

It was nice getting the extra money to spend when I was on vacation.

And your payments are not on hold. 

10-day auctions...there is a extra charge for a 10-day auction and that is taken out immediately when you list the auction before it sells.

I also didn't want to lose "watchers" or buyers forgetting about me. 2 weeks and not selling some will...will they return after 2 weeks.

It may not work for everyone. Having no internet can be a downfall. I used my iPhone to respond to all buyers and also was able to cash out on "available funds" on my eBay iPhone app. And strangely there were no extra charges using my iPhone out of the country.

Good luck.

[chevymontecarlo88]

Just don't go on vacation. Stay and work through it. 😀

Personally i would use vacation mode for short times (a week or so) and would (never took that much time off) delist them like chapeau-noir  suggests for longer times. (2 weeks or more) Either way i still would bring my phone to communicate with any messages or buyers during that time.

[chapeau-noir]

It also depends on one's definition of "vacation" - I spent so many years working through vacations because I worked for hammerhead companies with lean staffing that the idea of having ANYTHING to do with work when I'm on vacation is anathema (even though I keep in light touch).

So YMMV.

[slippinjimmy]

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@12345jamesstamps wrote:

10-day auctions...there is a extra charge for a 10-day auction and that is taken out immediately

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The extra fee for 10 day auctions went away many years ago, I think it was at the same time as the extra fee for 1 & 3 day Auctions started.

[sin-n-dex]

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@keziak wrote:

Trying to decide if it's worth switching to 10-day auctions and 10-day handling because of a trip. Does that just mean aggravated buyers?

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Doesn't 10 day auctions cost more? I would think 7 day auctions is long enough, and if you're away, I'd skip auctions for that week. (I'm going to be away in a week and a half, and planned to come home in time for the auctions to end so I can send invoices).

As for 10 day handling, why not just do "time away" and allow sales? You won't have to ship those items until you get back.

C.

[sin-n-dex]

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@rosszonebricks wrote:

1) I haven't bid on an auction in years.  If I'm buying online, I want to order it and know it's on the way.

2) I want what I ordered quickly.

So... all just my opinion, but if I wanted something, but saw I wouldn't have it for 25 days....   I'd just move on and buy it elsewhere.

Even using the 'Time Away' feature, where the handling time and delivery estimates are automatically adjusted (yeah I know it doesn't work on Auctions), this has lead to the last two negative feedbacks I've gotten.   People don't read and just assume I'm being lazy and not shipping their item out.

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If I'm in time away mode and allowing sales, I respond to every buyer to let them know I've received their order, am away, and tell them when I'll be home to ship. I haven't gotten any negatives for taking a while to ship in this scenario. In one case the buyer asked me to cancel, but the item might have been a gift that they needed right away.

C.

[dbfolks166mt]

     The 10 day auctions would probably not be an issue but 10 days handling time may indeed result in aggravated buyers especially if they did not notice that point when they bid on the item.