Automated Package Delivery Notifications from eBay

[Anonymous]

We're all familiar with the automated shipping confirmation messages eBay sends buyers when a seller prints a label.

As a buyer, a recent eBay order I placed came with an automated delivery notification email.  In other words, some time after USPS scanned the package as delivered, a notification email came shortly thereafter.  It was an email directly from eBay (on behalf of the seller), not a third-party delivery notification.  

I assume this delivery notification is a new feature, but then again, I don't buy from eBay that often so maybe it has been around a while and I just didn't know it.

Anyone else get these eBay delivery notifications? 

What do you think -- good thing, or bad thing?  

I suppose it depends on the timing of the email.  If it's pretty much in real-time, that's good.  But it also assumes one checks their email promptly.  If it's a large package left on the recipient's porch, an email notification of delivery would serve as a helpful alert.   The buyer can then retrieve their package before a porch thief does.   

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

Bad thing. I get several packages a day and the emails are annoying spam to me

[Anonymous]

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@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:

Bad thing. I get several packages a day and the emails are annoying spam to me

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True, good point.   Plus if the email comes too late after delivery, and one already knows their package was delivered, there's no point in seeing an extra email just to confirm what one already knows.

[partial*eclipse]

Exactly.  I buy a lot of stuff from LLBean, and they always send an email late at night saying "Good news, your package has been delivered."  It's the stupidest message, ever.  Yes, I know it was delivered, 6 hours ago. What on earth is the point of that message??

[sharingtheland]

I have to admit, on several occasions those notice of delivery emails have made me go to the front door late at night and - voila - there's a package !  One I hadn't noticed all day long because I came/went through the garage and/or I never left this stinkin' chair at this stinkin' computer, thus never breathing outside air.

It's amazing to me that ebay has programmed this because it could be a good thing for a seller.  Meaning, do we no longer have to upload tracking in an INR claim?   Also amazing if it's programmed without totally glitching up or glitching some other aspect of mail/labels.

Companies that send these emails are using them as their own cya's.

[rainbowcolorz]

I think they're great.   Couldn't believe my eyes a week or so ago when I was sitting at my computer wondering when/if the item I ordered from eBay would arrive and heard "You've Got Mail" and when I looked it was an email from eBay that said:  DELIVERED: CLINIQUE AROMATICS ELIXIR 3.4 OZ/100 ml. So I went outside and down to the mailbox and it was there.  No wasted trips just to discover the item hadn't arrived yet.  

I also think it's great when I order something as a gift for a relative and have it shipped to them in a different state.  Especially if it's a surprise.  Instead of calling them to see if they received it, I know right away when it arrives in their mailbox.  

[mrv71]

I've been having this junk flooding my inbox for about a month. I hate it!!! And there's no way to unsubscribe!!! Now there's like 5-6 emails from eBay for every item I buy, which is extremely annoying, and this is not counting emails from sellers, who often offer to get on their mailing list or other stuff. Ebay must provide a way to unsubscribe from this junk!

[Anonymous]

Interesting to see some who are in favor of the notifications, and others who are not.

Maybe eBay should give buyers the option in buyer preference settings:

Yes, I wish to receive package delivery notifications; or

No, I do not wish to receive package delivery notifications.

[pikabo-icu]

Yep, getting them..

They annoy the heck outta me...

IF packages actually got delivered for me, I might appreciate it, however, I live at the end of a LONG private road, the PO doesn't come down here sooooo.... I have to pick up all of my packages at the PO. These notices are coming about 3-4 hours after I picked them up..

I would check communication preferences and see if there's a way to opt out.. If there isn't, this needs to be an option added SOON. 

Til then, I'll just keep deleting them, it's only one click, well perhaps two..

CHEERS

[partial*eclipse]

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@rainbowcolorz wrote:

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 ...  No wasted trips just to discover the item hadn't arrived yet.  ...I also think it's great when I order something as a gift for a relative and have it shipped to them in a different state.  ....  

You can just check the tracking number if you want to check on a package's delivery status.

You can even choose to have USPS (and probably the other carriers) notify you whenever the tracking is updated.

[readabouthorses]

Did you check to see if you can turn them off? I just looked in My Ebay - Communication Preferences - Buyer Activity and I see one for Item Received that can be set to either Real-Time or None. It looks like it is opted to Real-Time because I've never messed with any of those Buyer Settings in Communication Preferences.

[dhbookds]

yep, also getting them from WM  and Home Depot.........

interesting on WM........scheduled delivery for store delivery  7/14......so I look on the 14........the scheduled delivery is now between 7/14-17............lol

On the Amazon order 7/11 (the big day and I don't have prime, but needed something)......wasn't shipped til 7/16 and delivered 7/21.......  I did NOT get an "it's delivered" email from them............lol

[shevey55]

I like them. I think it gives sellers an added layer of protection. 

My regular mail carrier knows to put packages at my back door, but the subs put them by the front door where they can be seen from the street.

The downside is that my last notification was sent about 6 hours after delivery.

[duchess-at-speakeasy]

I believe you can block unwanted messages from eBay.  See your Site Preferences.

Personally, I receive packages at my PMB; when they arrive, the clerk sends me a detailed e-mail, including the senders name, tracking number, general size and type of package and notes about any container damage.  This message goes to my general correspondence e-mail.  The e-mail address associated with my primary buying ID is different; I access it every couple of months to dump messages, unread.

Some people receive automated package delivery notifications from USPS.  Not sure if UPS or FedEx provides this service.

Bottom line:  Delivery notifications from eBay are redundant and unneeded.  For an eBay account, it helps to use an e-mail address that you can ignore.

~~C~~

[d-k_treasures]

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@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:

Bad thing. I get several packages a day and the emails are annoying spam to me

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And there are many more when bidding on something now. 

Maybe if they dropped some of this new spam email, you could actually get a page to load in a reasonable timeframe.