eBay

modulok! · ‎11-11-2018

Buyer purchases item today and adds a Note To Seller (that appears on the Order Details page) asking for the seller to delay shipping so that they receive it "sometime after Thanksgiving" when they are home. They go on to state that they live in an area with "lots of stolen packages". This is a zero feedback buyer in CA that registered in 2017. The item is a toy with a price of $60 plus $15 shipping (larger item).

How do I handle this? If I don't ship out by Tuesday (when Ebay says to ship by) what will happen to my account? It seems like every sale recently has its own unique problem attached to it - I'm getting sick of it.

annasunicorns · ‎11-11-2018

Good news and bad news. Good news, people ask this regularly on other sites, so its not likely they are trying to scam you. Bad news, if it arrives after the delivery estimate that ebay put on your listing, the buyer will automatically win a SNAD case against you on the delay alone.

So its really up to your gut. Because most people who have asked this of me, are genuinely happy and pleased by the delay. Leave great feedback. But ebay in its "restless experimentation" has decided to add risk into an otherwise relatively safe equation. Id lean towards waiting myself. But its your thing, your buyer, your call.

maryinlikely · ‎11-11-2018

I think it all depends on how many late shipping items has down for you. If this is going to be the only one, then your stats will still show an acceptable percentage. You can also call Ebay and talk to a Rep about the problem and see if a shipping flag for this item can be removed. The Rep will read the buyer's message to you and help you sort it out. That is how I would proceed. Also I would suggest you pay the couple of extra dollars and put a signature request on the package so that the package shows delivery to a person and not to porch.

bigdeals.etc · ‎11-11-2018

Don't ship it right away. Either oblige the buyer or cancel the transaction altogether. If you oblige and the buyer gives you problems down the road, hopefully when you call CS they can help to a degree when you show proof of the buyer asking to delay shipment. I've asked CS this and they advise the same thing. Then again, all CS agents are different.

I think the only thing CS can't help with is if the buyer files a SNAD and you want that SNAD removed from your service metric. They can help you to win the case, but not remove that mark when figuring out the 4% additional FVF. Remember this SNAD (and eBay helping you with it) could also happen for many other reasons and not just your agreement to delay shipping.

a_c_green · ‎11-11-2018

@annasunicorns wrote:
Good news and bad news. Good news, people ask this regularly on other sites, so its not likely they are trying to scam you. Bad news, if it arrives after the delivery estimate that ebay put on your listing, the buyer will automatically win a SNAD case against you on the delay alone.

Are you sure you're not thinking of an Item Not Received dispute? That seems unlikely anyway, since the buyer would have to actually file that in the first place, and you have their written request for delayed shipment on the record. If they did file anyway for some reason, you could just kick them their refund, and you would still have your item for relisting.

What I do think would happen is that your record would get a ding for late shipping, and you'd have to get that corrected with a call to Customer Service. I'm pretty sure that @Anonymous has said in the past that the Late Shipping metric could be fixed that way if necessary, since the buyer's delayed shipping request is seen in your messages.

modulok! · ‎11-11-2018

What about this from the 2018 Fall Update:

"Starting September 10, 2018, you will be required to upload tracking in the structured data field before the estimated delivery date has passed in order to appeal an "item not received" claim. eBay will not protect you from a claim if you send the tracking number to the buyer via email."

If I wait to ship the item, the tracking number for this shipment will be inputted after the "estimated delivery date has passed" and therefore I will not be able to appeal an item not received case. Remember the buyer did specifically state that they live in an area with "lots of stolen packages". Seems to me like I am being set up for an INR that I cannot defend.

castlemagicmemories · ‎11-11-2018

If the buyer is going to be away for awhile, they will (and should) have their mail held at the Post Office until they are back. You might suggest this to the buyer and let them know you are required to ship within your handling time.

This way, package goes out on time, it is safe at the PO, and buyer gets it quickly upon returning. WIn, Win, Win!

postingid2017 · ‎11-11-2018

Best answer posted

castlemagicmemories · ‎11-11-2018

@postingid2017 wrote:
Best answer posted

Thank you very much!

Just want to add, the buyer can arrange to have his mail held online. It's really very easy and they will receive their mail on the end date that they specify.

modulok! · ‎11-11-2018

@castlemagicmemories wrote:
If the buyer is going to be away for awhile, they will (and should) have their mail held at the Post Office until they are back. You might suggest this to the buyer and let them know you are required to ship within your handling time.

This way, package goes out on time, it is safe at the PO, and buyer gets it quickly upon returning. WIn, Win, Win!

To make sure I am understanding what you are suggesting: I should message the buyer and explain to them that I need to ship the item out within my handling time and that they should arrange to have their mail held at their Post Office. OK I get that but...

What if the buyer does not respond to my message before I need to ship, what do you suggest I do then? Do I ship it anyway? Do I cancel the sale?

robot-hands · ‎11-11-2018

Do, it.

Or not.

If you do delay, that is one ding. If you can weather it...so be it. If you are getting close to your %, call it in and have a USA based CSR read the messages/notes. They will take it off.

pjcdn2005 · ‎11-11-2018

I suppose that is the best answer from the seller's point of view but not from the buyer's point of view. If they wanted to do that I doubt that they would have asked for the package to be held.

Unless the seller makes a habit of not shipping items on time, holding onto the parcel isn't going to hurt them.

justagirl12 · ‎11-11-2018

Cancel, block, re-list.

modulok! · ‎11-11-2018

@justagirl12 wrote:
Cancel, block, re-list.

What would be the reason I give for the cancel? Without the buyer requesting the cancel, would this not lead to an Out Of Stock defect on my account?

modulok! · ‎11-11-2018

@pjcdn2005 wrote:
I suppose that is the best answer from the seller's point of view but not from the buyer's point of view. If they wanted to do that I doubt that they would have asked for the package to be held.
Unless the seller makes a habit of not shipping items on time, holding onto the parcel isn't going to hurt them.

Holding on to the parcel may very well hurt me (loose both item and money) according to the 2018 Fall Update if the buyer opens an INR against me for this item (even if tracking shows Delivered). Not to mention that the buyer admitted to living in an area with lots of stolen packages. From the 2018 Fall Update:

"Starting September 10, 2018, you will be required to upload tracking in the structured data field before the estimated delivery date has passed in order to appeal an "item not received" claim. eBay will not protect you from a claim if you send the tracking number to the buyer via email."