Getting dinged for late shipping when the buyer requested to ship at later date for gift

[theparkwaterprincess]

Just curious, was dinged for a late shipping. The buyer specifically requested at purchase that I ship item (it was a gift and recipient was on vacation) on a later date. Just tried to have the ding removed but it was obviously looked at by AI and was denied - all they looked at was ship date and didn't check message, nothing else. If Ebay is so jacked about customer service why is this happening? It was a customer request.  It might seem small but I hate to lose top seller status over this. Any recourse to have a real person look this case over?

[inhawaii]

Sorry, no recourse.

In the future, you should not honor requests like that.

Explain that you are required by ebay ship within a certain time frame and can not "hold" shipments.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

I do what @inhawaii  suggested or I just accept that I'm going to get a ding, but I thought we were told that if we can prove the requests via My Messages, it would be removed.  That was before the FB system became automated though. 

 kyle@ebay devon@ebay elizabeth@ebay   Can one of you look into this & see if it's still true?  B/C in the past it was supposed to be removed if the Messages showed that the buyer had requested it.  Thanks! 

[simba6]

No such thing as lay a way on eBay.   Late is late per eBay's thinking.

[richard1rst]

Unfortunately you are up the proverbial creek. You can ask and they MIGHT make a one time exemption. But after that - nope.

Now in fairness ONE ding for a late shipment isn't going to do any measurable harm and it will fall off in time.

BUT ___The lesson to be learned is when someone asks to delay shipment  "Sorry - I can not - eBay insists that all packages MUST be sent within (then however many days you have marked as handling time)"

They then respond - But they/we won't be home. "Well, have they asked their post office to put a hold on their incoming mail?" (if not why not?"). That hold would also include your incoming package.

Otherwise it becomes a trade off between satisfying your customer  versus suffering damage to your metrics,

[simply-the-best-for-you]

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@richard1rst wrote:

Now in fairness ONE ding for a late shipment isn't going to do any measurable harm and it will fall off in time.

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Excellent point, I forgot to mention that part.  I always know whether I can afford the 'ding' or not before I agree to do it, if I agree to do it.  

[theteamsetguy]

@theparkwaterprincess ,

Ebay doesn't expect sellers to be perfect. You have a 5% for uploading tracking and 3% for acceptance scan allowance for Top Rated seller. The dings will fall off in 3 months.

I personally aim to be above 98% for both. Being perfect doesn't earn you anything extra from eBay so why get bent out of shape.

[theparkwaterprincess]

Yaa, you are right. Thanks for the answer. It just seems a double standard.

[chapeau-noir]

I work for my customers, not eBay (whatever eBay thinks) - I'll take the ding for shipping later at their request. As @theteamsetguy  says, we get some slack; a shipping ding here and there is pretty minor, *and it doesn't happen that often.

[luckythewinner]

all they looked at was ship date and didn't check message, nothing else

There is nothing in eBay policy that states that a buyer message waives the on-time shipping metrics.

I hate to lose top seller status over this

You cannot not lose Top Rated Seller status for one shipping ding. You would have to have more dings to go with it. 

[goldxxxsilver]

Same thing Here.. Early this Month

Customer bought and payed 

Requested 5 day delay in shipping  

Not a $ 99 cent widget 

But I got the Ding too ..

Live and Learn on Ebay  

20 Years and Counting!!   🤣🤣

[aproudparent2010]

Don't  let buyers dictate what you do.

They could have had their mail held at the post office

[buyselljack2016]

Time was that we could delay at buyer request and eBay would take care of us, but those days are gone.

[janet9988]

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@theparkwaterprincess wrote:

Just curious, was dinged for a late shipping. The buyer specifically requested at purchase that I ship item (it was a gift and recipient was on vacation) on a later date. Just tried to have the ding removed but it was obviously looked at by AI and was denied - all they looked at was ship date and didn't check message, nothing else. If Ebay is so jacked about customer service why is this happening? It was a customer request.  It might seem small but I hate to lose top seller status over this. Any recourse to have a real person look this case over?

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Sadly, to protect YOUR account it is best to report the buyer for asking for something that was not part of the listing.

That is the only protection as seller has.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/seller-protections?id=4345&st=3&pos=1&query=Sell...

You never have to agree to any changes to the terms in your listing (for example, including additional items or giving a discount). If a buyer demands a change to what you originally offered, you can choose to cancel the order or you can complete the transaction under the original terms. We'll remove any related negative or neutral feedback and canceled order defects when we can see the buyer's demands in eBay messages.

[krazzykats]

Why can't there be a simple option for the "buyer" to request a ship date if a delay is needed?  The buyer could request it during checkout.

It would also be a handy buyer option for those that want to purchase items while away from home, like when on vacation etc., but want to delay delivery.

Sellers then could provide customer satisfaction without getting dinged and the buyers can request sellers to hold packages.

Seems simple?