eBay

pvcliff · ‎03-28-2018

So after attending both live discussions and Weekly Chat, Guaranteed Delivery looks to me like it doesn't have a downside. Might work a little better if I lived in Omaha instead of Los Angeles since distance can play a part, but otherwise I can't wait until it goes live for me!

______________________________________________

They didn’t say it was your fault. They said they blame you.

go-bad-chicken · ‎03-28-2018

@nawlinsron2wrote:
Conspicuous by their absence are the Priority Mail Regional A & B services

Once again, a QC checklist goes a beggin'.

Right, the exclusion of certain USPS Priority Mail services i.e. Padded Flat Rate Envelope, Regional A Rate and Regional B Rate boxes, published on the official GD program eligible carrier services popped out right away, but makes no sense. Priority Mail Is Priority Mail regardless of what type of wrapping is on the outside.

As I stated in the chat earlier today

"The exclusion really makes no sense from a seller's perspective. It is not like a USPS Large Flat Rate Box is going to arrive faster or is more reliable than a USPS Padded Flat Rate Envelope. They are all USPS Priority Mail Services !!!!!!!!!"

I am not sure if this was just an oversight on eBay's part or if these specific types of Priority Mail sub-services were excluded because of some unknown convoluted reasoning only known to eBay. I use a lot of Regional A Rate boxes as well as the Padded Flat Rate Envelope. They make using Priority Mail a lot more affordable for sellers in certain situations. I am hoping that they will correct this error. But this is eBay, so your guess is as good as mine.

gracieallen01 · ‎03-28-2018

Perhaps FVF on Standard Priority Shipping?

Not saying 'NO' doesn't mean 'YES'.

The foolishness of one's actions or words is determined by the number of witnesses.

Perhaps if Brains were described as an APP, many people would use them more often.

Respect, like money, is only of 'worth' when it is earned - with all due respect, it can not be ordained, legislated or coerced. Anonymous

go-bad-chicken · ‎03-28-2018

@gopetersenwrote:
I'm trying to figure out how eBay is going to pay for this.

Are they looking for expenses to write off as losses? because USPS First Class services are NOT going to get there on time.

I don't know what percentage of my packages reach the buyer later than 3 days from the day they are shipped but a very rough guess is that 30% of them take more than 3 days, especially those going coast to coast (or to Puerto Rico or Hawaii). That's a conservative estimate. It might be more.

Multiply that times millions of packages per week.

"I'm trying to figure out how eBay is going to pay for this."

"Are they looking for expenses to write off as losses?"

I am only speculating here but to answer your question I believe the answer is Yes for the short term. It is my opinion that eBay has opted seller in, in hopes that they will participate starting in May, so that they can get a larger pool of test subjects. I believe that they view the money that they will pay out between now and Dec. 31 2018, as R&D expenses. Through this trial period they may pay out some money sure, but in their eyes it will be money well spent as it is going to give them an opportunity to refine their Estimated Delivery Dates as well as modify the buyer locations allotted each seller based on their location and the prospective buyers location when the use the GD 3 Day Delivery filter, or what I have recently come to think of as my GD Program Market Share of eBay buyers. What sellers need to understand and what has not been talked about enough by either sellers or eBay is that ultimately the GD program operates on a zone or regional based seller to buyer scheme. Every potential buyer who use the 3 Day GD toggle switch/filter IS NOT going to see every GD enrolled seller in the US who participates in this cockamamie scheme. The only listings that will be shown to any particular buyer are those sellers located within a close enough proximity and who is offering a shipping service or services that eBay believes based on their collected historical data will make it to that buyer in their generated "Guaranteed" time frame. Between now and Dec. 31 they are going to make some bed calls, but I believe that in their mind that is OK for now because that money that they spend now is giving them access to a larger pool of test subjects and this will allow them to further refine their best Guaranteed Guess Estimates, and the after Dec. 31 2018 the gloves will come off and now it will be the seller's responsibility to fulfill their Guaranteed Guess Estimates.

But this is just my opinion, based on my own observations, which are limited.

gopetersen · ‎03-28-2018

go-bad-chicken wrote: "I am not sure if this was just an oversight on eBay's part or if these specific types of Priority Mail sub-services were excluded because of some unknown convoluted reasoning only known to eBay..."

Maybe the bean counters told them to exclude the more economical classes. Then sellers opted into the program use the higher-rate mail classes that are eligible and eBay makes more on selling fees. Of course, that's theoretical, because the flip-side is that the higher shipping price might scare away the buyer.

I have no idea what eBay is thinking. I think this may cost them a lot more than they realize. I just checked through my recent tracking statistics and even though many of the packages arrived in 2 or 3 days, there were some that took 4 days and one that took 5.

go-bad-chicken · ‎03-29-2018

@gopetersenwrote:
go-bad-chicken wrote: "I am not sure if this was just an oversight on eBay's part or if these specific types of Priority Mail sub-services were excluded because of some unknown convoluted reasoning only known to eBay..."

Maybe the bean counters told them to exclude the more economical classes. Then sellers opted into the program use the higher-rate mail classes that are eligible and eBay makes more on selling fees. Of course, that's theoretical, because the flip-side is that the higher shipping price might scare away the buyer.

I have no idea what eBay is thinking. I think this may cost them a lot more than they realize. I just checked through my recent tracking statistics and even though many of the packages arrived in 2 or 3 days, there were some that took 4 days and one that took 5.

"Maybe the bean counters told them to exclude the more economical classes. Then sellers opted into the program use the higher-rate mail classes that are eligible and eBay makes more on selling fees."

It is hard to say why they chose to exclude specific shipping services, only they know for sure at this point.

But for the life of me I can not figure out why they chose to include USPS Media Mail in the list of eligible shipping services. Media Mail is slower than the slowest of all of the shipping services offered by any carrier in the USA. Furthermore it is cheap, so there is a lot less profit to be made by including Media Mail. But none the less there it is on the list. I am still scratching my head on this one.

ted_200 · ‎03-29-2018

@ag47silver-uswrote:
How is this not insurance? It's not a promise to get the package there on time. The policy is compensation for failure. Not re-assurance of a promised service. What do people think "guarantee" means? Won't they be misguided...

I think so... I think they want the item by the date guaranteed. If they don't, that's a "Bad Buyer Experience" to steal a phrase. And I think the BBE rate on meeting the date is a wee bit higher than the BBE rate a seller is allowed to have.

Over promise.

I they'll be further misled because eBay has plastered "Money Back Guarantee" on everything for several years now, and casual shoppers are going to automatically associate "Guaranteed Delivery" with it, and think money back. Some buyers will not be impressed with $5 coupons. They may leave eBay over it, or they may file a SNAD or a chargeback over the false delivery date.

Under perform.

The Floggings Will Continue Until Morale Improves.

ted_200 · ‎03-29-2018

@gracieallen01wrote:
Alan,

With all this talk of higher visibility with the 'Guaranteed Delivery' filter, does this mean that the UA statement, about not showing an item in every search - for any of a variety of reasons, will not apply?

My understanding, and hopefully Alan will correct me if I'm wrong, is that Cassini is a relevancy-based Search (not sort), and the "relevancy" is in play regardless of what search sort or filter is in place. So presumably, with two listings with all other things equal, the one with Guaranteed Delivery would rank higher... and Cassini does not always show all results, it may omit those with lower relevancy. Obviously that would be in addition to omitting all non-GD listings if the filter were enabled.

The Floggings Will Continue Until Morale Improves.

gopetersen · ‎03-29-2018

I would not be at all surprised if future search visibility will be higher for those opted into GD.

bubbleman2010 · ‎03-29-2018

Noppers its just another die on the vine ebay program. Sellers follow money and there is zero monetary gain to be had. If you advance search featherweight centennial there are only 10 to start with and if you toggle GD you'll be shown gunstocks and blow dryers....

coffeebean832 · ‎03-29-2018

@*eponymous*wrote:
@coffeebean832wrote:
If a seller is in the handling time program and meets their handling time then eBay will cover it.

If a seller is in the door-to-door program and the delivery is late then the seller is responsible starting January 1st.
@coffeebean832

If a seller is in the door-to-door program does not ship within their handling time and the delivery is late then the seller is responsible starting January 1st.

With the door-to-door program sellers are guaranteeing their delivery date. They are responsible even if they meet their handling time.

http://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/shipping/ebay-guaranteed-delivery.html#m22_tb_a1__2

The door-to-door guarantee is a version of Guaranteed Delivery for large sellers with multi-location warehouses. Sellers in this version of the program guarantee their own delivery dates based on their ability to deliver to various regions. To participate in this version of the program, you are required to create rate tables that define your regional shipping speeds and costs. Sellers offering a door-to-door guarantee are still required to meet the program requirements of 97% on-time delivery and 95% on-time tracking.

After the end of the year, if an item arrives late, sellers offering a door-to-door guarantee are responsible for making it right for the buyer if they make a claim.

lookng2015 · ‎03-29-2018

@gopetersenwrote:
I use First Class Package, Regional A, and Priority Mail Padded Mailers more than any of the other services.

The absence of Regional boxes in the eligibility list is definitely a problem for many sellers. The other options are more expensive and higher shipping prices are a deterrent to buyers.

I would think PM RR boxes would fall under the generic USPS Priority selection (like they do on the listing form)

"If a product doesn't sell, raise the price" - Reese Palley
"If it sold FAST, it was priced too low" - also Reese Palley

fern*wood · ‎03-29-2018

I can't believe ebay is allowing USPS select ground and other ground services in the GD program. I don't see how those can ever be guaranteed, because they sure aren't fast and I thought that was the perception they wished to promote.

readabouthorses · ‎03-29-2018

@gopetersenwrote:
I'm trying to figure out how eBay is going to pay for this.

Are they looking for expenses to write off as losses? because USPS First Class services are NOT going to get there on time.

I don't know what percentage of my packages reach the buyer later than 3 days from the day they are shipped but a very rough guess is that 30% of them take more than 3 days, especially those going coast to coast (or to Puerto Rico or Hawaii). That's a conservative estimate. It might be more.

Multiply that times millions of packages per week.

How will Ebay pay for this? Maybe with this extra money ..

Starting May 1, 2018, insertion fees will increase for non-Store sellers and Basic Store subscribers when you exceed your zero insertion fee allocation

d-k_treasures · ‎03-29-2018

@chrysylyswrote:
alan@ebaywrote:
As soon as I decide to buy an item I want it as soon as possible.
That's a big part of what's wrong with the world today. Everybody's in a hurry for everything. I remember when it took 6-8 weeks for mail ordered things to arrive.

Yep.

Since I buy 99% antique/vintage items here, I'd rather have it take longer so it gets packed right vs. someone who has to get it to me in 3 days - to my PO box which I may or may not visit every day.

_____________________________
"Nothing is obvious to the oblivious"

d-k_treasures · ‎03-29-2018

alan@ebaywrote:
@chrysylyswrote:
alan@ebaywrote:
As soon as I decide to buy an item I want it as soon as possible.
That's a big part of what's wrong with the world today. Everybody's in a hurry for everything. I remember when it took 6-8 weeks for mail ordered things to arrive.
Welcome to 2018!

Not my 2018 ...........

_____________________________
"Nothing is obvious to the oblivious"