HELP! Too Many Cases and Late Deliveries

[3aboutique]

I need you advice, I don't know what to do,

I have 10 cases now open, buyers requesting refunds because expected delivery date is reached while tracking numbers show that item is still in transit,

I have many orders from April, value range from 40$ to 200$, every few days I get a new case opened and I'm reaching a point where I'll face financial difficulties to issue refunds.

I literally *beg* and ask buyers to kindly wait for items to arrive since it's a global pandemic affecting all shipments, some buyers refuse and escalate to eBay and refund is issued automatically .

Can eBay extend the Expected Delivery Dates? What's the best thing I can do? it's really something out of our control because of the economic lockdown

[terrycece62]

How long is your shipping time on your listings ?
you can change your ship/handling times in your listings
Do you state in your listings order may be delayed due 2 world health crisis?
Stay safe

[starboc1]

the same to ,ME,,as i checked over 100000 cases open every day on ebay !!! ebay must block buyers to escalate the cases for one month ,,otherwise  why to sell and loose your money ,,ebay must DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW 

[turquoisetulips]

Yeah ,, it's getting bad . I've noticed a lot of sellers have changed their handling times for as long as ten days  in  response . It might hurt  how much you sell  for the time being  but  it should help stop some of the INR cases .  Tulips

[z-drive]

I noticed that USPS especially has been taking longer. Even before the pandemic, USPS already had problems. So I changed all of my listings to 2-day handling time, but still try to ship the same day. Also, if possible, I take USPS items to a clerk and get them scanned, instead of just dropping them in the box. 

[bbravo65]

@z-drive 

...you did the right thing...

[wesk_36]

If you are drop shipping items from from China and the USA, which can add weeks, at least for China, to the shipping duration, even in more normal times, I don't know what you can do about refunds piling up.

[mschacha]

If any of your packages were sent by priority mail, start filing claims on the 16th business day. The packages seem to magically pop up. If not you can get your money back for USPS.

[bar-29368]

brian@ebay 
@Anonymous

It would help us believe ebay has "our back" with shipping during this COVID crisis (as they've assured us they do) if they didn't just issue auto refunds when tracking shows the items are still in transit.

If it's good enough for sellers to have to wait an extra 30 days for returns to be shipped back, surely buyers can be expected to give a little and have some patience as well?

[buyselljack2016]

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@z-drive wrote:

I noticed that USPS especially has been taking longer. Even before the pandemic, USPS already had problems. So I changed all of my listings to 2-day handling time, but still try to ship the same day. Also, if possible, I take USPS items to a clerk and get them scanned, instead of just dropping them in the box. 

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Changing your handling to 2 days will do little to help with the estimated delivery time. eBay shows, and will continue to show buyers an estimated delivery date based upon your "historical shipping time data".

Many, many months ago I changed to  3 day handling to avoid dings in the event or power/internet/seller outages. As I "historically" ship quickly, eBay often shows a  "guaranteed" delivery date 1 day after my 3rd business day.

[bar-29368]

Which is why ebay should stay the &^% out of giving ETAs which ignore that actual handling time.

[buyselljack2016]

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@bar-29368 wrote:
Which is why ebay should stay the &^% out of giving ETAs which ignore that actual handling time.

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Yup, and I also meant to note in my post that I am not enrolled in the GD program. eBay says they will accept responsibility for the GD, but I as a seller will take the wrath of the buyer, and the $$ shipping loss if they choose the "return for full refund" option.

[venzkreations]

Customers seem unreasonable. I don't understand why in a pandemic they cannot be more patient. I think you should increase your handling time. 

[ifyouloveit]

It's not just a problem on eBay, I sell heavily on another site and nearly 1/2 of my orders are hitting late, one is stopped in tracking yet the buyer got a received message today, on my end it just shows it's on it's way. Royal mess. I spend every single days telling a buyer their item is not lost. Many have asked if I even shipped them.

ALL platforms should be informing buyers that shipping is delayed but they don't. They leave it to the seller to deal with the buyers on this one. It also seems to be getting worse, not better.

[fashunu4eeuh]

Hi, I see you are in the United Arab Emirates drop shipping items to your buyers in the States. One listing states the item location is California. If that is the case, then why the long waits? Or is the item really coming from China?

How are your items being shipped? Your listing for the baby buggie states Economy Shipping from the States. Economy is going to be slow. While there are delays in carriers all over the world, USPS Priority Mail here is still making an effort to get packages delivered, but media mail and First Class have been slow. I hear that UPS and Fed Ex have been pretty consistent in getting packages out. But as you are in the UAE, these distinctions may not apply since you are not shipping the items yourself. 

I see some of your items are coming from China. Therefore,  I am wondering if your problem is not really impatient buyers as you suggest, but is the real issue the promise of fast shipping in your listings, and then the failure to show realistic shipping times to your buyers? Drop shipping can have all kinds of problematic issues for new sellers. You do not have the item and cannot guarantee or direct timely delivery. What you have encountered is the downside to drop shipping as a business model. In your case, it is simply not working. For it to work, one must have a reliable shipper. Very sorry this has been your experience.