Handling Time Default Setting?

[kosmosattik]

It seems to me there used to be a universal default for handling business days in Shipping Preferences.   Does it still exist somewhere?  Or do you have to set up a Business Policy for each shipper?

[fern*wood]

My listing form has a spot to set the handling time at the bottom under Preferences/Your settings and it will stay unless changed again.   I believe you can also bulk edit all your existing listings.

[kosmosattik]

@fern*wood  Thanks, but that doesn't answer the question. 

Upon further review it appears one must set up a Shipping Policy (under Business Policies seller settings) for each shipper and type of shipment where handling time is designated specifically for that shipper/type.  Upon further review since the OP, I find I have one Shipping Policy on file, a default policy for USPSParcel with 2 day handling that I did not create as far as I can recall.

When creating or editing a listing, USPSParcel is the only shipping option presented in the pull down list.  I presume that's because it is the only Shipping Policy on file.  I guess if I wanted to ship UPS Ground I'd need to set up a policy for that as well.  I had not thought previously about the many other carrier/service types that were missing since I was shipping exclusively by USPS Ground Advantage, i.e., "Parcel".

I've only recently listed a few items after being dormant for a year and a half.  I guess this Shipping Policy rigamarole came about in the interim?

Can anybody say if these observations are correct?  I fail to see the rationale behind this Shipping Policy process.  What problem is it solving?

[klhmdg]

Shipping Policies are free so having more than one is cheap.

I have 6 and use them depending on the item and box size and weight.

If you have more than one it is just a drop-down menu and you chose. 

It is also really easy to make changes. Just go into the policy and change and it updates all the listings with the policy.

[fern*wood]

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@kosmosattik wrote:

@fern*wood  Thanks, but that doesn't answer the question. 

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Sorry I couldn't answer your question.  I don't use business policies and didn't realize you did. 

[kosmosattik]

@fern*wood  Not sure what you mean.  I don't see how Shipping Policies are avoidable and they happen to be a subcategory of Business Policies.

Anyway, previously, a long pick list of shipping options generated by eBay would appear on the listing screen.   It was handy if you wanted to choose between USPS ground, UPS ground or a fixed rate UPS box, for example--the rate range for the first two of those three options would be displayed on the shipping screen from which you'd choose your poison.   That was at least during the very brief period when the listing 

screen actually showed the eBay discounted rates!  Why eBay couldn't seem to make that stick remains a mystery.

So why the change to Shipping Policies?  I think it was because in the old method eBay was presenting shipping options that were not valid for the item's dimensions and weight that too many sellers were selecting, by naivety or by mistake.   By presenting those invalid options eBay was complicit in the error. 

Under this Shipping Policy method, the onus for selecting a valid shipping method is exclusively on the seller--he creates the policies and chooses among the options of his own creation.  And if you want to compare USPS and UPS ground rates, for example, you have to go the eBay Shipping Calculator, an annoying additional step.

[fern*wood]

I've never had any shipping policies activated on my listings.

[kosmosattik]

@fern*wood I also don't recall setting up any Shipping Policies.   It's been a year and half since I put out some listings recently so I presume eBay set up a default for USPS ground.  It's the only option provided on the shipping screen.  If I wanted to use any other method I'd have to set up another Shipping Policy myself.