Handling time would be nice to know and displayed on listings ...

[mr_lincoln]

I am sitting here scratching my head ... purchased an item Tues the 18th and the listing states Expedited Shipping but Delivery estimate of the 27th ... its Friday night, end of day 3 since the order was placed and no shipment (or at least no tracking has been uploaded).  Granted we still have time for the 2 Day Priority Mail shipment (based on their location in relation to here) so I guess I am just a little disappointed that there seems to be no urgency.  We're talking printed reference material that may not even weigh a pound ... easy to pack.

Anyway, it would have been nice to see the Seller's Handling time listed and not just an estimated delivery because "Expedited Shipping" in my mind means they desire to get the item out to Buyers in a timely manner ... oh well ...

PS: And yes, I know Sellers don't have to use tracking.

[readabouthorses]

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@cherry*fizz wrote:

I agree, I think the handling times should be on the listing. Expedited shipping should mean expedited everything, IMO.Who is going to pay for extra fast shipping if the peson is just going to sit on the item for a week? It makes no sense to me. I get the delivery estimates and all that. But they always have that word "estimated", so something that sounds good really means nothing. 

I always state my handling time in my listings - "Item will be sent via USPS within 2 business days". I almost always send out the same or next day, but I put the 2 days there just in case.

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I have to choose Expedited (Ebay's made-up definitions) when I ship magazines because I have no other way to ship than Priority Flat Rate Envelope. They are too heavy for First Class Package and it is against policy to ship them Media Mail.

So with what you are saying then I should choose Economy Parcel Post but end up shipping Priority Flat Rate? My handling time is 3 days but now since my mailbox got destroyed in the hurricane and I had to get a PO Box I may have to switch to 4 days.

[cherry*fizz]

No, I don't think you should have to do that. I'm just going by normal definitions and also I don't order many things that are needed by a certain date. So I'm just thinking of things you would need to get right away, like a birthday present or something. If they say the shipping is expedited, I expect it to be shipped out ASAP. I guess I just assume if I order something with expedited or express or whatever type of faster serive, I figure the person I am ordering from will understand that I need it ASAP, that's why I'm paying extra for it. I guess I shouldn't assume anything. You know what they say. 

I don't think eBay should use the term expedited in that way, but that's probably my fault again for making assumptions. I get that it *is* expedited compared to the cheapest way, for me at least (and I'm not the only one) expedited implies a need to have the product faster. 

I'm sorry about your home and the hurricaine. I hope things return to normal as soon as can be. I hope you're all safe now and can begin the recovery process. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@richard1rst wrote: ... All if my listings state:

EVERYTHING that we list on E-Bay we have IN STOCK in our own warehouse.
We do not engage in "drop shipments" on our E-Bay listings.
To do so is to put all of us at the mercy of someone else's inventory and shipping department's proficiency.
We NEVER have "back orders".
If we list it, we have it on our shelf, and it ships within one business day of final payment.
And if we get paid early on a business day it goes out the same day.

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I have to agree, that declaration would work better if it was shorter and more positive, especially since it's in the middle of a TOS that's already very long and busy.  

EVERYTHING that we list on E-Bay we have IN STOCK in our own warehouse.
We do not engage in "drop shipments" on our E-Bay listings.
To do so is to put all of us at the mercy of someone else's inventory and shipping department's proficiency.
We NEVER have "back orders".
If we list it, we have it on our shelf, and it ships within one business day of final payment.
And if we get paid early on a business day it goes out the same day.

[fab_finds4u]

Economy is 2-8 days plus the seller's handling time.

Standard is 1-5 days plus the seller's handling time.

Expedited is 1-3 days plus the seller's handling time. 

Handling time is in business days.  Week-ends and holidays don't count.  

I believe the seller's handling time is 5 days or less or the listing would say the seller has an extended handling time.  How eBay arrived at the delivery date in the listing:  A purchase on the 18th with 5 days handling means they have until Wed the 26th to put it in the mail.  Then you should get it by the 28th unless you and the seller are on the opposit coast.   

[mr_lincoln]

@fab_finds4u

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@fab_finds4u wrote:

Economy is 2-8 days plus the seller's handling time.

Standard is 1-5 days plus the seller's handling time.

Expedited is 1-3 days plus the seller's handling time. 

Handling time is in business days.  Week-ends and holidays don't count.  

I believe the seller's handling time is 5 days or less or the listing would say the seller has an extended handling time.  How eBay arrived at the delivery date in the listing:  A purchase on the 18th with 5 days handling means they have until Wed the 26th to put it in the mail.  Then you should get it by the 28th unless you and the seller are on the opposit coast.   

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Thanks for the breakdown ... they are in the same or an adjacent shipping zone so its 2 Day via Priority (I have shipped to that area so I know its 2 days with Priority Mail) ... so a 12/27 estimated delivery means they have to ship on the 25th but that's Christmas so that backs it up to Monday the 24th providing they are at home to do so opposed to being away for the holidays ... 

Anyway, no tracking number uploaded today so if they don't ship Monday there is a good chance it will arrive after the 27th ...

[go-bad-chicken]

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

@cherry*fizz  Good idea on stating Handling time in the Description ...

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You want to be careful or cautious about  stating your handling time within your listing description if you travel frequently. I did this myself for about 3 years or so.

The problem with this approach that I found is that every time I would leave town for either buisness or vacation I would change my handling time (bulk edit) to whatever was required to cover myself while I was away. i.e. 3, 4, 5, 10 buisness days handling time. So then I would have to also edit hundreds of listing descriptions which stated 1 buisness day handling time. This amounted to hours and hours worth of work. Eventually gave up on stating my handling time within my lististing descritions because of the work load that was required every time I wanted to leave town.

But I do agree with you and wish that eBay would change it back to the way that it use to be and display every sellers handling time regardless of handling time length. 

[ekmadonna]

I agree and Expedited Shipping is technically 1-3 days! I have noticed recently also when purchasing items that when I pay a Estimated delivery date will show immediatly on top of purchase page only to change to a longer estimated arrival after the seller takes 2,3,4 days before actually shipping and loading tracking! So I agree seeing the sellers handling time would be a nice feature.

[creekcoyote]

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@ekmadonna wrote:

I agree and Expedited Shipping is technically 1-3 days! I have noticed recently also when purchasing items that when I pay a Estimated delivery date will show immediatly on top of purchase page only to change to a longer estimated arrival after the seller takes 2,3,4 days before actually shipping and loading tracking! So I agree seeing the sellers handling time would be a nice feature.

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I have been adding the handling time to my listings just to make it easier for any potential buyer.   I almost always use first class or priority mail so in most cases the items would arrive within five to six days after purchase depending upon buyer's location.  My handling time is three days but many items get sent off sooner.

But right now, all bets are off. 

[mr_lincoln]

@ekmadonna  Well said, I agree ...

[mr_lincoln]

UPDATE:  Package arrive Saturday in a Priority Mail envelope with a "Retail" USPS label, NOTand eBay generated label.  Tracking was never uploaded to the Sold file.  Left good FB for the Seller because at the end of the day it arrived well ahead of the estimated delivery, was in good condition despite the package type and despite not knowing their Handling time they shipped in a timely manner.  Alls well that ends well ...