Handling time

[linda7913]

I need some advice about handling time. For the past nine months, I have stated that I need 2 days handling time for a sold item to be packaged and shipped.

eBay suggested that as a Top Rated seller, I would be better off with 1 day handling time. I am not sure how that works since I used Package Pickup Service from USPS, and my mail carrier picks up the packages when notified, but I have to make the request the night before.

If I receive a notification that someone has purchased an item this evening and I package it and request Package Pickup Service for tomorrow during my mail carrier's regular rounds, is that 1 day handling time or 2 days? Also, eBay tells me that I have until a certain date to get the package shipped; does that mean the label printed and tracking uploaded, or does it also mean that the package is in the carrier's possession?

I appreciate any clarification you can provide.

[chapeau-noir]

First off - I've been one day and I've been two day, and it hasn't made a whit of difference to sales or customer satisfaction.

The handling time is fulfilled when you create the shipping label (which uploads tracking).

[itscalledapostingid]

If it sells today and it's picked up and scanned tomorrow that would meet the requirement for 1-day handling time.

When it says ship by X date it does need to be scanned/in possession of the carrier by the end of that day.

[chapeau-noir]

My handling time was always met by simply creating the label - sometimes it's 36 hours before the item is scanned through the sorting center if my local station misses scanning, but that has never mattered. I have a mixture of one-day and two-day handling times right now.

[theteamsetguy]

@linda7913 ,

Based on your volume in my opinion switching to 1 day shipping wouldn’t be worth the extra effort. The main benefit of being Top Rated Plus is getting 10% off of your final value fees which wouldn’t amount to much in your case. For example if the FVF on one of your items was $3.00 you would save 30 cents.

In order for your item to meet one day handling the USPS would have to be in possession of the item by the next business day after your buyer’s purchase.

[itscalledapostingid]

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

My handling time was always met by simply creating the label - sometimes it's 36 hours before the item is scanned through the sorting center if my local station misses scanning, but that has never mattered. I have a mixture of one-day and two-day handling times right now.

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According to ebay it must be in possession of carrier within stated handing time:

"If you offer 1-day handling, remember the time frame isn't based on 24 hours: it's the end of the next business day. For example, if a buyer pays for your item on Monday, it needs to be scanned by Tuesday, 11:59pm."

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/delivery-date-options-sellers?id=4086

[buyselljack2016]

@linda7913 

1 day handling could earn you "top rated plus" for a 10% FVF perk, but that would not be attained on any item where the seller does not accept returns. 

If "top rated plus" is not your goal there is pretty much no reason to go to 1 day handling.

[itscalledapostingid]

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@buyselljack2016 wrote:

@linda7913 

1 day handling could earn you "top rated plus" for a 10% FVF perk, but that would not be attained on any item where the seller does not accept returns. 

If "top rated plus" is not your goal there is pretty much no reason to go to 1 day handling.

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Technically there are in fact categories where returns don't need to be accepted at all to get the TRS+ discount. Trading cards and wristwatches are a couple of those categories.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/seller-standards-policy?id=4347&#top-rated-plus

[lightlily_arts]

I've had Top Rated seller status for years, but I have a two day handling time.  If someone purchases today I would have to have the package picked up by the carrier with  an acceptance scan by tomorrow for a one day handling time.  With a two day handling time I would have to have that package picked up by Wednesday.  Handling time does mean it has to be in the carrier's hands.  I use the USPS package pickup service too.

[joseh1445]

Couple questions.

1.  Do you think that having the "Top Rated Seller" badge is worth it for you?  The savings are not much.  

2.  Will your sales suffer because you don't have "Top Rated Seller" badge.

In my humble opinion, having "Top Rated Seller" badge, it was some thing to have about 5 or 10 years ago.  Now, its not much...

If you need more than 1 day to ship your items, I will rather not have the "Top Rated Seller" badge.  Please think it over...

Good luck on your selling journey.

[linda7913]

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful responses. Looks like I have been doing 1-day handling for the most part, but I think it is good to have an extra day for unforeseen complications, either on my end or the post office's, especially during winter months when the weather is the biggest complication.

Top Rated Plus is not my goal; I just want to move the items I have listed. Until May 6, I wasn't concerned about not selling my items, because I was getting enough sales that didn't worry me about any slowing down. I guess that's why I was interested in 1 day handling time. eBay has constantly sent messages about it to help improve sales. This is the first summer selling on eBay. I started last fall and sold a lot of popular boxed dolls and crochet patterns. It's such a slump right now that I removed all listings except the ones showing some uptick in interest.

Again, thank you for your suggestions and insight.

[chapeau-noir]

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@itscalledapostingid wrote:

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

My handling time was always met by simply creating the label - sometimes it's 36 hours before the item is scanned through the sorting center if my local station misses scanning, but that has never mattered. I have a mixture of one-day and two-day handling times right now.

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According to ebay it must be in possession of carrier within stated handing time:

"If you offer 1-day handling, remember the time frame isn't based on 24 hours: it's the end of the next business day. For example, if a buyer pays for your item on Monday, it needs to be scanned by Tuesday, 11:59pm."

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/delivery-date-options-sellers?id=4086

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That's interesting, because the item disappears from my "need to ship in 24 hours" column as soon as I issue the label, and I don't even use eBay labels. If USPS doesn't scan until it gets to the sorting center, or even the sorting center closer to the buyer, it makes no difference.

ETA: It needed to be scanned 'delivered' within the time decreed by the handling time if there were no other scans.

[buyselljack2016]

 It's such a slump right now that I removed all listings except the ones showing some uptick in interest.

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I understand the cushion in handling time for unforeseen delays on my part, but I cannot grasp the logic of removing listings because that did not garner interest. As long as my listings are not costing me anything I leave them up. Someone could come along that wants the item 😊 I cannot sell an item that I do not have listed.

[linda7913]

I have read that listings get stale after a while and that removing them and then doing a Sell Similar refreshes them. I have left items on for as long as seven months that had variances in title of crochet patterns, but it did no good. They just sat there.

[fashunu4eeuh]

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@joseh1445 wrote:

Couple questions.

1.  Do you think that having the "Top Rated Seller" badge is worth it for you?  The savings are not much.  

2.  Will your sales suffer because you don't have "Top Rated Seller" badge.

In my humble opinion, having "Top Rated Seller" badge, it was some thing to have about 5 or 10 years ago.  Now, its not much...

If you need more than 1 day to ship your items, I will rather not have the "Top Rated Seller" badge.  Please think it over...

Good luck on your selling journey.

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In answer to question two, i don’t think not having TRS would lose anyone sales. Don’t think buyers care very much. Some don’t notice. (And i have on occasion dealt with a bad seller who also has TRS. I have come to believe the designation doesn’t always guarantee  the seller is stellar.) 

I use one-day handling time as part of my customer service efforts. As a small seller it is manageable and has not been a burden.