Help me reply to this negative feedback

[bigdeals.etc]

I'm trying to think of a way to give a good reply to this negative and fall within the character limit. Taking suggestions.

A buyer bought an item on Sunday 10/20. On 10/25 the buyer messaged me in a bit of a frantic that they don't have the item. He claims "You said it was arriving on 24th, it's 25th and I have nothing..." He continues with his end-of-the-world message.

Assuming he meant that ebay's ETA shown to him was 10/24, I checked the order details and low and behold his ETA given was in fact 10/24. I have 1 day handling set and the buyer opted for Standard shipping (up to 5 business days). Why the heck did ebay give this buyer an ETA of 3 days? I'm in Calif, and the buyer is in Florida... coast to coast. From experience, many items going FC from Calif to FL takes 5 business days max. 2-3 days should be reserved for Priority Mail ETA.

I replied to the buyer saying ebay's ETA system is often incorrect, and I gave him the correct (my predicted) ETA. So the item arrived to the buyer on 10/28 (5th business day as I predicted). Buyer leaves a negative feedback "This is the bad seller Nasty very bad very bad before you order be careful"

Any suggestions for reply?

[myoasisjewels]

"never engage in an argument with an idiot ~

they drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience."

this feedback left by your buyer seems very childish to me....

i would not even dignify this with a reply....

[Anonymous]

Buyer upset USPS took 5 days across country. He was addressed with courtesy.

[ten_o_nine]

I wouldn't respond.

[chapeau-noir]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Buyer upset USPS took 5 days across country. He was addressed with courtesy.

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^^^^ This.

[tamaralea]

Because it is worded so poorly, I would not respond.  This is the type of feedback that many buyers would disregard.

[chapeau-noir]

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@tamaralea wrote:

Because it is worded so poorly, I would not respond.  This is the type of feedback that many buyers would disregard.

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It is, and sounds silly and shouty, but I wouldn't depend upon the literacy level of the general public.  To me, as a buyer, how the seller responds to the neg would be a better indicator of reliability, and the fact that they attend to these things in a professional manner.

[loveyourimagination49]

My reply would be something like: Usps standard shipping takes 5 days coast to coast.

I wouldn’t mention a buyer being upset. That’s like telling a person to calm down.
Remember they can reply to your reply.

[webwanna]

You must ship fast.... Ebay's ETAs are based on your historical shipping times.  Which reminds me to increase my handling time this year at the holidays.  Last year Ebay was giving my customers estimated delivery dates 3 days out even though I had 1 day handling and Economy Shipping (up to 10 days) and it was X-Mas.  Just crazy.

I probably wouldn't leave a response.  Right now, people have no idea what this customer is even complaining about.   If you must leave something , maybe :

Ebay provides Estimated Delivery Dates, not me.  

[tapi-szem]

English does not seem to be this buyer's first language. Perhaps this is why they don't seem to know the meaning of "estimated" (versus "guaranteed")?

[gwzcomps]

It is so irritating dealing with their estimated delivery dates. They are never right. With my 3 day specified handling period I should be able to buy from myself and get my item in less than 4 days. I think the system estimates based on your actual handling times and how long it takes stuff to get delivered on average.

[bigdeals.etc]

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@webwanna wrote:

You must ship fast.... Ebay's ETAs are based on your historical shipping times.  Which reminds me to increase my handling time this year at the holidays. 

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Yea I know. Talk about painting yourself into a corner huh. Ebay penalizes you just because you ship items to some buyers quicker than usual.

But FYI, according to what you said about historical shipping times (something that I agree with), increasing your stated handling time for xmas to give you a cushion won't mean a hill o' beans to ebay. They'll still hold you to your "historic handling time" and ding you nonetheless. Merry Christmas 😛

[bigdeals.etc]

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@gwzcomps wrote:
It is so irritating dealing with their estimated delivery dates. They are never right. With my 3 day specified handling period I should be able to buy from myself and get my item in less than 4 days. I think the system estimates based on your actual handling times and how long it takes stuff to get delivered on average.

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Yea, talk about giving false hope. Ebay might as well give an ETA to everyone that states "Estimated delivery can arrive as quick as 1 day!!" Technically that statement isn't false. I say run with that ETA ebay. Might as well go big.

[purple-rain-store]

I'd at least try contacting ebay for business on facebook and have them look into your messages & see if they would remove it first before replying to it. Seems unwarranted for something you have no control over.

[Anonymous]

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@loveyourimagination49 wrote:
I wouldn’t mention a buyer being upset. That’s like telling a person to calm down.
Remember they can reply to your reply.

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I disagree that it's anything like telling a person to calm down and don't think it's that big a deal to mention that the buyer's upset - after all, anybody reading can already see that.

But it's a fair enough point that it could make the buyer more upset to point it out so I will amend my suggested feedback reply to either of the following:

Buyer inquiry about USPS standard shipping time was addressed with courtesy.

Buyer inquiry about their choice of shipping method was addressed with courtesy.