Is 3 days handling time too long?

[uzumakey]

I specify three business days in the listing details and item description very clearly, although I usually ship out sooner. Specifying three days gives me some leeway as I'm not always able to mail items out next day. 

Typically this isn't a problem, but once in a while I'll run into buyers who claim "slow shipping." I just received a rude message from one such buyer accusing me of not having the item and requesting a cancellation/refund - despite the handling window being two days away. I may just do that as I'd rather not deal with a customer like this, particularly not for an item that's likely to sell soon anyway. 

Do you run into similar issues when using longer handling times? 

[uzumakey]

The handling time is shown as 3 days, and I reiterate that clearly in every single one of my listings so there's no confusion. That's actually the first line in every listing, under details about the item.

[uzumakey]

Once in a while is very rarely, probably just a handful of times in years of selling sporadically on here. I sometimes get requests to ship ASAP or will have people ask if an item has been mailed yet, but buyers are rarely rude or aggressive about it.

If she wanted to cancel the item because she no longer needed it, she was welcome to do so. Instead she demanded a refund if I didn't have the item. She didn't explicitly ask for a cancellation so I replied to let her know that I specify 3 business days (i.e. by this Tuesday) and that her item has been packaged and will be mailed tomorrow, unless she prefers to cancel. No response. I haven't initiated a cancellation because she didn't explicitly request one and could dispute that with eBay.

[uzumakey]

Yeah, it sounds like she's waffling over the purchase. She asked for a refund though, not a cancellation, and only if I "didn't have the item." I replied to her this morning saying I was ready to ship the item but that I was open to cancelling the transaction if that's what she preferred. No response.

[anubisjackel12]

Your handling time should be what is enough time for you to package your item and get it sent off, If you work ouside your home it might be a better idea to give yourself the extra time incase something comes up at work or just lifes problems in general. 

[yuzuha]

---

@myboardidwrote:

Sounds to me like your buyer has decided he just doesn't want his purchase and is using your handling time as an excuse to get out of completing the transaction.  I don't  think it is really the reason.  But it doesn't really matter why, if he want out, then let him out.  It is by far the easiest way for you to end it and move on.  Be sure to put him on your BBL.

---

I'm inclined to agree with this assessment.  I too have a three-day handling time and I have yet to have a buyer say that I shipped too slowly-- the worst I've ever gotten is one or two buyers asking me when their item was going to be shipped, and those were in cases where they'd made the purchase on a Thursday so I couldn't get it in the mail until Monday as my weekend work hours make it impossible for me to ship on a Saturday or Sunday despite the post office being open.  Once I explained that to them, they were fine with it.

[retrose1]

The reason most buyers care about how long it takes for a package to get there is becase ebay tells them to care.  And by making sure that the tracking numbers are on the transaction, you are adding fuel to that.

I have a three day handling, and I ship at the counter and don't enter tracking and my feedback is filled with comments about fast shipping, because if I ship next day, the buyer is usually getting the item before ebay tells them to expect it.

I really don't want buyers who think that lots of other superficial things are more important than the item itself.

[djavusydney]

Probably best for you to do quick eBay message to make sure your buyers aware of your 3 days handling time as most buyers do expecting fast shipment to most sellers on eBay. 

[myboardid]

And by making sure that the tracking numbers are on the transaction, you are adding fuel to that.

Sorry, I disagree with the logic of that statement.  It is comforting to buyers to know there is tracking on their package. 

[ericlovescameras]

i’ve have someone order on saturday and then message me sunday asking if i’ve shipped their item yet. if you’ve clearly stated handling time in your listing, nothing more you can do about it.

[castlemagicmemories]

---

@partial*eclipsewrote:

Buyers are accustomed to 1-day handling and as you have seen many of them presume that all sellers offer 1-day handling.  So if you have 3-day handling you should state this clearly in the Descrirption sectinon of your listing, to help your buyers have reasonable expectations.

---

Plus Ebay no longer shows the buyer the handling time as they used to.  It is gone.  So some buyers now become anxious because they don't know what the handling time is, and they may assume the worst.  

Ebay said that the buyer can see the estimated delivery timeframe and that is all they need.  But buyers may have a different idea.

I agree, list what your handling time is in the description.  It may help to avoid disappointed buyers who are anxious because they can't see what the handling time is anymore.

[castlemagicmemories]

I also agree, it is better to underpromise and overdeliver, rather than vice versa and disappoint a buyer.

It was common practice among companies that shipped items that this was the best practice.  They would say receive it in 10-14 days, or whatever, because they gave the item plenty of time to be received, and much faster than stated, so the buyer was impressed with their speed.  Also so that the buyer would not become anxious and call CS asking where their item was if it was still in transit.  

[sparkysretroelectro]

you all are very correct about underpromising and overdelivering.  if a seller is unable to process in 1 day, they shouldnt promise 1 day only to fall short.  Im just lucky that i live right down the street from the post office, and i use the night drop to ship everything while the americas sleep.  for one with a more difficult schedule and/or drive, it would be prefferable to quote 3 days, and aim to get it shipped on the 1st or 2nd day, if possible.  all i was sayuing before is it might make your products less competitive with 3 day handling- as most all the big sellers have already moved to 1 day handling.  i was not aware that the shipping and handling quotes were changed on the customers side.

[bing201]

Since you can print a label from your auction in about 30 seconds, any handling time more than a day is ridiculous and makes you look like a crook.  

[bing201]

USPS will pick up packages right from your house the next morning.  There is no valid excuse for long handling times

[castlemagicmemories]

---

@sparkysretroelectro wrote:

you all are very correct about underpromising and overdelivering.  if a seller is unable to process in 1 day, they shouldnt promise 1 day only to fall short.  Im just lucky that i live right down the street from the post office, and i use the night drop to ship everything while the americas sleep.  for one with a more difficult schedule and/or drive, it would be prefferable to quote 3 days, and aim to get it shipped on the 1st or 2nd day, if possible.  all i was sayuing before is it might make your products less competitive with 3 day handling- as most all the big sellers have already moved to 1 day handling.  i was not aware that the shipping and handling quotes were changed on the customers side.

---

I don't think it hurts a seller to have three or even four or five day shipping; while some buyers may have a problem with that, I think most don't.  They understand that transit is involved and that the item is most likely not crucial.  If it is something with a time contraint, such as you need it by such and such a date, then the buyer needs to build that time and more and order early to be sure of having it in time.  

Large companies with their own shipping departments can take a week to ship, and they do very well.    

Patience is a virtue.