Is there a way to close my store for a few months, then reopen it?

[kath.layn]

Ive been selling on eBay for about 7 years, and even with all the changes, INAD nonsense and occasional evil people out there, I generally enjoy every aspect of my side-hustle.  I have an opportunity to go live with my son and daughter in law for 6 months and help care for my soon-to-arrive grandson.  I’m thrilled and excited, but since they live 3 hours away, there is no way I can run my eBay store.  Ive closed the store before, for up to 2 months.  This last time I could only close it for 30 days, then I had to go in and reopen and then re-close it.  Is there a way to close for  4 months?

[nuclearomen]

yes, vacation mode, go to settings on "Manage My Store" right hand side, navigation, near the bottom "vacation settings"

[nobody*s_perfect]

@nuclearomen  The "vacation settings" option has been replaced by "time away" which, as noted in the OP, has a 30-day limit. A seller who wants to hold off for more than 30 days has to briefly activate their listings, and then reinstate the time away option for another 30 days.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/selling-tools/time-away?id=5137

[luckythewinner]

I would not play around - I would end all my listings. Then I would relist them periodically (and immediately end them) so I did not lose them. 

[nuclearomen]

yeah, i read, but that's the way it is, so? Saying you can't log in every 30 days to reset it? OK, then call ebay and ask them to shut your store down..idk what else to say. 

[jayjaspersgarage]

How large are the items you sell? You could go on 'Time Away' mode repeatedly or you could operate a smaller version of your store from almost anywhere with access to a decent computer with a printer.

Oh, nice shorts I just bought from you!  

Now that I've seen your listings with the exceptions of the jeans I can see why you wouldn't make a traveling show out of your glass listings.  The clothing could easily travel with you if you wanted to try selling on the road.  Change your handling time to three days and just end all the breakable item listings.

Time Away mode sounds perfect as I could imagine once in a while you would drive home for a long weekend while stopping at cool estate sales or antique stores along the way.  No wonder it takes me twice as long to get anywhere.  Be sure to study the time away mode rules.  Even if you click on "don't make sales possible" or whatever it's called that will only hide the fixed price items.  Any auction items will still be visible so you want to let them run out or end them before you leave.

[johnrj1226]

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/ebay-stores/close-ebay-store?id=4091&st=12&pos=3&query=Close%20an%...

[kath.layn]

Hey!  Thanks for the suggestions, kind words and especially for your purchase of the Levis!  I hope you’ll visit my store again.

Yes, Levis travel well and ship so easily.  Also I have lots of stainless flatware that also travels well.  And you were spot on about my road trips!  I do love stopping at every roadside attraction I come across.   The other solution I’m considering is training an assistant.  Well, actually my adult son who lives with me.  He’s very interested in developing a side hustle of his own selling men’s dress shoes, so he may decide he can manage my store for me while I’m away.

For what it’s worth, I still love selling on eBay.  Even with all the frustrations and scammers.  I still feel terrible when a customer isn’t happy, and I do everything I can to make it right.  But some people are just NASTY.  I consider that part of my overhead.  Just like brick and mortar stores have to budget in 10% or whatever for shoplifters, I try to send the refund and let it go.  Thanks everyone for your suggestions.