Should I close my store?

[worldwide_ship]

My state has required all "non-essential" businesses to close. Is my eBay store considered a non-essential business? I have a bunch of packages/returns coming in my house every day and I go to the post office once a day. I'm not sure if I'm part of the problem by continuing to do business.  What do you guys/gals think?

[bach4231]

I don’t have a store and am not busy as you sound, but I’m thinking of ending my items for sale. The various delivery businesses’ workers are being overwhelmed and overworked, so I don’t want to add to that burden with nonessential items being shipped. We’re only just beginning with the effects due to the virus in the USA.

[mtgraves7984]

I've chosen to keep my store open, but do all of my USPS from home. Good luck to us all.

[rosszonebricks]

Until the United States Postal Service is suspended by government mandate, my eBay store will remain open.

No human contact needed. I set out my packages to get picked up every day. I don't have to go to the post office. If you are going to the post office to drop off your packages, I'd suggest scheduling regular pickups, or if you have enough volume for daily shipping, you can just get them to show up every single day for pickup.

[divwido]

They are talking about brick and mortar stores, not eBay.

Myself, I'd list a whole lot more.

[m60driver]

As long as USPS is considered an essential business then going there is not a violation of any stay at home order.  I have no option but to mail out packages at the Post Office unless I wanted to wait outside for the daily mail truck delivering mail, an event that has about a two hour window.  But, if you are in a major epicenter like myself (Seattle area)  do try to get a surgical mask and wear it to protect others when you are out and about doing essential errands.

[curiousantiques1999]

Love the potty joke lol

[mobley120]

"burden with of nonessnon-ess items being shipped"

Yeah... maybe, eBay should suspend their MBG policy, since many returns are simply buyer remorse and or buyers failures to read the item,s description... Yeah, I think eBay should help-out the shipping industries in this pandemic crisis, in fact, I think they should suspend it indefinitely. Yeah

[dirckrl]

Never believe an Atom, they make up everything....

[chapeau-noir]

I've decreased to shipping every other or every three days - that means only a couple of trips to the PO per week, but items are still turned around within my 2-day handling.

You can minimize contact by either simply dropping off your packages (I'm assuming with your volume you ship at home) or arranging package pickup.

Our local post offices (I use three) are very quiet - they even seem glad to see me and my packages!  Sorting centers may be busier in some parts of the country but I would still ship.

[pinksakura2000]

It seems that you already have a bunch of packages/returns to your house daily and I am not sure if they are from your customers or from your post office refusing to send them out? Regardless, I don't think you are "part of the problem" as much as the corona virus being part of your problem. You may simply put your store on vacation and wait out the corona virus situation.

[myredcar2007]

Stay open! People will be doing more online shopping during this SIP time. And it would be store suicide to make your store known as a price gouger. People remember and they won't come back. Good luck and thank you!

[friedsambob]

As long as this covid problem continues fewer and fewer people will be buying non-grocery/survival items. I have shut down one of my sites and am considering doing the same with my major site, I am gradually scaling it back. down to 250 items from 1,000 not long ago.  Ebay stupidly keeps sending tips on how to sell. 

[scstool]

I will be staying open until the professionals say we are making things worse by staying open. My reasoning is it is helping to keep the economy going and I am less likely to become a financial burden. Many times I am saving someone a trip to the store. Many of my items are also for industrial buyers in critical industries. 

It would be nice if we could get an official list of "Best Practices" to observe as far as packing our shipments and presenting them to the mail carriers or post office.