Vacation Settings Questions

[cynthealee2]

I'm having to put the store on vacation.

How long does it take to hide the FP listings?

I know the Auctions will continue to run, and I have a hubby here to pack orders if and when they sell, but I'm trying to figure out how long it takes for the FP listings to hide, and whether or not the auto emails start working immediately or if they take a bit to start.

[gracieallen01]

It seems, from what I've heard on the boards here, that the listings are never completely 'hidden'  If someone has them marked/watched, they can still buy the item no matter what you do to try to prevent it.  People have said that they posted that they were on vacation, but someone still bought it and the seller still had problems.  Hopefully someone with intimate knowledge will come along soon.

[chapeau-noir]

Yes, watched items can still be purchased even if you hide listings.  If you really don't want anything to sell while you're gone, it's better to just end those listings with watchers.

If you're only going to be gone for a short time, a week or less, you can also extend your handling out 5 days.

[cynthealee2]

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@gracieallen01 wrote:

It seems, from what I've heard on the boards here, that the listings are never completely 'hidden'  If someone has them marked/watched, they can still buy the item no matter what you do to try to prevent it.  People have said that they posted that they were on vacation, but someone still bought it and the seller still had problems.  Hopefully someone with intimate knowledge will come along soon.

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I got a hubby here IF things magically sell.  I'm just trying to get the bulk of the listings hidden in the store.

I put it on less than 30 minutes ago and I don't know if I can see the stuff in the store cause it's my store, stuck in memory on my browser, or if they are hidden... or if they won't be hidden till sometime in the morning.

I warned the sales I got this weekend, and the 2 auctions that have bids that the 'sign' would be there but their items would be going out on my way to the hospital in the morning...

While I love my hubby, eBay is NOT going to be his first thought for a bit, and stuck in that bed it's going to be one of my MAIN ones so I was trying to help them out...

Funny thing is I'm taking my laptop and once I can sit up I'll be building listings to launch as soon as I get out...

Gawd I'm hopeless... I swear this is just a hobby 😉

[chapeau-noir]

Your listings are still showing when I check, but it may take a little while for them to become hidden - similar to their slow repopulation when you take off the vacation setting.

[clemowbooks]

None of your items is "hidden" because you did not choose to hide them.

All that is happening is that your customers are being told you are away

"

This seller is currently away until Jun 21, 2020, and is not processing orders at this time. You can add this item to your watch list to purchase later."

The problem is:

BUYERS DON'T READ.

You are likely to end up with a very upset and frustrated customer who wants it yesterday but will settle for immediately.

Go back and redo your vacation so your listings are not visible to anyone.

The exceptions as you have already been told are items that might be on someone's Watch Lists (but just as BUYERS DON'T READ,  watchers don't buy, they just Watch) and your auctions.

Since you have no bids on your auctions, you could just end them. They will go to your Unsold list and you can reopen then when you get back.

Takes the stress off hubby.

[chapeau-noir]

Did you also tick the 'hide' listings box?

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@cynthealee2  Just adding to the other answers... did you CHECK the box that says hide listings in your vacation settings?  Many sellers forget to check that box.

When I put my store on vacation mode it happens pretty much right away.  I only have a small number of listings though.  

[cynthealee2]

I ticked "hide" listings.

I also have the auto responder set up, and I set up a message at the top of each page...

Though it doesn't say "hide" any more... but the drop down thingy does...

Keep people from buying your fixed price listings while you're on vacation. Your auction style listings will still run as scheduled.

(drop down)

When you select to hide your fixed price listings, they will be hidden almost immediately (although this may take up to a few hours) from search and store pages. In addition, buyers will not be able to make purchases from the listings.

[bar-29368]

Cyn, I would extend your handling time out a few days as well just to be on the safe side.

Hopefully your hospital visit is just a blip on the radar and not something major.

[cynthealee2]

It is ticked.... but I think cause there are 730+ listings it's taking a minute to get them all hidden.  (crossing fingers).

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I'll check back in 8 hours or so.... gotta go to bed... they want me there at gawd awful crack of dawn and I'm going to sleep. 

If nothing else I tried, Hubby has 2 kids here to help him with this and I don't see a RUN on the store... just the GPK cards, and so far those buyers have been excellent.

[nobody*s_perfect · Accepted solution]

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@gracieallen01 wrote:

It seems, from what I've heard on the boards here, that the listings are never completely 'hidden'  If someone has them marked/watched, they can still buy the item no matter what you do to try to prevent it. ....

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That loophole was closed years ago.  If a seller has opted into the vacation block, the item can be put into your cart but it cannot be purchased.

If you go to one of @cynthealee2  's listings and click on "Buy it now," you'll get this message:

[wastingtime101]

It can take up to 24 hours for your listings to be hidden, but the vacation blocks are active instantly. You're fine. This is what buyers see when they hit buy it now:

 

This is what they see when they add something to their shopping cart:

The only listings you need to worry about are auctions. 

When you take the store off vacation it will take up to 24 hours for the listings to re-index as active, but if you bulk edit them then they'll usually appear much quicker. You don't even have to make edits, just pull them into the bulk editor and click save changes.

[gracieallen01]

Here's hoping all goes well!

Just a hobby, huh?  Where have I heard that before, and how many times?  I don't think I can count that high.  😀

[gracieallen01]

Thank you.  I will make note of that.  Things change so much and so fast, at times - and they always make it sooooo plain, too.