Vaction Mode or Increase Handling Time which is better?

[trimix]

Hi all,

Last time on went on vaction i left my store open for sales in vaction mode and allowed people to buy. I was penalized for not shipping and lost my Top rated sellers status. So this time was just going to turn off all sale. But should i leave sales open and just increase the handing time for the legth of my vacation or just turn off sales all together?

What do you all do?

Trimix

[mistwomandancing]

I have single-day handling time so never leave home without putting everything on invisible vacation mode!  And remember, you have to cancel all your listings that aren't in your stores!!! so there aren't sales from your non-store accounts that you forget about until you're gone and it's too late!  Only the stores can be put on vacation mode.  Your regular accounts can't be!  

Knowing ahead of time how to plan for your time away allows you to have both time and room to transfer listings from non-store accounts into stores where there is room. 

[trimix]

So you stop sales in  invisible vaction mode. Could you just increase the all your items to 10 days handling and put your store on visible vacation mode?

I have 1000 item listed and all in my store. I will not be able to ship till i return. Last time i put my store on vaction and allowed people to buy. I lost my 10% discount and my top rate status due to late shipping.

So should i increase shipping time or stop sales comletely in vacation mode.

[onyourmach70]

I do both I put it in visible vacation and extend handling tie 10 days. I didnt realize that I would be penalized for handling time when I was on vacation learnt the hard way

[mistwomandancing]

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trimix wrote:

Could you just increase all your items to 10 days handling and put your store on visible vacation mode?

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You absolutely CAN do that, but.....  If any of your buyers didn't quite *get it* about that 10-day shipping time allowance, you can receive negative feedback for how long it took them to get their purchase, despite you telling them right up front!  Not all eBay shoppers have English as their first language, and some barely read it at all.  A buyer can have opened an Item Not Received case because they failed to note how LONG it might be before their package might be delivered, etc.

I simply don't take the chance.  When I'm open for business, it is prompt, well-packaged, complete, perfect!  And when I can't accomodate 1-day shipping, I close the doors to my store:  invisible vacation mode. 

It protects me here on eBay, and in a way.. it protects any buyers who deal with me too. 

[goodluckselling]

Put it on vacation.  Do you really want to be thinking about eBay while relaxing on vacation?  This is your time not your businesses.  If you were the only worker at your own B&M you would not leave the door unlocked while you are away.

Enjoy your time away and come back refreshed and ready to go.  You might be surprised how creative you will become when you take a complete break. 

You earned a break, now learn how to enjoy it!

Good Luck Selling!

[trimix]

Good advise, I think i will put my store on no buy and enjoy my vacation. I made this mistake the last time. What do you do with people that purchased and have not paid. Go in cancel the deal?

[goodluckselling]

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@trimix wrote:

Good advise, I think i will put my store on no buy and enjoy my vacation. I made this mistake the last time. What do you do with people that purchased and have not paid. Go in cancel the deal?

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This is the part about planning ahead.  If you know you are about a week away from vacation you make sure all your auctions are not scheduled the week before. 

For BIN that do not pay right away I just contact them and tell them you are on an announced vacation and you are sorry they decided to pay while you are on vacation.  Ask them if they want to cancel or wait until you return to ship the item. 

If they decide to wait I just take the late delivery strike and enjoy my vacation.

Good Luck Selling!

[trimix]

But if they pay while on vaction will eBay give it a late shipping penalty?

[mistwomandancing]

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trimix wrote:..........i will put my store on no buy and enjoy my vacation..........what do you do with people that purchased and have not paid. Go in cancel the deal?

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That always present a small difficulty, but not too much of a problem...  easier to do if you don't have a LOT of sales awaiting payment, but one option you have is to get those unpaid items pretty much ready to ship and take them WITH you.  Check into your PayPal once a day... and mail off any that pay while you're on vacation.  Any that don't pay, you haul home with you again.  lol  AND file the UPI case on them when you get home too!!!

Another way to deal with this depends on whether you have anybody who can take over this wee bit of the business while you're away... a sister, neighbor, etc.   You can leave the merchandise at home that way, and if somebody pays while you're away, you can have your *helper* get that package in the mail promptly for you.  That way, your business with that buyer is prompt and complete, they are taken care of fully, while you sit back and relax on the white sands of the beach with a fruity drink in your hand. 

[oaklandmaryland]

Remember that auctions cannot put on vacation mode and buyers can still purchase them.

[forestthrutrees]

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@trimix wrote:

Hi all,

Last time on went on vaction i left my store open for sales in vaction mode and allowed people to buy. I was penalized for not shipping and lost my Top rated sellers status. So this time was just going to turn off all sale. But should i leave sales open and just increase the handing time for the legth of my vacation or just turn off sales all together?

What do you all do?

Trimix

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What I do is bulk change my handeling time to coincide with when I will be back home. Enevidably I get sales when I leave for my lake house. 3 hours away. Hubby will cover some for me but he doesn't know how and where I put things. Trying to explain that is like teaching a baby to talk. 2 weeks ago he had to ship out 5 things for me. I was selling maybe 1 a month. Then bam. 5. But now it's stopped again. And I'm at home now. What ever works better for you 

robin

[klassic*kids]

I've done it both ways.  Totally depends on where I am going and why, and if I will have some time to be online.  If I sell any while I am away I message the buyer to explain that I am on vacation and will ship when I return on x day -- just in case they missed the banner vacation banner and extended handling time before they purchased. 

Another thing I have done was hide my listings for the first half of the trip and then take it off hide mid-way through and make them visible with a reasonable handling time like 3 or 4 days, aligned with when I will be returning home,

Whatever you decide to do good luck and have a wonderful vacation -- I hope you are going somewhere fun!

[goodluckselling]

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@trimix wrote:

But if they pay while on vaction will eBay give it a late shipping penalty?

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Yes, but it is not the end of the world.  Your vacation should be more important than one late delivery mark.

If you are to much of a perfectionist then you need to hire someone to handle your eBay business while you are trying to enjoy a vacation.  Not sure how well that will work?

Do not let a possible simple mark against your account stop you from taking time away

Good Luck Selling!

[laylajames9]

Trimix, how long is the vacation you're planning? If it's just a few days you can extend the handling time and use vacation mode to let buyers with questions know that you're away. This should have less of an impact on your search placement than hiding your listings completely. If you're taking an extended trip then hiding your listings might be a better option.

Don't cancel any sales that are pending payment because that will result in defects on your account. Instead can you pack the items and bring them with you or you can pack them and leave them with a family member or neighbor to ship in case you receive payment while away. Of course you can ship after your return which will result in late shipments on your account. Those will roll off after three months.

Also take into account how long you will be gone and what eBay lists as the estimated delivery date. If your trip extends past that date then buyers can open INR cases and that can result in defects on your account if you do not prove shipping with confirmed tracking.

As pointed out by goodluckselling, planning ahead and not putting yourself in that situation with auction listings so close to your trip would be the best option to avoid pending payments.

Do what's going to cause the least stress and allow you to enjoy your vacation. Do as much as you can to plan ahead so your eBay account status doesn't have to be a factor while you're away.