eBay

roncards3 · ‎03-18-2020

Currently I am not able to ship out packages anymore due to the Corona situation.

Just items that can be shipped as a letter and that can be dropped in a mailbox.

What would you do???

There are 2 options:
1. Putting the store in holiday-mode that shows that purchased items cannot be shipped right away, but later.
advantage: sales can go on
disadvantage: not sure how long this situation is going to last and when the packages can be shipped.

2. Removing all item and relist them once everything is back to normal, but this means no money at all for the coming period.

What would you do ????

luckythewinner · ‎03-18-2020

Currently I am not able to ship out packages anymore due to the Corona situation.

Can you explain exactly why you cannot ship? Is your post office closed? Is travel to the post office banned? Are you sick? Are you just not comfortable doing it? Something else?

Putting the store in holiday-mode that shows that purchased items cannot be shipped right away, but later.

If you cannot within a few days, taking people's money and not sending them their items is going to result in a world of hurt for you. Vacation-mode is a polite notice; it does not protect you from damage inflicted on your selling account by buyers who are unhappy.

Removing all item and relist them once everything is back to normal, but this means no money at all for the coming period.

"No money coming in" is much better than having to refund everyone AND getting defects and negative feedback. IMHO people are going to become more irritable and demanding as this drags on, not more tolerant.

dhbookds · ‎03-18-2020

I would remove all items..........

I don't know why you can't ship........whether PO is closed/whether you are quarantined personally or enmasse, etc........ but money "coming" when you don't know if/when you can ship is dangerous to me since you may have to refund at some point..........

nobody*s_perfect · ‎03-18-2020

Hi, this is the discussion board for eBay users in the United States, where policies might be different.

Your Option 1 won't work because of the way eBay's vacation setting works: Sellers are still expected to choose a handling time and to ship within that handling time. So that barely works when the seller is on vacation for just a week, and it won't work now.

Option 2 leaves you broke.

Another option is to leave your listings active. Items that can be packed and put into the corner mailbox can stay available for purchase. Items that you cannot ship in the foreseeable future can be put on "Out of stock" status. To do this, you go to your site preferences and choose to activate the "Out of stock" option, then you change the "Quantity available" to zero on any items that you want to hide. Then when you can ship again, you adjust the quantity back up.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/listings/listing-tips/bulk-listings?id=4160#outofstock

I don't know what the shipping options and policies are in the Netherlands. In the US, a seller would be able to print a shipping label online and mail packages by dropping them in the corner "blue box" as long as they fit. We also have free pickup by our mail carriers, which can be requested online when purchasing the postage labels. Some sellers never go to their Post Office at all.

roncards3 · ‎03-18-2020

Thanks all for the replies.

It has to do with nott being able to bring it to a post-office because it is closed.

The corner mailbox is not going to work for a great part as it would not fit.

So, i think nobody's_perfect option to set stock to 0 is probablt best.

Thanks for your opinions !!

18704d · ‎03-18-2020

The USPS can 'close' it's counters, where postal clerks accept packages face to face with the public,

but they'll still be open in the back .. behind the scenes...

Do the US Mail as usual.

And most posted offices (if not all?) have that big drop box where you can drop your prepaid packages into.

Btw, I believe I also saw a report stating the US Military could also help / take over? mail operations in the US, if needed.

Thanks,

Lynn

Lynn

You love me for everything you hate me for

.

corvettestainless · ‎03-18-2020

Is pick up not possible where you live? USPS does do pick up with your regular carrier in most areas.

bar-29368 · ‎03-18-2020

OP is in the Netherlands.

roncards3 · ‎03-19-2020

Had contact with Ebay; Ebay's advice is to set handling time to 40 days (=working days).

That means you won't have to ship the item within the next 8 weeks.

But ............. will buyers notice it and accept it ???????????????

jewelbiz · ‎03-19-2020

When I had the flu a few years ago, I paid 2 different people $10.00 on a few occasions to take my packages to the post office & return here afterwards with the receipt.

roncards3 · ‎03-19-2020

It doesn't have to do with me; i can go everywhere but there is just no posibility to drop off packages right now.

Just letter mail.

fern*wood · ‎03-19-2020

If you can't ship, I see no option but to end your listings or put them on vacation and hide them.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎03-19-2020

@roncards3 wrote: ... Ebay's advice is to set handling time to 40 days (=working days). ...

The longest handling time that I see on the listing form is 30 business days. I was surprised to see even that, since I had thought we had to ship within 30 calendar days.

stonecirclespirit2012 · ‎03-19-2020

This discussion brings up another question.. I can get my packages to the post office in one day BUT, the counter is now closed and I have to put them in a drop bin. This means that maybe the packages will not get scanned as required by Ebay and I will suffer a deficit for non-scaned package. Now, if I extend my handling time to lets say three or four days, the chances are that the package will be scanned withing that amount of time, or upon arrival which means no deficit. Am I correct in my thinking or not?