I've been on eBay since 1998 and the volume here is just a fraction of my company total. The timing comment reminded me: it's a good idea to offer your buyers 3 choices: slow, faster, express. I do this by using calculated shipping with a handling fee built in.
Don't get yourself unnerved by the stressed-out shoppers. If they select first class and send you a frantic message telling you that they've GOT TO have it in 3 days or else the baby's Christmas will be ruined? You calmly let her know that with the choice she made, it's impossible, but if she wants you to refund and repay with express, it can happen, as long as she carefully looks at the date the USPS promises for her zipcode.
Aggressive and frantic buyer freaking you out and making you feel upset? Understand that they're dumping on you to make themselves feel better, and don't accept it. Calmly write back with the reality, like "Thank you for your note. I understand the timing. We will be shipping today and you'll see the tracking in your order but we cannot make any guarantees about arrival time. Delivery is up to the USPS and they're swamped at the holidays. If you prefer that we refund before we ship, please let us know."
Back when I was in college in the 70's, on breaks I worked at a Lord & Taylor in a suburban mall. I saw these frantic people right in person. It's so much easier online, but you have to prepare yourself so that you don't buy into their hysteria and make yourself crazy. Know that you can only do what you can do.
Christmas falls on 12/25, dependably, every single year. Consider the old saying, "A failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine."
That said, I love the holiday volume. I prepare a lot. We get all stocked up with every type of shipping material, including paper for packing slips, thermal labels and more. If one postage program goes down, I have multiple ways to print - direct from Amazon or eBay, or via Paypal.com/ship now, or Paypal multi-order, or the one I use daily: stamps.com. I'm comfortable using all of them. Only a power outage would stop me. I have equipment at home and at the office to do the printing.
Prepare to take care of YOURSELF too! Plan some meals. If you celebrate the winter holidays, do your shopping for meals and gifts and decorations RIGHT NOW. Wrap gifts, make food and put it in the freezer, etc. Figure out how you're going to have nutritious meals and snacks during peak time, so you can keep on working.
Preparation can make a holiday rush really fun and exciting and now is the perfect time to get ready!!!
