What's with these expected delivery times? "Buyer is expecting to receive this order by:"

[totoro470]

What's with these new "Buyer X is expecting to receive this order by ____" in the new print label page? It seems like these estimations are horribly unrealistic. I got one sale Tuesday the 18th at 11:30 pm and it says "Buyer expecing the receive the item by Friday, December 21." With my 1 day business handling this means I should have until Thursday to ship the item, right? Which essentially means my buyer is expecting 1 day delivery.

I normally don't pay attention to these estimates as they seem like they're counting days that are outside business hours but today I received several messages from a rather irate buyer, saying that I hadn't shipped the item out yet (on wednesday) and that ebay told her the item would arrive on the Friday. tell me if I'm wrong here, if she buys the item at 11:30 pm, I have until 11:30 pm the next day to print the label and ship the item, right? If that time is outside post office hours then I ship the following morning. The problem here seems as though ebay is counting the day of purchase as a shipping day- even if the business hours are over. This is what I've assumed my entire time selling on ebay and it seems to measure up to my 99.82% tracking scanned/uploaded in time and .7% late shipment rate. So, am I doing something wrong, if not, why is ebay giving buyers unrealistic estimates?

[turquoisetulips]

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@totoro470 wrote:

What's with these new "Buyer X is expecting to receive this order by ____" in the new print label page? It seems like these estimations are horribly unrealistic. I got one sale Tuesday the 18th at 11:30 pm and it says "Buyer expecing the receive the item by Friday, December 21." With my 1 day business handling this means I should have until Thursday to ship the item, right? Which essentially means my buyer is expecting 1 day delivery.

I normally don't pay attention to these estimates as they seem like they're counting days that are outside business hours but today I received several messages from a rather irate buyer, saying that I hadn't shipped the item out yet (on wednesday) and that ebay told her the item would arrive on the Friday. tell me if I'm wrong here, if she buys the item at 11:30 pm, I have until 11:30 pm the next day to print the label and ship the item, right? If that time is outside post office hours then I ship the following morning. The problem here seems as though ebay is counting the day of purchase as a shipping day- even if the business hours are over. This is what I've assumed my entire time selling on ebay and it seems to measure up to my 99.82% tracking scanned/uploaded in time and .7% late shipment rate. So, am I doing something wrong, if not, why is ebay giving buyers unrealistic estimates?

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I've been noticing those messages too . I suppose e bay is just trying to light a fire under the sellers  so orders will reach  the buyers before Christmas .  We just need to remember  in e bays eyes  its all about the buyer . Tulips 

[greencastleor]

eBay has actually been conservative with my delivery estimations as of late. Most are saying delivery after Christmas.

What is your order cut off time for same and handling in the account settings? Mine is set to 10:30am. I don't believe that does anything but maybe  just maybe with ebay's parched together system. 

[hioctane62]

If you have 1 day handling, and you get an order on the 18th at 11:30 pm, you are expected to ship on the 19th. At 12:01 am it would be the 20th. (these are all ebay, west coast times)

Either way, ebay's estimated times are pretty unrealistic. They like it that way, since buyers filing INR's after these dates now help push sellers into the 4% fee penalty, even if the buyer gets it the next day after they got a full refund.

[remote_controls_and_more]

With 1 day handling you have to ship by the next business day. Doesnt matter if they bought it on Tuesdsy at 12:01am or 11:59pm you ship by the next business day Wednesday.

The cutoff time you can set only applies to same day shipping.

[hillbillymedia]

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@totoro470 wrote:

What's with these new "Buyer X is expecting to receive this order by ____" in the new print label page? It seems like these estimations are horribly unrealistic. I got one sale Tuesday the 18th at 11:30 pm and it says "Buyer expecing the receive the item by Friday, December 21." With my 1 day business handling this means I should have until Thursday to ship the item, right? Which essentially means my buyer is expecting 1 day delivery.

I normally don't pay attention to these estimates as they seem like they're counting days that are outside business hours but today I received several messages from a rather irate buyer, saying that I hadn't shipped the item out yet (on wednesday) and that ebay told her the item would arrive on the Friday. tell me if I'm wrong here, if she buys the item at 11:30 pm, I have until 11:30 pm the next day to print the label and ship the item, right? If that time is outside post office hours then I ship the following morning. The problem here seems as though ebay is counting the day of purchase as a shipping day- even if the business hours are over. This is what I've assumed my entire time selling on ebay and it seems to measure up to my 99.82% tracking scanned/uploaded in time and .7% late shipment rate. So, am I doing something wrong, if not, why is ebay giving buyers unrealistic estimates?

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I agree. The D-dates are out of whack. I have 1 biz. day handling and ship 1st class mail. Items I sold yesterday had "on or before the 24th". My past experience this time of year tells me the date is possible but.....highly unlikely.  What is VERY likely is I end up with a few happy customers and a few angry ones. Why ebay sets sellers up for failure every year like this is beyond me.

A note to ebay: Don`t present fidged numbers to customers for greed sake, they will appreciate the truth better.

Also to the OP. I think your idea of one business day is off. If you sell on wed. before midnight you need to ship thurs. before your post office closes.

[myboardid]

I got one sale Tuesday the 18th at 11:30 pm and it says "Buyer expecing the receive the item by Friday, December 21." With my 1 day business handling this means I should have until Thursday to ship the item, right? Which essentially means my buyer is expecting 1 day delivery.

No, that's not what eBay means.  First, eBay's definition of the time a day turns to the next day is 12PM Midnight California time.  You are on the East Coast, so for you the "day change" is 3AM.   Since your handling time is one day, the item has to be scanned WITHIN your handling time, which means before 3 AM the following day.  Since you are not in a huge city where some post offices are open all night, that means you have to get the package to the post office and have it scanned by 5PM that same day. 

In your example, if the item is paid for by 11:30PM on Tuesday, it must be scanned before 5 PM on Wednesday.  To meet the requirement, you can't hold it over until Thursday morning. 

If you do this, and the buyer still gets the item late, ebay will not hold you responsible.  But if you miss the time deadline, they will. 

[hillbillymedia]

Excellent post!

[tunicaslot]

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@hillbillymedia wrote:

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@totoro470 wrote:

What's with these new "Buyer X is expecting to receive this order by ____" in the new print label page? It seems like these estimations are horribly unrealistic. I got one sale Tuesday the 18th at 11:30 pm and it says "Buyer expecing the receive the item by Friday, December 21." With my 1 day business handling this means I should have until Thursday to ship the item, right? Which essentially means my buyer is expecting 1 day delivery.

I normally don't pay attention to these estimates as they seem like they're counting days that are outside business hours but today I received several messages from a rather irate buyer, saying that I hadn't shipped the item out yet (on wednesday) and that ebay told her the item would arrive on the Friday. tell me if I'm wrong here, if she buys the item at 11:30 pm, I have until 11:30 pm the next day to print the label and ship the item, right? If that time is outside post office hours then I ship the following morning. The problem here seems as though ebay is counting the day of purchase as a shipping day- even if the business hours are over. This is what I've assumed my entire time selling on ebay and it seems to measure up to my 99.82% tracking scanned/uploaded in time and .7% late shipment rate. So, am I doing something wrong, if not, why is ebay giving buyers unrealistic estimates?

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I agree. The D-dates are out of whack. I have 1 biz. day handling and ship 1st class mail. Items I sold yesterday had "on or before the 24th". My past experience this time of year tells me the date is possible but.....highly unlikely.  What is VERY likely is I end up with a few happy customers and a few angry ones. Why ebay sets sellers up for failure every year like this is beyond me.

A note to ebay: Don`t present fidged numbers to customers for greed sake, they will appreciate the truth better.

Also to the OP. I think your idea of one business day is off. If you sell on wed. before midnight you need to ship thurs. before your post office closes.

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They are not only setting sellers up for failure - they're setting up buyers to be disappointed - and they may leave the venue - of course the seller gets the blame. I've had 4 packages 2 priority and 2 first class - not delivered within the estimated delivery time - then because of the bloated system at this time of year - they aren't getting a delivery scan. Since I'm in Guarenteed Delivery - they are handing out a lot of vouchers or refunding  a lot of shipping costs.

[hillbillymedia]

I agree Tunica. I find myself doing alot of "damage control" this time of year at no fault of my own because some items just don`t make it in time. The absolute LAST thing I want is a disatisfied customer. Even if I was to add a day onto my handling times this time of year.....most package that arrive late are late by more than 1 day.

[yuzuha]

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@hioctane62 wrote:

If you have 1 day handling, and you get an order on the 18th at 11:30 pm, you are expected to ship on the 19th. At 12:01 am it would be the 20th. (these are all ebay, west coast times)

Either way, ebay's estimated times are pretty unrealistic. They like it that way, since buyers filing INR's after these dates now help push sellers into the 4% fee penalty, even if the buyer gets it the next day after they got a full refund.

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I actually find the opposite: their delivery estimates tend to be way off base in the other direction and things are usually delivered a few days BEFORE the delivery estimate.  I printed one the other day that had a delivery estimate of Monday the 24th and it's on track to be delivered today.

[tunicaslot]

That's great to hear yuz! I've never experienced these problems in previous years and thanked my lucky stars that I wasn't having them. Unfortuantely this year - I am experiencing problems as are others in my Facebook groups and other discussion groups. Next year I'll definitely extend my handling times.

[labs118]

OMG I am getting crushed with late deliveries 
message after message about items 
I have been putting  in for Post office updates on packages
This is  one Gte delivery by ebay for Dec 15th First class from NJ to OK  9 days so far not there yet !!!
I told her file for late delivery voucher or a free return that ebay will have to pay for
I Sent next morning after late night payment 






This one is just in limbo no USPS updates even via my request no updates from them in 2 days
so who knows whats going on with it, Just says will arrive later then expected





This one was a Christmas stocking kit to replace one lost in Katrina & she wanted to get it made for her hubby , USPS packages are vanishing in transit to next facility for days & days and all my updates are saying they are going to arrive LATE

Then ebay & USPS  are saying purchase by today Dec 20th for ontime delivery for First Class & Priority 
I can't imagine it with what I am going through , I could keep doing screen shot after screen shot because this is just a sample.

What a huge upset to the buyers & a time killer for me.
This stocking kit did finally arrive & she has been super about it so I am thankful for that.




But on a lighter note on my buying side I have been filing for my $5.00 vouchers as many of my own deliveries are late so can't imagine what this is costing ebay.


Good luck to everyone , Sellers & Buyers 

[emerald40]

Mail is messed up in my area.

Half of my packages are showing - processing exception.

They are going to the wrong areas.

3 came into my state, left the state, were recalled, came back into the state, then went to the wrong city, where they sit.

Must be untrained seasonal help.

Glad I shut down at the beginning of December.

[gramophone-georg]

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@totoro470 wrote:

What's with these new "Buyer X is expecting to receive this order by ____" in the new print label page? It seems like these estimations are horribly unrealistic. I got one sale Tuesday the 18th at 11:30 pm and it says "Buyer expecing the receive the item by Friday, December 21." With my 1 day business handling this means I should have until Thursday to ship the item, right? Which essentially means my buyer is expecting 1 day delivery.

I normally don't pay attention to these estimates as they seem like they're counting days that are outside business hours but today I received several messages from a rather irate buyer, saying that I hadn't shipped the item out yet (on wednesday) and that ebay told her the item would arrive on the Friday. tell me if I'm wrong here, if she buys the item at 11:30 pm, I have until 11:30 pm the next day to print the label and ship the item, right? If that time is outside post office hours then I ship the following morning. The problem here seems as though ebay is counting the day of purchase as a shipping day- even if the business hours are over. This is what I've assumed my entire time selling on ebay and it seems to measure up to my 99.82% tracking scanned/uploaded in time and .7% late shipment rate. So, am I doing something wrong, if not, why is ebay giving buyers unrealistic estimates?

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eBay!!! Don't tell US- TELL THE CARRIERS! 

If you REALLY WANT eBay packages delivered on time then talk to the USPS and other carriers and make a sweetheart deal with them like Amazon has. Forget E-packet.