eBay estimated delivery dates a joke

[eaglestamps]

I have a big problem with the eBay estimated delivery dates. First of all they seem to be based on the date someone pays vs. the date shipped. For example someone pays me on June 28 (Saturday), I ship on July 1st ( a Tuesday) and the eBay estimated delivery date says July 2 - July 12. I live in Seattle and this person in Maine. There is no way it is going to deliver on July 2 so why put that date??? I have found that the delivery dates are accurate maybe 50% of the time. 

[hartungcards]

Nobody with any sense takes eBay's estimated delivery dates seriously.

[monica-sells]

Don't forget when YOU look at the date of delivery, the page is considering your Zip Code. (not the buyer)

I looked at a recently sold item of yours and this was the estimated date(s) in Ohio

Priority Mail

Estimated between Mon, Jul 21 and Thu, Jul 24 to 44136

If you offer same-day or Next Day Shipping, that seems reasonable. For some reason, the details are not showing your handling time ......

[soh.maryl]

Well, actually I do-- but I use the later date as my guideline.  If a listing says July 2-12, I expect to wait til at least the 14th or maybe longer.  But I never purchase anything on eBay that is urgently needed.

[dhbookds]

Are your buyers complaining?

[inhawaii]

For what it's worth...

I recently had a customer want to cxl an order because the estimated delivery date was too long (2 weeks).

I told him I could not cxl because it was already shipped but told him my orders usually take 1 week.

He was ok with that.

The order showed up in 5 days.

Buyer was happy. 

[meme6253]

I always ship the same day or next day, So whatever they put doesn't reflect on me anyway.

[stainlessenginecovers]

If you want a buffer; use 5 days handling time to make up for all the wonderful site seeing tours that packages do when shipping USPS. 

By the way, the 'handling time' (5 days or more) used to show up with a yellow 'caution' flag right at that estimated delivery date; now it does not (another new wonderful (not) improvement; I guess meant to 'hide' the truth from buyers so it seems buying on ebay is "fast and wonderful".

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@inhawaii wrote:

For what it's worth...

I recently had a customer want to cxl an order because the estimated delivery date was too long (2 weeks).

I told him I could not cxl because it was already shipped but told him my orders usually take 1 week.

He was ok with that.

The order showed up in 5 days.

Buyer was happy. 

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@inhawaii curious- Priority? I have many items taking 5-10 days to get from NV to East Coast and a package from NV to Hawaii (shipping GA) and it took almost 3 weeks. 

[inhawaii]

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@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

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@inhawaii wrote:

For what it's worth...

I recently had a customer want to cxl an order because the estimated delivery date was too long (2 weeks).

I told him I could not cxl because it was already shipped but told him my orders usually take 1 week.

He was ok with that.

The order showed up in 5 days.

Buyer was happy. 

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@inhawaii curious- Priority? I have many items taking 5-10 days to get from NV to East Coast and a package from NV to Hawaii (shipping GA) and it took almost 3 weeks. 

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GA.

I rarely ship PM.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

I rarely have a shipment miss the last Ebay estimated date unless it is lost.

I do use a 5 day handling time and the estimates reflect it.

My handling time does not take 5 days unless I cannot find the item.

I have no complaints about delivery time.

Setting expectations is part of a seller's job.

[mam98031]

@eaglestamps 

Ebay gets the dates from the Carriers.  Ebay doesn't designate the dates, the carriers do.  Far too often both buyers and sellers overlook the word "ESTIMATE".

[johnrj1226]

As a buyer on eBay a never  had an is with on time deliveries.  Same experience with sold items - except around  Christmas time. Even  with  our personal shipments  to family and  friends.  Never shipped by any  snail mail  service-all items scanned in within in 1  day or  same day via USPS 95%+ items were over 1 lb..and a few ground advantage that were on time too.  45 % of our eBay shipments  traveled from Atlanta  GA area to the  West  coast  regions, even those to Alaska, Hawaii and Guam...

Had a customer first approach and had  our carrier scan in the package at our home - ya had to bribe them a bit but  got to know  the and if a customer need an item  urgently would take the package to the PO - 6 miles away and get it scanned in there..  If a  package was going to be  late - informed the buyer accordingly - the  buyer didn't like it but appreicated  teh heads up.   The buyer was always King or Queen in my book even if they were a bit late in paying - I had  their  $$ but they didn't have their purchase.    Don't  sell on eBay any more - but I learned a lot on how deal with people in 4  decades of dealing with people in my selling career..