vacation settings

[specialdeals4u2]

when my vacation settings are on  including an email notification   does the buyer get an email once they purchase, reminding them that I'm away???

[nobody*s_perfect]

No, they do not, because eBay expects you to still ship within your stated handling time.

This is a major flaw in the basic vacation setup: It is nothing more than an "Away" message. If you want to delay shipping (rather than using the option to block sales) then you MUST revise your handling time to reflect your actual anticipated shipping date. This is not done automatically. Otherwise, you will accumulate "late shipping" problems.

[gkyn29]

Don't list anything when you're on vacation or schedule standard auctions that will end when you are back. Key word "schedule".

I see you already got one negative from a **bleep** off buyer, I'm sure you don't want any more.

[nawlinsron2]

The REAL vacation setting is a 2-step process.
1) Choose the vacation setting...and, more importantly...
2) Click "Keep people from buying your fixed price listings while you're on vacation. Your auction style listings will still run as scheduled."
Obviously, you can't hide the auction listings. Those you have to show an extended handling time.

[percgrabbe-0]

I wouldnt use that setting I hear it can be really difficult to turn it off. 

[thevintagesilvershop]

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@specialdeals4u2 wrote:

when my vacation settings are on  including an email notification   does the buyer get an email once they purchase, reminding them that I'm away???

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If you leave your items visible while on vacation, you MUST extend your handling time.  If something sells and you do not do this, you will get pinged for it.  You MUST extend your handling time.

And, no Ebay does NOT send your buyer a message that you are gone or the shipment will be delayed. 

[labs118]

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@specialdeals4u2 wrote:

when my vacation settings are on  including an email notification   does the buyer get an email once they purchase, reminding them that I'm away???

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They don't pay attention to the settings , can't you tell by the negative you got?
Sorry to see your feedback ruined for a $4.95 item  and all because of vacation !!

I would never extend handling time for a vacation only for maybe a long weekend.
You should really just stop buyers from purchasing, it's a huge load off my mind .
I don't want questions while I am away without having hundreds of items with me to answer any given questions that might get sent.


I don't want to count on a buyer seeing my vacation settings & I don't count on them seeing my handling time.

Best bet in the future check mark below and either cancel auctions or time them to end when your are back.






 

[slippinjimmy]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

No, they do not, because eBay expects you to still ship within your stated handling time.

This is a major flaw in the basic vacation setup: It is nothing more than an "Away" message. If you want to delay shipping (rather than using the option to block sales) then you MUST revise your handling time to reflect your actual anticipated shipping date. This is not done automatically. Otherwise, you will accumulate "late shipping" problems.

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It is NOT a "flaw", it is by design to give sellers a CHOICE.

The only flaw is that some sellers who use the Vacations settings fail to actually read the instructions that are clearly given as to which option to select based on THEIR needs.

When I'm away for a few days I want to inform buyers of that but I still want them to buy. If I'm going to be away for a week I don't want them to buy. I CHOOSE the option based on my needs and am thankful that eBay doesn't force me to hide my listings and prevent me from selling when I can still make my shipping commitments.

[nobody*s_perfect]

The flaw is that ebay fails to explain that the basic vacation setting is just an "Away message".  Sellers are not making an informed choice.

Too many sellers assume that the basic vacation setting automatically confers a delay in their handling time. They THINK they are making a choice to keep selling, while delaying their shipping, but that is NOT what the basic vacation setting does.  The information provided by eBay doesn't make this clear. There are posts about this every day from sellers who were penalized for late shipping because they thought that the away message was more than that.

[slippinjimmy]

Too many sellers assume

They certainly do but their failure to read what in my opinion is quite clear is their own fault not eBay's.

It's no different than the sellers who come here on an almost daily basis who have no idea why they were downgraded because they have never made the effort to understand the seller performance metrics.

How many people have stated in the past couple of months that they will lose TRS because they don't offer 60 day free returns? These people don't even understand the difference between TRS & TRS Plus something you don't need to be a genius to know.

Often stated...."buyer don't read"....truth is that PEOPLE don't read, people on both sides. Then if eBay repeats and warns users of upcoming changes they are slammed for treating users like dummies.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Sellers who have read the Help page about vacation settings and even those who go back and re-read it after getting penalized all claim that it is NOT clear.  This has been happening for years.  The section needs to be rewritten.  Not even rewritten: Just one sentence that clarifies what the basic setting means.  Right now, it just says:

If you need to take a break from your Store for any reason, you can put it on vacation. You can leave a note to let your buyers know you'll be away and when you'll be back.

You can also hide your fixed price listings while you're gone so no one will be waiting for items you can't ship on time.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/ebay-stores/managing-ebay-store/account-holiday?id=4090#section2

The underlying problem is that the vacation settings option has been around for a long time, since before handling time mattered at all. When the option and the explanation were  originally set up, just the "Away" message was sufficient. The page should be updated.

[banana*shoe*boutique]

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@slippinjimmy wrote:

Too many sellers assume

They certainly do but their failure to read what in my opinion is quite clear is their own fault not eBay's.

It's no different than the sellers who come here on an almost daily basis who have no idea why they were downgraded because they have never made the effort to understand the seller performance metrics.

How many people have stated in the past couple of months that they will lose TRS because they don't offer 60 day free returns? These people don't even understand the difference between TRS & TRS Plus something you don't need to be a genius to know.

Often stated...."buyer don't read"....truth is that PEOPLE don't read, people on both sides. Then if eBay repeats and warns users of upcoming changes they are slammed for treating users like dummies.

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@slippinjimmy

But how hard would it be for eBay to just put a notice in the vacations settings to change your handling time?

The statement "This seller is currently away. If you make a purchase, there may be a delay in processing your order." does make it sound like the vacation mode overrides handling time.

This is a common mistake and it doesn't need to be.

[banana*shoe*boutique]

@nobody*s_perfect

Totally agree!

[banana*shoe*boutique]

@slippinjimmy

I just started a thread about wether or not to allow buyers to purchase while in vacation mode.  Why do you not want them to buy if you're going to be away longer?  I've always left mine open but am trying to decide if I am going to do that again.

[fern*wood]

We've complained for a long time that this important shipping information is not actually present when you go to set up your vacation settings.  Ebay reps agree and say they are working on fixing it, but until then, it has been added to the commonly asked questions under knowledge base.  I know, a spot most have never even heard of and would never dream they need to look to set their vacation settings.