Are long handling times just asking for trouble?

[meo9870]

Here’s my situation as a seller - this isn’t my only gig. I also have a full time job, working 10-12 hour days Tuesday-Friday. It takes priority and leaves literally no time for me to deal with packing and taking trips to the post office during that time. My partner also has  a full time, busy career during the week and I cannot and won’t ask him to pack and ship items for me after his long days. 

So I ship as soon as I can, that Saturday morning if a purchase was made Tuesday-Friday. My handling time is set to 5 days on the chance that someone purchases on a Tuesday. Well sure enough someone has, and now two days later they’re messaging me asking if it’s been shipped. 

Do you think I’m just asking for negative feedback sooner or later here? Am I naive to expect customers to actually be ok with longer handling times on their purchases, or are they a bad idea all around? 

[soh.maryl]

Yes, any buyer is free to ask any seller if his item has been shipped yet? But there is no eBay requirement that the seller reply to that question.  

Also, that buyer saw an estimated delivery date in the listing.  He cannot possibly open an item not received case until 24 hours after that date.

And, yes, it looks like there are some buyers who message the seller asking about the arrival of their items when just 24 hours have passed.  They can be ignored also.  

I don't see long handling times as just asking for trouble at all.

[mtgraves7984]

I set my handling time 15 days out when I went into Managed Payments, simply to allow time to receive funds before shipping. I put a disclaimer in my listings explaining the wait time, though.

I haven't had a problem since changing... and don't see any on the horizon. If buyers message, I'll respond truthfully... after all, it's in my listing. Maybe something as simple as adding a quick sentence or two will work.

No, I don't think you're asking for trouble... and you'll sure sleep better at night. Well, I do, anyway!

[purple-rain-store]

I was wondering why I was seeing so many other sellers that had those types of handling times on here. Some I know from other selling platforms due to them doing YT, but that makes sense now. I was just guessing it might have had something to do with MP, they either had to go into it or went in and couldn't get back out. 

[1tuna]

I think your handling time is excessive,it says so right on the listings more than 16 buisness days,

to me that is longer than 3 weeks so its 4 weeks.I do not see why anybody would choose to wait 4 weeks for the item

I can not see any reason why a buyer would choose to buy something and wait 4 weeks

[johnrj1226]

Yes, some buyers donot have an issue with an extended handling time but you will run into issues with those  that have paid for the item and "want it now" for a myraid of reasons.

Put your self in the buyers shoes.

Plus often the folks at  Amazon are able to deliver the next day.

In my opinion buyers  have little empathy for a sellers issues.

[johnrj1226]

You might consider using a faster shipping service other than USPS parcel ground. 

It seems you  could ship these flatware items in a Priority small FR box, which you can get for free from USPS  by picking them  up at your PO or order on line from USPS.com and get them delivered at no cost to you- you are paying for a box or envelope to ship your stuff now.  Plus if you have a curbside mail box you can stick the box in your mail box and put the flag up = save you a trip to your PO.

I live in Georgia and the estimated t delivery date as of today is Feb 18 to Feb 22 or 11 - 14 calendar days from Illinois.  Taht seems  kinda' long.

[emerald_door]

Many buyers expect fast shipping, so if you have an extended handling time, I think it's a good idea to put a line in your description mentioning it.  Some buyers don't read the fine print, such as the estimated delivery date.  

[mudshark61369]

@meo9870,

Having an extended handling time isn't necessarily a bad thing, people can't ding you or leave negative feedback if their items arrive by the last estimated delivery date.   However, and the question from the buyer shows some do not look at the shipping details section, to see what your handling time is, or the last estimated delivery dates.  

On the other hand, an extended handling time or delivery time frame will dissuade some from buying your items, and may lead others to think you are drop shipping.  Then there is your shipping cost.  You're selling individual pieces of flatware and charging the same amount of shipping as some of the items cost, would you pay double the price for one piece of flatware and not expect to receive it for possibly 2 weeks?  Your shipping price seems high to me for Parcel Select if you are guestimating the price, I suggest using the shipping calculator.

You can cut your handling time down by pre-packing and weighing your items. You can get small Priority mail boxes shipped to you for free from the USPS site, that should hold a full place setting and still remain under 1lb. with some packing material, if people can order 3-5 pieces and pay the same price for shipping, they may buy more. By using the calculator you can print your own labels, which gives you an online discount, and if you have a safe place to put items where a carrier can get to them, you can schedule pick up. The small PM (VHS size boxes) boxes will fit in a mail box. You can talk to your carrier one day about that, and even work out a signal for outgoing packages so you do not have to schedule pick up.  You can do the same thing for larger items, if you have a porch or other place to put items out for pickup.

[meo9870]

Actually my shipping cost on the flatware is a set so customers can buy multiples without any additional shipping cost. 

Prepacking is a good idea, although I do worry about people asking for additional pictures. Thanks 

[emerald_door]

I realize that you didn't ask about shipping methods and costs, but I would recommend buying small boxes and shipping by first class mail. 

[mtgraves7984]

My long, long handling time was set in self-defense. When I changed to Managed Payments last Fall, I had a problem (not enough cash!) with immediate shipping when my funds didn't come for a week and a half. I took a hit on late shipments (3 in August, 3 in September) and my metrics fell below 95%.

That was when I changed my lead time, and I'm happy to say that as of 12/31, I pulled them back up so as to keep my TRS status. As my listings say (and I DO), I ship ASAP after funds arrive... but that is still a week at best. In my listings I also offer to ship quicker if a buyer needs something faster and I have funds. Today, for example, a buyer left feedback on a ball cap that he ordered Tuesday and received yesterday. He had a college reunion this weekend, and I had the hat he wore in college 15 years ago... how could I NOT help him??

If Managed Payments begins to deliver more quickly, I'll promise to, too!

[mtgraves7984]

My long handling time seems excessive, too. I mean... it is! The same items in my same spare bedroom now take an extra week to get to my same mailbox... it's crazy!

I don't like to ship without receiving payment, but will honor a buyer's wishes if asked. (Just this week, a buyer got 2-day delivery... he messaged before buying to see if that was 'doable'... no problem!)

The last buyer I had that asked, "When will my ball cap be shipping?" was a buyer that paid his UID in the eleventh hour... 6 days after the sale. I didn't mind referring him to my disclaimer and telling him, "In a few more days...", and I fulfilled the order when his payment hit... 3 days after his message.

As a buyer... sometimes I'll wait that long, sometimes I'll pick another seller. Good point!

As a seller... If Managed Payments begins to deliver more quickly, I'll promise to, too!

[purple-rain-store]

So ebay doesn't even set any money aside that buyers pay towards shipping for you to have available, it all goes into the MP and you have to wait for even the shipping money in a pay out that "typically," takes 1 week for your to receive? 

[soh.maryl]

Why would you ever ship without having received payment?