Automatic Date on Shipping Labels is UNFAIR

[dig_in_and_dig]

The AUTO DATE on Shipping Labels is UNFAIR.

I just printed a label at 5:30 pm CST on 09/16/19.  My Carrier picks up at 11:00 AM.  The Post Office Closes at 4:30 or 5:00 depending on the day and Office location.  I just received the order today and I'm set up for 1 Business Day handling.  So, that should put the shipping date on the label to tomorrow - automatically.  But nope.  That's not how it works.

There is a choice in Seller Hub about when a purchase is to be passed onto the next day's business.  But, I guess, since I'm processing it today for shipment tomorrow, the system Auto Dates for today. 

Then, I get a DING for not shipping on time.  I can call and discuss this with an eBay rep and spend half my day arguing my case.  But I shouldn't need to do that. 

FIX THIS eBAY!  OR DON"T DING OUR ACCOUNTS FOR YOUR WEST-COAST TIMETABLE.

[klhmdg]

There is a drop down on the right top of the label request screen to choose the date you are shipping.

[scga912]

Postage always auto-dates.  If early enough, it's the same day.  If late in the day, it usually defaults to the next day.

It's not just an eBay thing.  USPS does it too.

Some people who have 1-day handling sometimes ship the same day. 

As long as you have an acceptance scan within your handling time, you won't get dinged.  The date on the label isn't counted.

[kensgiftshop]

If you want to print the label today and ship tomorrow, just change the ship date in the top right.

[lja440]

Yes, if you do nothing and print the label it will have todays date. But you can change pretty much anything on the label before printing. You need it to say tomorrow then change it to tomorrow. 

[biggiofn7_123]

Never knew about the drop down menu. Ty for the information.

[nhnguye7329]

Thanks for sharing

[dig_in_and_dig]

Really?  Well, that's a relief.  We'll see what happens in the next day or so when I check my stats.

[dig_in_and_dig]

Sometimes it alresdy has tomorrow's date.  It is based on Pacific Time.  We should be able to set our own accounts to reflect our own time zones just like we can set taxes charged for purchases within our own state.  I know that remembering to change the date is not rocket science, but neither is allowing shippers to set cut-off times for their business' shipping based upon their own time zone so they dont need to think about that for each and every package.

[a_c_green]

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@scga912 wrote:

The date on the label isn't counted.

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Yes, that's the key, right there: the date printed on the label doesn't matter. It's the actual first scan by the carrier that counts, as to whether you shipped within your promised handling time. As long as it's within their hands and scanned within your own selected deadline (e.g. one business day, two business days, etc.), you're all good.

[dig_in_and_dig]

I thank you for that information.  BUT, I've been doing exactly this when the dating problem happens.  And my stats have suffered.  Perhaps I need to call eBay and see why my stats have suffered and if there is something else that I might be not doing properly.

[fern*wood]

You would be better off asking here for help.  They usually have no clue how shipping works.

[a_c_green]

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@dig_in_and_dig wrote:

I thank you for that information.  BUT, I've been doing exactly this when the dating problem happens.  And my stats have suffered.

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Okay, you don't have a dating problem, because the ship date that you choose for the label is not what's counted. What matters is that you have your first carrier scan (i.e. an Acceptance scan done by the carrier, thus proving that it's in their possession) within your stated Handling time. eBay will indicate on your Sold Items page when you have to get the purchased item shipped, so your sole goal is to get a carrier scan before the end of that indicated day.

For example, I have a 1-day Handling time, so anything I sold today -- I've had a couple so far -- must be shipped by end of day tomorrow, September 18th. "Shipped" in this context means that the carrier has scanned it by then. Whether I've dated the label for today or tomorrow is not a factor.

[dig_in_and_dig]

Psrt of my problem might be that a customer buys at 1:00 A. M. CST but that is 11:00 PST yesterday.  I apply my one-day rule and ship tomorrow.  But that might be day two as far as eBay is concerned?