Conflicting information between USPS and eBay on Delivery

[glasser]

Is it any wonder that buyers ( and sellers too) are confused about when they might get an item?

Below is tracking information just plucked from eBay and USPS. eBay (the top one) says delivery between 18-22 is what is shown to buyer. USPS says the 18th.  Is this eBay's futile attempt to compensate for bad USPS service? Could seeing the 18-22nd turn some buyers off who want the item earlier and are confused as to why 3 day priority might actually take more than a week? We are already seeing quite a few posts where buyers are upset by delivery times.

This can make a seller look bad if they have charged for priority mail.. Just to be clear this what is shown after I have purchased the label and the PO is in possession ( not in a listing adding handling time). 

Why is eBay independently changing expected delivery? What is their estimate even based on???

[yuzuha]

I'm honestly not seeing why this is a problem. I would much, MUCH rather that eBay give a broader delivery date range because then there's less of a chance of a buyer having a hissy when their package doesn't show up on the 18th if eBay is saying it will arrive between the 18th and the 22nd. Frankly, I think the idea of giving a specific estimated delivery date is a bad idea to begin with. Even the USPS itself does not guarantee delivery on a certain date for any class of mail other than Priority Mail Express. Better to underpromise and overdeliver than the other way around.

[house*of*paws]

Hi @glasser 

The estimated delivery dates are shown in the listing ... before anyone has purchased the item.  It is based on the seller's handling time and shipping method.

The USPS expected delivery time is estimated after the item has shipped.  There's no reason why the two should be exactly the same.

I frequently see discrepancies in estimated delivery dates on other selling venues ... when compared to tracking info on the USPS, UPS, or FedEx sites.  This is not something unique to eBay.

[buyselljack2016]

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@house*of*paws wrote:

Hi @glasser 

The estimated delivery dates are shown in the listing ... before anyone has purchased the item.  It is based on the seller's handling time and shipping method.

The USPS expected delivery time is estimated after the item has shipped.  There's no reason why the two should be exactly the same.

I frequently see discrepancies in estimated delivery dates on other selling venues ... when compared to tracking info on the USPS, UPS, or FedEx sites.  This is not something unique to eBay.

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To add to this......  the USPS "estimated delivery" changes once the item is scanned "out for delivery" (and maybe also when arrive at unit.

I have had USPS showing an "estimated delivery" date that is past due (such as showing the 8th 3-4 days later), and then showing the day of delivery as the estimate after getting the scan at the buyers location.

[yuzuha]

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@buyselljack2016 wrote:

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To add to this......  the USPS "estimated delivery" changes once the item is scanned "out for delivery" (and maybe also when arrive at unit.

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Yes, I had one the other day (being delivered to me) that didn't show an estimated delivery date on the USPS site at ALL until it reached my local post office, and then and only then did it update to show the delivery date as being the next day.

[glasser]

@house*of*paws The dates I showed were AFTER the PO had accepted the item not including my handling time.

[glasser]

@yuzuha I think the problem is buyer confusion.  I bought priority 3 day shipping but now eBay says it will be seven days. The PO says 3? What happens when the item is late beyond PO expected delivery and you have to wait till eBay anticipated date to make a claim?

I can see having a cushion especially right now as the holidays are near. However, having different information is source of confusion.

[house*of*paws]

@glasser 

But I think that the 'range' of dates is consistent with the 'range shown in the listing'.  [I'm not sure why some listings show a single date ... while others show a range of dates.]

My main point is that I frequently see a discrepancy between the selling venue's dates and those on the shipping company's website.  The latter is always more reliable in my experience. 

I'm a buyer only ... and I track my packages religiously so that they are not sitting outside attracting porch pirates.  On some of my 3rd-party Amazon purchases ... it doesn't seem like Amazon even knows when the item has been delivered.  This is especially true when shipped from overseas. 

I guess I just don't get concerned by the discrepancy any more... but I do understand your concern about some eBay buyers being confused.

[simba6]

It's always been like that. The eBay time is always a bit longer. I suppose it's to keep the buyers from getting yippy if the package is delayed.  I found the shipper's info is always the most accurate.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@glasser wrote:

@yuzuha I think the problem is buyer confusion.  ... having different information is source of confusion.

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Well, eBay and USPS are using "different information" when making their delivery projections.

eBay uses in-house historical data.  USPS uses their own historical data, plus they have access to information about current transportation options which eBay can only guess at.  Seems to me that eBay is building in a margin based on recent significant shipping delays attributed to transit issues as well as possible delays due to seasonal increased shipping volume.  Remember what the word "estimate" means.