eBay

themath_64 · ‎06-15-2022

Hey all. Got a question for more experienced ebayers how this happens.

Bought an item June 8 because at the time the delivery estimate was June 13 to June 16. It was "shipped" (I use quotes because generating a tracking number is not equal to shipped) the same day. No tracking updates for 4 days until the 12th when it gives a "picked up by ship partner usps waiting for item." Today (15th) 3 scans of USPS accepting the parcel and being processed through a facility. The thing is sometime in the last 24 hours the delivery estimate on ebay changed from June 16 to June 21.

My questions:

1a) Why did the delivery estimate change from when I originally purchased it? I bought based on that expected delivery date.

1b) Was this something the seller did, or is it ebay?

2) Does this mean now I can't open an Item Not Received dispute until the 22nd?

3) Is there any point in contacting the seller? Again, I made the buy (and paid more versus other sellers and platforms) because of the prompt delivery estimate.

This is related to my "fake USA stock" post I made. Glad I didn't want to chance non delivery and bought duplicate stuff from another seller (that REALLY is in the USA with REAL USA stock) on the 11th and it arrived today. It's frustrating to me because the "fake USA stock" seller posts things in their ad things that give a sense they send things out very promptly ("Orders will be processed instantly and dispatched in 1-2 business day normally, so we do NOT accept any Email/ Message note before or after you place orders") yet now its going to take 2 weeks to arrive from supposed USA stock? Sorry, but if you really send it out in 1-2 business days, that means it was "shipped" on the 10th. Nowhere from the US is it 12 days to get to me.

As an aside, if I were to buy the same item today the delivery estimate is June 20-23, the same time window I have now from something I ordered on the 8th.

Anyway, if anyone with more experience with ebay can answer my questions I'd appreciate it.

completepuzzle · ‎06-15-2022

Nothing to help you, really, except to say that this happens to me on nearly every order just as you have described. It is effectively lying, and ebay is of course at the center of it.

themath_64 · ‎06-15-2022

@completepuzzle wrote:
Nothing to help you, really, except to say that this happens to me on nearly every order just as you have described. It is effectively lying, and ebay is of course at the center of it.

I've actually had fairly good luck avoiding this after being burned a few times. I go through a checklist of things (seller's location, real image instead of stock image with "USA STOCK" photoshopped in a corner, negative feedback check, etc), but this time since the delivery estimate was so soon I took a chance. This is the last time I'm going to. If I even suspect its a drop ship, I'll pass.

I just don't understand how the estimated delivery can change so much unless the definition of "shipped" can change to suit the seller mid transaction.

pennpicker · ‎06-15-2022

Ignore eBay's estimated delivery as it is updated every day. It is provided as an estimate when considering a purchase.

Refer to eBay's ORDER UPDATE message for your estimated date of delivery.

themath_64 · ‎06-15-2022

@pennpicker wrote:
Ignore eBay's estimated delivery as it is updated every day. It is provided as an estimate when considering a purchase.

Refer to eBay's ORDER UPDATE message for your estimated date of delivery.

So using estimated delivery dates when trying to buy an item is meaningless? Why even list it then?

And yes, I got an order update message after checking my email about 2 hours ago moving the estimated delivery from the 16th (where it had been since it was "shipped") to the 21st. So less than 24 hours away from the expected delivery date ebay decides "nah, you're gonna wait until next week." Not that I'm surprised since AFAIC its a fake "usa stock" seller, but still.

pennpicker · ‎06-15-2022

Unfortunately, yes. Totally agree with where you're coming from.

pjcdn2005 · ‎06-17-2022

The estimated delivery date that you were given the day you made the purchase is the one that eBay uses for when you can make a claim. The update you were given may be when usps expects to make the delivery, but that is not the date eBay uses for opening a claim.

soh.maryl · ‎06-17-2022

In your Purchase History, return to the item in question. Look at the estimated delivery date.

That is the last estimated delivery date. Since that date was June 16th, according to your information here, you can open an item not received case today, the 17th, 24 hours after that last estimated delivery date. However, give the current situation with USPS, I would wait just a day or two longer. You have 30 days past that June 16th date to open an item not received case with eBay.

If you have not read the Money Back Guarantee, now would be the time.

Also, don't see how the other separate issue you mentioned has any relevance to this one. Again, the MBG states that a buyer CAN open an INR case after 24 hours past the original estimated delivery date seen in the listing.

soh.maryl · ‎06-17-2022

What we are saying here is that the date you see when you place the order IS the estimated delivery date per eBay. When you look at the item again as if you were buying it today, it shows the EDD as if you were buying it today, not the EDD when you actually made the purchase.

lacemaker3 · ‎06-17-2022

@themath_64 wrote:
@completepuzzle wrote:
Nothing to help you, really, except to say that this happens to me on nearly every order just as you have described. It is effectively lying, and ebay is of course at the center of it.
...

I just don't understand how the estimated delivery can change so much unless the definition of "shipped" can change to suit the seller mid transaction.

@themath_64, as others have said already, it is the original estimate that you were shown when you made the purchase that eBay uses to determine if a delivery is "late". So the seller is held to that estimate.

That is the estimate that eBay first shows in your purchase history, until the package is received by the USPS. Once the USPS receives that package, they put their own delivery estimate on it, based on their own delivery processes.

If the USPS delivery date is different from the eBay estimate then eBay will show you the updated delivery date because it is going to be more accurate. So that way you get a more accurate estimate of the delivery date, which will be updated if delays occur along the way, or if the shipment goes more quickly than first estimated. But, eBay does hold the seller to the original estimate, and you can start an INR case once the original estimate has passed.

You wanted to know how the estimated delivery could change so much; this is the best explanation for what you have experienced.

This is based on my own experiences with deliveries over the past few years, when many deliveries were delayed because of COVID. This was confirmed with USPS deliveries, but since the other major couriers (FedEx, UPS) also provide updated delivery estimates along the route, it is probably the same for them as well.

When a USPS package tracking shows something about a "shipping partner", that means that another courier was handling the first part of the delivery, and then it is given over to the USPS for final delivery. Often, the USPS may only receive the package the day before it is delivered, so sometimes the tracking will show they received it, and then it goes out for delivery within a few hours.

I have also experienced this with packages that were entirely shipped within the USA; for example, "Smart Post" packages are shipped by FedEx or UPS, to a USPS hub about 10 miles away, then delivered by the USPS carrier. It's not just with packages from China.

I am still watching the tracking for one package that was supposedly "picked up by the shipping partner" on May 18 (a month ago) but was never received by the USPS. The seller refunded me immediately after I opened an INR case a couple of weeks ago. I did give them a few days after the estimated delivery date, but they didn't respond, just refunded.

titipeo · ‎06-17-2022

Where you given a tracking label after payment? I ask because from what I read in ur message, u purchased on the 8th, and then on the 12th u have a "picked up by ship partner usps waiting for item." What happened between 8-11th? Did you at least knew that tracking #, or does seller has a longer processing time.

themath_64 · ‎06-17-2022

@lacemaker3 wrote:
@themath_64 wrote:
@completepuzzle wrote:
Nothing to help you, really, except to say that this happens to me on nearly every order just as you have described. It is effectively lying, and ebay is of course at the center of it.
...

I just don't understand how the estimated delivery can change so much unless the definition of "shipped" can change to suit the seller mid transaction.

@themath_64, as others have said already, it is the original estimate that you were shown when you made the purchase that eBay uses to determine if a delivery is "late". So the seller is held to that estimate.

That is good to know. I'm tempted to open a dispute.

themath_64 · ‎06-17-2022

@titipeo wrote:
Where you given a tracking label after payment? I ask because from what I read in ur message, u purchased on the 8th, and then on the 12th u have a "picked up by ship partner usps waiting for item." What happened between 8-11th? Did you at least knew that tracking #, or does seller has a longer processing time.

Here is the tracking history in a nutshell:

Jun 8 - Label generated

Jun 12 - "PICK UP BY SHIP PTNR USPS AWAITS ITEM"

Jun 12-13 - scans about the ship partner moving the item

Jun 15 - transferred to postal service and accept scan

Jun 15-16 - "PROCESSED THROUGH USPS FACILITY LOS ANGELES CA DISTRIBUTION CEN, 90052"

That above scan is shown six times between Jun 15 and Jun 16. This item was supposedly on the east coast, and I do not live in California

Original expected date was 16th, but when USPS received it on the 15th the delivery estimate changed. Because of a previous reply I may contact seller before opening dispute. The only difference between using this seller and getting it from China is now only about a week but I paid 3x what I would have paid from China because I expected the prompt delivery.

titipeo · ‎06-17-2022

Man, sucks, even using locally has no guarantee a faster turn around.

stainlessenginecovers · ‎06-17-2022

Sadly, the word 'estimated' is just that- estimated, which is just a 'guess'.

I have 5 handing days on all my listings yet when I changed from a 'shipped cost' to 'free shipping', the listings were saying FREE 4 DAY SHIPPING with a 'estimated' delivery date of 6/16 to 6/19 (shown on 6/13). On 6/13, items won't even ship out, from me, until 6/20; so not possible for even my next door neighbor to get it on the 16-19.