Ebay showing incorrect delivery date (not accounting for handling time)

[happy_lama_boot_co]

I have noticed that Ebay is not taking into account our handling time when showing the delivery date.

I recently sold an item and had a buyer message me saying Ebay showed she'd have her item by Saturday for an event she's attending. We have 3 day handling for auction items, and the item ended on Tuesday, so we technically wouldn't have to ship until Friday, yet the delivery date was showing as Saturday.

Is there a way to fix this so Ebay shows the correct delivery date based on handling? I feel terrible that she was given the wrong information and now might not have her item for the event she needs it for.

[johnrj1226]

Did you ship the item sooner that your "normal" 3 day handling time?  Maybe you have a  valid reason for a 3  day handling time.  But when I know a buyer  needs something  by a given  date I make an effort to ship  it sooner than  my 1 day handling time meaning same day shipping if even  if it takes  extra effort on my part or  ask for more funds if they want next  day deliver service.

[dtexley3]

Do you typically ship faster than your stated handling time?  eBay uses your AVERAGE handling time when showing estimates rather than your stated handling time.  I could ship in 1 day in the majority of cases, but I don't because I have a 3 day handling time FOR A REASON and I can't have eBay overpromising on my behalf.

[pink.fish.rule]

That's what is so wrong about ebay doing it this way. It should NOT be up to them to decide to ignore a seller's stated handling time, and it should be up to the seller whether they wish to stick to that window or ship earlier if they wish without being unfairly judged because of eBay's guesstimated delivery dates.

[no_zero369]

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@dtexley3 wrote:

Do you typically ship faster than your stated handling time?  eBay uses your AVERAGE handling time when showing estimates rather than your stated handling time.  I could ship in 1 day in the majority of cases, but I don't because I have a 3 day handling time FOR A REASON and I can't have eBay over promising on my behalf.

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Yeah, but don't you think eBay with all of its shipping data in hand isn't smart enough to 'under promise and over deliver?'  I think eBay's shipping estimates are grossly inflated already - meaning L_O_N_G_E_R than reality!   USPS always has a shorter estimated delivery times than what eBay shows to buyers!   So I suspect eBay takes a look at 'normal' shipping times versus seasonality and the ADDS a few days to make up for problems that might occur.  Would make no sense for most eBay packages to be reported with dates that are consistently missed as that would create angry buyers and drive them away from the platform.

But I wonder, does having a long handling time change the estimated delivery date in a positive way for buyers?  Seems like eBay's estimated delivery is based handling times PLUS their experience with shipping times.   { Handling time + Shipping time = Estimated Delivery Date}   So how does adding time to the front of the equation effect the time eBay calculates it takes for a package to go from A to B?  Isn't it going to take the same amount of time to get from A to B even if the handling time is 1-day or 10-days?

So if you could ship in 1 day but choose 3-day won't that will be factored into a longer delivery time that has nothing to do with the Shipping Time part of the estimate?  Then if you assume eBay uses 'average' handling time and one delays a shipment for a few days because you don't want that average dropping, how is that going to help with delivery times? 

For me I keep some track of my shipments and keep buyers informed as part of the customer service I offer.  I communicate after the sale what is eBay's expected delivery date to set 'expectations' for those who don't read listings.   So when it looks like a package is taking a left turn or a 'round the country' tour, I report that to buyers and the steps I am taking to get package on track.   Never had an informed buyer complain about slow delivery and most are highly appreciative of the extra effort!

Just a few thoughts fwiw!