eBay

czjoric_gwqyyt4hv · ‎09-13-2020

On September 4, 2020 I made a "Buy it Now" purchase of an item (camera lens) that was also up for auction (originally due to end a few days later). I received confirmation of winning the bid and the listing showed the auction had ended. I immediately paid for the item via PayPal and received confirmation from PayPal of the payment and confirmed funds had been transferred from my PayPal account. At that time the ebay listing indicated an Estimated Delivery of "Sat, Sep 12 - Mon, Sep 21". Now before anyone jumps the gun here I am not complaining that the item has not arrived or even been shipped yet!. My concern is that up until September 10 or 11 when I viewed the "original listing" it still indicated an Estimated Delivery of "Sat, Sep 12 - Mon, Sep 21" but today (Sun, Sep 13) when I viewed the "original listing" the Estimated Delivery now says "within 4 to 9 business days" which now changes the estimate delivery date to Thu, Sep 17 - Thu, Sep 24 (not a big change but it is a change). So I checked my original email confirmation of winning the bid just to be sure I saw what I thought I saw and sure enough it confirmed the Estimated Delivery of "Sat, Sep 12 - Mon, Sep 21". But this should not be (or should it). The "new" delivery estimate is certainly close to within the original estimated delivery times and again it is not that item has not arrived or even shows as being shipped is the issue here - only that viewing the "original listing" doesn't exactly do that. So having done a bit of research through old Ebay Community discussions I have learned quite a bit.

1. There are several comments from buyers stating that they have seen or heard of delivery estimates changing after a purchase was made but with no proof (I have proof that this occurs or at least has occurred one time).

2. Most everyone in previous discussions agree that it is Ebay, not the seller, who makes the changes.

3. Some also state that it is Ebay alone that sets the original estimated delivery although I can't see how they can do that in a vacuum or without any parameters from the seller.

4. Actual shipping/tracking information is not required of the seller so it is entirely possible that an item has been shipped but with no update of such through Ebay. Apparently there is fee to the seller associated with this feature which is fine to skip but the seller should advise the buyer when an item has been shipped or at least respond to a message asking if/when it has/will be shipped (slightly off topic but the seller already has my $200 and a little info would be appreciated). While not having made a tremendous number of purchases via Ebay, I have never made a purchase where the seller did not provide shipping/tracking updates. It's really for their own protection to do so.

5. In defense of Ebay making the estimated delivery change it is possible (I have no substantiating knowledge) that the change came as an automatic response to the earliest original delivery date having passed (yesterday) and no update provided by the seller on if/when the item had/will be shipped. Nice "feature" but confusing to the buyer as you are no longer looking at the "original listing". Might be better to either indicate it is an "Updated Delivery Estimate" and/or sending an automatic email to the buyer advising of the change.

6. While there are virtually an unlimited number of reasons for delaying or extended delivery time - especially these days - a little information (free except for the couple minutes it takes to do so) via Ebay's messaging system might go a long way in how the buyer views the seller's responsiveness which, at least in my book, would be a positive towards rating/review/feedback.

7. General consensus among contributors to related topics, to which I agree, seems to be to not hold it against the seller for long delivery times or changed delivery times without knowing the circumstances causing these. I am sure there are some (hopefully not many) unscrupulous sellers out there that deserve a poor feedback rating (or worse) but I suspect in most cases there are valid (or at least acceptable) reasons and everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.

So, while I wait for my item to arrive or at least get an update on the shipping/tracking, hopefully, these few tidbits will help or illicit a few comments.

otow_18 · ‎09-13-2020

@czjoric_gwqyyt4hv wrote:
At that time the ebay listing indicated an Estimated Delivery of "Sat, Sep 12 - Mon, Sep 21".

when I viewed the "original listing" it still indicated an Estimated Delivery of "Sat, Sep 12 - Mon, Sep 21"

but today (Sun, Sep 13) when I viewed the "original listing" the Estimated Delivery now says

And that will change every new day you look at the original listing.

Instead, the estimated delivery dates here will not change.

czjoric_gwqyyt4hv · ‎09-13-2020

Advertising your sales or stores is not an acceptable use of this forum - continuing to do so will result in a complaint and possibly removal of your privilege to sell on Ebay. This is the second Ebay Community Topic that I have found your illegal posting just today.

czjoric_gwqyyt4hv · ‎09-13-2020

Thanks for the reply. Any idea why Ebay keeps changing the date presumably without any input from the seller?

mtgraves7984 · ‎09-13-2020

@czjoric_gwqyyt4hv wrote:
Advertising your sales or stores is not an acceptable use of this forum - continuing to do so will result in a complaint and possibly removal of your privilege to sell on Ebay. This is the second Ebay Community Topic that I have found your illegal posting just today.

@niko544

Not to mention advertising fake Versace. Bahahaaahaaaa

disneyshopper · ‎09-13-2020

ebay will always display the estimated delivery date as if you were to purchase that item TODAY. That is why the date keeps changing every time you look at the listing.

The date you should be concerned with is the date in your Purchase History.

disneyshopper
Volunteer Community Member

czjoric_gwqyyt4hv · ‎09-13-2020

Ok, got it, thanks - but what does Ebay base the estimates on? As a buyer I would think the original estimated delivery date (or time frame) should be accurate and not in need of updating by Ebay - are they just trying to make it look like delivery dates that go beyond the original are still "on time"? Complaints about not receiving an item (accepted on day after latest estimated delivery date) are based on the original estimated delivery date not the changed date (or it better be otherwise there could be no end if Ebay keeps changing it) so why bother other than maybe to confuse the buyer into thinking a "late" delivery is still within the delivery estimate. Seems shady to me - if a listing with an estimated delivery date should be expected to stick to the date (or if there is a good reason to adjust it then should include an explanation to the buyer. Up until this purchase (and could still be for this purchase as there is still over a week until the original latest estimated delivery date has passed) every purchase I have made through Ebay (while only about 20 or so) have arrived on or before the original estimated delivery date. No worries, I have faith in the seller who in this case has 60+ favorable feed-backs he/she has posted to sellers of products he/she has purchased and a great many of them include a comment praising the fast delivery of the item - hopefully, he/she will show the same promptness towards his/her buyer (although a full week after the auction ended there is no indication the item has shipped nor has he/she responded to a friendly message asking for an update on when it will be shipped).