eBay

fillmores**flea**market · ‎10-20-2017

I was just going over my dashboard and some concerns about the Late Shipment Rate category. I am shipping the items within the 1 day shipping as stated on my listings. In looking over the items that are hitting on the Late Shipment Rate category all of them are items that were shipped through eBay using the FedEx/USPS SmartPost. I am concerned that I am being "dinged" for the shipping speed of FedEx/USPS, something I have no control over. Is there a way to appeal these items so that they are not held against me? Thanks

fern*wood · ‎10-20-2017

Are you getting acceptance scans within your handling time frame? If so, the packages missing the delivery estimate won't count against you.

fillmores**flea**market · ‎10-23-2017

I just checked the first item that is showing as "late shipment rate". The item was purchased on 9/17 (Sunday), shipping info uploaded 9/18, enroute on 9/19 prior to 6 pm, delivered on 9/26. I am not sure what else I should do. Can I call eBay and have these reviewed? I am still top rated in this category, but these SmartPost transactions are putting me right at the edge. Thanks

jjminca · ‎10-23-2017

I was just on the phone with eBay discussing the exact same issues. According to eBay, they use the first scan as the day the item was shipped. At my local post office, they have been very clear they will not scan when they receive packages. I've even met with the Postmaster about this and her explanation was they were forced to reduce staff and this is a service they will no longer perform. So I am at the mercy of USPS on when that first scan actually shows up - which is not even a requirement of First Class or Priority Mail. But that only addresses part of the issue. The other issue is the delivery date eBay uses - which I suppose comes from USPS. This happens pretty much only on first class mail but the delivery date can be off by even 12 hours and eBay dings performance. It's very frustrating since there is really nothing that can be done....and this the eBay rep even agreed.

duchess-at-speakeasy · ‎10-23-2017

FedEx Smartpost is notoriously slow and is regarded as "economy" service. However, you can improve your odds by specifying a handling time of 2 days or longer even if you physically present the packages to FedEx earlier. Your example suggests that you have 1-day or same-day handling (Monday for orders paid on Sunday) but that the carrier did not receive the package until Tuesday. To meet eBay's standard, you need the carrier scan to occur on Monday. Simply uploading a tracking number on Sunday or Monday will not do it. ~~C~~

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zmoz · ‎10-23-2017

You really shouldn't specify 1 day handling time, you're just setting yourself up for failure. I know this is supposed to attract buyers, but I find most buyers don't pay attention to estimated shipping time at all. I usually ship the same or next day, but I keep my handling time at 10 business days. I notice no difference in sales when I change it. If I'm busy or go out of town, I set it to 30 business days and still usually nobody notices.

Plus, the buyers that do notice the 10 day handling time, and receive a package much sooner than that, are usually thrilled and leave excellent feedback.

partial*eclipse · ‎10-23-2017

@fillmore_crowe wrote:
I just checked the first item that is showing as "late shipment rate". The item was purchased on 9/17 (Sunday), shipping info uploaded 9/18, enroute on 9/19 prior to 6 pm, delivered on 9/26...

There are two different measures of shipping time.

(1) For TRS status, you must upload tracking within your stated handling time, and get a "validation" scan, which can be any scan (even the delivery scan) since its sole purpose is to prove that the scan number isn't fake.

(2) Your "Late shipment rate" is based on actual scans, not on when you upload tracking. You must get a scan within your stated handling time, or get a delivery scan within the estimated delivery dates.

For a package that is paid for on Sunday, if you offer 1-day handling then you must get your acceptance scan on Monday. Your package seems to have gotten into the system on Tuesday; so it was shipped late. It was delivered a full week later, which was probably past the estimated due date (depending on service and destination).

fern*wood · ‎10-24-2017

@fillmore_crowe wrote:
I just checked the first item that is showing as "late shipment rate". The item was purchased on 9/17 (Sunday), shipping info uploaded 9/18, enroute on 9/19 prior to 6 pm, delivered on 9/26. I am not sure what else I should do. Can I call eBay and have these reviewed? I am still top rated in this category, but these SmartPost transactions are putting me right at the edge. Thanks

What is your handling time? Depending on this, there could be more that you can do to avoid the late shipment rate issue, if by enroute means that is when the package is given to the post office.

For example, an item sold on Sunday with one day handling needs to get scanned accepted on Monday in order for missing the delivery date not to be held against you. It isn't enough just to upload the tracking within the handling time, since that only helps to meet one of the shipping metrics.

@fillmores**flea**market