Shipping overdue notice when store is on vacation

[eqstargazer]

This is my first time posting a question so please forgive any clumsiness. My store is relatively small, by eBay standards, but it's doing well. I travel regularly, up to two weeks at a time, and I put up a vacation notice (with clear information about away dates, will ship as soon as I return, etc.) whenever I'm away. Still, some buyers make purchases. When one does, I send a message to them as soon as possible that repeats the away message, along with a pledge to ship their item as soon as I'm back in the office. So far, that's worked fine and I've had no complaints. Lately, I'm seeing blazing red "shipping overdue" alerts in my "awaiting shipment" list. I am concerned that eBay will mess with my (so far) good ratings because of some inflexible algorithm. There's no way (that I can find) to explain the situation to eBay, no way it recognizes that my customers are fine with waiting. The only other sensible solution (according to eBay) is to close my store while I'm away, but they caution against that. So I'm feeling backed into a corner here. Any advice?

[1tuna]

I think you may need to make your items unavailable,I also go away 8-9 times a year.I put my store on vacation but you also need to mak your item unavailable to see,if people are bidding while you are away you have some sort of problem,your items should not be availbe to even see when you are away.

[the_fancy_fox]

You will get dinged for a late shipment. When I go away I put my store in vacation mode AND hide the listings. 

If it you don't want to hide them you can revise them to a longer handling time but then they won't counts towards your TRS status.

[eqstargazer]

Thanks for the comments. I don't have anything up for auction, so there's no time-dependent element in that respect. But I will take under consideration the advice simply to "disappear" the shop while I'm away.

[thatsallfolks]

eBay's "inflexible" algorithm is simply using the handling time stated in your listing. You can adjust that, or hide your listings to prevent purchases.

[missjen831]

You can't just put up an away notice. You have to hide your listings BUT if someone has your item on their watch list they can still buy the item. I don't think ebay fixed that lopphole.

[lintbrush*]

As you've learned - even if you are away and a listing sells, you are still expected to honor the handling time in the listing.

If you're going away for 2 weeks at a time, then it is best to hide your fixed priced listings so no one can buy them.

If you're going away for 2-3 days, you can leave them available but you should [bulk edit] change your handling times so you'll be compliant as far as eBay is concerned.

"On-time shipping" and "tracking upload/scan event" issues will hurt your seller standing if you're a Top Rated Seller.  If not, it won't drop you to below average, but eBay can impose restrictions on your handling times in future listings if they think you're not meeting them.