Shut the shop down or extend handling times?

[nostalgiadonut]

Hey all,

The postal delays are becoming a real problem for everyone.  Since December 4th, I probably have about 20 packages in limbo right now.  I'm worried about buyers opening INR cases, eBay forcing refunds, and then having USPS deliver their package after the fact. I've never been in that situation, so I'm not sure how that scenario plays out for the seller.    

What are you guys doing?  Is it better to close up the shop this weekend and reopen after the holidays?  The other idea I had was to add an extended handling time to my listings - I'd still be shipping regularly, but the extended handling time might mitigate those postal delays and prevent buyers from opening INR cases.

How's everyone dealing with less than ideal situation?

[jack_bucks_ghost]

to provide me a bit of a safety net incase this starts happening with my shipments, yesterday i started extending my handling times on new listings and am updating existing ones. my only concern is that the extended handling times will affect my TRS status.

[nobody*s_perfect]

I put my listings on "Time away" last Monday.  A Priority Mail package that was shipped on November 25 got no scans until reaching my post office on December 4.  It's only going to get worse over the next weeks.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

in seller hub, eBay posted an update on this on Dec. 8th under "selling announcements"

I have also been tracking my packages and reaching out to my buyers to give them the best update per USPS site and apologies. 

[luckythewinner]

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@nostalgiadonut wrote:

What are you guys doing?

How's everyone dealing with less than ideal situation?

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I never look at the tracking for a package to see if there might be an issue. 

So I have no idea if my situation is "less than ideal" or not. 

All I know is that I have had no complaints and no disputes, and everything I have ordered has arrived in a reasonable time.

So what I am doing is business as usual. 

[toysaver]

I closed my store until further notice, likely a few days before Christmas.  I don't see it getting better soon.  I have 41 packages in transit limbo, most sitting in hubs for days on end.  I wouldn't be able to sleep if there were any more than that, I'm having nightmares as it is.   With UPS and FedEx busy with the vaccine it will only get worse for the PO.

[donsdetour]

It comes down to:

If you can not afford to refund and or intercept (cost money also): or loss of item and money:

Shut it down for a while.

[bill.purvis2012]

Yes. We also went on vacation until after Christmas. Costing us $$$. But, I have lots of shipments out there in limbo land.  I send messages to the buyers and thank them for understanding. But, it's a mess in the shipping world right now. 

[magsmg101]

I don’t think extending your handling times will do any thing to prevent delayed packages.

The clock/timer starts when you buy the label add tracking info.
That is when the buyer gets the EDD.

I shut down last Thursday and not sure when I shall start again.

@nostalgiadonut 

[calntom]

I am not seeing any difference from 1st Class Package and Priority Package. Both have issues with very late deliveries. Some make it on time.

I am shipping the more expensive items via UPS Ground which has been great thus far. I don't need any disputes on those items. Still taking the chance with 1st Class on the small stuff if the item is under around 40 or 50 dollars.

I had 3 late deliveriesi on the River in the last month and they were all Priority Packages. 1st Class ran smooth, go figure. 

[buyselljack2016]

Extending the "handling time" will have little effect unless you extend it to the point where no one buys.

eBay may still show an estimate based on your "historical" handling/shipping data.

I had just changed my "working" days in site preferences to just M-W-F to try to get away from eBay displaying GD.

Earlier this week I put our accounts on "time away" due to temp internet issues, but after having a look at the status of the past 7-10 days shipments I decided to stay on vacay until the end of Dec, then reevaluate. 

Shipping conditions/actions are not going to improve in the next 2-3 weeks. A couple of INR refunds would make me unhappy. (unhappier) I don't want to be unhappy. 

I already have the $$$ loss of a return that, at this point, after a missent scan, refuses to appear again in the system.  40 miles away 12 days ago.  

May come home some day, may be in the landfill, may have gone back to the buyer. I am hoping it is in a hamper, off to the side, waiting its turn after the more important things. I suppose the packages with RTS stickers on them don't automate as well.

[alouetta725]

I have had more problems the past month then I have had on here in the past 20 years. Packages lost, delayed and damaged. I had extended my handling times 2 months ago and still problems. I have had more problems with buyers then I have ever had. One package came in damaged and was insured, buyer filed with credit card company instead of allowing insurance being filed. This caused a huge mess and after 3 weeks still not settled. Yes, not selling here until after the New Year.  Not worth all of the problems, aggravation and money lost.  And... I can use a vacation! 

[duncanvr]

I had a neg from INR yesterday from one buyer but had to refund him and he did revise it. I think most buyers should know about general postal delays in December and are understanding enough when it comes to delays with Covid. But the odd buyer will lose their cool and open a INR dispute. You may get a couple of cases but the rest of the buyers are all happy to wait so I keep selling right thgrough. I have the slowest shipping time possible on my policy as I ship international some are waiting 6 to 8 weeks for their item from me.  But they know they will receive so no worries, Just message every buyer when you despatch about delays.

[southern*sweet*tea]

I have one day handling, always have. I've kept that since handling times go by historical shipping times, not by the time you specify.  (makes no sense, I know, but it is what it is)

What I did do was edit all of my shipping to flat rate economy. Most of my items ship either Media Mail or First Class Package, so most of my listings specify flat rate economy of $3.50-$4.25. This extends the arrival time out by several days. So far I've not had an issue with it.  If you can do this, it's the way to go. If you have to use calculated shipping it's not going to be possible.

That said, I had three packages that were delayed in the past month. I filled out mail traces for all three. Two were delivered earlier this week, and the last one is out for delivery today. Back in August I had one that disappeared for a month, but I filled out a search form and it was eventually found and delivered.  All of this was done proactively and I've not heard from any of the buyers (yes, I informed them of what was going on) so I guess they are satisfied with the result.

[yuzuha]

I am not doing anything yet. Of the 10 packages that I have shipped since the 7th, 4 of them have already been delivered so far. The buyers who purchase the sort of things I sell tend to be very laid-back about postal delays (I once had one package take a week-long Hawaiian vacation and I didn't hear a single peep of complaint out of the buyer), so I'm really not that concerned.