Sold while on vacation, suggestions?

[barclbil]

We are new to ebay and our 3rd item sold faster than we expected.  It sold on Sunday (today is Monday), and we are away on vacation until Friday.  We found posts that describe how to deal with this in advance, which we can use in the future.  Any suggestions about the best way to handle the current sale and maintain good seller ratings?

[charity_scents]

How many days of handling time do you have selected? If it covers the time you are gone, then no problem. 
If it does not cover your vacation then message the buyer, explain that you are away and forgot to change your handling time before your departure. Let them know what date the package would be sent (asap after return). If that causes them a problem, you'll be glad to honor a cancellation request and immediately make a full refund. Make sure to apologize for the inconvenience. 

[barclbil]

Thanks so much for you reply, super helpful!

[candiesduds]

So you have a store subscription and placed it on vacation mode? If you are a TRS+ seller you would want to chose to hide your listings while you are away. If you are not then simply changing your handling time will prevent any shipping defects against your metrics for shipping. The buyer can see you are on vacation when they placed the order but I would message them and say you will ship their package on x date just as a courtesy.

[johnrj1226]

@candiesduds 

1.  The OP doesn't  ahve a eBay store subscription.

2.  The OP has sol 3 item as they stated.

3.  The OP has ben a eBay member since  12.29.2014.  They ain't  a regular seller for  certain.

4.  The OP  maybe  be between a rock & a hard place.  Ignorance of  the EBay policy is not an excuse for not  knowing.  Like getting a speeding ticket you will be fined.

5.  His only hope is that the buyer requests a  cancellation like another poster advised and he responses in a timely manner

6.  In the future a  non store subscriber, like me, buyer should do one of two things-

a.  extend their handling time to  cover a little more than the time they  will be away.

b.  end all listings and relist when you get  back - this way you won't be bothered with any potential questions  while your away & cannot  answer because  the item  is at  home -- like size  or  a prospective buyer  wants another picture.  This is what I do & i can enjoy my being away from home time. 

To  side track a bit , am retired and  like to go  have some fun someplace like a nice  casino - my dermatologist strongly suggest I stay out of the  sun and if I go out to  just get  the  daily mail (65 steps one way) I must w/ a brimmed with no holes  hat (I have never been  a " I like  a hat person" even the ones on the  ladies at the Kentucky  Derby but I am now),  wrap around sun glasses ( there goes my fav  Ray-Ban aviators - these are  like me almost vintage) and sun block from head to  toe - 30+ SPF  rated - (that stuff just makes me sweat really bad).   See in the last year   have acquired 63 stitches from  removal of  5 basil cells & one melanoma  - I may qualified to be in another remake  of Frankenstein the movie - but dang  there goes  my thoughts  of a nice trip to the Sandals - what  the heck  can't dance until until a quarter of three any more  -  a line from a  1961 by Gary US Bonds song "Quarter To Three"  was  17 then. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoopfp5iaKw

Heck Life Is Still Good.