Why do the estimated delivery dates keep changing

[richard1rst]

I have noticed in several threads that a poster will occasionally ask why the estimated delivery date changes between the time the item is sold and the time the label is created.

 I don’t know but I think I can offer one possibility.

I have noticed over the years that middle and upper middle management types thrive on written reports. I can imagine that each post master or site manager is required to submit regular reports on things such as:

Equipment breakdown or shortages

Labor shortages

How many people are in the lobby versus how many clerk stations are open (a judgment on the efficiency of that individual post office)

and who knows what else.

All of these reports are no doubt dumped into a giant maw leading to a super computer buried who knows where.

The computer assimilates all this information and when asked for an estimated delivery date considers the likely route from point A to point B. It notes that none of the facilities in that transfer route are suffering from any of the above problems so it quotes a fairly standard delivery time.

As new reports come in with additional information possibly affecting the computer's opinion of any particular stations efficiency or lack thereof the dates are adjusted.

A few days later when the label is created it notes that one or more of the above problems has affected one or more of the likely transfer points. Then, maybe, it considers the weather conditions. Is any station in the path of an approaching  hurricane, tornado, blizzard, Nor'easter, swarm of locusts? If so it adds a few extra days to be on the safe side.

I’ll admit I have no way of knowing this. Just riffing. Accept it or not as a possibility. I don’t care.

[bonanza125]

We can't give you a solid answer as to why a delivery date changes other than the stuff you have already pointed out. 

[richard1rst]

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@bonanza125 wrote:

We can't give you a solid answer as to why a delivery date changes other than the stuff you have already pointed out. 

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Essentially, because neither the post office nor eBay can or will  do it.

[babyers88]

Because it's an estimate, no guarantee

even if it's a red tag over night by early am

all shipping options have a disclaimer, just like Insurance

[wastingtime101 · Accepted solution]

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@richard1rst wrote:

I have noticed in several threads that a poster will occasionally ask why the estimated delivery date changes between the time the item is sold and the time the label is created.

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1. eBay underestimates the short end of the EDD. It's not even close to realistic. eBay will show a range like Oct 30 - Nov 3, then when the label is generated and the carrier scans the package the estimate is updated with info direct from the carrier to Nov 3. That date is what appears on the tracking pop up.

2. The estimated date from the carrier can shift while the package is in transit. Again, that date is what appears on the tracking pop up.

3. Clueless buyers looking at the listing instead of their order details. When you look at the listing it shows you the EDD as if you were to make the purchase today. It's not fixed; it's dynamic. It will not show you the EDD based on 4 days ago when they bought the item.

4. The original EDD window (above example: Oct 30 - Nov 3) is fixed and does not change. This is on the order details page or the buyer's order confirmation email. This is what eBay goes by when deciding whether the buyer can file an INR.

Hope that sums it up well enough.

[richard1rst]

Somehow I just knew you would have a lot more to add.

Thank you.