delayed shipping

[corysmama]

A buyer has purchased an item from me. She has paid, but wants me to wait until next week to send it as she is fixing to travel and doesnt want it to sit and be at risk of theft. If I wait, wont I be subject to not complying with my 1 day shipping I offer?  please advise.

[orangehound]

You have three choices

1. You can provide bad customer service and go ahead and ship it against your buyer's wishes.
2. You can provide bad customer service and tell the customer that you cannot give them what they want, but that you can cancel the order for them ... if they don't respond, then do #1.
3. You can provide good customer service and delay shipping the item ... to reward you for giving good customer service, eBay will punish you with a shipping defect.   You can call customer service, but the majority of the time they will tell you there is nothing they can do, despite having messages from the seller.  Customer service will tell you that this is the reason that you have margin in your shipping metrics, so as to account for situations like this.

Yep ... that's eBay logic.

(By the way, I do #3).

[lintbrush*]

The two metrics eBay counts towards shipping are

Upload tracking within handling time

On-Time Delivery

With a message from the buyer, eBay will remove the Upload Tracking blemish (which is a 3 month lookback)

They will not remove the On-Time Delivery (which is a 12 month lookback)

Stupid I tell ya.  

On-time delivery can be proven 3 ways - either an acceptance scan within handling, confirmed delivery by estimated date OR the buyer says it was delivered on time.  Maybe your buyer will mark it On Time when they go to leave feedback - if they do.  

I'd honor by the customer's wishes unless you already have on-time shipping issues.  

[flyerfandan999]

I would send the item whenever you need to, to avoid eBay defects. 

All 3 of the major shipping services have a way for the customer to hold their shipments for free.   Suggest that to Buyer.

https://holdmail.usps.com/holdmail/

http://www.fedex.com/us/services/hold_at_location_request_option.html#tab3

https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/value-added/hold-for-pickup.page

[sam9876]

Ship it and tell the buyer to put their mail on hold.

[johnrj1226]

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@sam9876 wrote:

Ship it and tell the buyer to put their mail on hold.

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I agree with you up to a pont.

It would be best to first get an agreement with the buyer then ship the package.  Also, the buyer can place a  hold on mail delivery via usps.com (assuming the shipment will be via USPS*) which is convienent.  Would assume the OPs buyer will be placing all  "other" mail delivery on hold.

*Would think UPS or FedEx shipments  can be placed on hold as well.

[chudamescrochet]

I agree. Tell them that Ebay doesn't allow it and will put a mark against you, otherwise you would be more than happy to. Then ask if they can put a note in their box for the Post Office to hold their mail until they return from their holiday.

[berserkerplanet]

>>Would think UPS or FedEx shipments can be placed on hold as well.

FedEx shipments can be set to hold at a nearby FedEx location, but must be picked up there and within 5 business days. UPS does same but either 7 calendar days or 5 business days depending on which type of UPS location.