message to buyer?

[evry1nositswindy]

I was just printing a shipping label.  The option to add a message to buyer is missing.  Has anyone else noticed that?  What a terrible idea.  I will always let that buyer know that the label I am printing at midnight will be shipped the following day.

Additional Options

Additional Options

Require Signature at delivery ($3.25)

Add additional liability coverage (from $1.70)

Display postage value on label

Add custom text on label

[mtgraves7984]

@evry1nositswindy 

Yep. Others have noticed. It's gone.

Add a message in the dispatch confirmation email. - The eBay Community

[ms.rodriguez*]

I only message buyers with 10 feedbacks or less. Otherwise, most of them know that you are going to ship very soon if not on the day that they get the message.  Anyway, this is another useless , bonehead ebay update that nobody needed or wanted.  

When I message my buyers ,  I just click their ebay name and message that way. Often I do it before I print the label and I tell them that the tracking # will be sent soon.   Do not go nuts over this change.

[evry1nositswindy]

I don't want to message my buyers @ms.rodriguez* .  I want the message to be in the shipment message they receive from eBay.  Obviously you haven't seen all the posts about buyers fussing about getting a 'your item shipped' message at an odd hour and they know it hasn't "shipped".  I always clarify that on the message from eBay.  Has worked for me for 10 years.  I'm not about to start messaging buyers needlessly. 

[evry1nositswindy]

@mtgraves7984  That thread you sent me to in your first reply is exactly 1 year old to the day.  Weird coincidence?

[oldtoolbarn]

I always use this option as courtesy to the buyer, thanking them for their purchase, and many other things that they may need/want to know. I was disappointed to see the option gone, as now I will have to email buyers with pertinent information. Good job, and Keep up the great work!

[tefka]

I had the option to leave a message with dispatch on Sunday, today it's gone. I rarely post here but wanted to voice my displeasure about this change!

I used it on every shipment that I buy with ebay labels. I thank the buyer, inform buyer if their package is shipping out today or tomorrow, ask them to contact me with questions or problems, and end with I hope you will follow my store. I realize that not everyone sees it, but those that do appreciate it. I recently took over another ebay store with more listings than my store;  after a month I had increased feedback and followers. 

Does anyone know the most effective way to register dissatisfaction with ebay about this change? 

[awesomepossums-80]

I totally agree I have been doing it this way for years and I believe it is one way of staying authentic and true to customers by sending them a personalized message.

[bodycode]

My guess ebay saves money by removing that option, or sellers are sending messages not related to the item being shipped, possibly links to other sites?  Either way, it seems like another level of control over sellers and the buyer's experience.  I've always thought adding a note saying thanks again or if there's any problem please contact me, made sense, just being polite and thanking our customers was a good thing. 

[msl615]

I also have used this option for many years, as a courtesy to the buyer. Thanking them and telling them I am taking the package to the post office later today, etc.  Many reply with a "Thank  you for the update", etc. 

This week, I thought I was missing this option on sales because I forgot to check some "option" box....but thanks to this thread, I see that this was a change in the eBay platform.  That is too bad, many of my buyers appreciated the note. 

[creativecrisis]

I paged devon@ebay on a different thread related to this question. He's checking to see whether the change is intentional or a glitch, and we should get an update.

[fredly260]

I have used this for each and every customer order for the past 7 years!  The Juneteenth National Holiday was an excellent example of how valuable this feature WAS.  Anytime I printed orders on a USPS Holiday where they were closed, I would remind the customer in their shipping dispatch message of this fact so they did not get concerned that there was no tracking showing for the next 36 hours.

Why would this be removed??????  This feature allowed us to go beyond the normal, go the extra mile and provide some additional customer service!  Also prevent unnecessary mistunderstanding about when their order would actually be shipping from the carrier.

[creativecrisis]

Totally agree.

According to devon@ebay , the feature was removed intentionally. No reason given.

[evry1nositswindy]

@creativecrisis That is eBay speak for "don't fix what is broken and break what is fixed!"

[dmredd]

Yes, I noticed it missing as well.  I always send a custom message just letting the buyer know it is shipping and that if there is anything wrong to contact me once they receive it and a courtesy thank you.  I contacted ebay support and they said they weren't aware of it but, they would report it to the tech department.  I sorta took that as "oh ok, its missing, well we don't care".  I hope not because that was a nice quick easy way to keep in touch with the buyers.