posted on November 17, 2000 04:40:30 PM
Since I have auctions all ending on different days and bidders paying on different days, I've been thinking of telling my bidders that I only ship two days a week (maybe Wednesdays and Saturdays) instead of making that trip almost daily. Does anybody out there do this? Do your customers seem understanding about it? The only other alternative is to charge a small handling fee. The post office is 4 miles away and the cost of gas is high. Not to mention that I start a new full time job in a week and I'd have to start taking lunch hours to do the mailing. I know that customers are anxious about getting their items. Just wondering how others handle it. Thanks for any suggestions.
posted on November 17, 2000 04:43:30 PM
A good friend of mine with a feedback of over 500 did just that. They shipped on Tuesdays and Fridays, and it was noted in their auctions. As long as you say it up front, no one should have reason to complain. I've seen quite a few sellers who only ship once per week as well.
posted on November 17, 2000 05:10:31 PM
I state in all my auctions and EOAs that I ship on saturdays after the payment is received.
I have been selling over a year never a complaint actually most pay with money orders and they like this it gives them more time to get the payment to me.
people who have paid with paypal and billpoint have no trouble with this either so far though if its a small Item I can just package it and put it in the mail box any day in the morning before I get out to work most items ship saturdays only .
this gives me time to package my items get a bunch of items ready all at the same time for the PO with out pressure and rushing also this frees my time weekly for takeing pictures and listing and give us an excuse to go out inventory hunting after the trip to the PO on saturday mornings. http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
posted on November 17, 2000 05:53:17 PM
That would be nice if buyers read but most don't. Since the fast payment systems like PayPal came in. I get paid for an auction one day and in a couple of days they are writing wanting to know if I have shipped.
It CLEARLY states in our "Congratulations" letter that shipping on credit card payments are normally a week after payment, and on mail payments 2 weeks. We handle many large pieces like stain glass windows, tea carts and things which require lots of time to pack. We pack in the order payment is made. But we have seen recently that people are becoming more and more impatient even though we have one girl packing full time, and one part time.
Last Christmas season, we stopped selling on December 11, to avoid any late shipment or unhappy customers.
posted on November 17, 2000 10:37:12 PM
As a buyer, having a seller ship one or two days a week is fine with me, as long as the seller doesn't mind that I send the payment for the auction I won on Sunday the following Saturday, because I only mail payments once a week.
I really ticks me off, when a seller expects payment ASAP, but can't be bothered to ship the same way.
Seriously, I send payment within 24 hours of receiving the EOA notice from the seller. I would expect the same treatment from the seller when my payment clears. (please note, CLEARS, not arrives).
posted on November 17, 2000 10:49:46 PM
I have been selling on ebay for over a year now. I put in all my auctions payment must be made within 2 weeks, therefore I give all my buyers plenty of time to get payment in. I do not say I ship only once a week (they do not need to know that). Yet, I have never had complaints about it, nor have I ever recieved a neg because of it. I live 5 minutes from the PO, but I do not feel like going everyday. It is also much easier shipping out 30 items once a week versus 2-3 items a day. You do not have to mention when you ship as long as you can maintain sending out packages once a week with no mistakes such as forgeting a package or anything like that. You will see that most buyers are prepared to wait for their items and you will see it is easier on you to.
posted on November 18, 2000 12:40:56 AM
I usually ship the day after I recieve payment. Sometimes with online payments I ship the same day. Once in awhile I am out of town for a couple days or work locally for a little shop when they need some help and don't get anything out for two days. Very rarely is there a complaint over the matter of a couple days. The problems are with 2 kinds of people. The ones who send me a payment from some little town in the middle of nowhere and then email me 2 or 3 days latter wanting to know why they don't have the item when there is no way the mail system will get it to me in that time much less get the item back to them. The other is people who do not get their item at all and instead of letting me know in 10 or 12 days wait until they are furious after a month or two and mail a hateful accusation of fraud and
crime. I do not have time to go back and check each delivery confirmation to see if items have arrived. They need to tell me.
posted on November 18, 2000 01:30:12 AM
As a selle, I ship everyday. This is not a problem because I live 3 minutes from the post office. As a buyer I can be patient as long as its stated up front, even in eoa, that shipping is done once a week. I recently purchased a large framed picture. It took longer to get here but that was ok. The extra time showed in the care they took to package.
However, I bought an item from a large company, powerseller, that took a full month to arrive. I paid with a credit card the same day I won the bid! I left positive feedback but noted in it that shipping was delayed.
posted on November 18, 2000 04:07:06 AM
I state that I ship on Tuesdays and Saturdays. I also hold checks until they clear. Yet FB after FB is left for me: "Fast ship!" Nobody's ever complained.
Apparently I get bidders who actually read my TOS/EOA. Bless them.
posted on November 18, 2000 04:19:26 AM
I've always had a lot of difficulty shipping woes! I usually inject them with a tranq; use lots of bubble-wrap & cigarette butts; and then mark the package "Small Packet Airmail Surface Book Rate Non-Fragile Fourth Class Priority" I've unloaded many of my woes this way! Glad I could help!
posted on November 18, 2000 04:50:31 AM
I have no problem with the sellers who plainly state they ship on certain days. My gripe is with the ones who take forever to ship for no apparent reason. I had one person email me they were shipping and after a week went by I emailed them asking if there was a problem. They then said they would ship the next day. A week later they said "sorry for the delay will ship tomorrow." Finally got the item, it took 6 weeks.
posted on November 18, 2000 05:15:45 AM
I only ship one day a week. I clearly state it in my TOS and my WBN.
99% of my customers understand. I've gotten one neutral saying shipping was slow. From someone who wrote a personal check and can't count apparently.
Let's see:
He takes 11 days to get me payment.
I hold check 10 business days.
I ship as promised - UPS ground.
He leaves feedback saying it took a long time for me to ship. (I guess counting to 27 was too hard for him.)
Funny how my credit card payers and MO payers always say I'm great to deal with and ship very fast! I've also accomodated special requests if the person needed the item for a gift, and mailed the item as soon as payment clears.
You ever wonder if these same mental giants complain when they order something from TV and it takes 6-8 weeks to arrive?
posted on November 18, 2000 05:27:02 AM
I ship every day, otherwise I would not be able to carry all the stuff into the Post office! I also work full-time, have two children in daycare, etc, so I understand the concerns about finding time.
I just, personally, feel that one thing I have to offer my customers is fast, attentive customer service and shipping. It shows: my FB is full of comments on fast shipping. If someone pays with an electronic service and gets Priority mail, by God they can tell when I ship it same/next day.
As a buyer, I also notice when my goods are shipped upon receipt of payment, and I leave FB accordingly.
