carolinetyler
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posted on August 27, 2005 05:53:21 PM new
How long does it take you to ship an item out once you receive payment?
I usually get them out within 1-5 days. I have a few that are larger packing jobs that may run in to the 7 day range. Anything longer than that and I notify the customer and let them know of the delay.
I also send a shipment notification to them when their package goes out.
Do you think that's too long a turnaround time? I don't state it in my auctions. I just received a snotty email from a customer today (Saturday) about an auction that ended 6 days ago and was paid for the same day.
Just curious if that seems too long...
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 Caroline
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vintagepostcardsdotorg
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posted on August 27, 2005 05:57:01 PM new
me personally, i would have shipped it within a day or two. i think there's a sense of excitement and anticipation on the part of the customer and since i want repeat buyers, i ship very quickly - normally within 24 hours. if i buy on amazon, bestbuy, etc., i pretty much expect - and they do this - fast shipping.
just my $0.02 worth 
http://stores.ebay.com/postcards-postcards?refid=store
http://www.vintagepostcards.org
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sparkz
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posted on August 27, 2005 06:09:12 PM new
As soon as an item sells, I pack it the next day. If it's a difficult item to pack, I usually pack it when the first bid comes in. I go to FedEx on Mon, Wed, and Friday. Their item goes out on the first FedEx run after payment is received. The same applies to the rare Priority Mail shipments I make, as there is a branch post office en route to FedEx where I seldom have to wait in line.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
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minniestuff
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posted on August 27, 2005 06:11:17 PM new
I usually ship the next business day after receiving payment. I have everything boxed, weighed and ready to input the information into Ebay or Paypal's USPS shipping center to print labels with the postage. The next day I make the treck to the Post Office.
I would probably be upset if the seller waited 7 days to ship after I paid for an item using Paypal. Just my opinion.
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max40
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posted on August 27, 2005 06:30:16 PM new
The only sold items that I don't ship next day are the one's paid by personal check. They get to wait 7-10 days, and are shipped when I have to go to the post office anyway.
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carolinetyler
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posted on August 27, 2005 06:37:04 PM new
So that is too long. I think part of the reason I don't ship quicker is that I offer and encourage multiple purchases for combined shipment, so I wait until after the sale ends and I see a payment to package so I don't have to repack anything.
I may need to put another process in place to get things out quicker.
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Caroline
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cblev65252
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posted on August 27, 2005 06:47:39 PM new
I ship everyday except Sundays and holidays. If they pay on a Friday, it goes out on Saturday. Since I print my own postage and my packages are picked up from my front porch, why not? It gets the package out of my already over crowded office!!
Cheryl
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birgittaw
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posted on August 27, 2005 07:22:09 PM new
The key is communication. Not sure I understand why it would take 7 days to ship -- are you looking for a box, wrap, or what? And do you let your buyer who paid immediately know when you're planning to ship? A note would go a long way, don't you think?
I had a recent purchase that took 2 weeks to ship. BUT the seller explained he was waiting for other items' payments so that the 90 mile trip to FedEx could be made once. I had no problem with that -- but he told me and didn't leave things up in the air.
B/
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pmelcher
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posted on August 27, 2005 07:27:00 PM new
I pack and weigh everything as I list it, so when payment comes in the box can be closed (or the items taken out and put in a larger box for multiple purchases) and mail the same day or the next business day. Yes, I do have to unpack things that don't sell after a couple of tries but I still find it easier than packing later. Also, I have way less chance of losing the piece in my 'inventory room' or breaking it. People seem to like getting their things fast.
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mingotree
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posted on August 27, 2005 08:11:26 PM new
I ship within 24 hours of receiving payment and my customers seem to like fast shipping!
I appreciate it , too, especially if I pay right away....5 day wait...tooo long, and no good reason..
I once paid Priority for something I bought(and immediately paid for) and the seller didn't ship it for 2 weeks!!!
Worse, she didn't understand why I complained!!!
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toasted36
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posted on August 27, 2005 08:20:55 PM new
If they pay before 2:00 the same day. After 2:00 next day as the mail lady has already came by and got the mail. I print my postage through paypal also and stick the package straight in the mail box. If it's to big I jump in the car and go about 1 mile round trip to drop it at the post office.
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Roadsmith
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posted on August 27, 2005 08:47:52 PM new
I ship the next day, unless it's a weekend. And many times I've gotten PayPal payment in the morning and have packed an item that's easy to pack, then mailed it that afternoon. We all have to go to our little p.o. every day for our mail, so it's not an extra trip.
I leave feedback as soon as payment is received, even if it's a check (which I don't hold to clear any longer), e-mail the buyer to say it's going out first thing tomorrow morning. I keep current auction items on one or two shelves of my Ebay room, so I can always find them once they're sold.
My attitude is that I want that item OUT of here fast; it's a bit cathartic for me. Sell it, get the money, speed it on its way. I know there are people who don't have the extra time I have to do it my way.
And because I buy town-related items on Ebay for our local history museum, I'm very aware of the huge variety of shipping methods sellers use. A postcard may actually arrive via 1st class within two days of my paying with PayPal. Other items sometimes take 2 weeks or more, during which time I'm wondering what's taking it so long!
This is just the way I do it; for me it's quick and efficient. Others have equally good methods for selling and shipping. But we should never kid ourselves that buyers aren't wondering where the heck their item is.
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blueyes29
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posted on August 27, 2005 09:48:27 PM new
I generally ship within a day or two. Before gas prices skyrocketed, I'd sometimes go to the PO several times during the week. Now I'm consolidating a little and generally make 2 trips a week. I used to pack items when they got bids but found I had to do a lot of re-packing when it turned out the winning bidder was an international type. Now, I wait until the auction is over and I know who won before I pack the goodie up for shipping.
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ewora
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posted on August 27, 2005 10:50:44 PM new
I shipped the same day if I receive the payment before 3pm AKST. Otherwise it is usually the next day.
I don't ship on weekends.
I do put in my auction listings that items will be mailed within 3 business days of payment receipt. I can count the times on one hand where I've actually had to take the 3 days.
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toolhound
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posted on August 28, 2005 03:21:22 AM new
I ship the next day. No reason not to ship next day when using USPS priority mail. I print the postage and They pick it up at my door.
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cblev65252
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posted on August 28, 2005 05:00:32 AM new
I once purchased an item and paid Priority postage for it. After about a week, I emailed and asked the seller (a newbie) if she had shipped yet so I could be on the watch for it. She did. She used UPS ground instead. She tried to convince me it was faster and cheaper (true on the cheaper part - but I paid the higher of the shipping costs for Priority) than USPS Priority Mail. I emailed a lengthy note to her regarding that matter and the fact I paid for Priority, which was more money. Instead of getting the item in three days, it took almost 10. And, I had to be around to sign for the darn thing.
Cheryl
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stonecold613
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posted on August 28, 2005 04:35:32 PM new
Do you think that's too long a turnaround time?
YES
.
.
.
Alive in 2005
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sanmar
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posted on August 28, 2005 09:39:18 PM new
My TOS states that I will ship within 24 hrs of receipt of payment. So far I have been able to do this 99% of the time.
Life Is Too Short To Drink Bad Wine
[ edited by sanmar on Aug 28, 2005 09:39 PM ]
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carolinetyler
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posted on August 29, 2005 03:18:00 PM new
Thanks to all for the feedback - I'm changing it to within 3 days right away, and keep trying to keep it in the 1-2 day range.
One thing I see that I need to do is get with the program and start printing out postage and mailing labels, etc.
It's only been in the last 2 weeks that I've been running into the longer turnaround - these puppies are really keeping me busy!
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Caroline
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neglus
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posted on August 29, 2005 04:33:21 PM new
Caroline - Don't sweat the small stuff! I think the key is communicating to the buyers when to expect shipment. I ship once a week on Saturdays - if I can get it all done on Saturday. PayPal requires within 7 days to keep your seller protection (which probably isn't worth the paper its printed on anyway - I am ineligible because I don't use Delivery Confirmation). I have PLENTY of repeat buyers - 6,000 of them. I have Vendio automatically email buyers when I receive PayPal payment about Saturday shipping (it's also in my listings) and ask buyers to contact me if they need the item shipped sooner. Most email back, no problem. I also email when I ship the item.
This is the only way I am able to handle the volume of transactions I handle each week and stay relatively sane.
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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katiyana
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posted on August 30, 2005 02:22:14 PM new
I generally ship within 2 business days of payment, unless its a handmade item - then I have to make it first 8)
I make that clear in my listings so to hopefully set their expectations properly.
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agitprop
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posted on August 30, 2005 02:53:10 PM new
We generally ship within a day of payment confirmation. All our auction items are prepacked* before auction listing so they only need a receipt inserted and address affixed before sending them on their merry way
* also makes postage calculation a breeze since we know the exact shipped weight
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