What Do You Do On eBay When You Go On Holiday

anno1664

A bit of background first.
I have been selling certain items on eBay for about five months. Because they are selling so well and I am getting repeat customers, I have converted my eBay page to Business Selling.
I list my items in quantities, and then when sold out or time is up, I relist. I have noticed that I get repeat orders from the same areas, hopefully due to word of mouth from happy customers
My site is basic, not a shop, as I try to keep everything simple (especially after reading “As A Buyer What Puts You Of A Listing” on this forum)

My questions are, what do people do when they go on holiday for two weeks
Will I have to start again to build up sales after being away for so long
How can I let people know I am on holiday
How do other MSE sellers on eBay manage their holidays, and to keep their sales going whilst away

skintandsad

Most auctions I've visited put a little message on their sales listing, saying the dates when they will be able to post items eg.

"We will be away until xx/xx/xx - but, if you wish to purchase, we will ensure your item is posted no later than xx/xx/xx - thanks for your understanding."

If you don't put any message on, people will quite rightly get the 'ump if you don't post their goods out within a reasonable timescale.

frivolous_fay

If it was me, I wouldn't be relisting later than 10 days before going away.

But then I guess you have to strike a balance between upsetting people who might buy when you're away and not notice, and missing the few people who look for your listings while you're away.

Two weeks is a long time to wait for your goods...

Ivrytwr3

What Do You Do On eBay When You Go On Holiday

Forget about EBay and enjoy your holiday.

Smart_But_Casual

My last auction/BIN closes 10 days before I go on my jollies and I set my listings to start again (auctions only) whilst I'm away to finish 2-3 days after I get back. BIN/BO only go live on my return.

DoWhatULove-LoveWhatUDo

Can you schedule your listings to stop a day or two before you go and start up again a couple of days before you return?

I think there's something called Holiday settings which displays a message on your listings saying when you'll be back, but I've never used it.

Smart_But_Casual

DoWhatULove-LoveWhatUDo wrote: »

Can you schedule your listings to stop a day or two before you go and start up again a couple of days before you return?

I think there's something called Holiday settings which displays a message on your listings saying when you'll be back, but I've never used it.

Shop owners only I believe.

DaveAshton

DoWhatULove-LoveWhatUDo wrote: »

Can you schedule your listings to stop a day or two before you go and start up again a couple of days before you return?

I think there's something called Holiday settings which displays a message on your listings saying when you'll be back, but I've never used it.

Not a good idea to stop that close to your holiday. If the buyer has problems a few days after the sale and can't get in touch, they might give up trying, neg you and take it up with Paypal.

soolin

I would normally give up at least 10 days before my holiday to allow for any issues. If I had an absolutely must sell time limited item I might be temoted to do a BIN with immediate payment required up to around 8 days before departure, but there would have to be a good reason to risk it.

When I used Auctiva I would normally schedule auctions to start again so that they end the day after I return (so I still have time to pull aucitons or bids if i see any problems). I would not restart BINs until my return.

Now I don't use Auctiva anymore I will have to either just leave listing or bribe my son to upload them all for me.

chja

All of my listings are on auto-relist. Will probably stop that about 12 days before I go, and either wait until i get back or if i get 5 mins whilst away, might pop on a week into the hols and re-list so they start comming off a few days after I am back.