Ebay Shop Holiday Setting - Postage Defects

paulofessex

Can anyone confirm that if you have your shop set as on Holiday for a week notifying buyers of delays in processing their order, do you still get a defect due to not posting within the timescale as per the listing.
I know you can disable the items so people cannot purchase, but l would prefer not to do this.

Many thanks

soolin

paulofessex wrote: »

Can anyone confirm that if you have your shop set as on Holiday for a week notifying buyers of delays in processing their order, do you still get a defect due to not posting within the timescale as per the listing.
I know you can disable the items so people cannot purchase, but l would prefer not to do this.

Many thanks

There are two ways of doing this. If you just out the holiday message on but leave your BIN listings live then you are dependent on buyers bothering to read the message, the time scale for delivery does not change.

Personally I prefer the second method, I put my holiday message on but also hide all my listings, effectively closing the shop, no one can buy then so less risk of a defect.

theonlywayisup

I'm with Soo. Hide them if you are worried. You can turn them on a day or two before you come home if that won't cause any issues with timings.

ontheup1972

I'm with the others also, I always hide my listings.

Although last time I went on holiday I had my listings hidden for 15 days, and it took around a month of being switched on for sales to approach normal again.

This caused hardship, but it was preferable to getting loads of "where is my item?" messages/cases opened when I was trying to have a well earned break.

soolin

ontheup1972 wrote: »

I'm with the others also, I always hide my listings.

Although last time I went on holiday I had my listings hidden for 15 days, and it took around a month of being switched on for sales to approach normal again.

This caused hardship, but it was preferable to getting loads of "where is my item?" messages/cases opened when I was trying to have a well earned break.

Strangely enough I seem to do quite well when I first switch my listings back on after a holiday. However, I rarely go away for longer than about 12 days so perhaps the length of time makes a difference.

19lottie82

I just switch on holiday settings and change my dispatch time accordingly. I.e 5 or 10 working days.

pfpf

is there anything for a private seller in the way of pausing sales/leaving a message regarding holidays?

as per my post in the "listings offers" thread I have a favourable offer again this week so am thinking of listing lots of BIN on 30 days but I will be away at the end of November for a few days...didn't think about that when listing on same offer last week

I really want to take advantage of 1p selling fee's.

is it just a matter for private sellers of setting dispatch to 3 days and using the slowest delivery method? can I do that in bulk for all my listings? can I hide my listings etc etc.

thank you.

soolin

19lottie82 wrote: »

I just switch on holiday settings and change my dispatch time accordingly. I.e 5 or 10 working days.

I won't risk that as buyers don't seem to take any notice of dispatch times, just read some of the threads on here and on the community boards. To retain my TRS discount I have very little flexibility in my defect rate and I will just not risk a late defect that I could avoid by closing entirely.

pfpf wrote: »

is there anything for a private seller in the way of pausing sales/leaving a message regarding holidays?

as per my post in the "listings offers" thread I have a favourable offer again this week so am thinking of listing lots of BIN on 30 days but I will be away at the end of November for a few days...didn't think about that when listing on same offer last week

I really want to take advantage of 1p selling fee's.

is it just a matter for private sellers of setting dispatch to 3 days and using the slowest delivery method? can I do that in bulk for all my listings? can I hide my listings etc etc.

thank you.

AS a private seller and assuming you have enough volume and no defects then covering a short period of holiday is not so much of a problem. If you are away for 3 days and can post the day you return then just set dispatch at 3 days, but don't skimp- if you need a 4 day dispatch then set that instead. You might still have problems from buyers that have not bothered to look at the dispatch date but 3 or 4 days is do able.

pfpf

thank you.
it appears I can set to 3 days max for dispatch time.
I am away tues - sat and could pack/post any sales to tues 12pm.

I have most stuff set to 3 days / 2nd class but higher value set to 1 day / SD. I have up to now posted within 24 hours regardless.

i'll have to think about what I list between now and the break and the settings.

thank you.

fishpond

Easy.
Don't go away & keep your nose to the grindstone.:D
Agree with all above, as the last thing anyone needs is a load of grief when they get back.