eBay Looks for Options as Postal Delays Persist

by: Ric

eBay makes more promises to sellers....however..... when it comes time to deliver on those promises it remains to be seen if eBay holds true to their word.  There have been too many promises in the past that eBay has failed to deliver upon or even withdrew because there was no intention to really do what they promised.  These forward looking promises are made to enhance eBay's image with Wall Street, and in reality, will not be consistently delivered.

Rule number one, eBay lies. Rule number two, see rule number one.

by: pace306

eBay shouldn’t be involved in determining anything. They don’t ship things, they don’t deliver things.

It’s all just a way to blame sellers

by: iheartjacksparrow

"We are working on other affordable, more reliable delivery options for sellers."

Does eBay plan to start it's only delivery service like Amazon? Because for most small sellers, the USPS is the most affordable option.

by: ebayout

Would luv to know how the e-packets from China are faring.

by: Bill

I guess I will have to extend my handling times to 10 days from 5.
I don't give a crap what eBay says because if their lips are moving they are lying.
So far I have not had a problem with shipping (knock on wood) but you never know.

by: sellerchick

At least they are doing SOMETHING. Meanwhile, Amazon continues to promise unrealistic shipping times, and provides automatic A-Z claims decided against the seller when items don't arrive.  

by: ShortSeller

Ebay has been gaming the delivery estimates they are showing to buyers. On many occasions you'll find they are ignoring seller handing times and giving delivery estimates which don't even match what USPS provides. Total joke they are continuing to do this while they know there are delays.

by: RKTOYS

"We are working on other affordable, more reliable delivery options for sellers. Stay tuned for important developments in this area in the coming weeks."

In other news, I'm working on alternatives to gravity.  Stay tuned for more important news from the magical gnomes in my back yard.

by: FeelingFroggy

The best question is WHY ARE THEY LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T EXIST. ACCEPT THE FACTS THE THE USPS ISN'T DOING ITS JOB. Protect the sellers is the only option. But in Greedbays world there is always that magic mushroom that might make their bottom line look better.

All our stores have a 5 day handling time. We are still busier than ever. Also we only use 55 cent stamps which means NO TRACKING AT ALL. Of over 2000 sales last month we had one INR to which we refund the payment and blocked the buyer and moved on.

by: Geetar

I dont see any other options. ALL other (affordable) options use USPS for last mile delivery. On top of it it usually is more expensive than USPS priority.

I have cut down on my listings because I cant keep up with all the "wheres my stuff man" ebay messages. Now I have the "when are you getting these back in stock messages".

I really dont understand what they are doing (USPS)? How all of a sudden is there such a delay? What exactly in operations are they doing differently?

by: Life During Wartime

The items I've ordered from eBay sellers in 2020, and were shipped using USPS, arrived in timely fashion.  And I mean a pre-COVID19 timely fashion.

But my local post office is in the inner city, and mostly minority staffed, so there are no politically motivated slow downs happening.  My neighbors believe the USPS is needed and essential.  There are slow downs, and missing Priority Mail packages, happening in other nearby zip codes.  My tax preparer mailed my package and one to someone in another zip code at the same time.  I had mine the next day, but after 10 days the other client still hadn't received theirs.  And it wasn't pandemic related either, since both packages were sent to people in the same metro area.

I think there is weird stuff happening, but it's not the USPS as a whole.

by: Shanna

Ebay started this faked estimated delivery time to compete with Amazon's Prime. What they still fail to realize is Amazon charges $120/yr for that privilege and has contracts with all of its carriers to carry out that 2 day mandate.

Except right now, during the Covid crisis, Amazon has extended their shipping time, even for Prime members. I buy things that normally would take 1-2 days, now showing 5-6 estimated delivery. Been this way for months now, why didn't eBay keep up?

Amazon is able to offer that 2 day shipping because they have those special contracts the government doesn't want anyone to know about. They are still a priority at the USPS, as shown in the leaked memos, Amazon packages are still moving, if but a little slower. With its volume of shipments, why did eBay not get a similar deal with the USPS? Instead of making up their Guaranteed Delivery out of whole cloth, it actually could have meant something, now it is just a wish and a prayer. I mean Ole Griff once said the crack eBay shipping team spent 3 days negotiating rates for sellers, only to offer the exact same rates everyone else does. True geniuses at eBay!  

by: toastedmutt

Is eBay still handing out those $5 off coupons for late delivery?

Buyers file INR the day after the ESTIMATED delivery date.  Are they all looking for an immediate refund then keeping the item when the post office gets around to delivering it?

How many buyers actually try to repay the seller for an item delivered after they had been refunded?  

Been on eBay for 2 decades and I have read of only one.

by: toastedmutt

@ Life During Wartime

Clarification please.

In your post you state "But my local post office is in the inner city, and mostly minority staffed, so there are no politically motivated slow downs happening."

What does the ethnicity of the staff have to do with mail slow downs?  Are you saying that post offices with fewer minority employees are engaging in politically motivated mail slow downs?  

Can you cite data which confirms your statement?

by: Geetar

@toastedmutt

I just love that guaranteed delivery! Some buyers seem to think that if its not there in the guaranteed day, they get their money back.

Then I tell them ok, I will give you your money back. But first I explain the whole coupon thing, and tell them I will still give them their money back, They will no longer get a coupon, and I will put in a package redirect back to me, so it wont be delivered to them.

They then, most of them, change their mind quickly and do not want a refund, and want the product. Itsnt it wonderful when someone tries to game the system.

by: Shanna

@toastedmutt I have had eBay's Customer Nonservice give me that line about asking the buyer to pay again after refund. I then ask them how, I do not have their email address to send an invoice. Can I ask or give my email address? No you cannot so that, so if a buyer wanted to pay, how is that done in eBay's don't share any personal info world? They have no answer. I tell them to have eBay pay me and then eBay can send the buyer the bill.

by: FeelingFroggy

@ Shanna

We are a family of 11 adults. All members of prime. Not a day goes by that there isn't a Amazon package on our porch. In the past year maybe just maybe there has been one package a day late and that was likely because of a major snowstorm. We don't buy from Greedbay so I have no knowledge if their garbage is late or not.

by: Tiffee Jasso

Until you get responsibility in Washington, we will continue to see the Post Office delivery decline. The new Post Master has considerable assets in UPS, and is in violation of Federal Law. So is the one that appointed him or hired him, whoever that is.

by: The End

It's inside SABOTAGE.
Certain people at the local post offices are Deliberately screwing up everything.
They were put in a position of Trust only to screw over the organization.
Cleanse them out.
 

by: Chicago48

"Not a day goes by that there isn't a Amazon package on our porch."  Which makes one wonder, how is it that AMZ is able to deliver quickly and the USPS isn't.  But I feel badly for the AMZ drivers.  I saw guys and gals with trucks full of packages some of them furniture pieces.  And they struggle to keep up and handle the packages.
According to Ina's post office comment, the Iowa USPS removed  a sorting machine. But why?  Did it break down and they couldn't replace it?  Not only is our health care system in shambles now the PO is in shambles....GO JOE!