posted on February 27, 2001 05:43:18 AM new
Hi all,
When you email a seller about shipping costs not in an ad, don't forget to ask how often they ship too. I emailed a seller last night and asked how much shipping was. I received a quick response. Won, the auction last night using the BIN feature, paid with PayPal and find out this morning they only ship on Fridays. This is not stated in the ad or in the email reply to me. I was pretty disappointed only because the item was for my daughter (a computer game). So, learn from my mistake and ask how much is shipping and when do you ship.
Asking how often a shipper ships won't necessarily get you the answer you may be seeking. We ship daily, BUT, we ship items in the order payment is received, meaning, your widget may be in line behind a tea cart, a chandelier, etc., to be packed. All this means is, although we ship daily, we normally don't ship the day after someone pays as we have tons of customers, and some of these items take a great deal of time to pack.
IF you wish to know about shipping on your particular item, ask the specific question, "when will you be shipping my widget."
Always be specific in all questions asked a seller, and always supply them with your zip, as many questions we receive relate to shipping costs, or delivery time, none of which we can answer without a zip code.
posted on February 27, 2001 06:43:07 AM new
Also remember that some people who sell on Ebay have full time or part time jobs. Fridays may be the only day that this person has off that they can even go to the PO! I know it is hard to believe, but some people selling on Ebay do have other lives!
posted on February 27, 2001 07:07:56 AM new
I understand sellers have lives. I did give my zip code when I asked about shipping costs.
All I am saying is if you only ship once a week shouldn't that be in the ad or at the very least told in an email inquiry? I was pretty disappointed to find I used BIN paid and have to wait 4 days for the item to go out. Had the seller told me that or had it in the ad, I couldn't complain at all.
As I stated before, LEARN from my mistake ask if the seller ships more than once a week so you're not disappointed.
thanks for the replies,
Ann
[ edited by evermore42 on Feb 27, 2001 07:15 AM ]
posted on February 27, 2001 07:53:07 AM new
I alwalys thought the whole idea of BIN and instant payments with PP or the likes were designed to attract those of us who gotta have it NOW! and just can't wait for the sloooooow auctions and sloooow payment methods!
I always viewed it as "buyer friendly". I, too, would be very disappointed if I used the BIN and made instant payment with a payment service only to find I had to wait a week for shipment!
In fact, I would be so disappointed, I probably would have to comment in FB "seller offerred BIN, PP for fast sale, BUT shipped at their leisure!!!"
posted on February 27, 2001 08:01:44 AM new
I have bought from big online retailers and quite often find they do not ship when you think they should or what was indicated at time of ordering.
For example, ordered from Amazon a stock item. Turns out to be backorder (not indicated at time of order), and did not get item for 1 month. At no time, did they even bother telling me this via email. I only find out when I inquire about the status of the order couple of weeks later.
Order from Staples, supposely everything was going to be ship next day UPS. Turns out to be 3 packages, scatter over 2 weeks.
And these companies have fulltime staff.
By the way - BIN is not a shipping indicator. Nor is PayPal. Sometimes on rare occasions, one may hold up on a PayPal payment in case you are concern about credit card fraud. Especially if zero feedback buyer from Indonesia
Also, asking when they ship may not be adequate since one may not be sure what shipping method is going to be used. Maybe better is to ask when seller thinks the item will get to your front door.
posted on February 27, 2001 08:06:32 AM newBJ-That's probably a seller's view, but from a buyer's view it isI want it NOW!!!!. If I realllllly want something, NOBODY is gonna outbid me, NOT EVEN A SNIPER, I gurantee!
posted on February 27, 2001 08:07:58 AM new
I always thought BIN was so the buyer could make sure he got the item he wanted and didn't have to chance losing it at the last moment.
Buy with BIN and instant payment on Sunday night and item is shipped out 4 days later, or...
Wait till auction finishes (maybe four days later), send check by snail mail and it arrives three days after auction ends, seller holds 10 days for check clearance, then sends item.
So your BIN purchase did take less time.
There is nothing in ebay's rules that says a seller MUST ship BIN/instant purchases within any set time frame.
posted on February 27, 2001 08:20:55 AM newAmy-IF BillPoint is used, sellers are instructed to ship within 36hours I believe!
If you check "credit card" rules and regs, there is a little diddy about merchants not being able to actually charge the card UNTIL shipment is made. This became a real issue when internet sales opened up. As far as I know the rule still stands. I attended a little seminar about online businesses and this is one area they covered. You are suppose to coordinate your fullfilment with your accounting department so that, the card is NOT charged until the package has been shipped!
Granted sellers are not technically the merchant account, the 3rd party payment service is, and I have noticed that PP informs the seller of how the payment was made. If it was made by credit card, it behooves the seller to ship within 36hours of receipt.
I am sure it would be a difficult rule to inforce, but you always have a nit-picky (like me) who will howl!!!! (Just kidding)
edited for that random UBB thing!!!
[ edited by sulyn1950 on Feb 27, 2001 08:23 AM ]
posted on February 27, 2001 08:31:36 AM new
sulyn1950; the rule about charging when shipping would work out fine in the B&M type of business because you (the seller) are the one that swipes the card at time of sale. However, using Paypal as example (that's the only one I use so I don't know much about the rest) it's the buyer that decides when they're going to pay. Most do it withing 24 hours of sale, but some don't. My TOS states I ship Paypal within 2 business days, I actually ship next day but I like to give myself an emergency day for snow, kids home sick, or a bunch of estate sales I don't want to miss!!
posted on February 27, 2001 08:32:52 AM new
I am disappointed with this seller because I did have email contact with them. I had to ask how much shipping was and did the game come in a box. The description was very short. I received fast contact with my questions answered. I didn't find out until after I BIN'ed the item and paid that they ship only on Friday's. That's a pretty bad time to find out.
I am a seller on Ebay and can see both sides of this issue. But, this is why I rarely buy on Ebay. I don't mind waiting IF I know in advance that is the case NOT after I paid.
Ann
Edited to remove info I guess you can't post here.
[ edited by evermore42 on Feb 27, 2001 08:33 AM ]
[ edited by evermore42 on Feb 27, 2001 08:39 AM ]
[ edited by evermore42 on Feb 27, 2001 09:49 AM ]
