posted on November 12, 2001 11:42:12 AM new
I would like to post some auctions which will close during the Thanksgiving week, and holiday, BUT I will be out of town, when they close and not have access to a computer. (No, I don’t want to hunt down a library to try to respond when I am out of town).
How have any of you handled such, when you aren't available to respond in the 3 time period?
I have though of posting an "addition" to my auctions, AFTER I post them that I will be out of town, and reply as soon as I return. I though and "ADDITION" would more likely be read than just putting the info in my auction, as most buyers don't seem to read half of what is in a post anyway.
What do you think? What have you done? Any suggestions?
posted on November 12, 2001 11:52:34 AM new
Yeah, take the week off! I am going to be away for about 18 days during December, and plan to stop before then (My sales are not Christmas based, so I know that is not an option for some)
posted on November 12, 2001 11:55:01 AM new
If you will be out of town and unable to answer emails or accept payments and ship items, then why are you listing for that week ?
posted on November 12, 2001 11:58:30 AM new
I definitely would not list any auctions if I knew I wouldn't be around when the auction ended. Even if it is in the item description that you will be gone, some people won't be forgiving.
posted on November 12, 2001 12:21:12 PM new
My opinion is that it would depend on how many days you would be away. I have gone away for 3 days or so and had auctions running without any problems. I do use AW to send out my WBN's and when I have gone I have always noted this in my auction descriptions AND my WBN's. Plus just to be safe I also set up my emails to do a bounceback message, so if someone emails me at least they get a message saying that I recieved their email and will respond asap.
I personally don't see anything wrong with doing this and have had no problems with any bidders because of it. I never look forward to coming back home though, because I know I will have 3 days or so worth of work to catch up on, but sometimes a person needs a break. :0)
So I guess I am the lone vote in saying that it just might work for you if you take some steps to prepare your bidders ahead of time.
Good luck at any rate, whatever you decide to do.
posted on November 12, 2001 12:22:17 PM new
If you really want to have items running that week, I'd suggest having them close the day you return. Use the 10-day auction option if necessary.
posted on November 12, 2001 12:26:53 PM new
I wouldn't list any auctions if I was going to be gone for a week. Even with posting it in the auction, lots of people just don't read. You may come home to some negs in your feedback.
posted on November 12, 2001 12:43:06 PM new
So far what I am reading is the customer service approach to handling the end of auction which is good. I applaud this.
In case you aren't aware, eBay policy is the seller and buyer contact each other within 3 business days which would give you up til the end of Wednesday after the Thanksgiving weekend to contact the buyer.
You may want to consider the option of contacting the buyer either Sunday evening when you will get back from your weekend activities or Monday morning.
posted on November 12, 2001 12:46:35 PM new
I always stop auctions two weeks before whatever day I will be leaving and then list some to run while I am gone that will end a day or two after I return (just in case anyone has questions). But that is just me and I am fairly new at this and work in a service related area in my 'real job' so it is the training kicking in...
posted on November 12, 2001 03:07:53 PM new
Basically, I'm leaving on the 19th, and will return late on the 24th. I wasn't originally going to post to close anything next week, but realized, I won't be here to post for the week after Thanksgiving, so, because I am out of town about 5 days, I actually lose 2 weeks of working, and I don't like that this time of year.
My web sites are set up with auto-responders, so they are fine - but auctions are a problem. NO, I don't want to start using some other system just for 5 days...
Oh well, will get it worked out, just e-mailed a friend to see if I could access their computer for a while a night or two while in their city.
I may just skip ending auctions next week, and just take a couple of 3.5 disks with programmed auctions on them, and just borrow someone's computer and post next week, instead of ending them.
posted on November 12, 2001 08:12:40 PM new
Okay, I would either do 10 day auctions or start listing the auctions when you are gone to end when you come home. You can do this by scheduling the auctions for which ever day that would be. There is another problem with having auctions run when your gone. What if someone wants to ask you a question?
posted on November 12, 2001 11:02:42 PM new
I never have auctions close when I PLAN to be away. I have new auction launch, but none close. I do not want to spend my vacation - time away - working.
I too will be gone 11/19-24. I have emailed everyone that owes me money to inform them that there will be no shipping that week. I also have had that on every auction for the past month and in my end of auction notice.
I have done this several times now with not one problem.
posted on November 12, 2001 11:39:30 PM new
I travel a lot and here is what I do:
1) At the begining of the description (1st sentence) let people know when you will be gone. 2) most mail programs let you leave an On Vaction/Out of the Office message. 3). 2 weeks before you leave let poeple know in your EOA emails that you will be gone and will not be able to process payments and ship out items while you are away... also gives them incentive to get you their payment before you leave. 4) Most major cities have Internet Cafe's and many hotels have business centers where you can get online. If you are staying with relaitves use their computer if they have one. It's worth the effort to keep up with the questions... with all these options you should be able to get your messages while you are away.
I think it is a bad idea to list and be out of touch for a week.
posted on November 13, 2001 03:10:19 AM new
Watch out for this..went to the coast for 3 days figured i would use my friends computer..dropped by she had a virus & had to completely redo her windows everything..so no way..
was stopping by chamber of commerce for maps,,asked them they said sure pop over to the library..back a few miles,,we searched finally found it..i go in you will not beleive this..in a tourist town..
there was a line of maybe 20 people...here comes the power trip Head librarian.(there were only 6 computers..5 being used)
He said well it's 15 minutes to 2:00 & this one has been reserved for 2 hours.
others& myself said..hey we just want to send a couple of emails..NO...YOU MUST MAKE A RESERVATION & WE ARE BOOKED UP FOR A FEW DAYS!!(gheesh computer companies donate to schools & libraries,companies too..what do the students do that need a computer)
even though no one was using it...grr sO he says there is an internet cafe in town..you can use theirs for free..
so we go there..get parked go inside..figure buy a coffee etc..2 kids are playing games on the one computer..i ask the lady behind the counter(apparently did not want to interupt her kids game)
she rudely said..people keep trying this free..you will have to pay 3.50 for 10 minutes & something per minute thereafter..& you will have a wait quite awhile due to the kids..my hubby was in the hot car with our little dog..disgusted
i just left.i didn't even mind the money...just waiting for those kids..no way...coming home the next nite..
just to tell you don't count on libraries..
i am thinking of writing the chamber & the mayor..a great town otherwise but some very angry tourists...i feel naked without my computer..
thanks for listening..good luck..just to let you know anything can happen..oh yes this running around looking for the library alone took 20 minutes..whole fiasco took almost 2 hours of our vacation.
[ edited by timetravelers on Nov 13, 2001 03:13 AM ]
posted on November 13, 2001 02:07:10 PM new
Sometimes my planning is off and I have to go out of town for the week-end when an auction closes. This happened twice when I went to a llama show and another time when my grandmother died. I add a small paragraph to my descriptions. I make sure they are in red (so they can be seen). I apologize for the inconvenience, explain that I am going out of town for the next couple of days and that their patience is requested. I add that I will send them an email asap. Every person was very gracious and some of the people sent me really nice notes when my grandmother died. I don't think that people are inherently mean. The worst that can happen is that whoever wanted to bid on my item won't. Well, that is my personal problem and it probably wasn't meant to be anyway. Real life happens
[ edited by llama_lady on Nov 13, 2001 02:07 PM ]
