Hello all. In the past couple of days I've had bad experiences with two ebay sellers after purchasing model train items. It used to be that when you bought something they got it right into the mail to you within a few days, but now they take their sweet time and lolly gag and if you write them and ask what the hold up is they get testy with you which is what happened to me. I purchased a couple of items last week that are just now being shipped. One seller told me he had been very busy and couldn't get to it until recently and the other told me that he only ships out once a week and that he made this clear in his listing. I wanted to tell them both off in language that I can't use on the forum here but held back because I was concerned that my items might arrive damaged or broken...
Has anyone else had any experiences like this ?.
Tracklayer
Tracklayerand the other told me that he only ships out once a week and that he made this clear in his listing.
Well, was the listing clear?
Personally, I don't see a problem. In the old days, as long as the item was delivered within 10 days (bought and sold on eBay since '99), all was good. If you just purchased it last week, and this only Tuesday of this week, I say give it a bit more time.
On the item of the seller that ships once a week, give him a break and READ the listing!
I feel sorry for such impatient people. Some folks do have a life beyond trains. Having said that, if it goes past 10 days or so, then send an email.
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
Not every seller on Ebay is a business with a shipping department that gets items out the next day. A lot of sellers are hobbyists selling items in their spare time.
How long it takes someone to ship me an item ranks #437 on my list of things in life worth worrying about.
That is something I've noticed too, from both sides. Not only as a buyer, but as a seller too.
As a seller, you do have a commitment to eBay to ship within a specidfied time period, that you make when you sign up. Being too busy either means that business is soooo good, you're overwhelmed, or your life is in total disarray. In either case, you need help or you have to back off your eBay amount.
As far as I am concerned, shipping once a week is bovine excrement. Nowadays the mail runs 6 days a week,(for now) priority boxes are free, and you can print postage at home or at a business. The same Paypal account that you collect money with will also pay your postage. If you are only home one day of the week, schedule your auctions to close maybe 2 days ahead of that, to give buyers a chance to pay.
However, as a seller who ships on the next business day after payment, I've seen a recent trend with buyers. All my listing state that payment is due withing 4 days, after that eBay automaticly starts a non payment case. about half of my last 4 months transactions have had cases started on them because of late payment or non-payment. We're not talking about alot of money here, most of these items are in the 15-50 dollar range!
I think some of these are auction where there is some buyers remorse, maybe some over-zealous bidding. Maybe they found the same item cheaper, some may have thought they would be out bid and forget about it, and some may have just forgotten about it.
In either case, all you have is a feedback score. Before you commit your money, check the score. For my money, if its not in the 90's, I keep moving. If the listing say they ship once a week, then sobeit. But if it doesn't, and you feel you have been strung along , then by all means, let your feedback reflect it. I'm not saying slam them to the mat, but be fairt and objective and be sure you are on solid ground, in case the other party objects to eBay.
Karl
NCE über alles!
Even large sellers are shipping only once or twice a week. The package delivery folks give them a price break if they save up their shipments and settle for pickup on a set time & date. Saves money in the long run. From my experiance I have had good results from eBay sellers - And I have neen selling/buying since 1998. Some of the larger model trains sites only ship when they have a certain level, others like Walthers ships very fast.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Are we talking about used items sold by individuals, or new items sold by eBay stores?
Rich
Alton Junction
I would say 90% of the e-Bay stores I buy from ships the next day after cleared payment while 10% ships within 48 hours after cleared payment.All within reason.
I did have one seller to send a message stating he had a family emergency and would ship ASAP and asked if I would like a refund. Of course the answer was no..
He sent a pack of KD #5s for my "inconvenience" which he did not have to do.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Tracklayer ... Has anyone else had any experiences like this ?. Tracklayer
...
Yes, I have overlooked, misread, or forgotten details that people post in their attempt to be ethically virtous and informative, or that they include as a courtesy. When I make my error or oversight apparent, sometimes the poster gets testy with me too.
Poop happens.
-Crandell
richhotrain Are we talking about used items sold by individuals, or new items sold by eBay stores? Rich
trwroute I feel sorry for such impatient people. Some folks do have a life beyond trains. Real nice reply Chuck. I hope to return the favor some day... Tracklayer
I feel sorry for such impatient people. Some folks do have a life beyond trains.
Real nice reply Chuck. I hope to return the favor some day...
maxman Tracklayer and the other told me that he only ships out once a week and that he made this clear in his listing. Well, was the listing clear?
Tracklayer and the other told me that he only ships out once a week and that he made this clear in his listing.
Interesting, I thought this would be about certain ebay seller increasingly asking full MSRP for very used very broken items like they were made out of Myrrh.
As a seller I always say I will ship withing 3 days of payment, the trouble with Fleabay I been having of late is buyers who win, then take there bloody sweet time paying up! When I sell, I usually recieve payment within 3 days, no prodding necessary, but I sold something recently, but after three days received no payment, so I sent a freindly note with the invoice statement letting his know his item was ready to ship once i recieved payment. no responce, waited another 3 days, sent another friendly invoice, nope, waited another 3 days, another invoice, nadda...so three days later I'm thinking about opening a case for non-payment on day 15 and bang, the I get a paid notice, no explaination, no "sorry I was ....". I didnt have anything else to go to the post office so I waited till I did 2 days later. Third time this has happened in as many sales. Not going to waste any gas on slow payers. This is getting to be alot more common, I suspect its people who use sniping programs and then don'y bother to check up on what they've actually won.
Have fun with your trains
All kinds of sellers and situations out there - with feedback reviews being the best indicators.
I only had 35 auctions this Christmas time and managed to get each item to the PO within 2 days of payment receipt. To me that is a big deal, but I am retired and can easily do that. Others may not be able to do so. Bit of course, still others will take their sweet ol time about it.
BTW, while there are sellers that take their time, there are also buyers who do likewise in making payments........
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Leave them negative feedback. Also look at their feedback to see if they had complaints about slow shipping.
It shouldn't take a seller longer than two days after the payment to ship items. Weather its business or a regualar guy. I hate when that happens. If they get nasty with me for asking, I'm leaving negative feedback, to warn other buyers.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
jrbernier Even large sellers are shipping only once or twice a week. The package delivery folks give them a price break if they save up their shipments and settle for pickup on a set time & date. Saves money in the long run. From my experiance I have had good results from eBay sellers - And I have neen selling/buying since 1998. Some of the larger model trains sites only ship when they have a certain level, others like Walthers ships very fast. Jim
WE all tend to be impatient when ordering online, we are used to the "instant gratification" of buying at a store, and wonder why it isn't on our doorstep the very night we order it.
That was going to be my point. Some hold for a few days, some hold till payment clears, some hold awaiting items on backorders, some hold for their order to come in and re-ship to you, some may not make it clear, but just because your bid was accepted, doesn't mean the guy {or lady} is gonna jump in their car that moment and ship out that very instant. 50 trips to the PO to do so instead of one, would increase costs for the seller that would get passed on where? to the buyer.
Even a "ebay-tailer" may have another job to have to ship around.
If it was an "ebay-tailer" then he MAY have had to wait for the item to come in on his order to reship to you, if it wasn't "in stock" in his hands.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
How fast I ship is in direct relation to how fast the winner pays, and I put this in my auctions.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Tracklayer richhotrain Are we talking about used items sold by individuals, or new items sold by eBay stores? Rich No Rich. These were new items being sold by ebay model train businesses. Tracklayer
No Rich. These were new items being sold by ebay model train businesses.
My experience with eBay sellers of new merchandise has been pretty good. I pay instantly via PayPal, and almost always the item is shipped the next day. Sometimes, with larger sellers, there may be a little delay. I purchased several items yesterday, early, from MB Klein. They are still processing the order.
I would say that 2 to 3 days is the limit. After that, the delay is inexcusable unless a notice of delay was posted as part of the eBay auction or Buy It Now.
Leaving negative feedback for a delay in shipping, however, does not seem fair under most circumstances.
When I win,I pay as soon as I know I have won the auction.If I don't have the money in hand (so to speak) I don't bid.
Just wait until you have to deal with these people......http://www.ebay.ca/sch/tom_and_alicia/m.html?item=251442708497&pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item3a8b274011&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562.
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
7-10 business days is acceptable to me. Most of the stuff I bought off ebay was delivered right around 5-6 days, with one exception of being 45days. That item irritated me due to many factors, and I really believe a drop shipper should include that in the description BEFORE the auction ends.
I've always understood the universal thing was to allow at least 3 days for shipping. My last order from MB Klein didn't shop for at least 3 days after I placed the online orderso I'd say thats standard. I can only get to the post office Sat and Mon due to work schedule so if Monday end of is when I got a money order in the mail or pp, then it might be Sat until I can actually ship, unless my wife does me a favor.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Geography plays a role in how fast a shipper can get to the post office, too. My wife bought a few items from a seller that had recently had several bouts of nasty snow storms. She honestly said she tried to get to the P.O. first, a road was closed and on the second attempt someone hit her car and ran her into a ditch...
The package arrived within a few days after her apology for the delay.
In most cases I'm amazed at just how FAST an item can arrive! I just got a package from Flagstaff, AZ bought and paid Monday AM and it was at my door (Cleveland, OH) Wednesday PM!
Other times it takes eight days IN TRANSIT from Pittsburgh to Cleveland! Go figure... Ed
As a purchaser I've received my items very promptly unless the seller has indicated otherwise and have no complaints. I do pay right after the after the auction ends. In fact most times I'm surprised to get a shipping notice the following day.
As a seller I usually have the item I'm selling already packed except for sealing the box and filling out the address label. I get it to the post office in a day or two. I'm quick but still not as fast as some sellers.
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
I personally think that a lot of sellers don't like the idea of being rushed or told what to do by their customers. They're no longer concerned with losing business because there are fewer and fewer train shops left which gives them an upper hand. In plain English, they'll ship your item when they get around to it - like the jerk from Canada I recently dealt with that took three freaking weeks to ship something that should have only taken a week or so. And I'm so sick of the excuses. I've heard everything from they had a family crisis to they were in the hospital with heart issues. If a seller is a slow poke that doesn't get in any hurry to ship then they need to be right up front about it and not wait until after the buyer has paid to say so...
Tracklayer I personally think that a lot of sellers don't like the idea of being rushed or told what to do by their customers. They're no longer concerned with losing business because there are fewer and fewer train shops left which gives them an upper hand. In plain English, they'll ship your item when they get around to it - like the jerk from Canada I recently dealt with that took three freaking weeks to ship something that should have only taken a week or so. And I'm so sick of the excuses. I've heard everything from they had a family crisis to they were in the hospital with heart issues. If a seller is a slow poke that doesn't get in any hurry to ship then they need to be right up front about it and not wait until after the buyer has paid to say so... Tracklayer
You'd be in a rare situation if you got something shipped from Canada to Texas in "a week or so" ! It normally takes 1-1/2 to 2 weeks for me to get an envelope with a sheet of decals from Microscale. If it's a box with any kind of value on it, there's no way I'll see it under two weeks. Maybe part is due to the fact I'm in a rural area, but still ....
Now, if I wanted to pay silly money for shipping, I'm sure I could get it in three days if I really wanted. But, being a hobby, not too many many purchases are THAT important.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
I've had no problems on eBay. I have learned from experience, you have to read the add and all the details that go with it. eBay and PayPal hold all sellers to the fire when it comes to what the details in the listing are, and that you follow the details with your buyers, as you have stated them. In the close to 600 transactions of done on eBay in the last 3 years or so (buying and selling), I've had no problems that weren't immediately worked out with the seller, and buyer.
Mike.
My You Tube
rdgk1se3019 Just wait until you have to deal with these people......http://www.ebay.ca/sch/tom_and_alicia/m.html?item=251442708497&pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item3a8b274011&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562.
Oh my...! If those trains could talk...then again, some things are best left unsaid...
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that both engines have failed, and we will be stuck here for some time. The good news is that you decided to take the train and not fly."
What am I missing with those people? They have 100% positive feedback, sounds like they aren;t ahrd to deal with at all.
I've purchased plenty of things on ebay where the seller ships once per week. I think getting mad after 2-3 days is a little excessive. No excuse for not shipping sooner than that? I'm not a store, I work all day, every day. I'm not about to leave packages sitting out front and HOPE the mailman takes them - based on the kind of stuff I get by mistake, I would NEVER trust the local carrier, that means at least dropping off at the post office, even if I print the postage at home and have the boxes delivered.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker What am I missing with those people? They have 100% positive feedback, sounds like they aren;t ahrd to deal with at all. I've purchased plenty of things on ebay where the seller ships once per week. I think getting mad after 2-3 days is a little excessive. No excuse for not shipping sooner than that? I'm not a store, I work all day, every day. I'm not about to leave packages sitting out front and HOPE the mailman takes them - based on the kind of stuff I get by mistake, I would NEVER trust the local carrier, that means at least dropping off at the post office, even if I print the postage at home and have the boxes delivered. --Randy
Admittedly, their display pictures are a trifle... well... unusual...
Streamlined steam, oh, what a dream!!