I see eBay have issued a statement regarding Estimated Delivery dates

[lincolnshiremarine]

Hello Everyone 

I see eBay under selling announcement dated 18th November 2025, have made a statement about their unrealistic and inaccurate delivery dates.

As you know, I have been providing eBay with extensive evidence for quite some time to show that the delivery dates they display to buyers are false.

I am also aware that several other sellers have done the same in an effort to make eBay recognise the issue. Despite how obvious the problem has been to us as sellers, eBay still insisted on multiple pieces of evidence, which required many hours of my business time to gather and submit.

I hope that this recent announcement means progress is finally being made, and that our feedback is being taken seriously.

eBay's statement 

Delivery plays an important role in shaping your buyers’ experience, and we know how important it is for you, our sellers, that expectations are set accurately and fairly. As we head into the year’s busiest period, we want to give you a clear look at how estimated delivery dates (EDD) are calculated, why they may change, and the protections in place to support you. 

What buyers see

We show buyers an estimated delivery date range on your listing so they know when to expect their item. The range is dynamic and reflects real‑world conditions to set accurate expectations.

How we calculate the EDD

EDD is tailored per order based on factors you control and broader delivery signals:

• Handling time typically set by the seller (how quickly you pack and hand items to the carrier).
• The carrier and service you offer (including service speed and coverage).
• Your past delivery performance on aspects you control (e.g., dispatch speed).
• Carrier performance, item location, and the buyer’s delivery address.
• Seasonal patterns (peak trading vs. quieter periods) and operational conditions.

Please visit the site page estimated delivery dates for sellers for more information.

Why the EDD can include dates within your handling time

During peak periods, buyers may receive items later; at quieter times, sooner. To avoid a one‑size‑fits‑all estimate, we adjust EDD dynamically. This can create EDD ranges that overlap with dates inside your dispatch time, especially if you’ve set longer dispatch times to manage your workload.

Your protections against late delivery defects

If an item arrives after the end of the estimated delivery date range but tracking shows you dispatched on time you're protected from late delivery defects. We also encourage you to use the service and carrier specified in your listing so not to drive any dissatisfaction with your buyers.

If a buyer opens an Item Not Received (INR) case

You have 3 business days to resolve the issue. Respond to the case and explain that tracking shows the item is on its way to avoid a “case closed without seller resolution” defect.

What “dispatched” means

An item is fully dispatched when the carrier has collected it from you or you’ve dropped it off with the carrier and there is an Acceptance scan from the carrier to confirm they have it. Printing a label, generating a tracking number, or marking the order as dispatched does not count as dispatch on its own.

When a delivery is counted as late

We assess lateness using carrier scans and buyer feedback (even if no INR case is opened):

• If you uploaded tracking within 24 hours of dispatch: a delivery is late when the delivery scan occurs after the buyer’s EDD range (e.g., EDD 11–13 Nov; delivered 14 Nov or later) and there is no carrier scan within your handling time.
• If no tracking is available: when the buyer leaves feedback, we ask if the item arrived on time. If the buyer confirms it arrived after the EDD, it is counted as late.
•  

Why upload tracking (and when)

Using end‑to‑end tracking reduces “where’s my item?” contacts and INR claims, lets buyers self‑serve, and supports seller protections. Always upload tracking within 24 hours of dispatch (not after an INR case is opened).

Automatic removal of delivery‑related defects

Eligible delivery‑related defects are removed automatically within 7 days. Until removal, they’ll still appear in your seller standards dashboard. After removal, allow up to 2 days for your predicted seller level to update. You don’t need to contact eBay.

We automatically remove defects and adjust late delivery rate in cases including (but not limited to):

• The listing’s delivery estimate was shortened, and tracking shows delivery within the carrier’s longest estimate.
• The defect, feedback, or late delivery resulted directly from an eBay site issue or program error.

To reduce business impact during broader disruptions we may apply seller protections for the affected period:

• Your late delivery rate is removed for orders whose EDDs fall within the affected dates.
• Your Item Not Received count in service metrics is removed for the affected dates.
• We remove negative and neutral feedback related to late or non‑delivery during the affected period.

For a full list of circumstances where defects are automatically removed, see our Seller performance and Feedback policy.

Best practices to stay protected

• Keep handling time and carrier service details accurate in your listings.
• Dispatch on time and use the service and carrier you advertised.
• Choose tracked services and upload tracking within 24 hours of dispatch.
• Monitor eBay announcements for network disruptions (e.g., severe weather, strikes, peak backlogs like Black Friday/Cyber Monday) that may affect EDD calculations.
• If you need to update listings, see our page on revising a listing.

Final note

We continuously factor in unexpected carrier network conditions when calculating EDD (e.g., severe weather, natural disasters, strikes, and major peak backlogs) to set realistic delivery expectations and apply appropriate seller protections.

Thank you for selling on eBay.

[cbennissupplies]

what a load of tripe have had INR cases opened on last estimated day, package was not even late

[vintagechinashop]

Why can eBay not understand the changing handling time makes absolutely no difference to the EDD  and why are we penalised if we manage to post an item early   They can explain till they are blue in the face but they are just not listening 

[pegr-834437]

dave@ebay 

Hi Dave, 

Hope you dont mind me tagging you here as I cant reply to the weekly chat.

Your past performance could possibly be playing a part in that. If for example you set your dispatch time to 5 days but you are dispatching in 3 this could be factored in to the displayed EDD. 

This is the big issue and the same thing people have raised for weeks, even months and years looking back on old threads. Theres no could maybe or possibly, historic data is being used eBay tell us that in the announcement and when we check the EDD but they then say our handling time is being used, there is zero proof of this, I can change handling time to any length of time and nothing changes. This single piece of data is the most important part as this is set by us the seller who knows exactly at any given moment in in the year if we need longer or a shorter handling time, using historic data is pointless as things change. 

So again I repeat myself, can you please ask the shipping team if they can prove to me that changing the handling time will ever change the EDD as currently it never does no matter what I change it to but in the announcement they specifically say they take this into consideration. Please all we ask is eBay to be honest and truthful, have a system that works and is designed to work correctly.

Estimated delivery time is simple, it needs to be handling time + courier estimated delivery = EDD, there is no need or use for using historic data it just adds confusion and incorrect data.

[dave@ebay]

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@pegr-834437 wrote:

dave@ebay 

Hi Dave, 

Hope you dont mind me tagging you here as I cant reply to the weekly chat.

Your past performance could possibly be playing a part in that. If for example you set your dispatch time to 5 days but you are dispatching in 3 this could be factored in to the displayed EDD. 

This is the big issue and the same thing people have raised for weeks, even months and years looking back on old threads. Theres no could maybe or possibly, historic data is being used eBay tell us that in the announcement and when we check the EDD but they then say our handling time is being used, there is zero proof of this, I can change handling time to any length of time and nothing changes. This single piece of data is the most important part as this is set by us the seller who knows exactly at any given moment in in the year if we need longer or a shorter handling time, using historic data is pointless as things change. 

So again I repeat myself, can you please ask the shipping team if they can prove to me that changing the handling time will ever change the EDD as currently it never does no matter what I change it to but in the announcement they specifically say they take this into consideration. Please all we ask is eBay to be honest and truthful, have a system that works and is designed to work correctly.

Estimated delivery time is simple, it needs to be handling time + courier estimated delivery = EDD, there is no need or use for using historic data it just adds confusion and incorrect data.

---

Hi @pegr-834437 

That's no problem, it usually happens with the chat. 

As I previously said, the EDD is calculated on multiple factors so any one change might or might not affect the overall EDD. It is dynamic and can change based on location, delivery times in an area and the carriers performance for the chosen service. Historic data is only one part of multiple points in the calculation. Our shipping team also work with the different carriers and the system has a much broader overview of delivery times so simply adding handling time to a flat estimate doesn't always give an up to date estimate.  

The algorithm is built into the site so I cant say which of the different factors will override the other and in which scenario but it is working as designed. The post I shared with you earlier and where it's copied to the OP here does break that down, in a truthful way. 

I have sent your posts over to the shipping team and they have read through these threads, so they are aware of your feedback on this one. I understand you don't agree with how this is calculated but as it stands there are no plans to change the calculation. If something changes, we will of course share it as soon as possible. 

Thanks,

Dave

[pegr-834437]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the reply.

I obviously get everything that you are saying and I have read the announcements and the help pages but you are either not understanding what I'm saying or you are just ignoring it so lets be hopeful and think you are not getting it.

You can not use both handling time (as set by the seller) and historic handling time to create an EDD if they are different periods of time. Also eBay claim they use handling times within the EDD, if this is true then please eBay just one example will be enough, as I can change mine, either a listing going via Authentication, sent tracked 24 or tracked 48 or one using simple delivery and none change. So whilst eBay claim they use the handling time identified by the seller they never do. 

By doing the above and ignoring the handling times and solely using the historic data is means the seller selected handling time is pointless but this is the one single piece of data that should always be used. 

In a made up scenario a business seller has a family emergency and they need to go and look after a family member for a couple of nights, they put handling time to 3 days to mitigate this so in any other business the EDD would be 3 days longer than usual, yet in eBay world it stays the same because the 52 weeks previously which have no bearing on what happens this week they've shipped the next business day. So again and hopefully for the final time eBay dont take into consideration the most important data thats from the buyer directly on how long we (they) want to have to ship the item out. All of this only annoys your customers (the sellers) and then gives an unrealistic date to the buyers who then instantly are annoyed because eBay thought lets over promise and give a delivery date that is not possible.

I know I have repeated myself multiple times but lets be honest being told its working as planned when its really not has become a bit of a joke reply from eBay, not yourself but eBay as a company. 

I will await the reply from the shipping team to give me an explanation of why when adding days onto handling it makes ZERO difference.

[leadhills_scot]

They will always come out with the same old mantra, it's working as designed and in their eyes it is. In the real world things are very different, RM and couriers are struggling to meet expectations due to the sheer volume of deliveries they have to make. It will only get worse nearer Xmas and the fact they are overworked and underpaid does not help. However, ebay don't care why should they it's not their problem it's the sellers who end up footing the bill.

[messier44000]

Hopefully you will get a constructive response.

But sadly, read wording reply #26, the usual team will always say what they are paid to say (C&P replies), 

and not what they actually think or believe

[arc3110]

what you have said is the standard response from all ebay employees, which I understand, you are doing your job, however as adults the same old line is now feels insulting to us, your customers.

Many of us have presented factual evidence proving every single point is wrong. The system is totally flawed, unless of course there is an ulterior motive, which I suspect there has been all along.

The system does not benefit anyone except ebay and quite frankly everyone is sick and tired of being lied to. I know I'm going over old ground but to state our situation:

How we calculate the EDD

EDD is tailored per order based on factors you control and broader delivery signals:

• Handling time typically set by the seller (how quickly you pack and hand items to the carrier). We have set to how we operate but as you have just stated this is ignored.
• The carrier and service you offer (including service speed and coverage). How can different services have the same EDD? 24/48 services are different for any other company except ebay and lets not go there about express/premium services versus standard services!
• Your past delivery performance on aspects you control (e.g., dispatch speed). In our case always dispatched on time Monday - Friday, not before or after. This has been the case for over 15 years so EDD should change after cut-off time, it does not. We have NEVER dispatched at a weekend, yet ebay tells a buyer we do.
• Carrier performance, item location, and the buyer’s delivery address. Ignored in the calculation. How can the same buyer have a different EDD for the same delivery address with 2 orders, one placed after same day cut-off, but before midnight, and the other after midnight the following day. Both orders correctly show what day to dispatch by but both have different EDD's. 
• Seasonal patterns (peak trading vs. quieter periods) and operational conditions. Are we not in peak season now? EDD remain the same as they have done all year, no change at all. This has been the same every year, rain, heat, snow or strikes, all ignored

Evidence of all of the above has been present to many different members of staff over the years including the shipping team so we know nothing is being done. All that we ask is that ebay provide a fair and realistic estimate which actually reflects what has been written in the statement and to take into account what the sellers have set in their postage polices. It's difficult enough out there without having deal with what this nonsense causes on a daily basis.

[darth_baggins]

Dave's response is exactly why I gave up on the weekly chat. It's just pointless engaging. Sellers (eBay's customers) are telling you it's not working but eBay just continually stick their fingers in their ears and go 'la-la-la-la-la-la'.

Not listening to your customers is never good. eBay should be bending over backwards to retain sellers but they continue to treat us like The Enemy.

Maybe it's working as intended, but you need to change the intention, because that is the part that's wrong. The intention is clearly to get buyers to buy based on false promises of quick delivery and leave sellers to deal with the fallout when it's 'late'. eBay get their fees and sellers get the hassle.

[pegr-834437]

I can understand if its the courier part that is broken as eBay have no control over it, granted they should take the actual times Royal Mail state for 48 and not just 2/3 business days but its the fact that for years and then again in the announcement they claim to use handling times but not a single user have been able to change handling time and change the EDD, and eBay have not provided a single piece of evidence to support their claim. If it is true they take it into consideration then its a very simple thing to prove, but yes I expect a its working as designed so its designed to over promise as eBay dont get the complaints its their customers.

[tribalgiftsuk]

Dave, i have just started a part time job, therefore my business is now a side hustle and not my full time work. I dont want my past dispatch time performance to reflect my new situation whereby i will not dispatch same day or every day and i am now going to dispatch 2-3 days a week.

I have tried to adjust my EDD to reflect that but nothing worked so i have had to resort to 'other courier 3 - 5 days' when i will be using royal mail tracked 48 and 2nd class large letter. In this instance i would like a realistic delivery date to be shown to customers so that i can use the actual dispatch service on my listings. But i am unable to.

Finally i would also like the customer to be able to pay to upgrade to tracked 24 or 1st class large letter and that to be shown with a 1 - 2 day delivery from my 2-3 day dispatch time.

So the system is not working as intended for sellers or our customers at this current time, so clearly there is a problem here. It is working as intended for Ebay and not anyone else.

Please can you pass this onto anyone who can help me as i really don't like using the 'other courier  3 - 5 option' but i have no other choice as i will not be willing to give customers a false impression and be dealing with INR cases all the time when the items are not late as far as i am concerned.  I am now a part time seller and working part time elsewhere.

I have had to state that in my listings as well to cover myself and to make sure customers know. I am in a position now where i might have to close my shop altogether on Ebay and off load my stock on different avenues that adjust delivery dates according to my set handling times.

[deanem72]

lets be honest Ebays statement should read as

We pick a date at random, and thats EDD

Suck it up