eBay's false estimated delivery dates, now several messages from buyers not happy.

[lincolnshiremarine]

I have been going on about this issue like a broken record.  I have reported it several times and even been on the community chat several times.  Ebay claim the EDD's are working fine.  They are not.

Ebay are giving buyers delivery dates as same day deliveries, next day deliveries.  Even when buyers have  have selected the free, three day delivery, they are including non working days as delivery dates being Saturday and Sundays.

I know that other sellers are being affected by this too, and have reported it too.

However, I am now spending hours replying to buyers whom think their parcel is late based on ebays estimated delivery dates. 

This leaves my business open for negative feedback and the issue of asking ebay to remove it.

The messages I am getting from buyers are:

" Hi not to pleased due to the fact I ordered this part from your company because of the delivery time and it’s not happened! Hopefully this item will turn up soon"

"parcel not arrived yet ??"

Both of those cases where when they purchased over a weekend, and they were dropped of at the parcel shop for collection the same day of purchase. However, this was over the weekend.  Ebay tracking has said to expect the delivery on Monday, which is wrong, as they included weekends as the courier collection and delivery days.

When you look on the couriers webiste the delivery dates are correct and ebays are incorrect.

We have had the same issue with Royal Mail tracked on ebay too.

How many more sellers are now getting messages like this on a daily basis, and what are you telling the buyers.?

I have been selling on ebay for 16 years and we dispatch the items on time, but, this ebay EDD are on another level now.

We look like we are fabricating delivery dates just to obtain a sale, and although we have tried tweaking the postage days etc, it does not help.

marco@ebay

Katie@ebay

Dave@ebay

[litp*records]

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@petstation1989 wrote:

I was late to a funeral yesterday because I woke up to find eBay had ignored my dispatch time and was promising deliveries for today. So I had to rush into work and pack parcels as fast as possible.

I thought if I extended my dispatch time by a day then it would add a day to the delivery estimates

Needless to say yesterday was very stressful and I won't be making that mistake again

Also the page where it shows you the the estimated date given to buyer said dispatch by 27th March & estimated date shown to buyer 27th.

---

Sorry for your loss - I would have said, sod Ebay, real life is more important.  I am sure that buyers would understand waiting an extra day in those circumstances.

The best thing to do though is use the TIME AWAY feature next time.

Talking of which...  I am going into Time Away mode now until Tuesday, because I do not trust Ebay to account for bank holidays after the debacle of recent years

[darth_baggins]

Orders from today are showing despatch by April 5th with an EDD of 2nd-6th April.

[technthread]

I bought 5 things off my private eBay account in the last week. These are all £40+ items:

1 delivered and the seller provided tracking

1 delivered. Tracking given, item smashed to bits. This is a business seller I bought from who uses parts of the order wrapped around the core item instead of bubble wrap. 

1 still not dispatched after 4 days. Seller is suddenly away and will try to post this week. I have replied to ask for tracking once they do send, no reply as yet. 

1 dispatched on day 4 as seller says they are in hospital. No tracking given. 

1 dispatched on day 2. No tracking given. No reply to correspondence. 

I am critical of these EDD's but as a returning buyer I've got to say this is a reminder of why I stopped buying anything but packaging supplies on here.

Maybe using the app and being rusty with it I am looking in the wrong place but I haven't got a clue what the EDD's on my orders are and finding it a hassle on 4 out of the 5 orders. 

eBay need to sort the EDD's out but they also need to have a look at this tracking situation. If sellers aren't uploading it to avoid defects, as a buyer that isn't my problem and it is is a horrible buying experience. As a seller I get it, but I upload tracking on everything where it applies regardless of the EDD as it isn't fair on buyers to be totally in the dark.

It is no wonder they are losing buyers and sellers. If I had bought off vinted I could have ordered to an InPost locker with no guesswork on tracking needed and no fantasy EDD looming over the seller's head. 

[litp*records]

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@technthread wrote:

I bought 5 things off my private eBay account in the last week. These are all £40+ items:

1 delivered and the seller provided tracking

1 delivered. Tracking given, item smashed to bits. This is a business seller I bought from who uses parts of the order wrapped around the core item instead of bubble wrap. 

1 still not dispatched after 4 days. Seller is suddenly away and will try to post this week. I have replied to ask for tracking once they do send, no reply as yet. 

1 dispatched on day 4 as seller says they are in hospital. No tracking given. 

1 dispatched on day 2. No tracking given. No reply to correspondence. 

I am critical of these EDD's but as a returning buyer I've got to say this is a reminder of why I stopped buying anything but packaging supplies on here.

Maybe using the app and being rusty with it I am looking in the wrong place but I haven't got a clue what the EDD's on my orders are and finding it a hassle on 4 out of the 5 orders. 

eBay need to sort the EDD's out but they also need to have a look at this tracking situation. If sellers aren't uploading it to avoid defects, as a buyer that isn't my problem and it is is a horrible buying experience. As a seller I get it, but I upload tracking on everything where it applies regardless of the EDD as it isn't fair on buyers to be totally in the dark.

It is no wonder they are losing buyers and sellers. If I had bought off vinted I could have ordered to an InPost locker with no guesswork on tracking needed and no fantasy EDD looming over the seller's head. 

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To address your last point, you'll be pleased to know that Royal Mail are rolling out lockers soon (at last!!)

I get your point about declining standards of sellers.  There are many more amateurs out there, whether business or private sellers (and fake private sellers which is another matter) - many of whom would have started selling online during the lockdown and thus don't have so much experience on how to ship items safely.

Combined with fantasy EDDs and sellers having to dance to Ebay's tune I can see how it's become a complete nightmare for all concerned.

Like you I barely buy anything online these days.  I used to buy a lot, but standards keep getting worse - inaccurate grading and woeful packaging.  

Now you don't even know when things will arrive because when buying, we are not privy to the seller's dispatch time

[technthread]

That's good news. If eBay decide to integrate that as a shipping option perfect.

I have been really shocked with the packaging of the business seller I bought off. The other 4 are private sellers and I'll wait and see on the 3 that haven't arrived yet, assuming they were all posted. 

What was I thinking doing this to myself again, I've been here too many times before 🤣.

[chilloutgames]

Cutoff time raised in todays chat

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Chat-with-the-eBay-Community/Weekly-Chat-with-the-eBay-Community-Tea...

[crybuyer]

Just read the following from https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/posting-items/estimated-delivery-dates-sellers?id=4086&st=3&pos=... 

It's possible that if we have been exceeding expectations around our handling time then eBay simply tell buyers that we will get things to them faster than if we stuck exactly to them.

[qualitycardsandgifts]

It was stated by Anita in today's weekly chat that "all official UK public holidays will be recognised by eBay as holidays for shipping and EDD calculations.".    However my items are showing if purchased today, an EDD of Saturday 30th March to Tuesday 2nd April, so the bank holidays are not being factored in.    Based on Royal Mails second class delivery estimate of 2-3 working days, delivery should be Tuesday / Wednesday.    I've already had 2 INRs this week due to ridiculous EDDs, so my holiday settings are on.

[technthread]

Some of the answers today baffled me. Seems pointless engaging anymore tbh, they say they are not aware of any issues with major glitches that have been going on for ages. Nothing personal against them as they are doing a job but does anyone there even use eBay?

[chilloutgames]

Back in 2003, Amazon had a bug where they took orders from customers with saved credit cards which had expired. The order would be pending for up to 10 days if the customer didn't check their email.

It was still happening in 2010 so I sent a letter to the UK MD.

It's still happening now...

[ukhealthhouse]

Still no changes here, we have got people that bought bank holiday Monday asking why there item did not arrive by Wednesday as the date showed Wednesday. Surely an ebay manager can pick this up somehow? dave@ebay 

[chilloutgames]

The Friday night cuffoff issue has been partly fixed for me!

I monitored the orders that I received on Friday night after my 3pm cutoff:

Before eBay support emailed to say that it was fixed the Friday night EDD was:

"Estimated between Mon and Tues"

Last Friday night it improved to:

"Estimated between Mon and Wed"

It is definitely better but it is still incorrect and it is not possible for the order to arrive today Mon, 8th due to my cutoff and posting Monday-Friday.

[best-range]

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@chilloutgames wrote:

The Friday nightcuffofff issue has been partly fixed for me!

I monitored the orders that I received on Friday night after my3pmm cutoff:

Before eBay support emailed to say that it was fixed the Friday night EDDD was:

"Estimated between Mon and Tues"

Last Friday night it improved to:

"Estimated between Mon and Wed"

It is definitely better but it is still incorrect and it is not possible for the order to arrive today Mon,8thh due to my cutoff and posting Monday-Friday.

---

But then once you add tracking number the original EDD's will change/shorten one day.

The original EDD's are usually Ok'ish until you add tracking then everything goes to hell, except for those who dont use tracked/recorded services.

Do you use tracking ?

The other problem is that often half of my items will show a completely different EDD's then the other half such as Mens Wallets will show one set of EDD but Womens Purses will show EDD that is a day longer or shorter then the wallets -  never worked out why this is the case.

So you look at one listing & the EDD's are not bad then you look at another listing & the EDD's are different yet all listing use the same service RM48, all have same dispatch date, no difference otherwise but the EDD's.

This is what I just wrote on another thread about this "shortening of the original EDD's once you add tracking":

Buyer purchased item Friday evening after the cut off time & the original EDD was showing Monday/Tuesday -8thh 9thh April delivery for RM48 tracked when the next dispatch day was today, Monday the 8th. - this is totally wrong as RM48 takes approx 3 working days for delivery.

After printing the label & added tracking the originalEDDD have now changed, shortened 1 day & changed to the 7th-9th April - that is Sunday/Tuesday - meaning the earliest delivery was yesterday even though item has only been dispatched today Monday or the latest next day for 2 class !!!

Why is the EDD going backwards in time once the tracking is added ?? showing delivery a day before item is even dispatched & on Sunday ? - there is no such economy service that delivers on Sundays anyway  ???  

The original EDD's that was shown to buyer in their Order Details at the point of purchase has all magically disappeared replaced by this new "back to the future" fantasy EDD's once you added tracking.

[chilloutgames]

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@best-range wrote:

---

But then once you add tracking number the original EDD's will change/shorten one day.

The original EDD's are usually Ok'ish until you add tracking then everything goes to hell, except for those who dont use tracked/recorded services.

Do you use tracking ?

 Yes, I use Royal Mail 48 and Tracked.

I've just added tracking to one of the Friday night orders and in the order the EDD is unchanged: 

Estimated delivery date shown to buyer: 8 Apr 2024 - 10 Apr 2024

But as you mention, the Track Package section is a mess:

TRACKING PROVIDED

Arrives Sun 7 Apr - Tue 9 Apr

Mon 8 Apr 7:07am (time I added trackinhg which is 8hrs wrong using BST - or correct time if I was on PST)

[best-range]

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@chilloutgames wrote:

---

@best-range wrote:

---

But then once you add tracking number the original EDD's will change/shorten one day.

The original EDD's are usually Ok'ish until you add tracking then everything goes to hell, except for those who dont use tracked/recorded services.

Do you use tracking ?

 Yes, I use Royal Mail 48 and Tracked.

I've just added tracking to one of the Friday night orders and in the order the EDD is unchanged: 

Estimated delivery date shown to buyer: 8 Apr 2024 - 10 Apr 2024

But as you mention, the Track Package section is a mess:

TRACKING PROVIDED

Arrives Sun 7 Apr - Tue 9 Apr

Mon 8 Apr 7:07am (time I added trackinhg which is 8hrs wrong using BST - or correct time if I was on PST)

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Exactly this is what I'm talking about, once you add tracking & then click on the tracking number to see where your item is,  as many buyers do, they'll see different/ 1 day shorter delivery dates as compared to their original EDD's in their Order Details.

So which dates/EDD's are correct ?

I call them both EDD's , maybe wrongly as clearly the word "estimate" is dropped & replaced with a definitive wording : "Arrives Sunday the 7th - Tuesday the 9th" once you add tracking - so maybe it should be called DDD - Definitive Delivery Date or even FDDD ( Fantasy Definite Delivery Date).

So it goes from EDD to FDDD.

The system completely ignores the fact that you only posted it on Monday the 8th.  & the delivery dates are always only "estimate" as RM48 Tracked is not a guaranteed yesterday/same/next day delivery service but it's 2-3 business days service.

[ultrahi-94]

The Customer is ALWAYS RIGHT it is Ur duty 2 make them happy or U ll lose buisness

[theelench]

Definitely  --  happy buyers are repeat buyers.  That is something that most businesses and even a lot of private sellers understand very well.  To the point that they routinely "Under promise and over deliver".  I do it all the time.  Sadly ebay doesn't seem to have caught on to this yet.

Due to ebays interference I say 2 days handling time on my listings,  but in reality, usually post  same day or next day at the latest.  I have plenty of Feedback comments like "Quick delivery" / "Arrived super fast".

(So if I sell an item on Monday, it might be posted Monday, or at the latest Tuesday.  Second class mail means it will be delivered 2/3 days later.  i.e Thursday or Friday.

So why is ebay sabotaging my excellent Customer Relations by telling buyers to expect delivery on Wednesday or Thursday ?   Wednesday is impossible.  Thursday is possible, but recently, Friday is more likely.

By my reckoning and RM's, my parcel isn't delivered late until Saturday but ebay stubbornly sticks to it's fantasy that I'm a lazy seller who can't be bothered to post within my stated handling time when I always do.  It's not me causing the problem, it's ebay saying that I should do the impossible.

But is always very careful NEVER to tell me HOW I'm meant to do it.

[redsputnik_1]

Can anyone here help or advise me please. Seller or anothr Buyer I really don't mind. I couldn't get any info. off eBay.

I paid for a special brochure on 6th.April ETA 9th to 11th April. Tracked

8th April tracker chart shows item halfway between out for delivery and delivered

Then EBay message arrived running late 20th April item didn't arrive 

Then ETA date changed to 24th - 26th April

I sent eBay a message requesting an explanation why I am being sent these messages

Instead or replying to my request they have opened a case on the seller which is the last thing I wanted. The seller is as bemused and at a loss as I am on what is going on with eBay.

Today  I checked on the original listing ETA on that now changed to 25th - 27th, April and is marked as sold to me.

There is nowhere I can find to message any just automated topics which so not cover this problem.

[qualitycardsandgifts]

This is a summary of yesterday's orders.    My cut off time is 7.15 am, so all to be posted today (23rd April)

Ordered 10.56  EDD    24th - 25th April

                   12.51                 24th - 26th April

                     2.10                24th - 25th April

                    4.32                25th - 27th April

                     5.11                  24th - 25th April 

                    8.57                 25th - 27th April

All being posted by Royal Mail second class    

[theelench]

I doubt that anyone can really help you or answer your question.  There seems to be no rhyme or reason to ebays EDDs and they're certainly not at all helpful to either buyers or sellers.

You could try ringing CS, but they are well known for telling callers anything to end the call as quick as possible.

Perhaps dave@ebay  or another member of the Community Team might look into the case for you as what's going-on looks very strange even by ebay's standards.