Quick dispatch on my end but late delivery by Royal Mail included in Standards Shipping Report

[jerusalemgate]

Hello!

I've just been looking through all the data we can now access via Seller Hub and have come across the Standards Shipping Report. It takes into consideration late dispatch (fair enough), where cutomer feedback indicates the item was delivered late (fair enough I suppose, it indicates the customer may not be entirely happy) but what I am not happy is that it is using tracking data to measure late delivery.

My late delivery rate is currently 2.2% and beside that figure is a warning that I could lose my top rated seller status if it goes above 3%. If I am posting items the same working day, ensuring drop off at the Post Office before last collection then why would I potentially be punished for how long it takes Royal Mail to deliver the item? Once the item is posted it is literally out of my hands and I have zero control over what happens next?

I have completed the feedback survey next to the report and the 4th question asked is

'What would help you better manage your shipping performance?'

What am I supposed to say to that if I'm already doing everything I can (secure packaging, clear labelling, quick dispatch etc).

Does anyone have any advice or experience with this?

[gump-online]

Having exactly the same problem, some of my items are on my 3/5 day delivery date yet eBay are refusing to take them from my score where l am now getting close to the 3 mark. l have appealed on all 11 late dates, Ebay are saying that thier algorithm's are correct and they cannot help. I have had more problems in the last 3 months than in the last ten years.

Also in my 90 day order list, on many occaisions the item is recorded as posted yet never ever been recorded as delivered with a tracking number included xo as with damascusgateofjerus… HELP REQUIRED

[john1297576]

A friend has had this problem, so no longer enters tracking, only if needed to cover a Not Received Claim.

It seems typical of ebay to require members to enter tracking when dispatched, but hold it against the seller if tracking is late in being updated which is outside the control of the seller.

If a buyer when leaving feedback marks as late nothing you can do.

Another possibility is to make dispatch time say 3 days but still dispatch within 24 hours, giving some margin for late deliveries.

[emma_maginnis_1985]

Unfortunately entering tracking only if there is a problem does not prevent late defects either as eBay still defect you and if you appeal they refuse to remove it as you failed to upload tracking details at the time of the postage to allow the buyer to track the item.  

I was having problems with late defects and until three weeks ago was within whiskers of losing my Top Seller Status  I followed advice of other sellers and now three weeks later the majority of older defects have been removed and any new ones have been removed also.   How?

 I don't track anything unless it is over £40.  (I send out about 150 parcels a week and balance off refunding one or two lost parcels against the cost of sending them all by Recorded Delivery).  I do however insist on a proof of postage receipt from Royal Mail for every parcel, even the ones that only require a large letter stamp.  The reference number on the receipt can be typed in to track and trace to show when the item was delivered,. 

Then if I get a late delivery defect I now upload my proof of posting to CS and follow it up with clicking on 'request a call'.  The person I speak to can see from my proof of postage that it was posted on time and on e Rey occasion they have removed the defect straight away.