You can't do it unless you have a store. If you go away, your only option is to end your listings.
eBay, etc. General Question/Answer Thread
- Thread starter littlerock
- Start date
I don't think you can put an away message on your listings unless you have a store. Unless that is a recent update that I'm not aware of. Which really does stink for those that have a true emergency as you could be making sales and not even checking depending on the situation.
You can contact USPS. You should be able to talk to someone at the post office where the recipient lives. They might be able to give more information, or if there was a mistake, fix it. After a week if you don't get any results, open a missing mail claim with the post office.I sold an item and shipped with signature confirmation. It was out for delivery yesterday morning and the tracking never updated. Now it says "awaiting delivery scan."From my experience with USPS, this probably means it was delivered and never scanned. This has only happened to me once before and the buyer was honest and left me positive feedback so I know they received it.
I believe the advice here is usually against contacting the buyer (let sleeping dogs lie), but should I contact USPS? If it was delivered already I know I'll never get a delivery scan online, but perhaps inquiring could make something happen?
I assume this was a high value item since you used signature confirmation. IMO, you should never use signature confirmation unless it is required due to being over the threshold required by paypal/ebay. Under $750, all you need for proof of delivery is delivery confirmation. When the post office forgets to get the signature, you would lose an INR case if the buyer chose to open one. I sold an iphone once and they didn't get the signature. I was very lucky the buyer was honest.
Thanks. It was under $750. I require signature on all my items for "peace of mind" even though I know it isn't required. I figure $3 to at least know who got the package is worth it. And with only one mishap it seemed worth the gamble, but now I'm at two.
I will contact the Post Office and pray my buyer is honest.
Another option is to extend your handling time. When I went away, I changed it (bulk edit) to 3 business days (from 1) and it gave me the cushion I needed for an 8 day vacation. Since weekends aren't considered business days, it gave me more than enough time to be away, respond to messages and ship when I returned. All was done without any late shipping dings.
If it's an extended vacation, this might not work.
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The problem with your "peace of mind" s.c. is that it could backfire and work against you. If it's not needed, you're risking a lazy mail carrier not collecting it and if they don't get s.c. on an item for which it's been purchased, there's also not going to be "delivered" tracking.
See @whateve's post above yours.
I do this too. Extend the handling time and put an out of office reply on my messages. As my vacation goes on, I shorten the handling time to sync with my return home.
I did read it and replied. I put Peace of mind in quotes to point out the irony as it backfired for the second time.
In my mind it's still possible for a determined scammer to say they didn't get an item that was marked as delivered. S.c. I feel in some ways deters scammers. I put in all my listings that its required. Also it prevents packages from being left on doorsteps and stolen.
Oh well. Just sucks to be out over $300. Hoping for an honest buyer.
The other problem with signature confirmation is that it annoys buyers. I've only used it a few times because I hardly ever sell anything expensive enough. I had one buyer, a tpfer, who was never home to sign, even when she arranged a delivery time, so the package came back to me. I had another complain that she had to stay home from work since she forgot to change the address to her work.
If you really want to require signature, I suggest you use UPS. I've never had a problem with UPS not getting the signature.
off topic: While UPS is usually pretty good, I just found a package on my porch that was addressed to my neighbor. I didn't look at it close enough to see if it was smart post, meaning USPS was the delivery agent.
True. This is why I post in my listing I require s.c. so they know in advance. I only get annoyed as a buyer when the seller doesn't tell me in advance.
I realized this is actually my third incident! On the other one I never heard from the buyer. I'm definitely convinced that s.c. is not worth it! Usps is the fastest for me shipping wise, and I like my buyers to get their items quickly.
I remember someone had a buyer claim inr and then they posted it for sale a year later.
I think it was my post you're thinking of. In this post from 2011, I told about a buyer who did that to me. As I explained in that post, I knew the buyer was lying and that it would be a matter of time before she would try to sell my item.
Oh wow, it was you. I can't believe I remembered a post from 8 years ago. Lol. What a shady person. Smh.
Looking at the thread I must have gotten the idea to highlight signature confirmation on the label from you! And actually I stopped doing it for awhile, but for this package I did and I took pics, which I almost never do. (I know none of this will help me in a claim.)
The tracking has said waiting for delivery scan since Monday. I haven't heard from the buyer. I'm going to call USPS first thing. Yesterday afternoon the hold time was an hour!
If you can find the local phone number for the post office, you won't have to wait as long and you'll be able to talk to someone who can talk to the carrier directly. It is usually more effective.
So I got this message from eBay today after listing something for the first time in like two years. I’ve been a member with no problems (counterfeit or otherwise) since 2004. I’m not gonna fight this bc I was asking so little for the item, but like... wtf? Is there just like a robot that sweeps listings and removes them? I bought this from the boutique myself so I know it’s real. >.>
Anyway I guess it’s off to Depop, etsy, etc for me.
ETA: Also is customer service only available over the phone now?
I assume it is because you haven't listed anything in years, and then the first thing you listed is something that is often counterfeited.