To think don't offer the goods if you can't deliver - ebay

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Last week ordered something from ebay, paid for next day delivery, nearly a week on still not arrived. Contacted seller who says he is in hospital (but still obviously checking his ebay account)says it will be despatched on Friday, arrived Wednesday. Item was purchased for a birthday this week. Asked if it is despatched on Friday why wont it arrive by Saturday as I have paid for next day delivery.

Anyhow, my point being, if you know you are going into hosptial, as he would have done, why not suspend your eaby account or at least let people know that you cannot deliver for another two weeks, refund next day delivery charge or give the opportunity to cancel.

Oh, and I don't care if IAMBU, I now have to find a suitable birthday gift at very short notice.
Rant over.

does sound very half arsed of them. what was their feedback like?

YANBU to be annoyed, but TBH I would never rely on ebay for something urgent so if you are really expecting 'shop' service off ebay then yes, YABU.

Did he say he knew he was going into hospital? I've been to an out patient appointment thinking I was off to work straight afterwards and ended up being kept in. Perhaps the same happened to him?

why didn't you ask if you could cancel it and get a refund? most sellers will offer this if you ask nicely

and maybe he didn;t know he'd be in hospital... could have been something entirely unexpected

It was the £3.20 next day delivery that swang it for me and had 100% feedback, so assumed couldn't go wrong - I was mistaken . Still confused as to why his 'friend' who he says is going to post it on Friday can't send on next day delivery, as paid for?!?!

maybe give it a little time to see if they do have an explanation, it's annoying but ebay can be a weird thing sometimes.

thing is, if someone is charging extra for next day delivery I would expect next day or two at least, so have been waiting nearly a week now with the promise of posting on Friday for Wednesday delivery!?!??!

email asking for a refund and see what they say

part refund on postage i mean

It's too late though South, need the present pronto that's why I ordered last week and with next day delivery, so now have to sort refund but have to dash round town in the morning before work for a suitable pressie. Just wish they could have let me know they couldn't post next day then I wouldn't be in a panic now.

Anyhow, rant done and move on.

Can I just say (as an eBay seller!!) that offering a next day delivery service doesn't necessarily mean same or next day dispatch, it just means next day delivery after dispatch. Did he specify in his listing that he would post out same day as payment received, or at least specify a dispatch time? If not, then yes YABU to expect next day delivery after paying as this is not what is meant by a next day delivery service.

However, YANBU to expect next working day delivery if the item is dispatched on a Friday (although even Royal Mail special delivery is not guaranteed on saturday if posted on a friday, it would always be guaranteed by monday).

Also, I would like to know how he was offering a next day delivery service for £3.20 as special delivery is the only way (apart from courier which would cost a lot more) to guarantee next day delivery & this starts from £5.05.

Sorry to waffle, but just wanted to make you aware as sellers get a lot of stick & bad feedback because buyers have misunderstood something to do with postage & dispatch times.

Chunky,ebay blurb says - Royal Mail Special Delivery (TM) next day £3.20. Ordered 19th May, still not arrived, no contact from seller saying can't post til over a week after order with delivery being two weeks after order placed.

My point being, if you can't fulfil your ebay obligations, let buyers know.

Ok, fair enough, but the service offered is next day delivery by royal mail, this still doesn't mean you will receive the item next day, just that it is guaranteed to be delivered to you the next working day after it is dispatched. If the seller has not mentioned a dispatch time, then although it is annoying & inconvenient to you, the seller does not have any obligations to fill.

However, if when he finally did get in touch, he said it was being dispatched on the friday, it should have arrived by 1pm Monday at the latest if it was indeed sent by special delivery. I can certianly understand your frustration at this.

It sounds to me like he has realised he hasn't charged you enough p&p to cover the cost of sending by special delivery, so has clearly chosen to send by another method (1st/2nd class etc) which is really not on. This was his mistake so he should have covered the additional costs.

I hope you can see what I'm saying here. He had no obligation to dispatch this item to you immediately, unless he has specified a dispatch time on his listing. But he does have an obligation to post it to you using the delivery method he specified on the listing.

(FWIW - I never treat my customers like this man has treated you and always keep in regular contact so they are aware of when & how their items will be posted)

chunky, glad to hear you treat your customers well. If my seller meant next day after despatch then that should have been specified, then fact that delivery would be two weeks after order then £3.20 postage is unacceptable. However, have now organised refund and hope to find suitable gift tomorrow. thanks for your input.

You don't have to mention a dispatch time on eBay sadly, so although sellers will offer next day delivery, it is quite misleading because they can post it out whenever is convenient to them, so although it will be sent next day delivery, it may not be dispatched until a week or so after payment is made.

I always specify a dispatch time on my listings (usually within 48 hours of payment being recieved), but if it may be longer, I will always put a comment like "Please be aware that due to work commitments, I only visit the Post Office once or twice a week". This way I am covering myself, but I will always email as soon as payment is received to let the buyer know when I will be going to the Post Office.

It is also frustrating being the seller when buyers take ages to pay for an item. eBay do not allow a seller to file a non-paying bidder report until 10 working days after the end of the auction, so we are also left dangling like you have been. It doesn't seem fair. You wouldn't be able to walk into a shop, tell the shopkeeper that you want to buy something, stop someone else from buying it, then pay days later would you?!

chunky, all I can say is I wish I had bought this item from you. I ALWAYS pay immediately and obviously this item was required this week. Do not think I abu to expect an item bought and paid for on 19th May to be delivered by now, sellers next day delivery, first class, second class, carrier pidgeon, express tortoise etc. There we are then, lesson learned.