How long is it acceptable to wait for my item to be dispatched?

[NadiaWadia]

On Monday 4 January I ordered something, and the confirmation details did say 'estimated deliver 21 - 25 January.' I just thought it was Ebay giving the seller lots of leeway, as they do on Amazon, and that really it would be here much sooner. Elsewhere on the page it says 'other courier 3-5 days'. But they have had my money over a week now and no sign of it being dispatched. I emailed them last Friday and they replied they 'hoped' to dispatch it this week.

It's a mattress to go with a new bedframe. Bed frame has been here a while, as it was ordered from a different seller and was dispatched the next day. They have good feedback from other buyers, but I'm a bit cross, as the only reason for the delay I can think of was that the mattress wasn't actually in stock when I ordered it. Are they allowed to list things they don't actually have in? And how long is acceptable to wait?

I'm afraid you don't really have cause for complaint until the latest delivery estimate comes and it still hasn't arrived.

This date was provided to you before you placed the order, and you accepted it at the time of purchase.

You can't really "be cross" because you"hoped it would be here sooner"!

Do they 'have your money'? I thought your card was only charged when item dispatched but may be wrong.

I agree with above, if it is not passed the given date then you should wait as annoying as that is

They do "have the money" yes. BUT this can be recalled at any time via PayPal if the advertised product or service doesn't meet the described standards.

EBay certainly won't step in, in regards to a non receipt until after the latest delivery estimate date. And to leave neutral or negative feedback if it arrives within the estimate, would be wrong.

Maybe the mattress company waits until they have a certain number of orders then drives round the country delivering themselves, to save on delivery costs. Hence the late dispatch.

Yeah, you accepted an estimated delivery date of 21st to 25th. The courier date shows you when to accept dispatch - in this case 3 - 5 days before the 21st to 25th.

Until it gets to the 26th, the item is not late and eBay won't do anything. It's was a term that you agreed to before you paid, so you accepted it as part of the contract.

Leaving negative/neutral feedback before the 26th is also a bad idea, because eBay will likely remove it anyway, and if they don't, you've taken away your ability to leave feedback about the actual item.

With PayPal they do take the money straight away, yes. I think you're thinking of Amazon, GoodEnough, where they don't charge your card until they dispatch the item.

I suppose I can wait, it's just a bit irritating. I suppose the main thing I really want to know is, are there any rules for Ebay sellers on how many days before they must dispatch something? I have the feeling there are rules like that on Amazon Marketplace.

And also, are you really allowed to list something when you don't have it in stock? That must be what has happened with my item, as I see from their feedback that some other buyers are mentioning 'fast delivery' so I guess I'm just unlucky.

Crosspost, 19lottie, I see, that could certainly be another explanation.

I don't understand your issue because, like other posters have pointed out, you accepted their delivery dates when you purchased from them.

If you weren't happy waiting then you should have bought from another supplier.

Ebay would ideally like sellers to do same day dispatch, but for some sellers that simply isn't practical, so it isn't a requirement.

I think maybe I was getting confused with Amazon, where sellers I think must dispatch within a few days, yet delivery estimates are always very long, 3 weeks or so, presumably to cover for things delayed in the mail. So I am used to things arriving a lot quicker than the stated delivery timeframe. I will have to remember that is not the case with Ebay

OP in answer to your question, yes, sellers are allowed to list items they don't have in stock, as long as they reach the buyer by the latest delivery estimate.

A lot of sellers are "drop shippers". This is where they don't physically hold the stock. They take orders then pay another supplier (a lesser rate) to send the item to their customer directly.