As a new buyer I want to be patient, but what is a reasonable handling time for
shipping?
I don't want to keep asking the seller when are you going to ship.. LOL
Depends on the size of the order and how many orders the seller is getting -
I think 3-5 days is reasonable, anything longer than a week is pushing into unreasonable
territory.
As a new buyer I want to be patient, but what is a reasonable handling time for
shipping?
I don't want to keep asking the seller when are you going to ship.. LOL
Depends on the size of the order and how many orders the seller is getting -
I think 3-5 days is reasonable, anything longer than a week is pushing into unreasonable
territory.
As a new buyer I want to be patient, but what is a reasonable handling time for
shipping?
I don't want to keep asking the seller when are you going to ship.. LOL
Depends on the size of the order and how many orders the seller is getting -
I think 3-5 days is reasonable, anything longer than a week is pushing into unreasonable
territory.
What’s reasonable is, indeed, open to interpretation. As a matter of Bricklink’s
terms and conditions, anything beyond 7 days is asking for trouble, because Bricklink
allows buyers to submit a Non-Shipping Seller report after 7 days. IMO, the best
definition of what is reasonable is whatever is listed in a seller’s terms. And,
even then, maybe cut them some slack if they’re a half a day behind schedule
vs what their terms say.
In my mind, I would say unreasonable is anything longer than 1 business
day later than what’s listed in the seller’s terms. That’s just my opinion, though.
That opinion is based on the near total impossibility of correctly forecasting
demand with perfect precision every day of the year. And, even if perfect precision
in forecasting were possible, isn’t it a kind thing to do to consider that even
the most motivated and committed person might need a sick day every once in a
while?
Here’s how this point of view plays out in the real world. Last week, for example,
I got 50 out of 51 orders shipped within or faster than the terms stated in my
handling time, which are: 1 business day handling time for orders with both fewer
than 50 lots and fewer than 200 pieces. And, for anything larger, 3 business
days handling time.
Well, I dropped the ball and didn’t get all of my work done by 6pm on Friday.
50 out of 51 was good, but it wasn’t 51 out of 51. There was one single small-ish
166-lot, 590-something piece order left to do. I could have done it Friday evening
and taken it to the UPS Store on Saturday. But, I really didn’t feel like doing
it. So, I waited until Monday (today) to do it. So, I was 1 day behind what my
terms state, sure. But, that’s in the context of getting 50 out of 51 orders
out the door on-time or faster than the stated terms, and, actually, for most
of the smallest orders, those all shipped the same day as they were placed, thus
beating the promised handling time by a full business day.
I contacted the buyer of that 51st order today and let them know it’s shipping
out a day later than planned and why (ran out of time last week and felt tired
on Friday evening and I don’t work on pulling order on weekends) and they were
cool about it. It helps that I ship UPS Ground because I am confident that box
will reach them in Idaho by Thursday and they’ll have it in-time for the all-important
weekend when most people build stuff. So, all is well that ends well.
Anyway, that’s why I say what I view as reasonable is what’s listed in the terms
+ maybe a 1 day grace period if you’re feeling like a generous and kind person
that day. For anything beyond a 1 day grace period, I think you’re well within
your right, legally, morally, and ethically, to give the seller a big fat piece
of your mind for messing around and not getting their job done in the timeframe
they advertised, or something very close to it, if you’re feeling merciful towards
them. That’s my two cents. Hope this helps!
What’s reasonable is, indeed, open to interpretation. As a matter of Bricklink’s
terms and conditions, anything beyond 7 days is asking for trouble, because Bricklink
allows buyers to submit a Non-Shipping Seller report after 7 days. IMO, the best
definition of what is reasonable is whatever is listed in a seller’s terms. And,
even then, maybe cut them some slack if they’re a half a day behind schedule
vs what their terms say.
In my mind, I would say unreasonable is anything longer than 1 business
day later than what’s listed in the seller’s terms. That’s just my opinion, though.
That opinion is based on the near total impossibility of correctly forecasting
demand with perfect precision every day of the year. And, even if perfect precision
in forecasting were possible, isn’t it a kind thing to do to consider that even
the most motivated and committed person might need a sick day every once in a
while?
Here’s how this point of view plays out in the real world. Last week, for example,
I got 50 out of 51 orders shipped within or faster than the terms stated in my
handling time, which are: 1 business day handling time for orders with both fewer
than 50 lots and fewer than 200 pieces. And, for anything larger, 3 business
days handling time.
Well, I dropped the ball and didn’t get all of my work done by 6pm on Friday.
50 out of 51 was good, but it wasn’t 51 out of 51. There was one single small-ish
166-lot, 590-something piece order left to do. I could have done it Friday evening
and taken it to the UPS Store on Saturday. But, I really didn’t feel like doing
it. So, I waited until Monday (today) to do it. So, I was 1 day behind what my
terms state, sure. But, that’s in the context of getting 50 out of 51 orders
out the door on-time or faster than the stated terms, and, actually, for most
of the smallest orders, those all shipped the same day as they were placed, thus
beating the promised handling time by a full business day.
I contacted the buyer of that 51st order today and let them know it’s shipping
out a day later than planned and why (ran out of time last week and felt tired
on Friday evening and I don’t work on pulling order on weekends) and they were
cool about it. It helps that I ship UPS Ground because I am confident that box
will reach them in Idaho by Thursday and they’ll have it in-time for the all-important
weekend when most people build stuff. So, all is well that ends well.
Anyway, that’s why I say what I view as reasonable is what’s listed in the terms
+ maybe a 1 day grace period if you’re feeling like a generous and kind person
that day. For anything beyond a 1 day grace period, I think you’re well within
your right, legally, morally, and ethically, to give the seller a big fat piece
of your mind for messing around and not getting their job done in the timeframe
they advertised, or something very close to it, if you’re feeling merciful towards
them. That’s my two cents. Hope this helps!
Brian
Thank you for that reply. There's nothing listed in the terms only shipping
times showing priority mail. The seller has 600 sales and good feedback. I see
a free shipment notice but it hasn't been updated. If I count the business
days it actually hasn't been that long so I'll give it more time.
Lastly, looking at this question from the opposite angle, what is “unreasonable?”
In my mind, unreasonable is holding someone to a different standard than whatever
they advertise. If a seller’s terms state they only have time to pull orders
one day a week and that day is Saturday, and a buyer placed an on a Monday, and
messages the seller on Thursday demanding that the seller ship it on Friday,
because they say that almost all sellers ship within 3 business days of an order
being placed, I think that’s an unreasonable expectation. Holding someone to
a faster standard than what they clearly advertise is unfair and unreasonable.
But, holding someone to the handling time they advertise is completely reasonable.
I only add, of course, that, as a matter of basic human courtesy, giving someone
an additional day to meet your expectations is a kindhearted thing to do and
greatly appreciated by a seller if they’re just having an abnormally high sales
volume that particular week. Courtesy from buyers isn’t a requirement. But, it
IS very nice! : )
Lastly, looking at this question from the opposite angle, what is “unreasonable?”
In my mind, unreasonable is holding someone to a different standard than whatever
they advertise. If a seller’s terms state they only have time to pull orders
one day a week and that day is Saturday, and a buyer placed an on a Monday, and
messages the seller on Thursday demanding that the seller ship it on Friday,
because they say that almost all sellers ship within 3 business days of an order
being placed, I think that’s an unreasonable expectation. Holding someone to
a faster standard than what they clearly advertise is unfair and unreasonable.
But, holding someone to the handling time they advertise is completely reasonable.
I only add, of course, that, as a matter of basic human courtesy, giving someone
an additional day to meet your expectations is a kindhearted thing to do and
greatly appreciated by a seller if they’re just having an abnormally high sales
volume that particular week. Courtesy from buyers isn’t a requirement. But, it
IS very nice! : )
As a seller on other platforms I am trying to show patience.
As a new buyer I want to be patient, but what is a reasonable handling time for
shipping?
I don't want to keep asking the seller when are you going to ship.. LOL
You have been a member less than a week and that includes a weekend. How many
times have you asked the seller already? They might have already shipped and
not got round to updating the status.
As a new buyer I want to be patient, but what is a reasonable handling time for
shipping?
I don't want to keep asking the seller when are you going to ship.. LOL
You have been a member less than a week and that includes a weekend. How many
times have you asked the seller already? They might have already shipped and
not got round to updating the status.
Yes you're right. Business days has only been a couple now that I look at
it. I only asked once yesterday. As a seller on other platforms I want to show
patience. I asked the question here so I wouldn't be "that" buyer..lol
USA, Maryland
Canada, Ontario
United Kingdom, England