Improve performance by shipping items promptly
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When people buy things online, they generally expect their items to arrive quickly. While you can't control when a package will be delivered, you can set buyers' expectations by letting them know when an item will be shipped and making every effort to ship packages within your specified time frame.
Shipping promptly and managing buyers' expectations can help you avoid:
Cases where a buyer didn't receive the item
Negative and neutral Feedback
Setting expectations for shipping time
When you provide shipping details in your listing, it allows you to set buyers' expectations up front. This can help avoid misunderstandings about unexpected costs or your shipping and handling time.
Forgetting to include information on when you normally ship items can lead to buyer dissatisfaction. |
Specify your handling time—the time between when buyer pays and when you mail the item. Most buyers expect less than 2 days of handling time. If you don't ship items on weekends, say so in your listing.
Tip: By meeting certain shipping conditions, you can receive an automatic 5-star detailed seller rating for shipping time. |
Not specifying who is responsible for customs fees or duties can lead to a misunderstanding. |
Make sure all your international listings include a clear message to buyers stating that they're responsible for customs fees and may run into delays due to customs inspections. If you include this message, eBay will remove negative or neutral Feedback resulting from customs delays or fees. Be sure to read and follow the requirements for this message.
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Not offering an expedited shipping service can cause frustration for buyers who want their items quickly. |
Even if you offer a free shipping option, buyers appreciate the option to pay for faster shipping. It's a good idea to offer your buyers an expedited shipping option. When you list your item you can choose from several shipping options. We categorize each option as one-day, expedited, standard, or economy. The table below shows the shipping speed for each shipping service.
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Shipping service name
|
Shipping speed |
USPS Express Mail |
One-day shipping |
USPS Express Mail Flat Rate Envelope |
One-day shipping |
UPS Next Day Air Saver |
One-day shipping |
UPS Next Day Air |
One-day shipping |
One-day shipping |
One-day shipping |
USPS Priority Mail |
Expedited shipping |
USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope |
Expedited shipping |
USPS Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box |
Expedited shipping |
USPS Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box |
Expedited shipping |
USPS Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box |
Expedited shipping |
UPS 2nd Day Air |
Expedited shipping |
Expedited shipping |
Expedited shipping |
Expedited shipping from outside the U.S. |
Expedited shipping from outside the U.S. |
USPS First Class Mail |
Standard shipping |
USPS First Class Package International |
Standard shipping |
USPS First Class Mail International |
Standard shipping |
UPS 3 Day Select |
Standard shipping |
UPS Ground |
Standard shipping |
Standard shipping |
Standard shipping |
Standard shipping from outside the U.S. |
Standard shipping from outside the U.S. |
USPS Parcel Select |
Economy shipping |
USPS Media Mail |
Economy shipping |
Economy shipping |
Economy shipping |
Economy shipping from outside the U.S. |
Economy shipping from outside the U.S. |
When creating your listing, you can select any of these services. To help buyers see consistent shipping options on eBay, shipping services appear as 1-day, expedited, standard, or economy. Specific information about your shipping services and estimated delivery times also appear in your listings.
Using tracking information
Many shipping companies provide tracking information for packages, allowing you and your buyer to check the status of shipments. If the carrier you're using offers this service, be sure to take advantage of it. This gives buyers peace of mind and shows them you care about customer service. It can also save you time because you won't need to answer questions about where their item is.
Tip: Tracking information and Delivery Confirmation may also give you proof if you ever have to handle cases where buyers say they didn't receive your item.
Here are a few ways that you can provide tracking information to your buyers:
Printing shipping labels on eBay |
If you print shipping labels on eBay, the tracking information is automatically added to My eBay. |
Uploading your shipping info to My eBay |
If you use a shipping service that provides tracking or Delivery Confirmation numbers (such as FedEx, UPS, or the U.S. Postal Service), you can upload the information in My eBay.
Here's how:
Go to the Purchase History section of My eBay. Select the item you want to upload a tracking or delivery confirmation number for, and then click the Add tracking number button. On the Add/Edit/Delete Tracking Number page, enter the tracking information.
Once you've uploaded the information, it appears below the item title in the Sold section of My eBay and on the Order details page.
We'll send your buyer an email with the tracking or delivery confirmation number. Your buyer can also find this information in the Purchase History
section of My eBay and on the Order details page. |
Sending an email |
Although uploading the tracking information in My eBay is ideal, you can also send the buyer a separate email through eBay messages, and provide tracking information this way. |
Learn more about shipping best practices.
