ebay problem?
 

I bought a wheelset on 9/20 and paid for it immediately (Friday, 9/21). After waiting the weekend with no communication from the seller, I sent a message on Tuesday 9/25 to the seller thru ebay's system asking for a shipping update. Within a few hours, I got a Updates for you purchase response from ebay (not from the seller directly) with a USPS tracking number.

Since then, the tracking info only shows that the seller took out a label electronically and nothing else. In my experience, this means that the item has not been dropped off at the post office. Ebay shows an estimated delivery of 09/26/12 - 10/02/12. I sent another message to the seller on Friday 9/28 stating that it appears the item has not been dropped off at USPS, and asking for an update, but no response yet.

My fear is this auction went for under value, based on a couple of other similar auctions I was watching and had in a bid group (auctionsniper). Its not my fault the seller is a) clueless and b) can't write and put up an effective ebay ad. The 2 other auctions had multiple bidders/watchers, while this one only had 1 person watching it and I beat out a single bidder.

Any thoughts as to next steps if I don't get a response and the item doesn't show up? I thought I would wait until the end of the coming week before I did anything else.

Assuming all is well in the seller's world he/she should not be ignoring your emails. That's just bad form.

But I have had many eBay-related instances like this: tracking number show that a label was printed and the post office is awaiting the item. This is what is listed for days and then the package shows up. When that happens I think it just didn't get scanned upon drop-off and they don't scan it until its delivered?? Give it some more time.

He's dragging his feet, most likely. At this point, I would nudge him every day until he responds. After another week, I suggest you get noisier.

Well, sometimes post office scans do not show up for a while.

In addition, with ebay's new shipping policy, labels need to printed within one day, but dropping them off can be later. Of course, seller risks getting negative feedback or as a minimum, low detailed seller ratings which hurt as well.

I have nine items to pack today, some pretty bulky, to comply with ebay's rules.

This could well be the case, and certainly the seller should be responding to your messages. But in my experience USPS is very inconsistent at keeping shipping status up to date. Like "the lobster," I have actually received packages whose shipping status still indicated nothing more than that the label had been printed. Since estimated delivery on the wheelset is 9/26-10/2, if it's delivered on Monday or Tuesday it's still within the estimated time frame. If it doesn't show up by Tuesday and there's been no update on shipping status, then I think maybe I'd start making more of a fuss.

Something similar happened to me a couple years ago. I won a wheelset for a very low price, and the seller severely underestimated the shipping charges. He contacted me and admitted his shipping estimate error and asked if I would help with the shipping. Since I got the wheels so cheap, I split the shipping costs with him.

Thanks for the advice all. I will wait this week (at least until Wednesday) to see if they show up. I want the wheels, but if the seller does not produce them, I'll have to get nastier and file an ebay and paypal dispute. I am contacting the seller thru ebay's messaging system. He did respond to a question about the wheels before the auction ended. He didn't know how to measure OLD, but I let it go because it was pretty clear that they were 130 and not 126.

What new shipping policy? I haven't sold on ebay in awhile.

I think the most important action by a seller is to go to the post office when shipping out any item and request "Scan for Acceptance" to the postal clerk. Most postal clerks will comply, but some will object by saying just put it over there. According the the Postal Authorities, the postal clerk must scan as requested and offer a receipt after scanning the bar codes. This is for your protection and the ability to transfer funds to your bank account. Unfortunately some sellers are not aware of this procedure and buyer is in a quandary if the item has been shipped. Of course this is no guaranty that there would be proper shipping information on USPS website, but the information will show "Scan for Acceptance" will appear in the information. This way you know the item was delivered to the post office.

Some sellers only go to the post office or shipping center once a week or so, and some live way out in the sticks and won't spend the $10 in gas to go to town until they have enough to make it worth their while. I've learned to read into the reviews of sellers and buyers looking for slow reply notes, but then I haven't bought or sold on ebay for several years so things may have changed.

Yeah, wait until tomorrow night to start making a fuss. I'm hoping that the post office just didn't scan it when it got dropped off. Happens a lot.

What did you get?

A pair of Campy NR hubs, Matrix clinchers, SS spokes w/skewers (1 shimano, 1 Campy NR) and 8 speed freewheel.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221124703718...84.m1497.l2649

I don't think the seller is on here, but don't know that for sure.

If you really want to save money as a seller on ebay, you need to obtain "top rated" status. Top rated status requires very high detailed seller ratings, stellar feedback rating. You also must ship within 24 hours of payment and accept returns for 14 days.

Why bother? Well, ebay gives you 20% off final auction fees, and over 30% off shipping rates. A pretty tasty discount. I go into and out of top rated status a couple of times a year. I won't get it back until November, due to some newb buyer flaming me on shipping charge (I only charge actual postage, using ebay's shipping calculator, but some buyers want it lower yet). I have 100% positive feedback, but that is not enough.

Sell enough on ebay, and these discounts are very substantial.

Of course these showed up today. USPS site still shows the same status (Electronic shipping info received...) :)

Wheels look fine, will need some truing which my brother can help me with. Hubs spin fine, but will redo the bearings. Have to change the rear axle to take them back to 126mm OLD.