eBay Alternative to Scheduled Time Away?
 

I’ll be out of town for a week. I heard the eBay algorithm really punishes sellers who use scheduled time away. Are there any alternatives to notifying potential buyers you won’t be shipping for a week without actually scheduling the time away as a seller?

I suppose you could adjust the handling time to 5 days on all of your items, but that probably hurts just as bad as time away. Frankly, I'd just schedule the time away and not worry about the algorithm.

[QUOTE]I’ll be out of town for a week. I heard the eBay algorithm really punishes sellers who use scheduled time away. Are there any alternatives to notifying potential buyers you won’t be shipping for a week without actually scheduling the time away as a seller?[/QUOTE]

No, you either have to schedule the time away message, extend handling time, or do nothing.

Thank you both, I appreciate the replies. I’ll keep it simple and use the time away feature.

Beau, I’m a big fan of Hobby Evolution. Hope you’re having a good time at spring training!

Do you have to have an eBay store to use the time away feature?

eBay Alternative to Scheduled Time Away?
 

[QUOTE=Rabs;19840996]Do you have to have an eBay store to use the time away feature?[/QUOTE]

I don’t have a store and I can do it. It’s under settings -> Selling -> Time Away.

Another option OP if it’s not a ton of listings maybe…..jack the prices of everything way up so no one would buy. (That might affect search algorithm tho). Or just end the listings then relist when back. I’d probably just do the time away, it’s simplest.

Schedule listings to go live while you are away. Problem solved. As long as your handling time is changed (it should automatically when you schedule time away) you will be fine.

Never had an issue with 'the algorithm' doing it this way.

[QUOTE=DynaEtch;19841050]I don’t have a store and I can do it. It’s under settings -> Selling -> Time Away.

Another option OP if it’s not a ton of listings maybe…..jack the prices of everything way up so no one would buy. (That might affect search algorithm tho). Or just end the listings then relist when back. I’d probably just do the time away, it’s simplest.[/QUOTE]

This is a slick idea in the right situation. I have a bunch of stuff with watchers and I don’t necessarily wana have them see prices fluctuating wildly. But I could see this potentially working under the right circumstances.

[QUOTE=BostonNut;19841074]Schedule listings to go live while you are away. Problem solved. As long as your handling time is changed (it should automatically when you schedule time away) you will be fine.

Never had an issue with 'the algorithm' doing it this way.[/QUOTE]

This is a good call. I already sorta throttled myself by not listing new items for the past 5 or so days. I was still generating some sales which was nice. I guess I was hoping not to have my impressions go absolutely off a cliff.

A decent percentage of my listings have watchers. If not I’d probably have tinkered with this idea. Appreciate the suggestion!

[QUOTE]Schedule listings to go live while you are away. Problem solved. As long as your handling time is changed (it should automatically when you schedule time away) you will be fine.[/QUOTE]

This does not help. I have listed BIN items and multiple days of auctions while I'm at spring training. My daily sales average is around 130. I am averaging 26 per day during my trip. My listings are still promoted at the same percentage. The only difference is my time away is set.

[QUOTE=spacepunk;19841555]This is a slick idea in the right situation. I have a bunch of stuff with watchers and I don’t necessarily wana have them see prices fluctuating wildly. But I could see this potentially working under the right circumstances.[/QUOTE]

Depending on how old the listing and how many watchers, it's proabbly a better idea to end those listings, refresh them, and get new watchers (and sales) from the algorithm boost.

That said, the point of going on vacation for a week is to not work. When I go on my big week+ vacation every year I completely shut down my store, ending every single listing.