Sellers, please use the new shipping templates correctly.

This is one reason, I am just sticking to the old templates,

Then if things change, I can just put a note on my footer like I have now, and running auctions with no Buy Now's,

I will not be held to ransom with the new templates with shipping times, if something goes wrong and you are unable to ship?,

as it does sometimes with odd night in hospital, I have a bit of leeway, as do state I do not ship everyday,

But as you stated above Gary their shipping times should not be hidden in their payment Instructions,

If they have done it for security reasons, as not to advertise their absence on auctions, They should stop listing full stop,

I am at home, but just relaxing chilling out until next week now we have nice weather to be outside,

Hi Gary,

There could be many reasons for delayed shipping I'm sure you would know. Firstly Trademe does not give more flexible options with templates, you choose 1-2 or 2-3 processing time or but not delivery time which is obvious you cannot control delivery times unless you you personally do the delivery. How can a sender know what the courier companies will do with your parcels.

As a person who tries to under promise and over deliver, I can only agree that it is frustrating when ordering something from say a big brand company, only for them to have it dispatched a week or more later. But for individuals here on trademe, I would say they are not always acting under any rules or laws, just merely chose an option for their shipping template that was available to them but circumstances happen as often they do.

Not only that, courier companies are under staffed and under managed these days, as there are staffing issues across NZ in many industries, so delays were already the norm well before the holiday period. Then Off course you're questioning this during the most busiest of times, where people are just not focused on business at all, their mind is holiday holiday holiday. As a buyer it is frustrating to not be able to get things on time, but I have to adapt to many facts in this country, such as those mentioned above, the general "she'll be right" attitude, and especially we're in the middle of the holiday period, where most businesses are simply closed and staff are unavailable.

If a trader has 100s of auctions, changing shipping details maybe too time consuming, and if it is done to adapt for the holiday period, then some may even forget a few listings, I know I have done so, and alas had buyers having to wait a longer time than they expected, I've always shipped items lightning fast but always in my email "expect delays". Then many have given me great feedback with often fast delivery in the blurb.

Was it also not an inevitability that buying during this period you might get such delays? Anyway, I do feel the frustration, as it is something that Trademe could make better and give clearer shipping options, for example; the buyer if needing something urgent, or within a certain time frame the seller should have a more clearer option such as a special urgent button that they can enable, and then disable when times are busy. It warrants more work from Trademe's side and better and more courier, freight companies to be involved. But those staff shortages aye?!

Anyway hope you get your items soon, regards.

Yes, I know that once the courier has it, it's in their hands and yes, they do have delays and holidays etc, which I completely understand. It's the processing time I was upset about finding out about in payment instructions, rather than on the listing that only said Delivery expected in 2-3 working days. No point having expected delivery in 2-3 days when it's 2 weeks processing time that's not stated before buying.

As it happens, 2 days after buying, I received 2 out of 3 items bought that day, but have not heard anything or received shipment confirmation or anything from the 3rd item.

Yes, it is inevitable that there could be delays over the holiday period, but we have had a year to prepare so we can get our listings ready with any necessary messages.