New Shipping Templates

Earlier in this thread a decision was made by ?? ever not to make the changes that prompted the first post. Surprised there is now talk of this promise being revoked.

The system re couriers / NZ post and the options we offer are all different for each of us as sellers. And for us, anyway, working very well and easily understood by our customers.

One consistant theme throughout this thread is how well it worked for all, if it aint broke why try and fix it etc etc, and a philosophy we fully endorse. There are plenty of other areas, the feedback methodology, communication with the staff on the coal face, and the difficulties with the search function  , are just but three examples that would benefit from an overhaul.

In fact, expounding further on the above if I was a senior person on the staff of this platform, and conversant with the issues discussed within this thread, I'd make contact with say three of the most prolific  posters and invite an opinion from each as to a simple workable solution. 

Just our 2 cents worth here :)

"In fact, expounding further on the above if I was a senior person on the staff of this platform, and conversant with the issues discussed within this thread"
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I would have fired a good chunk of the "programmers" & had stern words with the rest of the "programming staff"
This specific thread was started over 6 months ago & the problems are still not fixed properly

(sad fact is that applies for most of the "upgrade" so far)

Big thanks to whoever posted the webinar link. Most interesting. I'm a casual seller & for me the webinar prompted more questions and frustrations for TM.

Re introducing shipping templates: it seems that they have attempted to fix a problem that wasn't there.  

They have said buyers are a) lacking in common sense b) so time poor that that can't click thru to see whether an item is pick up only, or $, free, or to be determined. Despite whatever research they have to validate their claims, they're not giving buyers any credit. 

Additionally, shipping issues from o/s & around NZ have been in mainstream media for 2yrs now, so TM buyers must have been living under a rock to not realise this.  That particular feature in the new template about when an item will ship seems arbitary, which defeats the purpose of having that tool. 

So back to my first point, it seems TM have tried to fix a problem that wasn't there. 

My viewpoint is as a casual seller; appreciate pro-sellers as TM calls them, may see things differently.

they still havent got there new clumsy foremat layout working properly after a year and may be trying to blame something else for the loss in buyers and profits

I'm wondering if the "when buyers will ship" is to cover all those international sellers (who flood TM with cheap c**p). I've seen "product will ship 10 days from when funds show" on eBay etc.

Trying to change over the new shipping template. Why is there no shipping to Australia? The choice is only Nationwide and other regions.

The new template is completely unfit for purpose and ill-thought out.

Yvonne

Hence the reason I have not changed over to it yet for the few items that need it,

old templates perfectly fine for my needs,

It's a seriously flawed system - and TM have been told this over and over.  It's useless for MQLs, as it does not allow us to specify how many of that item can go in a given size parcel for a specified cost.  If I have 10 widgets in my MQL but only 4 will fit in the DLE satchel that is the only shipping price, what am I supposed to do if the buyer wants 7??  At the moment I can show different rates for different numbers of widgets, but under the new system that won't work - I either have to bite the bullet on the extra shipping, limit the number of items shown as available on the listing ( a pain the butt to alter that after every sale) or change the listing from a Buy Now only to an auction with the Reserve and Buy Now at the same price, and accept being "demoted" in the search results.  Lose-lose in my book.

Yes, this is my problem for the few auctions like this,

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/toys-models/lego-building-toys/duplo/listing/3727755661?archive=1&bof=TodaRHtE

At the moment I've set my listings with more stock than a single parcel will hold as auctions, but I am using their template where my stock numbers will fit in one parcel - it will work for now, anyway.  Others I've set as auctions, and I've also upped the price on some low-value items to cover shipping, both as a trial to see what sort of reception they get from buyers.

Trade Me really do need to learn that one size does NOT fit all - they need to listen to their sellers and be responsive.  If we weren't here there'd be no Trade Me!

Totally agree with you Kate. I'm so sick of wasting hours in my day to sort out these shipping options and trying to be nice to customers and explain TM's changes that just do not make sense. Strike comes to mind, no sellers no profit for them, wish it was an option but realize it just isn't. Wish they would pay us for all the time we waste trying to implement the changes. I've changed all my shipping templates and yes customers will one day get the picture that they must actually read the stuff we write up but until then it's just more stress on us sellers. 

Robyn, you make a very good point about the time wasted in trying to implement the shipping options. Not to mention the flak that you get when a buyer doesn't understand them.

Yep, If TM were doing all this for the buying customer don't you think it would have been good pr for them to have sent a standard email out to all that are registered explaining the new system and the hitches that might happen during the changes.

Advising buyers to read and communicate with sellers directions etc. Gosh if NZ Post can email us every week with changes and stuff going on within the company and warn them why can't TM. They are trying to be one of the big boys so come on get your media people working and stop just leaving us all in the dark and not listening to your most important clients. 

Gosh I better stop moaning aye or they will Black List me. ha

I wish sellers would use these new shipping templates and what they present to buyers correctly.

I searched for something on Monday and bought it Monday morning and paid immediately with Ping. After refining my search I looked at expected delivery times using the new templates and went with a local seller where the new template said 2-3 days for delivery. Thursday night I receive an automated email that the courier has been booked. So, 3 1/2 days after I bought it, the seller is now sending it, so there is no way I could receive it in the timeframe suggested by the new shipping templates they have used. Sigh.

Maybe they didn't factor in their 3-4 days processing time, then 2-3 days delivery. If they had, I would have bought elsewhere.

The new shipping templates are generally unreasonable in that they offer fixed schedules for delivery time frames.
Theres so many real life situations that blow that away including  but no inclusive to  ...
Seller & courier driver Covid infections/ Local & nationwide weather conditions & a whole host of other possible reasons for slow delivery.
Those TM delivery instructions are supposed to be a guideline only, but some buyers read them as rigid maximum time frame instructions