Topic: Has the definition of "available" changed?

[Bankerdanny]

Twice in the last 10 days I have purchased items on Ebay that report X available, only to be told that the item wouldn't ship for 5-7 days because it had to be made (a rear brake hose for my 750F) or special ordered (EOM float needle sets for my 550).

If I see a listing that says 5 available, I read that as 5 on the shelf, not that 5 are present somewhere on this plane of existence and the seller will obtain them for me, and not that 5 can be made for me.

Am I crazy here?

I just reported the float seller to Ebay and looking at his negative feedback (he has over 99% positive) every complaint from the past 6 months was about listing items they don't have in stock.

The message I received says "Please note that, as stated in the listing at the time of purchase, this is a Special Order Item, which means that we must order this item from the manufacturer before shipping this item." Except it didn't say that anywhere, I went back and looked.

The brake hose was even more annoying as it ships directly from Galfer (who was not the seller) but the seller takes care of shipping so they set up a USPS priority label, making it look like the item was shipped. It was only when I asked 2 days after it was shown as shipped, but USPS still wasn't reporting the package had been received that I was informed that there was a delay so the hose could be made. I bought from them because I thought the line was in stock. I would have just gone back to Apex if I had known it needed to be custom made.

[Steve F]

Well, to put things in a bit of perspective, I remember when I would have to order their catalog and wait for it in the mail.  Then figure out what I wanted and either call them on the phone or fill in an order form and snail mail it back to them with a money order enclosed.  Wait some more.
You have it easy compared to those days.  Society has gotten less and less tolerant, but I have to agree that they are a little on the deceptive side when they say it's "available".

[70CB750]

I got into a habit checking the delivery date before buying anything on ebay.

[J-Rod10]

Available doesn’t mean In Stock and ready for immediate shipment. How things are listed is vague and sometimes deceptive. But the order page usually has the exact availability terms for shipment and delivery.

I have three business days listed as the handling time on my eBay store. It's hard to keep up with exactly what sells where. I may have a couple on the shelf, and one sells on the website, one sells on Facebook, one on Insta, then the one listed on eBay. Three days gives me time to get them all out. It's clearly listed in my listings. But, it never fails, I get 4-5 messages a week, the morning after the day an order was placed on eBay wanting to know why it didn't ship when they bought it. Tell them it's clearly listed as three business days prior to shipment, and always get "Oh, didn't read the shipping terms."

People have gotten so accustomed to Amazon and the likes that have multimillion dollar computer systems, tens of thousands of employees, that have the ability to get every single thing out same day. It's just what they expect.

[754]

F em , make those next day guys sweat a bit, answer them the day following..

[American Locomotive]

Was it sportbikeparts2u? I just ordered Galfer stainless brake lines for my 750F ~4 weeks ago from them. The page explicitly said "4 Available", and "Allow 7 days for shipping". Which is fine - I figured a typical CYA handling time.

They immediately "shipped" it after ordering, except the tracking info was blank. So they just printed a label to appease ebay without actually shipping the item. 7 days later still no tracking info. I messaged them asking what's up, where they replied that "the item comes direct from the manufacturer as stated in the listing". Which is nice, except the listing did not mention that anywhere. I replied asking them to please expedite the item, where they then proceeded to block communication with me, and banned me from purchasing stuff from their e-bay store.

10 days later I had to open a case with e-bay and demand my hoses, and then they finally showed up a few days later. I left them a big angry negative feedback, and reported that listing for fraud to e-bay.

I suggest you also report the listing for fraud, especially if they list the item as "available" on it and also leave negative feedback.

[Bankerdanny]

J-Rod, I'm OK with 2-3 business days to ship. I would prefer 1 business day, but I can live with 3.

In this case however, I take available to mean available to hand, not available to obtain from the supplier's warehouse.

[scottly]

Available doesn’t mean In Stock and ready for immediate shipment. How things are listed is vague and sometimes deceptive. But the order page usually has the exact availability terms for shipment and delivery.

I have three business days listed as the handling time on my eBay store. It's hard to keep up with exactly what sells where. I may have a couple on the shelf, and one sells on the website, one sells on Facebook, one on Insta, then the one listed on eBay. Three days gives me time to get them all out. It's clearly listed in my listings. But, it never fails, I get 4-5 messages a week, the morning after the day an order was placed on eBay wanting to know why it didn't ship when they bought it. Tell them it's clearly listed as three business days prior to shipment, and always get "Oh, didn't read the shipping terms."

People have gotten so accustomed to Amazon and the likes that have multimillion dollar computer systems, tens of thousands of employees, that have the ability to get every single thing out same day. It's just what they expect.

It took you over a month to send me the flat-tracker seat, and that was only after appealing to members in your area, who put me in contact with your father. You ignored my PMs, as well as other member's. When the package finally arrived, there was some odd packing material in the box? There was never any explanation or apology from you, although your father, a more honorable person than you, in my opinion, did apologize for your actions. I will not do business with you again, Jarod. This has been the only negative experience I've had dealing with forum members, both buying and selling.

[ekpent]

 Damn - did somebody empty their ashtray in there ?  Nice   

[J-Rod10]

Available doesn’t mean In Stock and ready for immediate shipment. How things are listed is vague and sometimes deceptive. But the order page usually has the exact availability terms for shipment and delivery.

I have three business days listed as the handling time on my eBay store. It's hard to keep up with exactly what sells where. I may have a couple on the shelf, and one sells on the website, one sells on Facebook, one on Insta, then the one listed on eBay. Three days gives me time to get them all out. It's clearly listed in my listings. But, it never fails, I get 4-5 messages a week, the morning after the day an order was placed on eBay wanting to know why it didn't ship when they bought it. Tell them it's clearly listed as three business days prior to shipment, and always get "Oh, didn't read the shipping terms."

People have gotten so accustomed to Amazon and the likes that have multimillion dollar computer systems, tens of thousands of employees, that have the ability to get every single thing out same day. It's just what they expect.

It took you over a month to send me the flat-tracker seat, and that was only after appealing to members in your area, who put me in contact with your father. You ignored my PMs, as well as other member's. When the package finally arrived, there was some odd packing material in the box? There was never any explanation or apology from you, although your father, a more honorable person than you, in my opinion, did apologize for your actions. I will not do business with you again, Jarod. This has been the only negative experience I've had dealing with forum members, both buying and selling.

That month and a half or so, back in 2014 was why I stopped building glass. I was busier than one person could keep up with. Far as running a business went, I didn't have a clue what I was doing, and I couldn't keep up. I did have the unfortunate opportunity to learn what not to do. I certainly never used the free trash bags of packing peanuts I had available to me again after that box. My apologies for that ordeal, Scottly. I like to think, in the four years since then, I've gotten considerably better at the business part of it.