- Turn on vacation mode
- Suspend your gigs
Schlitterbaun Water Park in Kansas City's Verruckt - Increase the delivery times of your gigs to the maximum
There are drawbacks to every one of these options. And, I do mean every one of them. Let's take a look at what are the good and bad aspects of these options, from MY point of view:
1 - Vacation Mode
With the first option, Fiverr's vacation mode is buggy at best. I have read many times where a seller went on vacation mode, only to discover that they had an order or two slip through. This can be bad if you planned on going on vacation for several days or a couple of weeks.
On top of that, many of the Fiverr CS reps will claim that the order was there BEFORE you went on vacation and was completed after you went on vacation. However, many of my fellow Fiverrians have shown that these orders were actually made after vacation mode was turned on, not before.
A real problem to say the least.
Another problem with Fiverr's vacation mode is that sometimes the On button gets stuck in the ON position, even after you turn it off. Oh boy! What a hassle...
To top it off, you're only given 28 days a year to use vacation mode.
Personally, I don't bother with vacation mode. It's just not worth my time or the aggravation.
2 - Suspending Gigs
This is certainly a more worthwhile method if you plan on being gone for an extended period of time. The drawback to this method, however, is that you lose your place in search rankings. So, if you were at the top of the pack (high rated) and you suspend your gigs, the system pushes your gig down at the bottom of the pile when your return. Thus, you are fighting to win buyers back. (This is the one drawback to what I see with gig suspension).
3 - Increase Delivery Times To Maximum
My usual chosen method of going on vacation is to increase the delivery time of all my gigs to 29 days. I do this because it's not as buggy as vacation mode and I don't lose my ranking in Fiverr's searches. On top of that, you can still get orders from prospective and repeat clients. You should always stipulate why you are increasing the delivery time in your gig description so that buyers understand the reasoning.
For me, I let them know that I am on vacation from one date to the next. I've also turned off my extra fast delivery options so buyers don't request the service while I'm on vacation.
Is there a negative aspect to this option? Of course!
Prospective buyers will still click on the gig and be able to order. Some of these buyers WILL NOT read the description and demand that the work be done quicker. This is where you need to reply carefully. You can suggest a mutual cancellation (which no longer affects you) or you can work out so that the buyer understands the situation. If they really want your service, they will stick with you and allow you to do the gig upon your return.
Another drawback is that many prospective buyers will look at the delivery time and immediately be turned off, even with your message about being on vacation. It's certainly a useful idea for repeat buyers - if you have any. It all depends on the buyers and how soon they need something.
So, what method is best for you? For me, method three is the lesser of three evils. I've heard horror stories about options 1 and 2 and have decided that, for me, option 3 is a far better one. Going on vacation should mean fun and relaxation, but if you're worried about orders coming through, how can you have fun and relaxation?
I'd rather have fun on my vacation like I was recently been able to with my kids....
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Do you know of other problems associated with the three above or do you use another method to go on vacation while on Fiverr? Share them in the comments section.
