Ebay-Shipping policy V chocolate teapot
Summary: The discussion revolves around the comparison between eBay's shipping policy and the concept of a chocolate teapot, suggesting a level of inefficiency or ineffectiveness. icecarmedia initiates and participates actively in the conversation. lucy_farmer and str11p also contribute, discussing the practicality and issues related to eBay's policies, implying dissatisfaction with the service. The metaphor of a "chocolate teapot" humorously underscores perceived shortcomings in eBay's shipping policy.
Nothing to see here 18/02/2026
Carte blanche for (certain)sellers to carry on doing as they please, with no repercussions
Change the advertised delivery method to whatever suits them best
Don't bother asking the buyer, you've got the cash
As long as the courier remembers to tick the delivered box, jobs a good 'un
No matter that the buyer doesn't know the whereabouts of the mythical 'safe place'
Or they don't actually have a 'porch'
Or they didn't wait in all day for a delivery that's left in full view of passing ne'er do wells
Etc.. Etc...
I realise that for most buyers, the delivery method is of no import
However for those of us afflicted with couriers that are less than reliable it is VERY important
IMHO the chocolate teapot wins,
the_step
·1 month agoAs a buyer delivery is very important to me.
As a seller it is also important.
There is no difference between buying and selling if the courier doesn't deliver the product successfully.
I think the only one that loses out is eBay as they guarantee the product and have to pay for the item, I'm not sure why they don't remove the option to use services like Evri from their list of couriers OR have an option to automatically deliver to a parcel shop, this option is ONLY available if the seller allows it and not many sellers use this service as I don't think they are aware of the delivery issues.
I have absolutely no problem with Royal Mail
icecarmedia
OP3 months agoJust had another one
Seller changes delivery method to a 'well known' courier
Yet again I am forced to rearrange my schedule to be present at the delivery address
Courier sends 'pants on fire' text stating no one was in
Now my purchase is making it's way to a unknown locker,
which I will never be able to find as I have no tracking number
AND the link in the text is useless on my dumbphone
I envisage my purchase wending it's way to Narnia all because the seller didn't provide what was advertised
Enabled by ebay not enforcing their shipping policy
str11p
·3 months agoDoes the link in the text contain a 16 digit alphanumeric code? Possibly starting H05?
track%2Fparcel%2FH05QTA0221888999%2F
000000000000000001234567890123456---
If so enter that code at
https://www.evri.com/track-a-parcel
Otherwise ask the seller for a tracking link.
icecarmedia
OP3 months agoThanks for your input
Reached out to the seller, they have supplied the required info today
I've now got a 40 minute round trip to the badlands to pickup or lose it
All because the seller didn't supply what was advertised and paid for
icecarmedia
OP3 months agoLooks like this practice by some sellers is no closer to being actively discouraged
LATEST CHAT WITH THE TEAM
'we will continue to share your examples as feedback'
Looks like rocinante won't be stabled anytime soon.....
icecarmedia
OP5 months agoI'm seeing an increasing amounts of complaints regarding the actions of a certain ebay approved courier
These grievances can equally be directed against other couriers
IMHO lots of these complaints could easily be mostly remedied with the following changes;
A. Ebay stops accepting the vague descriptors that are used to define a succesful delivery
And apply the correct criteria set out in the Consumer Rights Act 2015 s.28, s.29
the legal bit
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/28/enacted
28 Delivery of goods
(1)This section applies to any sales contract.
(2)Unless the trader and the consumer have agreed otherwise, the contract is to be treated as including a term that the trader must deliver the goods to the consumer
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/29/enacted
29. Passing of risk
(1)A sales contract is to be treated as including the following provisions as terms.
(2)The goods remain at the trader’s risk until they come into the physical possession of—
(a)the consumer, or
(b)a person identified by the consumer to take possession of the goods
B. Ebay starts enforcing the shipping policy
Stopping buyers purchases from ending up in the hands of unadvertised/unchosen/unreliable couriers
lucy_farmer
·5 months agoAll that legal stuff though, mentions 'the trader and the consumer'.
Private sellers on ebay are not traders.
And nor is ebay a 'trader' ( in the sense of being a shop); they are a 'platform' .
So it could all be demolished by a good lawyer.
icecarmedia
OP5 months agoPrivate sellers are not traders, business sellers are, and yes ebay is a platform
Regardless, that does not excuse the fact that certain couriers practises are accepted by this platform
My post's intent;
(A.) was to highlight what ebay deems a successful delivery versus the legal definition
If ebay were to adopt the same legal definitions then that IMHO would see the end of;
'(insert courier name) delivered to (insert wherever) and ebay refuse to refund coz tracking shows delivered'
-type posts
(B.) Sellers should provide what was advertised, in both item and delivery method
In other words, give the buyer what they paid for, no more, no less