Forthcoming eBay UK International Selling Programme - Some Questions and Answers | Seller Central

Forthcoming eBay UK International Selling Programme - Some Questions and Answers

Summary: sandbars shared detailed information from an interaction with eBay Customer Support about the upcoming eBay International Selling (EIS) program for UK Private Sellers. Key points discussed include the continuation of a 'no refunds' policy, seller shipping options, protection against buyer disputes, and procedural details about item handling at the UK hub. The participant expressed a positive outlook on the EIS program and encouraged others to reach out to eBay for further queries. manyjamjar asked whether the program allows opting out to use personal shipping methods.

Hello UK Private Sellers,

I was online with an eBay Customer Support Chat person regarding the eBay International Selling (EIS) programme that is to be rolled out in August for eBay UK Private Sellers. The post-chat transcript wasn't sent to me as promised, so below are the questions I posed and the answers received from the eBay Assistant (taken from screenshots of the chat):

1) No Refunds (unless Item Not As Described) - policy continuation for both EIS and UK sales:

Me: If you look at my current listings, you will see that I have a 'no refunds' policy, correct?

eBay Assistant: Yes, I can that.

Me: Will that change in August under the EIS?

eBay Assistant: Please be assured, it will not get changed in August when Global Shipping Program becomes eBay Inernational Shipping.

Me: OK, so you are saying that if I have any international listings in August, they will still have the 'no refunds' policy for both international and UK sales?

eBay Assistant: That's absolutely correct.

2) No being forced to use Evri:

Me: Will UK sellers be forced to use Evri when sending internaional items to the eBay UK hub? Or can I still only use Royal Mail and DHL?

eBay Assistant: I can see that you have only put Royal mail and DHL as preferred courier services and it will stay the same as you haven't toggled on Evri.

3) EIS buyer claims 'Item Not As Described' and submits a Return Request - full seller protection:

Me: If an international buyer (under EIS) says 'item not as described' and submits a Return request, does the item need to be returned to the UK hub before I keep the payment? This is provided that the item was inspected at the UK hub first before the buyer received it.

eBay Assistant: Once your item reaches the hub, you’re fully protected from delivery issues, buyer disputes, and returns - even refunds are covered by eBay. We’ll even remove any negative or neutral reviews from your account related to international handling.

4) EIS items will be photographed at the UK hub prior to dispatch to buyer:

Me: I understand that under EIS, international sales will be sent by UK sellers to the UK hub, where the items are opened and inspected, before forwarding to the buyer. During inspection, will the items be photographed by eBay for verification of the listing?

eBay Assistant: Please be assured, the team will have record of everything including photographs related to the inspection.

5) No change needed for seller wrapping/parcelling of EIS items:

Me: Do sellers need to change how items are wrapped if they are being opened at the UK hub?

eBay Assistant: That would be the same as of now.

6) No testing of EIS items at the UK hub:

Me: What happens at the UK hub with electrical items, eg battery operated toys? Does eBay put batteries in to test as per listings?

eBay Assistant: Batteries (with exception of those that come included with consumer electronics such as AA, C, Li-ion batteries) are prohibited under International shipping. We do not put it under test if there is any sell of item which has battery in it.

Me: Yes, I know that, but I'm asking if a battery-operated item is tested at the UK hub, if the listing says it works with batteries in it?

eBay Assistant: It dose not get tested at hub.

7) EIS partial refund requests can be declined without adverse feedback:

Me: What if an international buyer asks for a partial refund? Can they be declined, and only given the option of a full refund or to keep the item?

eBay Assistant: If there is such issue which might arise, you can decline it and let the buyer know to get in touch with is. We will handle it from our end.

Me: In such a case, can the international buyer still leave neutral or negative feedback?

eBay Assistant: No, you are procted from eBay Assistant:neutral or negative feedback.

8) EIS bank chargebacks protection:

Me: Some unscrupulous buyers commence bank chargebacks rather than go through eBay - would UK sellers be protected from this situation?

eBay Assistant: Please be assured, you are protected from that as well because we will handle any buyer disputes.

Based on the above chat, for me the EIS programme appears to be a huge step in the right direction for UK Private Sellers. I would encourage UK Private Sellers with more questions to ask eBay UK for anything not covered in the above.

Regards

sandbars