Simple delivery a scam- Taking this up with my MP

[lumun_1059]

Just found out whilst I had to pay twice for my post when I bought an item on ebay.

“Both local Post Offices now refuse eBay parcels if they’re not labeled correctly—even though we used eBay’s own system. It’s a mess.”

Yes, I had to pay twice for my parcel as a buyer as ebay wants to control the postal sytem too. So now I am out of pocket by £3.50 to get my parcel, plus the £2.70 I paid for postage, all because ebay want to control the mail. I am taking this matter up with my MP.  I did not contract with ebay to intercept my mail.

[sml192]

There was an issue a few weeks back with some Post Offices refusing Simple Delivery parcels or trying to charge extra as they weren't familiar with the new rules but that has largely been sorted by Royal Mail now. 

All Simple Delivery items are supposed to be accepted now provided they are within the overall maximum weight/dimensions for Royal Mail parcels.  There shouldn't be any surcharges to buyers as those are specifically catered for in the contract prices negotiated between eBay and Royal Mail which are based on averages not actual size/weight.

Are you sure your item was actually sent using Simple Delivery?  

[lumun_1059]

Thanks for replying. Yes, it was sent in that way through ebay. Ebay and royal mail's dispute over that service and the problems are all over the internet in national news papers. I had no idea, as a buyer they were introducing this system. Seems they and royal mail are using me to pay twice to increase their profits. Not getting any help from ebay, so will need to take this to the BBC or some other consumer service. I am not going to expect the seller to refund me for postage they used correctly and ebay messed up with royal mail.

[jckl1957]

Can you say what the item number was or give the exact listing title?

It looks as if you buy a lot of jewellery and not all jewellery items are being sent using Simple Delivery yet.

Business sellers don't have to use Simple Delivery and a lot of your purchases are from business sellers.

The amount you paid is a standard Royal Mail 'fine' for an item that was sent as a Large Letter when it should have gone as a small parcel.

Before you contact your busy MP, it would be best to check that all of the facts you are going to complain about are accurate.

[sml192]

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@lumun_1059 wrote:

Thanks for replying. Yes, it was sent in that way through ebay. Ebay and royal mail's dispute over that service and the problems are all over the internet in national news papers. I had no idea, as a buyer they were introducing this system. Seems they and royal mail are using me to pay twice to increase their profits. Not getting any help from ebay, so will need to take this to the BBC or some other consumer service. I am not going to expect the seller to refund me for postage they used correctly and ebay messed up with royal mail.

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There is no dispute between eBay and Royal Mail.  The issue was with some Post Offices not understanding the terms of the contract between eBay and Royal Mail but most Post Offices should now be aware.  The Post Office is a separate company to Royal Mail. 

[lumun_1059]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I have looked in to all the facts. I bought a necklace from a private seller. The postage cost was £2.70. I paid promptly for goods and the cost of item. The seller dispatched the goods promptly using ebay labels and their system through royal mail. The package was very light and small. The package went out for delivery with tracking, but then royal mail asked for £3.50 more postage to deliver it. I agreed to this, as I wanted the goods and wasn't sure what was happening. It is ebay that has the contract with royal mail, as they buy the labels with them to print. 
Nothing the seller or myself did was incorrect, as far as i can see. I have contacted ebay customer service with all the details, as they organised the post with their labels. i have my payment details. They will not refund me the £3.50 postage.
I have been a good customer and always try and solve any issues with sellers, but I am not asking the seller for a refund on postage, when they did nothing wrong and they did not form the contract with royal mail, ebay did. I seem to have been caught up in the ebay and royal mail standoff that is all over the news. I want a quiet life and in over 4 years on ebay have never once had to go to the community. Also, ebay gave an automatic feedback to the seller, which didn't give me time with the increased length in delivery time, to sort out my own feedback. I did not want to leave anything negative about the seller, as i couldn't see that they had done anything wong.
Many thanks.
Lucy Mungeam.

[sml192]

As already stated, there is no dispute /stand-off between eBay and Royal Mail.  The issue that you are seeing talked about in the news was with some Post Offices.

Either your item wasn't sent using Simple Delivery but using Custom Postage purchased through eBay instead or it was processed incorrectly by Royal Mail for some reason.  Nothing to do with any dispute/standoff.

Although eBay has left automated feedback for the seller you can still leave your own feedback, which can be positive if you wish.  The automated feedback will just be overridden by any that you leave. 

[honeymonster007]

£2.70 sounds like a large letter, was your parcel over 2.5cm high. Just curious as our local post office is really hot on the thickness of large letters and they even try fitting them through a template if their unsure. 

[lumun_1059]

Thanks for replying. I am the buyer, so didn't send the package. The package arrved in a small perfectly ebay postage labelled small fit through letter box package, after I paid the extra postage, which seemed unnecessary. I think ebay and royal mail are at a standoff and i got caught up in their antics. I can't get a refund, as I didn't organise the postage. Ebay are not helping. I think this may end up happening a lot more, now ebay are choosing the postal service used and not getting the correct contract and expecting buyer and seller to correct their mistakes.
Thanks,
Lucy Mungeam.

[papso22]

Ebay specifically tells sellers that use Simple Delivery that they will pick up the tab if the seller uses the ebay recommended label and it is the wrong one.  In other words, neither the buyer nor the seller are responsible for any under payment charge.

Have you put that to ebay?  

[jckl1957]

If you would post the item number or the complete item title, then all the details could be checked.

Having an Ebay label doesn't mean it used Simple Delivery.

SD items can be identified by the label.

At the bottom of the printed label it states' MARKETPLACE SELLER' in bold capitals and then has 'Paid and printed from eBay Simple Delivery.

Those markers allow Royal Mail (deliveries are nothing to do with the Post Office) to identify that the item was posted under contract and they should deliver without penalising the buyer, even if the seller has got the size wrong.  Was your package marked like that on the label?

[lumun_1059]

I spent ages on chat and they referred it on, but no reply or any further response. i received the transcript from ebay and they said do you want any help with something else, but no mention of this problem. I won't be buying any more with ebay, not to spite myself so to speak, but i can see that these postal problems could end up costing me big. 
I was just informed from another buyer I purchased off yesterday, worried about postage costs, that i chose yoda for delivery for them. There was no mention of that on the sales page, or at the checkout. So i gather that if that is short of postage I will have to pay for that too. I am not forming contracts with these postal services, or choosing them, but seem to be paying the excess postage. 
As soon as I have honoured any bids i win, i will be out of ebay. Can't risk the postal costs or buyer disputes or bad feedback. 

[ed_58611]

How were you contacted by the Post Office, and what was the reason given for the "extra" charges?