Bye -Bye private sellers?

[sloanes3]

Over the last few months ebay has had a lot of changes. Free to list , not free to list, as it has buyers protection, waiting 24 hours for payment if its tracked two weeks if its not,list goes on.

Now we have simple postage, looking at the site today I was struck by the number of folks compalining about  this.

I always had my reservations about this. Problem is its based on what someone else has charged. Ok , now when I sell anything its in a cardboard box with either bubble wrap inside or around the item. Its wrapped in brown paper , all of these cost. Some stick it in a bin liner and thats it. Believe me a chap sent a large parcel with the bin liner wrapped around the outside not even in the bag!

If you are a private seller all of the above are in force, yet business sellers dont have to do this. Is it a ploy to get rid of what once was ebays unique selling point , private folks selling stuff, to move to a business model? Is it a ploy to end private sellers? Just wondering , there have been folks who have messaged me asking if I've got the item as they havent been paid.

[tommystrezures]

There are several points which I won’t answer as most of it has been done to death on copious other threads.

The purpose of the m2m boards is for quick fire questions and answers on buying and selling.

in answer to your last point about payment, if the seller does not upload tracking on the item once dispatched then there is a 14 day hold. Tracking should or does show delivery so they needn’t be asking unless letter sized items in which case your feedback on item may release funds sooner.

if they upload tracking funds are released two days after arrival.

[jckl1957]

I did look at another post yesterday where six members had posted that they were leaving, taking down their listings etc.

Out of the 6, 5 still had live listings.

A lot of the members complaining about the changes are business sellers, trading illegally on private accounts.  For those sellers, the solution is in their hands.

I have always added a small amount for packaging into the postage price.  Now (for items over 100g and £10) I will have to factor that into my starting price. Not a huge adaptation. Will this make me 'less competitive'? I am a private seller with an 'everything sells eventually' motto.  I don't have to pay staff or buy stock so not an issue.

There is a lot of misinformation circulating.  It is still free to list.  The BPF only kicks in when you sell an item and is paid by the buyer.

You have to wait 48 hours after tracking shows delivery for your payment to be released.

There was a similar furore when Ebay introduced managed payments.

I don't believe these changes are designed to get rid of private sellers. I do think when the dust settles, we will all muddle along pretty much as before.

[sloanes3]

Its not the sellers uploading the tracking numbers. Its the post office post person not scanning the barcodes like they should. I had to wait the 14 days even though the buyer had put good feedback and couldn't understand why I had not been paid. I rang post office complaints and the response was "Oh not another e bay customer" . They have to scan the code before ebay will pay as it was said to me anyone could say they have the item. So its not posting the tracking number its the post office not scanning the parcel when they deliver. I know its happened twice to me. First time it was onlibne and no one checked, second time the postie didnt scan the barcode.

[tommystrezures]

The postie works for Royal Mail not the post office. If the posties aren’t scanning then that’s a separate issue to deal with Royal Mail. I find it hard that even though the item may have missed a post office scan that it wasn’t then scanned either on transit to trigger the number. 

in your original post it read as though you were the buyer not the seller. If you are the seller then when dropping off a parcel you should have been given a receipt at the post office counter. If you weren’t why did you not ask for one?

[sloanes3]

Every parcel sent in the UK has a barcode on, not for tracking but to prove it's been posted. The postie should scan this to prove it has been delivered. I always get proof of posting with every parcel I send. This is the problem; the postie should scan EVERY parcel to prove it has been delivered. Most do but , as this one said to the person who bought my item" Oh its not worth scanning"
This was reported by me to the complaints department, that is how I know. So, this is what's wrong with the new system, some posties do not scan each parcel. Before you say Ah but , no buts if its not scanned you are entitled to compensation by the post office, Once again I was told this by the company, I would have done this but e bay paid out by the set date.

[red_magpie]

What it's "all about" is eBay inventing other ways to recover the income they lost my making selling free for private sellers. So they started by charging for buyer protection (even though it's the seller who pays for refunds) and requiring private sellers to buy the delivery through eBay.

The irony is that whilst simple delivery may be a suitable model for cheap "car boot" sales, it's a huge disincentive to sell anything of value where sellers most need to be in control of packing and delivery.

[sloanes3]

Well said , at last someone who agrees with what I say.
As you state "simple postage works on cheaper stuff", but rare and expensive stuff needs the seller to choose how to pack & have the choice of which post service to pick.

[jckl1957]

The first reply to this thread did say this is not a part of the forum for discussion - you posted here:

Member To Member Support

The place for eBay buyers and sellers to ask Community Mentors questions about buying and selling on eBay.

 

Mentors are happy to answer your questions but if you want agreement from like-minded members, you would be better off posting in 'selling' which is a discussion forum.

 

You state 'rare and expensive stuff needs the seller to choose how to pack & have the choice of which post service to pick. '

Your items are listed currently with either RM second class parcel or signed for - I know the point is moot as Simple Delivery is about to become mandatory but were you aware that Signed For now only covers the value of your parcel up to £20?

As you are charging £7 for Second Class Signed For, your buyers may appreciate the lower price (£3.44) SD will offer.

[sloanes3]

Its only there as when I posted the price of postage I used to buy it from the post office so that I would buy second class signed for . Thats the only reason, perhaps my fault for not looking but it was how it used to work. The kit you are referring to is larger than the cost you suggested, ie 650 mm long which is a medium parcel. Check on post office web site