Simple Delivery Costs

[fliss_a]

I was going to list using simple delivery for the first time and have a question re the price eBay are quoting for postage that the buyer will need to pay. I am selling something that will be posted as a small parcel, the Royal Mail price for Tracked 48 handed in at a PO is £4.05 and online £3.35 (after the price rise next week), eBay are quoting £4.27 for a medium parcel as the item is over 1kg. They differentiate a small and medium parcel with 1kg for small and 2kg for medium, the Royal Mail don't do this and have no price at £4.27. I have selected to only use Royal Mail as the nearest Evri drop off point is a 20 mile round trip and I can't wait around for collection. I thought one of the key benefits of simple delivery was cheaper prices for buyers as eBay get discounts, based on this they would appear to be overcharging the buyer quite significantly. Does anyone know how costs are calculated?

[tobiasd4]

With simple delivery, buyer pays for postage, 

Seller just gets link to print label.

[fliss_a]

Thanks I understand that, just curious as to why eBay are charging the buyers more when they say it'll be cheaper?

[john1297576]

Not sure how it works, but buyer always pays the postage one way or another, buying a label to send to seller or paying to seller who buys label.

Because of the way “simple” postage works there is no provision for packaging, so has to be in sale price meaning ebay collects a few pence more in fees on every transaction.

Also frequently if the weight/size increases due to packaging, buyer buys the wrong label, not buyers fault as he just pays what is on the listing.

Apparently when this happens label cannot be cancelled and seller then has to buy a correct label. Whether buyer can cancel I do not know, but that could explain why seller cannot cancel as he did not buy the label. 

Simple postage is far from simple and many sellers have ended up out of pocket.