Simple Delivery too small for oversized parcels (70cm) - what do sellers do?

[vintage_gems_5705]

⠀ Hi all. I’m looking for advice from other UK sellers on what you actually do when an item is too large for eBay Simple Delivery.

⠀ I sold a boxed Lima HO train set. Final packed size was 70 x 44 x 9 cm and under 3 kg.

⠀ Simple Delivery only gives preset parcel sizes and the longest side option tops out at 61 cm. There’s no way to enter a longer parcel size, so there was no workable Simple Delivery option for this order.

⠀ I don’t use Evri. Even if I did, the size bands offered in Simple Delivery still wouldn’t cover 70 cm length.

⠀ To meet dispatch I sent it with DPD at my own cost. The buyer received it and left feedback, so no issue there. But I ended up out of pocket because the buyer paid for Simple Delivery, that postage gets refunded when you don’t use the label, and there’s no proper way to switch to a different courier inside the order.

⠀ I spent about an hour on eBay help chat trying to get a sensible answer. I was passed between agents, told to ask the buyer to pay extra by PayPal or bank transfer (which I’m not doing), then I asked for escalation. I was told I was being transferred to a team leader, then the chat got closed due to “lost connection” before I could even reply to the manager who joined.

⠀ So I’m stuck and I’d really appreciate practical advice from other sellers:

⠀

    1. When you know an item will be over 61 cm, how do you list it so you’re not trapped by Simple Delivery.

⠀ 2. Is the only workaround to list as Collection only, even if you’re happy to post.

⠀ 3. Do you build courier postage into the item price and set postage low, then use your own courier every time.

⠀ 4. Has anyone found a reliable way to use your own courier and still have the order properly protected in an INR case when Simple Delivery tracking can’t be added.

⠀ I feel like I’m missing something obvious. What do you do in real life when the parcel is oversize.

[**peaseblossom**]

To choose your own postage for large items, during the listing process click on the box under the heading Package Size.   At the very bottom of the pop-up you should see Oversized.   Select that then you will be able to buy your own postage.   It has to be done on a laptop or desktop rather than the app.   If the option doesn't show up try changing sub-category or category.

The alternative is to list with free postage and factor that cost into your item price.   To get the buyer's address and mark dispatched you can open the original prepaid label (Get prepaid label > Get prepaid label and QR code).    The option to change the tracking has been removed but you would be able to add the new number to a "not received" case if that were necessary.

When sellers pays postage you can claim a refund for an unused label here:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/claims/simple-delivery/refund/seller
Without tracking on ebay the payment will be held for 14 days.

[vintage_gems_5705]

Thanks for your reply Peaseblossom.

I tried exactly what you described on desktop.

I created a “Sell similar” test listing and went into Package size, but there is no “Oversized” option at the bottom at all. The largest option showing for parcels is Medium (up to 61 x 46 x 46 cm) and then that’s it.

I’ll attach a screenshot so you can see what I’m seeing.

I can't understand why eBay isn't overwhelmed with complaints. Apart from your suggestion to include postage in the buying price, what on earth do sellers do when an item is longer than 61 cm and eBay Simple Delivery is the only thing offered? 

Do you have to change category until Oversized appears, or is there some other setting I’m missing? 😭

Kind regards Greg

[**peaseblossom**]

Yes, the opt out of oversize items isn't available for all categories so you have to play around until you hit one that does.

[vintage_gems_5705]

Thanks Peaseblossom, I'll bear that in mind.