eBay is forcing me to use simple delivery for all my listings

[rgrahamsmith1403]

I have just made a sale of an item I've had on sale for a while - as a fixed price buy-it-now item. I had originally had it listed as a fixed price for postage, which included a small amount for my packaging, plus Royal Mail 2nd class small parcel rate. I've always used this option and it worked fine. However, when I made this sale, I found that I was charged automatically for pre-paid "simple delivery", which did not cover the cost of packaging, and I have no way of changing this. So I started to look carefully at my listings, and I find that ALL of them have been changed from the flat-rate postage charge that I originally specified, to "simple delivery", which, as I say, doesn't take my packaging costs into account. There was no warning about this change, and I was not asked if I wanted it. Now, eBay say that it is possible to opt out of simple delivery by customising the delivery details when making a listing, but I have just tried this and found that there is in fact NO OPTION for custom delivery. You don't have any option other than simple delivery.

I am very concerned by all this recent change, since in order to pay for my packing costs, I would have to increase my prices accordingly. As that would put off buyers, I don't intend to do that, so I lose out.

I would be interested to hear what other sellers have to say about their experience in this area, and what they think can be done about it.

[**peaseblossom**]

There are many threads on here from people complaining about SD if you want to read them.   It's now compulsory for all private sellers.   The only opt-outs possible are for items bigger than 61cm x 61cm x 46cm or heavier than 20kg,  for letter items under £10/100g, and for items £750 or more.

[jckl1957]

Simple Delivery was first mentioned early in the year and has been rolled out over several months until it has become mandatory for all private sellers in most categories.  With Simple Delivery as Ebay set the cost and the amount for postage is paid directly to Ebay, you cannot include an amount for packaging.

Simple Delivery is now the only option for private sellers.

If you upgrade your account to a business account, which is the correct account for a seller who is only selling multiples of brand new items, you would not have to use Simple Delivery and could include an amount for packaging in your postage cost.

[rgrahamsmith1403]

Thanks. I had considered that before, but haven’t properly researched all
the consequences of doing so. I will look into it now.


Graham Smith Sent from my iPhone