Losing money with postage

[antiquesnutter]

I am a private seller. I put package size up to 10 kilos, the only option simple delivery that it have tracking 1-3 days and the postage cost it is only £6.65

That amount of postage cost will make me to lose money because only a small packed with 1 day delivery cost over £8

And also I need to add the packing materials.

Why the postage cost don't show the real cost of the postage? Why is not possible to add myself the postage cost?

[jckl1957]

You need to read about how Simple Delivery works.

You don't pay for the postage.

The buyer pays Ebay.

In 'order details' you can print the label or access the QR code.  You print the label and drop the parcel off.  As long as you entered the weight and parcel size accurately, the amount the buyer pays will cover the cost of posting.

Packaging is a different matter.  If you are sending fragile items that need to be well wrapped and double boxed, you will have to add an amount to cover that to the cost of your item.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/posting-items/setting-postage-options/simple-delivery?id=5575&st...

[antiquesnutter]

I still think I pay for the postage. I know the buyer pay for the postage but the postage cost it is on the eBay auction, it shows clearly there and the buyer knows that it is what it will pay, no more and no less. I will repeat myself: I put box up to 10 kilos and only gave me the option of simple delivery at the cost of £6.95

It didn't let me to choose anything else, it didn't let me to put a cost for materials. In the examples of package size it doesn't said anything about antiques and fragiles items. But I pressume I need to put the cost of everything in the price.

Also, the buyer don't pay the cost of the postage at the beginning. I mean, I need to send the items before I will receive the money, when I send the items, I will receive the money then I will get also the money of the postage. I will pay the postage cost with my own money and after I don't will receive the full postage cost.

The postage cost is not the real world cost. It is not possible to send anything with that prices. The real cost need to be added to the price of the auction or of the item if it is a buy it now.

Another problem, no everyone have a printer to print the label, the QR code, I don't even have an app to read QR code in my phone. And on ebay said that to print the label will be the only way in the future.

The postage cost on ebay are wrong.

[jonatjonatjonat]

You are incorrect on some points.

For Simple Delivery - you DO NOT get paid for postage. ebay provide a label or a QR code. You don't need an app to read a QR code - you just need a phone that can display the QR code for the store to scan.

The buyer DOES pay the cost of the postage at the beginning - it is paid to ebay

You are right that you can't account for materials for packing etc and yes, this would need to be built into the price of the product.

[jckl1957]

You do not pay for the postage.

The buyer pays Ebay who provide you with a label.

You don't have to pay out for postage before you receive payment as the postage is paid directly to Ebay by the buyer.  When tracking shows delivery, your funds for the cost of the item will be released 48 houyrs later.

On your listing it shows the postage as:

 

Standard Tracked Delivery

Estimated between Wed, 11 Jun and Thu, 12 Jun to NR27 9BG

 

Postage: £6.65

 

Express Tracked Delivery

Estimated between Wed, 11 Jun and Thu, 12 Jun to NR27 9BG

 

Postage: £7.69

 

So, the item is being sold with Ebay's Simple Delivery which is becoming mandatory for most items across the site.

As a seller, you do need to read the details so you know how this system, which you are using on your listings, actually works.

[jckl1957]

This is the Ebay 'price list' from February 2025 - it may have been updated since and prices are a little more if you choose to only use one carrier (Evri or Royal Mail).  You can see that a parcel up to 10kg if you use both carriers is £5.88p.

Not having a printer or being able to access QR codes to get the label is a different matter.  If you want to continue to use the site, you will have to invest in a printer or a suitable phone.

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Announcements/Simple-Delivery-pricing-changes-from-10-February/ba-p/...

Please see below for further details of the new pricing structure: 

Profile	Item Value <£100	Item Value >£100
750g Large Letter	£2.70	£3.42
0-1kg Parcel	£2.94	£3.42
1-2kg Parcel	£3.71	£4.26
2-10kg Parcel	£5.36	£5.88
10-15kg Parcel	£7.19	£8.41
15-20kg Parcel	£10.55	£12.34

[antiquesnutter]

The buyer pay the cost of the postage to ebay but not to me, ebay give me the cost after. I am not new selling on ebay. I sold on ebay few years ago. I moved countries and I deleted the page because I thought I would never use it again. Now it change a lot and I think to worst, my experience starting to sell again. Before I received the money straight after I sold the item and with that money I send it. It was possible to put the right amount in the postage cost.

When I will go to the post office I will find out what you are telling me.

[antiquesnutter]

It didn't give me another option. Only gave me the option of ebay's simple delivery. 

I still can change the postage option in the other two items that don't have a bid yet and it doesn't give me another option. I looked many times.

The postage is paid to ebay by the buyer but who pay the postage in the post office? If it is like another reply told me, I need to show the QR code to the post office and they will scan it and I don't will need to pay for it. I will see if will be like that. Now I am suspicious because I know the cost is over £8 with tracking. Not to many days ago I sent two bangles to a gold shop in a letter with next day delivery tracking and cost over £8

[antiquesnutter]

Why if I want to continue to use the site I need to invest money in a printer?

Why is not right to just write the postage in a paper, put it in the parcel and send it? What is wrong with that?

As I said in another reply. It is not may first time selling on ebay. Before I did that and I sent the tracking number by message to the buyer, I saw when the buyer received, the buyer knew when the parcel arrived, the buyer left a feedback and I left a feedback.

I got the money before I sent the parcel and with that money I paid the cost.

Also, it didn't give me the option to put the value of the items when I choose the postage.

I just changed the weight of the parcel. I put the maximum. Before I put the one recommended. Now the postage cost is more. I cannot changed in the auction that have a bid but now I know I will need to put the maximum weight for the postage cost to be correct.

Thank you.

[jonatjonatjonat]

That isn't what happens anymore.

Your items are listed with Simple Delivery.

You don't get paid for postage

ebay do

They supply you a label.

[jonatjonatjonat]

Why is not right to just write the postage in a paper, put it in the parcel and send it? What is wrong with that?

Simply put - because ebay changed the rules.

Have a read about Simply Delivery

[xyz307xyz · Accepted solution]

You don't need a printer.

If the item is to be sent via Royal Mail you will be given a QR code picture; you show that (e.g. on your mobile phone) at a Post Office and they will print a label for you.

If the item is to be sent via Evri, you will be given a 6 character pin to type into a EVRI label machine at the Evri parcel sending point to get the label. (I think they give you a QR code picture also - you can use either.)

Note, if you want Royal Mail parcels collected, you arrange and pay for that separately on the Royal Mail website. Currently you cannot use their "Bring a label" service, so you would need to get the label printed somehow - but they hope to introduce it at some stage.

If you still have queries on any of your other questions, let us know. The process has completely changed from 2 years ago.

E.g. if ebay states the buyer is paying £6.95 on an item and gives you a label, then you use that label (providing the item is not over the maximum size and weight below. It doesn't matter if it would normally cost £8.xx or even £12.xx if you arranged it yourself at the Post Office. You don't get paid the £6.95 and you don't pay £6.95 or £8.xx or £12.xx to the Post Office.

You don't set the postage cost; so any packaging etc. costs you have can be added to the item price.

• Weighs up to 20kg
• Dimensions:
  • For an EVRi parcel shop drop-off – no side exceeds 120cm in length, the volume is no more than 245cm. To calculate the volume, add together the two shortest sides and multiply it by two, and then add the length
  • For a Royal Mail parcel shop drop-off or collection – dimensions should be up to 61cm x 46cm x 46cm
  • For locker drop-off – dimensions shouldn't exceed 66cm x 41cm x 38cm