Simple Delivery Now Optional - I think not!

[akhjc]

I, like all private sellers have received an email, saying that Simple Delivery is now optional for items under £20.

I have just listed an item under £20 and I cannot see any other option than Simple Delivery. Not a great start.

Why can't eBay stop this anti competitive policy? Postage has nothing to do with eBay. It is for the seller to determine what postage service they should use and should also take into account packaging too. My items are boxed for shipping and these boxes cost between 50p and £1.50 each. I should be able to show these costs transparently in postage charges.

I also don't use certain carriers for geographical reasons, such as Evri, which is an extra mile walk to post, compared to Royal Mail, who are down the road. 

Has anyone checked the legality of only allowing two carriers for small parcel Simple Delivery? I thought competition was healthy.

[tressygirl]

Forget the  ' has anyone checked the legality' of eBay's actions,  they have the most expensive lawyers in the world to check and cross all the T's and dot all the I's before going ahead with any change.

What are the items you are trying to list? Not all  categories fall under this new introduction and may not be exempt from SD.

You can if you wish  exclude Evri from your listings,  do so here:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/ship/prf

@akhjc 

[akhjc]

I know you can exclude Evri. I may want to use Evri sometimes though. That's the point. It's a change that changes for all listings.

 Why should I forget the legality? eBay make all sorts of sweeping changes, without any consultation. When Simple Delivery was introduced, every single listing was changed in one fell swoop. Certainly unfair at the least.

I presume you are replying as a Pro Mentor, as you are an eBay employee, who will always defend policy, no matter how bonkers. Or is this an AI response, as you have no listings.

[jonatjonatjonat]

I’d suggest you read the email again

[akhjc]

Just re read it 

[1956glyn]

The first sentence of the email......

We’ve listened to your feedback and made Simple Delivery optional for more items priced £20 or less. This includes items in categories like Trading cards, Coins and Stamps, which are typically letter or large letter-sized and 100g or under.

IF an employee of Ebay responds (which is very rare on threads) they have a big blue box around their username and response.    

IF an Ai bot did start responding on these boards......it would be chaos lol     The Ai bot descriptions are bad enough already.

Big businesses often have contracts with carriers at very reduced prices so this is not new........ok new on Ebay but not elsewhere.    Often the postage discounts are not passed onto buyers. 

Nowadays you have to include your packaging costs in your start or buy it now price.    It cannot be included in postage charges.   You could mention in your description if you want to be that transparent how much your boxes cost you.

Before you say it.......NO i do not work for Ebay either 🙂

[tressygirl]

Ummm,  no I'm not an eBay employer,  no mentors are we are members like yourself.  I have no listings as I did not like all Simple Delivery rules, if you must know,    they suit some members , but not me !

I'm just stating the obvious,  that this is not a non legal matter , a disliked one yep,  but legal ! 

 However,  feel free to challenge the legality , I was not telling you to personally not check this out please do,    I only ask to please come back with the result.

It is always a learning day on eBay,  especially now with the changes, and the constant changes to the changes ! 🙄 🤔

@akhjc 

[1956glyn]

Just to add Ebay used to give notice (2 weeks i think it was) of any proposed changes on the site.........then they changed their terms and conditions to say that no notice had to be given of changes. 

[1956glyn]

I use Royal Mail only and have put my listings to Royal Mail only......yet when i list an item it still gives me the option of Evri on every listing if i want.   So no it does not change for all listings in my experience. 

[akhjc]

If you aren't listing any items, why get involved in the topic? Also I didn't say I was going to test the legality of the rules and won't, because I'm neither rich, not crazy.

I don't want every day on eBay to be a learning day, I want them to act like a grown up business, that doesn't change policy on an almost daily basis.

[akhjc]

To be pedantic, it says categories like, non specific.

It seems that all are happy with the Simple Delivery regime, or the doubters aren't out of bed yet. It's striking that all the nay sayers have no, or very few  listings, though.

[akhjc]

Yes, it's monkey see monkey do with Vinted.

[1956glyn]

Firstly your "hundreds of mugs" would be too heavy  so they would not be eligible anyhow.

 Personally i do not particularly like Simple Delivery for various reasons......

No just lately we are not listing very much .... well spotted.   I could list several hundred QUALITY  items but currently do not have the time nor inclination to do that.   That is OUR choice.

Just because we do not have a lot of live listings it does not mean that we do not know what we are on about or actually take the time to read Ebay notifications properly.

[tressygirl]

---

@akhjc wrote:
If you aren't listing any items, why get involved in the topic? Also I didn't say I was...

I don't want every day on eBay to be a learning day, I want them to act like a grown up business, that doesn't change policy on an almost daily basis.

---

Think you're mis reading my posts a little.  I have had experience of SD,  I said I no longer list because it doesn't suit my items, with these constant changes I may return !    

Experience also comes from reading members experiences of SD , and ( trying) to keep up with eBay announcements on changes,  so yes,  hopefully I can contribute and help others here.

Again I did not say  ' go ahead and challenge the legality' , but feel free to do so,  you are correct deep pockets are needed here.

The reference to learning days perhaps wasn't clear,  it was for us mentors and others trying to help that with these constant changes,  it is a learning day for us, not for you,  for us to be able to answer questions correctly.

I agree with you totally,  that the  reduced carrier options are an issue.

eBay have added DHL recently, perhaps they will add others in the future,  things seem to be working slowly with improvements,  let alone correcting issues,  on SD !  

@akhjc

🤔

🤔

@akhjc

[1956glyn]

Eh?     What does that mean?

I am just trying to give you an explanation regarding the points you have raised.

I do not use any other sites.    We have never relied on any income from Ebay.

[1956glyn]

I give up......time to get ready for a day of shopping 🙂 

[tressygirl]

Let's swop , mine is an ironing day !  🤗

@1956glyn