Simple Delivery - Underestimated Parcel Size

[shovio]

Hi All,

I started using Simple Delivery a few weeks ago.  The first item I sent went missing in the post, which wasn’t a great start, but eBay dealt with it immediately so I didn’t need to worry about claiming off Royal Mail.

I’ve noticed that Simple Delivery nearly always underestimates the size of parcel required for my items.  So far, I have been overwriting the default settings to allow for the bigger parcels, which means the buyer has to pay a higher price.

But I have read that if eBay underestimates the cost of postage, and I don’t change it, then they will pick up the additional cost through their agreements with Evri/Royal Mail.  Is that correct?

So let’s say I sell a joblot of books which eBay estimates will cost £3 to post.  The lot sells for £2 plus £3 postage.  But the lot ends up costing £7 to post … does eBay pay for that, or is it going to come back on me as the seller? 

Also, how does Simple Delivery deal with international orders?  Does it still go through GSP? 

I have a policy set up to include rates for posting to the Republic of Ireland (because I live in Northern Ireland) - does that still appear if I choose Simple Delivery?

Regards,

Shovio

[style_wise]

Yes, eBay say their SD label will work for items that they undersized when importing SD into your listings. But in practice Sellers have been turned away by RM/EVRI employees who don't honour this agreement. So it is better to check and change as you've been doing.

SD is only for UK sales. You can use either Custom Postage or GSP for International sales.

If I were you, I would post your Republic of Ireland question to Discussion > eBay Ireland.

[shovio]

OK, thanks.  I will continue adjusting the parcel size then.  What happens if I adjust the size upwards but still underestimate it?  Are eBay then going to blame me because I changed it?

Postage is a big proportion of the cost of the items I sell, so it makes a relatively big difference if I over or under estimate the parcel size.  I'm frequently selling lots for £2-10 where the postage is £3-9.

[61stephenuk]

If you adjust the size upwards but still underestimate then you will be charged the extra plus a £1  admin fee

[shovio]

Gosh, ungrateful eBay.  Ok, so that means that if I'm not sure on the size I will have to go bigger, which in turn means it will be harder to get sales.

[971397id]

I just go with what ebay recommends, no problems yet 😆

this is where the "ai" bit comes in, anything under or over estimated gets adjusted for future listings probably, I’ve also noticed some parcels need weighing at the PO, some don't.  ebay just eat the extra cost (doubt there is any with the amount of work they're punting to evri and RM) as part of the learning.

[shovio]

Interesting.  Maybe I'll take the risk with one or two if they're not far off.  

A week or so ago I took a couple of parcels to the PO.  One was custom delivery, one was simple delivery.  The clerk told me that when she scanned the QR code, the simple delivery one did not ask her to weigh the parcel, but the custom delivery one did ask her to.