Simple Delivery - how to avoid/opt out?

[limetree-uk15]

want the option to post my item myself instead of simply delivery, there is no option of opt out, so i can post myself ! if there is any ebay representives out there can you please tell us how do we opt out of simply delivery as i tried for hours without any joy! is there another way around this? like buy/pay for simple delivery and don't use their label ( to bet a refund) then send it out yourself via royal mail. please help.

[**peaseblossom**]

SD is now compulsory for all private sellers.   The only exemptions are for letter items under £10/100g in some categories or extra large/heavy items.

[limetree-uk15]

What happens if i don't use their SD label and post the item myself?

is there any way around it? can someone please tell me there must be a way to avoid SD

[**peaseblossom**]

If you list with "free postage - seller pays" you can buy your own but you don't get the buyer's address until you generate the Simple Delivery label so you have to do that.   Then cancel it and change the tracking number.   

The items have to be sent with a tracked service in order to receive the refund for the unused label.    And we don't know how long ebay will continue to refund for unused SD labels if sellers keep doing this.

[infohelps]

Unfortunately, Simple Delivery is now mandatory for private sellers. 

It originally came out at the beginning of April, but there has been some problems (!!!!!) with it, and some people's listings had been migrated over and others hadn't, but it now seems 6th August is the deadline.

[d-o-y]

The loophole has now been plugged. You could list an item at £800 and with an oversize parcel, then hit the refresh button and alter the price but now it does not work. The only solution now is to become a business seller which I think is their hope as they will a higher % than they do from the BPF. On the plus side, you can choose postage and items will be listed as your price without BPF.

[3942rick2005]

Oh no it hasn't, just a different workaround ( not tested live yet )    https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Seller-Central/How-do-you-list-anything-bigger-than-61cm-Part-two/m-...

[artycraftyali]

Hi - could you let me know please who the refund is made to for an unused postage label?  I inadvertently posted a parcel without realising it had a label which had been pre-paid by the buyer. 

I understand the cost of the unused label will be refunded but I'm  not sure who to!  It should be to me as I paid £7 at the post office to send by Royal Mail (although the label purchased was for around £5 by Evri).  If it goes back to the buyer I am still £7 out of pocket and the buyer has gained £5!

Would appreciate your help with this.

Thank you

Alison

[brainuk]

Alison. If the buyer paid for the label, then he will automatically get a refund after 14-30 days. If you offered free postage, and you bought the label, then you have to request a refund for that unused label from eBay.

[tressygirl]

  If you paid for the label , that is,  you listed it as Seller Pays,  the ol' ' Free Postage',  you can cancel it here:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/claims/simple-delivery/refund/seller

@artycraftyali 

[sid.123]

As of 08/08/25 i have found the loop hole has closed for listings already posted. You are now unable to change the parcel size once listed. It does still work at this time for new listings. So to change a live listing your need to end and relist. 

[d-o-y]

If you end a listing and relist you will have to use the SD option unless your item is over £750. Only items listed by 6 August could avoid the SD option by refreshing then revising the cost.

I have sold 3 items that were listed before and was able to choose my own postage method but not anymore.

[sid.123]

Like most things they change its proberly being rolled out area by area... I listed an item this morning and was still able to use the work around. I'm sure that'll close soon.

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[d-o-y]

Unfortunately as I'm sure you probably know the requests are being ignored. I have sold about 15 items and paid for the postage and still been charged for SD label and I have requested a refund within the 14 days and given all the details but received nothing so the link you give is meaningless as no refund has been given to me or anyone else I know. I don't think there is any point in mentors continuously providing the link .

[sid.123]

Can I ask over what period of time this was... It does say it can take 30 days for the refund.

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[d-o-y]

The first claim that was not refunded was 30 May and the remainder (approx 15) were mostly in June. I filled the form completely and even sent copies of the postage receipts when requested by the agents and still received nothing. This is more than 30 days ago.

[sid.123]

That seems a lost cause then... So far I've only had to get one refunded for a cancelled sale. That was refunded within two days... The issue that concerned me was the fact that when you send the refund form you receive no notification to confirm the form has been received.

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[3942rick2005]

See message no.7 above re my new workaround wef 06/08/25 for the changes - it works, I have listed with it.

[d-o-y]

I should correct what I put earlier. It was 18 May when I first applied and 8 June when I claimed the last (17th) one. You will always get a refund if you cancel the sale as the are not going to post anything. The annoying thing is that despite knowing that no refunds will be coming, the mentors still persist in providing the link. I suppose you can't bite the hand that feeds you and they are probably being paid by ebay. I think we all have to just write off the charge. If you sell more expensive items it is less important as the % of cost for the SD label will be lower.

[tressygirl]

@d-o-y  wrote;    the mentors still persist in providing the link. I suppose you can't bite the hand that feeds you and they are probably being paid by ebay.

Two things may I politely address here! 🤗

The link for receiving a refund for unused labels is correct,  it's been used by many and it works.

However,  it wholly  depends on Who paid for the label as to Who gets the refund,  and it does take 30 days to appear.  If you had seller pays for postage,   the old ' Free Postage',   then you do need to manually claim the money back from the unused label, it has to be done within 30 days.

If you had Buyer pays for postage,  then the buyer receives the refund automatically.    As said both refunds take 30 days to be processed.  From your sold listings,   I see you have a mixture of ' Free delivery'  and Buyer pays,  so refunds will be awarded accordingly, as to who originally paid for the postage.

Secondly,  Mentors do not get paid by eBay,  if only !!!  🤗  We are all volunteers offering assistance  whenever and whatever we can,  in our spare time.

@d-o-y