eBay

littleweed50 · ‎06-10-2025

Hi. I have been reading about Simple Delivery but can't find an answer to my question. eBay seems to be saying that I must buy postage from them then go to the PO and get confirmation that I have posted it. However when I sell an item I want to go to a local PO and buy postage there. So many local POs have shut recently so I want to "use it or lose it" before another PO is shut. So have I correctly understood eBay rules or can I still buy postage from a PO instead of buying from eBay?

**peaseblossom** · ‎06-10-2025

No, with Simple Delivery you cannot buy postage from your post office. You print out a pre-paid postage label or take the QR code for that label to your post office, and they process it.

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

style_wise · ‎06-10-2025

To add to excellent general advice, there are Item Categories where Simple Delivery is not yet mandatory, so you can use your own postage there. Also if you sell for £20 or under you can use Custom Postage. To do this add the correct price, check your Simple Delivery is set to Large Letter size, then click on CP option where you can add any size/weight and courier that you wish.

To benefit your local Post Office, you can set your preference for Royal Mail only here:

Account Settings > Selling > Postage Prefernces

With SD you have Royal Mail Tracked 48 service, with automatic £750 cover, and eBay refund for any lost/damaged items (no need to claim with Royal Mail) plus they let you keep the sale money! SD also protects you from any delivery related Negative/Neutral feedback.

littleweed50 · ‎07-10-2025

Thanks for your help. When I looked at my Postage Preferences it was already showing Royal Mail as the preferred courier but I noticed that this applies to Simple Delivery. As I don't understand how Simple Delivery works (the details are confusing) how do I know that when I next sell an item I will be able to refuse eBay's insistence that I buy a reply paid label from them? You say I can use Custom Postage in my listing. I very rarely sell an item on eBay mainly because I find the process of listing an item is not easy or straightforward. Please could you explain how I can find the option to set Custom Postage? Thanks again.

tressygirl · ‎07-10-2025

wrote: As I don't understand how Simple Delivery works (the details are confusing).

This link explains how Simple Delivery works:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sellercentre/postage/simple-delivery?mkevt=1&mkpid=2&emsid=0&mkcid=8&bu=43952...

I would also recommend checking your eBay messages frequently, as there have been many changes to SD improvements in most cases.

Also, take a read top left of this page eBay News >> Announcements, again there you'll read about any changes to SD, as they seem to be coming in thick and fast ! 🤔

@littleweed50

littleweed50 · ‎08-10-2025

Thanks for your help. I have read the explanation but that is what I find confusing. I have noticed that sellers must buy a pre-paid label from ebay then print it. For anyone without a printer ebay says to use the QR code. What does a seller do if they don't have a printer and there is no room on their phone for another app? I think i will probably give up trying to sell anything else on eBay. It's become so complicated. Years ago it was really simple so I used it more often.

tressygirl · ‎08-10-2025

It was simple years go, there's no denying that.

You don't need the app, you just need to take a photo of that code be it on your phone or another device, show that at your Post Office and they should be able from there, print your required label.

@littleweed50

**peaseblossom** · ‎08-10-2025

It is more complicated. When I started buyers used to send cash in an envelope. Super simple but not safe for them.

Anyway, eBay have said you can also take a photo of the QR code, take that to your post office and they will print the label for you. Evri also offer the option to type in the code at their locations.

sml192 · ‎08-10-2025

@littleweed50 wrote:
As I don't understand how Simple Delivery works (the details are confusing) how do I know that when I next sell an item I will be able to refuse eBay's insistence that I buy a reply paid label from them? You say I can use Custom Postage in my listing. I very rarely sell an item on eBay mainly because I find the process of listing an item is not easy or straightforward. Please could you explain how I can find the option to set Custom Postage? Thanks again.

'Custom Postage' will automatically appear as an option when listing the item if the item is either not eligible for Simple Delivery or the item is under £20 and listed in certain categories. You will need to enter the item price first in order to get the correct options.

One other thing to add, if you are using Simple Delivery and you take the item to a Post Office then they will still earn a commission. It just won't be as much as when buying the postage direct from them.