After 26 years it's sad to say goodbye but Simple Delivery is too controlling and too much.

[www.philatelic-literature.com]

Tomorrow would mark my 26th ebay birthday, but I'm not staying here for my 27th.

The changes over the years have been trying - (why get rid of turbolister??) - and increasingly ebay has shown its controlling nature. It's like the sort of partner everyone warned you against. Someone who wants to run your life for you.

I'm gradually selling a lifetime's accumulation of stamps and books and odds and ends, but today I've really got the hump.

This camel's back has been broken today by the first sale where "simple delivery" has been forced on me.

My listing description stated "Free UK postage" but ebay changed all that, charged the buyer, reduced the expected delivery time to one I cannot meet (because I now have to go to the post office or wait for a collection) and who knows what will happen next?

Apart from anything else it is clear from many, many similar posts that people just don't like to be dictated to.

I'm off to Delcampe which is still quite clunky but at least allows a bit more freedom.

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

[infohelps]

It's probably not much consolation, but you are not on your own in your decision.  At the moment I have a 'time away from selling' banner up, which I have had up since the 1st April whilst I 'lurk' in the shadows wondering when - and if - eBay will get its act together.

At the moment, despite the latest 'deadline' of the 6th August for all relevant listings to finally be switched to SD, there seems to be no clarity.  I have 200+ knitting patterns which shouldn't be on SD because of the size and weight, but all of which have been changed over to SD.  If I could be bothered to change them all I still have custom delivery available.  Weirdly, items that unfortunately should be on SD, like books, clothing and ornaments are not.  They still show Free postage, 2nd class Royal Mail delivery, 5 day turnaround.

However, I have heard that people are saying that listings are changing to Stupid Delivery AT THE POINT OF SALE.  I wonder if this has happened to you or whether your listings might have been changed on or around the 6th August?  

The more I read on here and on Trustpilot the less keen I am to sell even if SD was made optional again.  

[www.philatelic-literature.com]

Thank you for your message. It is some consolation. I like your idea of "lurking" - might be a way forward...

As you discuss, some of the problem is that SD has not only been forced on us, but that it really is not clear exactly what is happening, why, or when. It feels rather chaotic and personally I feel just tossed around by an uncaring force over which I have no control. And Lord knows there is enough chaos in the rest of the world - ebay used to be a bit of a safe haven.

I have tried changing things in my listings. Sometimes they look as though the change remains, but then the listings mysteriously mutate. Looks like it's ebay's way or no way. Maybe they do even mutate at the point of sale!

All best.

[foresterdon]

I used Delcampe for several years quite happily, then came back to eBay when things quietened down after an earlier rogue general manager  messed eBay up while trying to make a big name for himself - and failed.

History repeats itself.

You'll be fine there.

Good luck!

[moonlight-rhapsody]

I have a huge collection of postcards that I'm not ready to sell yet, but normally I would have put them on ebay when I was ready.  I've bought from Delcampe before, and that's where my collection will go on sale in due course, now that I've stopped selling on ebay altogether.  Delcampe also have other categories that suit some of my other vintage collections that I'll part with in due course. 

[thepillenwerfer]

Stamps are exempt, are at least are supposed to be, from Simple Delivery. It shouldn't make much odds for books as not many would go as Large Letters, at least not if properly packed.

I don't know what your old despatch time was but you can now set it for up to three days. 

Royal Mail collections usually take place next day but I'm not sure what the cut-off time is, I've certainly booked one at half-past nine.  If it's small enough you can still put things in a post box but you'll have no Proof of Posting.  They'll still get scanned into the system at some point but if they go astray between the post box and that stage, or if somebody sets fire to the post box with it inside, you're in trouble.

[3942rick2005]

"However, I have heard that people are saying that listings are changing to Stupid Delivery AT THE POINT OF SALE.  I wonder if this has happened to you or whether your listings might have been changed on or around the 6th August?  "

I have been expecting this with my latest workaround No.2 - I had a listing up that I made with it and specified Special Delivery, it sold this evening and everything was still as it used to be. No simpleton delivery foisted on me, buyers address sent by ebay via email and drop down box is available for me to enter the tracking number. All as it used to be! How long the workarounds will last I don't know but they are still valid.