Charges to Buyers and Ebay's Usage in General from a Private Seller

[eds-stamps20]

Hello

Thought I'd have a moan in the vague hope that somebody in Ebay's hierarchy might see it.-I am a private seller selling my stamp collection bit by bit. Today a UK Buyer spent £0.50 with me. How can it be right that his bill came to £2.94-This included the £0.74 "Buyer Protection Fee". I have loved using Ebay but for the first time since 2012 I am starting to lose faith as a private seller.

Also his tiny item will go in a small envelope-The label you print off is twice the size of the envelope-As I can't grow the envelope-can I shrink the label?Anybody!! Yes-I can use a much larger envelope for the same cost of stamp-but what about the planet?

Also-since 2012 I have made hundreds of small sales-I might make £50 in an excellent week-I have never had anything go missing-ever-so why does the Buyer need "Protection" from me-and-more importantly-why do I have to wait up to 2 weeks for my payment.

Also-I was happy to pay a seller's fee-Sales have definitely tailed off in the last couple of months-I wonder why? And why did Ebay reduce the "Free Listings" from 1000 to 300 a month (causing me to have 1000 plus unsold items in the unsold box at any given time.

I am a thick 77 year old that still enjoys making a few bob-why should I even care about all the above? This is my first post so to anybody that actually reads it-Have I got it wrong?Are the changes for the worse?

[podlingsmum2007]

As your sale was under £10 and fits into a standard size letter you don't have to use simple delivery for sending it.

[eds-stamps20]

You are right-But I have almost-but not quite-been battered into submission by the sheer number of communications from Ebay over the last few weeks extolling me to use “Simple Delivery” and the consequences of not. My point is what can be more simple than sticking an item in a small envelope-bunging a stamp on it and walking it round to the post box-Thus saving printing ink/paper and a £5 parking charge-not to mention petrol-to have an item scanned. That is the system-apparently-that does apply.

[goldenwolfman]

You are saying what most 'sensible' posters have been saying for what is now months, why on earth pay a 'tax' as security of receipt when the item is worth less than the tax!

You don't have to use 'simple delivery' - until today (??????????) as its less than £10 and that would enable you to use stamps on the letter. Which I've been saying for months is what stamp collectors would prefer - not a 'label' - but Obey are not very bright !

Simple delivery is in chaos - it was supposed to become compulsory today - but as yet, no sign as I've just done some relisting tests and opted out on every one. I will be monitoring those listings and they will all be ended if they change to 'simple delivery' - stopped buying weeks ago, but clearly all the business sellers are making a fortune here and its not effected them ...as yet.

[eds-stamps20]

Blimey-I’v picked up 2 things from your post--Are we saying the fee to Buyers does not apply if you are a business?
Secondly-the nice stamp on an envelope for buying stamp collectors-That had occurred to me but I ran out of steam with my post. Although-Thinking about it Royal Mail will just stick a Pen mark over the stamp anyway!! Help-I am turning into Victor Meldrew!!

[moonlight-rhapsody]

"This is my first post so to anybody that actually reads it-Have I got it wrong?Are the changes for the worse?"

Rest assured you're not the only one to think the way you do.  There is a massive thread on the Discussion board  called "No Longer Selling due to Simple Delivery" (2981 posts, 150 pages and counting) which is full of people saying just what you've said, and then some.  There is a huge amount of anger about it amongst private sellers.  Check it out if you want confirmation that you haven't read it wrong and yes, the change is very much for the worse.  According to ebay's CEO, it's been launched as a new "income stream", contrary to what we're told will be "easier and beneficial".

[goldenwolfman]

No Ed, you are not 'going Victor'.

Yes buyers fees are not added to business sellers items - because after all, we all know (LOL) business sellers are all pillocks of society and totally trustworthy! Me being a private seller, I must be a conman, or running a business on the sly depriving millions from HMRC and probably importing goods from China as we speak.

If a buyer is, (WAS - in my case) a stamp collector - WHY ON EARTH WOULD THEY WANT A LABEL - they 'collect stamps'. Oh Obey - you are so DIM !

I must admit I've been using my stamps for postage for some time as they were no longer collected and I do put little notes on envelopes saying please frank nicely for young stamp collector as an encouragement for postie!

One other thing you won't know is that in Obey's latest T&C's it says the sale of 'useable stamps' is now not allowed on Obey (see scan) - I'm guessing this is to try and stop the flow of useable postage which will deprive Obey of that extra bit of revenue! But BEFORE someone comes along and says 'its because of the large amount of fake stamps for sale on Obey' - hate to tell them, but it's pretty obvious which are fakes - due to sheets being available and in large volumes! Add to that there are more fakes on here in everything from a pair of trainers to a handbag, or even a fake football top to a scarf - imagination has no bounds! Even some of those Obey defenders of the faith have other identities and a weekly wage packet! Don't start me on money laundering....

Going back to the 'useable stamps' - interesting how they will police that, since every 'decimal' GB commemorative stamp is useable even those in presentation packs. PLUS add to that any stamp the world over with original gum and fairly recent is technically a 'useable stamp' - so therefor should not be for sale on Obey.

You've lost the plot Obey - wake up and sack these fools who started this nonsense!

[department28]

'Simple delivery is in chaos - it was supposed to become compulsory today - but as yet, no sign as I've just done some relisting tests and opted out on every one. I will be monitoring those listings and they will all be ended if they change to 'simple delivery' 

Yes, I think a lot of us are just watching & waiting to see what happens, ready to pause/end listings if Simple Delivery is applied. I can't see how they can apply SD to current listings without it causing huge problems. Sellers will need to check every listing to see what has been done, and what will need opting out of, etc.

No-one wants their listings interfered with! eBay should have been satisfied with those that have already opted in to Simple Delivery, and left the Custom Postage option available indefinitely, for existing users. 

[wyntersemporium]

I’ve no fee to pay as I’m a business. It’s only private sellers only. 

[wyntersemporium]

If I were you just continue using stamps, on my private account I don’t use SD and skip it to use RM as I’ve noticed that they’re hiking the price of a parcel up aka large letter

[goldenwolfman]

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@wyntersemporium wrote:

If I were you just continue using stamps, on my private account I don’t use SD and skip it to use RM as I’ve noticed that they’re hiking the price of a parcel up aka large letter

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I shall do until they enforce SD at which point I'll leave and use other platforms like e bid

As a business - you should use other platforms anyway, even if it brings you one extra sale. Maybe you do?

[jma2815]

I can see why you are ignoring SD and still using stamps but I think there will very soon be effective measures in place to stop sellers from doing that. It will be very important to ebay that all means of bypassing SD are prevented. 

[goldenwolfman]

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@jma2815 wrote:

I can see why you are ignoring SD and still using stamps but I think there will very soon be effective measures in place to stop sellers from doing that. It will be very important to ebay that all means of bypassing SD are prevented. 

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Why?? For what reason is this so essential? Obey has operated well for many years without any need for such action.

[lucy_farmer]

'it will be very important to ebay that all means of bypassing SD are prevented. 

Why?? For what reason is this so essential?'

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Because every penny counts, wolfie! 

And ebay won't want to lose the extra profit they get from forcing SD on everybody.

And AI will be set up to stop anybody cheating ebay out of the few pennies that may slip under the radar.....

[department28]

Oh, but we all believed the only reason for Simple Delivery was to streamline & simplify our selling experience...! 

[dantwocats]

its a mess , one of my card listings shows royal mail postage 50p on the main page but SM shows £2.74 with no option to change to letter its under £10 & under 100g , + all the over #ups i have come across today, TEC people are on it ,blare blare blare, had months to sort this out and 1000s of us telling them for months its chap, what a way to run  business

[crn303]

With reference to your posting, which was very well explained, it highlights the total nonsense caused by eBay with their introduction of SPF and SD.  With this type of item you mention it should surely be able to be despatched with a postage stamp in a suitable envelope.

First time I have heard about a printed label being bigger than the envelope you were wishing to use.  Again it just highlights the stupidity that exists within eBay.

Probably, eBay management are aware of the despair, anger etc read on these community postings but with an ongoing lack of response I ask the question do they care ?

[wintersdawn1]

No, they don't care and they'll only take notice if their turnover takes a hit, as long as it isn't they'll continue to do whatever they want with total disregard of anybody else. 

[goldenwolfman]

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@lucy_farmer wrote:

'it will be very important to ebay that all means of bypassing SD are prevented. 

Why?? For what reason is this so essential?'

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Because every penny counts, wolfie! 

And ebay won't want to lose the extra profit they get from forcing SD on everybody.

And AI will be set up to stop anybody cheating ebay out of the few pennies that may slip under the radar.....

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It was a rhetorical question, I said weeks ago that Obey were trying to screw every last penny and postage and taxes were the way forward. It was more a question of  why JMA thought it necessary - indeed 'IF he did?

So far we've got a system that is failing - with excuses from the usual suspects as to why there are issues, now we have a date for SD rolled out - that has not happened and we have similar 'excuses' from those suspects as to why its not? Now its a gradual roll out ...erm, if they say so, get ready for a quick rush to the exits!

[wyntersemporium]

I sell elsewhere but can’t say on here as last time I did that eBay silenced me fir a month