Do we actually know yet if unused SD labels will be refunded?

[jills_cardclearout]

Hi, to get around the error of not being able to list with custom postage, this week I have listed with SD, then of course I have to "get label" to get buyers address, but not then used it.
I was thinking that it will eventually be refunded, to me as I'm using "seller pays" but then this morning I noticed this in the FAQ below -

What if I don't want to use the prepaid label?

If you do choose to purchase your own delivery label separately, this will be at your own cost, therefore if you would prefer to purchase your own label, you should aim to opt-out your item from the Simple Delivery experience at the point of listing. We will not reimburse you for the costs of using your own label. You will also not benefit from any enhanced cover for loss or damage to the item during transit. You must therefore deal with claims due to loss or damage in transit directly with the delivery service provider. You will need to check directly with the delivery service provider from which you have purchased the label for cover limits. Your seller performance standards and service metrics will not be protected for late deliveries if you do not use the prepaid label.

This leads me think that the price of the SD label will not be refunded? Has anybody been through the process and can say for sure yet?

[tressygirl]

It states there will be no reimbursement for '  your Own label ' , if used.

Allegedly,  any unused  SD labels, these being purchased by the buyer,  the buyer will receive a refund if the seller uses their own label in preference to SD.

We are told , the refund can take over 30 days to appear,  so perhaps this time has not lapsed for anyone to come back and confirm this ?  🤔

@jills_cardclearout 

[jills_cardclearout]

Yes, I wondered if we may not actually know yet due to the timescale.
But there is a subtle difference between no reimbursement for '  your Own label ' and no refund of an unused SD label.

I don't know whether to continue using my workaround or wait for the custom postage issue to be fixed now.

Thanks for the answer anyway!

[tressygirl · Accepted solution]

This is a message from Kat  one of the Community managers here, on a previous thread :

As it has been correctly advised by other members on this thread unused simple delivery labels are automatically refunded. It can take up to 30 days but refunds for unused Simple Delivery labels go back to who paid for them. If the buyer paid for the postage then the refund automatically goes back to the buyer. If free postage was offered and the seller paid, the refund automatically goes back to the seller.

@jills_cardclearout 

[jills_cardclearout]

That's good to know, well as far as we can "know" anything yet!

[14061994]

I had an unused label refunded yesterday on my buying account.

[judydoodles]

This might be a workaround that might tempt me back into selling.  I used to list with free p&p so could I  circumvent SD and not use the SD label print my usual Tracked 48 label?  I get that I'll have to wait for the 14 days to access funds but if the SD label then get's reimbursed to me, albeit 30 days later, I might be able to work with this.

My only concern is that the tracking ref will be incorrect should the buyer report INR.  If I can't update the sale's tracking in My Ebay, will I be able to submit it via the case to show delivery? 

It might be worth listing a low value item to test the theory.  I'm not really feeling like selling again just yet.

I suspect ebay may close this loophole if it's a viable method of listing and selling without SD?  I've managed this long without enhanced loss protection.

[jills_cardclearout]

I just had a look and there's no obvious way to change the tracking number that I can see.

I wasn't too fussed as I'm selling sub £10 items anyway, which fall into the Sd exempt category.

If it will continue to be possible I don't know!

[ruby*ryan]

---

@judydoodles wrote:

This might be a workaround that might tempt me back into selling.  I used to list with free p&p so could I  circumvent SD and not use the SD label print my usual Tracked 48 label?  I get that I'll have to wait for the 14 days to access funds but if the SD label then get's reimbursed to me, albeit 30 days later, I might be able to work with this.

---

Firstly it will be the buyer that gets the refund as they paid for the postage label.

Secondly, if you are still sending it Tracked 48, why not just have RM selected, then you can use the label provided, rather than fork out your own money for exactly the same label (and not have the 14 day wait)? 

[kath3735_wxmjn]

not if you do the free postage/seller pays option, the buyer will not get the refund then.  I do not send items tracked unless they are expensive ones and i have very few of them.  The certificate of posting tracking number always worked fine for me and i do not see why i should have to deal with e bay for my postage when i was quite happy going into my local PO.   I have tried a couple and will see if the work around does work!  The others i have just put on i have managed to get on by messing around as custom postage!  See how long that will last.  They just moved me on to SD last week so i am keen to hear about these work arounds that people are finding in the flawed system!

[judydoodles]

My poor explanation; under SD if I click seller pays postage doesn't the SD label cost get charged to the seller? So if I as seller buy the SD label but don't use it, surely the £ would come back to me eventually.  If ebay want to close that loophole then refusing to refund postage charged to the seller might achieve that, or not.  Who knows?

Anyhoo that's still an academic question because I just relisted an item and I'm still offering custom old-fashioned tracked 48 postage at my expense.  So maybe I just crack on listing a few oddments and hope for the best, until I'm onboarded.

It's inconceivable that ebay doesn't have a roll out plan with timescale, even with delays.  They just aren't sharing the info.

[ruby*ryan]

@judydoodles 

Sorry, I didn't realise you meant using free/seller pays option.
But I still don't see the point of not using the label, to pay the same price for your own label  and have the extra wait for payment.

[judydoodles]

Just because I'm bl😲dy-minded!  😉

[edwardian-dreams]

It’s codswallop

if you’re charged for a label that is never used ergo it’s not cost anyone anything it should be refunded 

what am I missing 

[jills_cardclearout]

Well you might assume it should be that simple, but since returning to this all new, singing and dancing ebay I've learnt to assume nothing!

[edwardian-dreams]

Well in my little mind that’s stealing 

surely there’s a law against it 

[dch2112011]

You should be able to add a second tracking number - the original SD tracking number will remain but your label number will appear under this one -  this is a facility usually used when sending a replacement but will show as item delivered for payment - you may or may not need to contact CS if payment is not automatically released

[ruby*ryan]

There is (currently) no 'edit' button next to the tracking number on SD items, so at the moment it isn't possible to change it or add another.