Ebay's latest software problem

[calltecst88]

Good morning, everybody

I am a stamp collector. I buy old collections, take out the stamps I want, add them to my collection and resell all surplus stamps to help finance my collection. I've been a member since 2005. My customers have indicated via feedback that they like my handwritten envelopes with the latest UK postage stamps attached, sometimes of their choice. They were seemingly pleased with my packaging and generally satisfied with the lots purchased. They frequently  expressed satisfaction with my ability to provide combined postage savings. Up to a month ago this was my operating model. 

As of today I have customers in Germany,  France and Italy all unable to pay for their lots. My UK customers are wondering why they have to pay a Buyer Protection Fee. My buyers have never needed protection from me. One recent UK customer had to pay an extra £23.00 in buyer protection. This customer having paid his £23.00 extra waited six days for his 48 HR tracked service package to arrive!! Who do you think this buyer needs protecting from?

Today I can no longer raise an invoice to allow for combined purchase, I can't even raise a single invoice to allow the future settlement with a refund. I can't choose my postal service allowing me to offer the most cost effective delivery. In essence I am no longer in control of my sales.  For the record I've had to cancel over 30 sales due to my customers being unable to pay.

Come on Ebay, own up to your mistake, correct it and if you can't, go back to the software package in place over a month ago. 

Regards,

John

[auctionmike1]

You reflect my feelings exactly!!! Plus the obvious - that as I am no longer selling as much on eBay, I am not buying as much. 

[dancewithadingo]

Good Morning John

I sympathise with you. A lot of us are in the same boat ie having to use this Simple Delivery.  They should rename it Suicidal Delivery.

I suspect the reason that you can no longer combine purchases is that eBay get a cut from every label issued,therefore if a customer is buying three items and you send them all  in the same envelope eBay lose out on their commission on the non issued other two labels.

As you say,where is the freedom of choice in postage matters. It's been taken out of our hands.  Everything is buyer oriented. Most buyers don't realise just how difficult selling is at times.  eBay are forcing more and more changes onto us.

Anyway I digress, good luck with your future sale with particular reference to when we all go over to the 'Dark Side' aka Simple Delivery.

Good luck

Dingo

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[akemp1]

The software problem has been diagnosed as being the result of an underlying management problem.

Yeah it's insulting to suggest buyers need to be protected from high quality long term sellers.

Ebay have never had to payout with their own money on any of my thousands of sales.

Bring back private seller fees. Can't say it enough times.

[clearingmyshelves2025]

This is where Ebay is shooting themselves in the foot. If I'm no longer selling, I won't be on Ebay. If I'm not on Ebay, I won't spot an item and think, that looks interesting. Who knows, that might have resulted in a purchase.

But not now. I've got a bid on a pair of shoes but that will probably be my last purchase. In fact I know it will be as I won't be selling and therefore won't have the spare cash.

You see, Ebay, this is what it's like for so many of us. You really are committing commercial suicide. You're as bad as the Tariff King over the water.

[goldenwolfman]

I too 'was' a stamp collector and have sold some off, however I sadly inherited my brothers collection. I always put stamps on the packets and they were comemmoratives from my collection. I have lots to use, but under the new system I cannot use them - so I left, I will not buy either from here!

Today I've seen a post that says Obey have even banned the sale of 'useable' stamps!!!! Unless its an 'expired' stamp - you will not be allowed to sell it here! Nonsense on a grand scale.

[dancewithadingo]

Good Morning Wolfman

I was under the impression that if you offered free delivery/postage you could use anything you like. In other words your surplus useable stamps.

Dingo

[thesmi42]

Free postage will not be available under Simply Devilry and from Monday your listings will probably be converted to SD.

[stokey000]

My feelings exactly. For stamp collectors buying and selling on surplus, Ebay has killed this hobby of ours. Are there any other sites out there where we can buy and sell stamps like we have for years on ebay without the current restrictions imposed? Someone out there must have the skills to start it!! Every private seller would surely start using it.  Anyone just changed from private to business even though it isn't really a business as I see it?

[buffster1963]

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@goldenwolfman wrote:

I too 'was' a stamp collector and have sold some off, however I sadly inherited my brothers collection. I always put stamps on the packets and they were comemmoratives from my collection. I have lots to use, but under the new system I cannot use them - so I left, I will not buy either from here!

Today I've seen a post that says Obey have even banned the sale of 'useable' stamps!!!! Unless its an 'expired' stamp - you will not be allowed to sell it here! Nonsense on a grand scale.

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I can understand them banning the sale of useable stamps on here. There were many fake ones being sold and then when used the buyers were being charged £5 from Royal Mail to get their item. There were many posts about it. 

[buffster1963]

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@dancewithadingo wrote:

Good Morning Wolfman

I was under the impression that if you offered free delivery/postage you could use anything you like. In other words your surplus useable stamps.

Dingo

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If you offer free delivery it still has to go through SD. The postage money will be taken from the seller instead of the buyer and a label/QR code sent to post it. 

[dancewithadingo]

Thanks  Buff.  That's valuable and useful info.

Thank you.

[goldenwolfman]

Well I don't understand the logic in  banning them - and even if they did ban them, Obeys only logic was to stop people depriving them of income - fake stamps was the last of their worries!

Yes there were indeed lots of fake stamps being sold (usually in sheets - easily spotted) and yes I read of some being charged £5 for using them - BUT I ALSO read of a couple of people who were charged £5 and they had proof they had received the stamps in the Royal Mail swap out scheme - I believe RM had to refund them.

I have a lot of stamps that are all genuine and up until now have been using them without a single issue - much to the delight of stamp collectors who purchased off me. Now I sell elsewhere!

Fake stamps are the last of Obeys worries, there is fake everything on here - designer wear, fake collectibles and all sorts - including fake buyer protection fees !

[goldenwolfman]

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@stokey000 wrote:

My feelings exactly. For stamp collectors buying and selling on surplus, Ebay has killed this hobby of ours. Are there any other sites out there where we can buy and sell stamps like we have for years on ebay without the current restrictions imposed? Someone out there must have the skills to start it!! Every private seller would surely start using it.  Anyone just changed from private to business even though it isn't really a business as I see it?

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There are other platforms - over 800k stamp listings on ebid! and on delcampe!

[thesmi42]

I now see that my earlier reply about 'free postage' was wrong and you are correct so thanks for clarifying that.

However if the postage is incorporated in the listed price, so that the seller pays for it, I think the whole price will be subject to the 4% levy.

Unless I am also wrong on this, the 4% principle also applies to the cost of packaging (if the seller wants to recoup that cost) as it cannot be added to the cost of postage under SD, so it has to be included in the item price.

A nice little earner for eBay.

[akemp1]

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@thesmi42 wrote:

A nice little earner for eBay

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Interesting point about the 4% buyer tax on free postage yet the seller will still pay SD prices..

Wherever you look ebay's greedy little fingers seem to be furtively digging in.

Just say no.