Ebay's new Buyers' protection fee from the 4th Feb

[rsbrickshop]

I'm a private seller. Items I sell are between £2.90 - £10. Is It just me or will ebay's new Buyers' protection fee from the 4th Feb make it near impossible to sell competitively. A few months ago Ebay got rid of Sellers' fees for private sellers, which was a welcome move. But this new change and getting rid of multi-buy discount for private sellers will make it worse than it was with the original fees.

[sportex-uk]

Why there's a common expectation that Simple Delivery will become mandatory? If they force Packlink scammers, then I'm off.

[papso22]

I agree with pretty  much all you say above, the one thing I would say is that many sellers say buyers don't need extra protection because they have the MBG.

To that I would say that ebay doesn't have to provide the MBG, and they certainly don't have to provide it for free.  They have clearly seen a way to recoup the 'free selling fees' by identifying a service they provide to buyers and charging for it.  They can then link the fee to a service, I.e buyer protection. 

An alternative could have been to stop providing the MBG to  buyers from private sellers, but that would have been an even bigger lead balloon.

They don't have to justify different treatment for buyers from the different types of account,  which is probably just as well!

So in my view they are charging for something they used to provide for free, but that's their perogative.

[mr_aitch]

"some of us have been here for 20 reliable years"

you make a very pertinent point here. i would guess that most of the buyer problems that ebay hopes to resolve relate to fraud and losses on high value items. i've sold circa 1200 unwanted household and loft items over the last 20 years at very low prices with zero problems. ebay should probably try and distinguish between sellers of low value loft junk and sellers of high value items like dodgy/counterfeit/stolen iphones etc or where there is a risk that someone will steal a high value item in transit or on the doorstep.

[lucy_farmer]

'...there's a common expectation that Simple Delivery will become mandatory?'

'fraid so... the CEO of ebay mentioned that it would be for all private sellers by the end of 'Q1 2025' (biz speak for 'by the end of spring this year') ☹️

[the-navigator]

How does that work, say I have made four separate sales (all under ten pounds), how do I bundle them all up into one postage packet, who unbundles them !!!
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[the-navigator]

I think everyone has now missed the point, so many have gone off track (as always happens), it just not worth the time discussing it now ~
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[ett1954]

@sportex-uk  - Simple Delivery is for private sellers only; you are a business seller it won't impact you.  Even if it were eventually introduced for business sellers I can't see it being anything other than optional as many business sellers have their own contracts with postage or delivery services.  Also it could not be sold under the conditions offered to buyers using private sellers as all the benefits are automatically applied to buyers from business sellers by law.

[polarlight3]

I think you misunderstood.

List the items as a bundle rather than singles.

For example: If you list 5 items all in the same bundle then the higher postage cost isn’t an issue. In fact the buyer is saving money on postage buying multiple items rather than one at a time.

[*maetrix*]

Have just had a message from a buyer asking me where the tracking details are for a £15 item (which i've dispatched by Royal Mail 2nd class as per usual for anything under £20) and have explained that this service doesn't offer tracking....

....it's starting already and we're still in January.

Can see this being my last year with ebay as a seller AND buyer.

[sportex-uk]

And what's wrong in it? I like having tracking provided as well. Tracking postage should be expected standard.

Tracked48 is £3.39, don't bother with 2nd class.

[game_raid]

This isn't an eBay thing It is industry standard now, buyers expect everything to be sent tracked so they know the item has been shipped and what day they can expect it to be delivered.

Tracking improves buyer trust which helps conversions, there has been many surveys on this, the information is readily available online.

One report I read it said that over 70% of buyers expect tracking on an online purchase.

This is from 2020 so expect the figure to have risen.

https://www.retaildive.com/spons/wheres-my-package-why-answering-this-question-is-the-key-to-buildin...

Our account manager at RM has told us that they will eventually have everything tracked except letters in the not too distant future.

Tracking is not going anywhere and one of the reason eBay has made the changes to improve conversions on site, it's not about trusting the seller it's about customer experience.

Tracking also decreases customer service from a buyer and seller side, your buyer has had to spend time emailing you and you have spent time replying, and of course there will be less INR cases being opening when tracking is available.

We ship £4.99 items through RM Tracked so I can't believe a private seller can't offer this as well.

[the-navigator]

So: nothing to do with the point we’re discussing then ~
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[1956glyn]

Well i am a private seller and try and charge the actual postage without adding all my new packaging to the P & P we charge on listings.

Most of the items we sell cost more than £4.99 tracked.   We send everything tracked.   

We nearly always lose out on P & P already so no we will not be asking a blanket £4.99 on listings if that is what you mean.

[polarlight3]

This is a long thread it’s not just a private conversation. 
My point was very relevant to some.
If you don’t agree or understand then just scroll on ⬇️

Lots of private sellers are worried that the new buyer protection fees as well as tracked postage will kill their sales because they sell low cost single items.

I was simply stating that selling as a bundle may solve that issue. 

[kath3735_wxmjn]

why should it?  I only use standard 2nd class and will continue to do so, i have (so far) had any parcels go missing.  I buy an item that i want and providing the seller does not use EVRI i am fussy about how it is despatched, although i prefer RM as they have never been a problem delivering either.

[game_raid]

The poster was complaining about someone requesting the tracking but they said they don't use tracking on £15 items but were charging the buyer £3.70 for a standard 2nd class parcel.

I can't understand how a private seller can't offer such a service a standard 2nd Class parcel costs £3.25 with only £20 of cover.

RM48 tracked up to 2KG  is £3.39 with cover of £150

Large letter up to 750g is £2.70 with the same cover of £150

Which service are you using that you pay £4.99? That sounds expensive.

We sell items at £4.99 with free shipping and are able to use a tracked service.

We have a 99.9% delivery rate and the odd ones that haven't been scanned were refunded without issue.  

People can use what service they wish but for the sake of pence I would use the fully tracked options every time which will decrease the chance of a buyer sending a message asking about tracking.

[vintique*violet]

If you are selling your personal items you do not have to inform anyone... you are not trading... the trading allowance of £1000 would not apply unless you are "trading"... i.e buying to sell on. 

The 30 items -£1750 limit is for eBay to " report" accounts to HMRC... 

[1956glyn]

Hubby posts items and we use Royal Mail 2nd class signed for....usually £5.25 for a small parcel.

2nd class small parcel not signed for is £3.85.

We do not buy our postage online......just go to the Post Office and pay.

I presume this is why we are paying what we do.

The other day i sent a lot of crafting beads to a close friend who lives the other end of the country.       The box was not that big but weighed  3.5 kg and 2nd class signed for was £7.85.  She lives close to London and here crafting items are a fraction of the price she would pay locally.

[sammylou40]

Vinted is an entirely different platform. 
the majority of its items are clothing and household, which are at rock bottom prices and therefore the buyer fee can be worth paying. 
you’re missing the point of a lot of the small private sellers. 
having legitimate concerns doesn’t make sellers moaners. It makes them concerned about their sales and the impact. That is fair. 
I buy lots from eBay and vinted. But I’m not going to buy items that are priced fairly at a couple of pounds and then pay a % plus 75p and be forced into the eBay postal system. It’s just not worth it. 

[game_raid]

You buy can the tracked services now over the counter now, they will give you the tracking number number on the receipt the same as they do now with your signed for.

I would certainly look into this, they charge a bit more than online it's £3.95 for a small parcel up to 2KG and a large letter is £2.80, both have the £150 of cover.

It will save you money over the long run and allow you to cover some packaging costs.

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/royalmail-uk-tracked-48