eBay

cartermk · ‎17-04-2025

So ebay have decided to force private sellers to use simple delivery for all listings.

Previously you could select advanced options in postage and select your preferred postage method as before.

Did ebay announce this to private sellers - did they ....

I searched around a while and eventually got this from the chat bot:

"Eligible listings will show Simple Delivery as an option when you're creating a listing. Starting 15 April, 2025, Simple Delivery will be the only delivery method available for private sellers when listing eligible items."

The recent changes like BPF and simple delivery have been extremely irritating but not terminal. I think this is terminal for me.

I cannot express on this forum without getting deleted my extreme annoyance with ebay.

nostalgia_niche · ‎30-07-2025

Not only the lack of being able to set postage, but also it's suddenly gone impersonal on the messaging too. I usually show my customers how I've wrapped their collectables before I send out. I did this today and I got an automated message back from eBay saying that my message hasn't been sent and that they will deal with the customer for any and all things related to postage. It feels pretty dystopian and soulless selling on here now like we're eBay's amazon pickers and not merchants.

lucy_farmer · ‎30-07-2025

'I did this today and I got an automated message back from eBay saying that my message hasn't been sent and that they will deal with the customer for any and all things related to postage.'

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Oh, that is just horrid ☹️

Ebay obviously really want to be rid of the idea that they were once a 'community' of people who enjoyed what they were doing and enjoyed communicating with each other......

Yep, 'soulless' is a good word for it 😢

monster_hugs · ‎31-07-2025

There seems to be a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise private ad-hoc sellers and replace us with a generic ebay-branded shopping mall. Since private seller fees were eliminated, ebay now lives off all that buyer protection fee nonsense and item promo advertising instead. Maybe it's supposed to feel like private sellers should be grateful for getting some sort of a pay rise, but it feels more like running around like zero-hours hamsters on a wheel, obediently filling orders in accordance with ebay's commands. DO THIS! DESPATCH NOW! I can hardly be bothered with it any more. Just my view.

geomusic · ‎31-07-2025

Also quite a while ago we were able to phone ebay and talk with a human assistant, later this was downgraded to an online chat which was still OK-ish. Now we've been relegated to 'communicate' with a robot 'assistant' which is utterly useless. Don't even try to talk to anyone else, we're left to our own devices dealing with a software with restricted to no access to any problem solving when things go awry which happens a lot sadly.

Now they also send your data to the HMRC for selling your unwanted items.

It seems to me that selling on Ebay or any like platform will be nigh impossible in the near future for the private individual.

photochromic.kid · ‎31-07-2025

Dial 0800 358 6551 and go through the account verification. When it asks you which service you want just say 'agent' clearly and they will put you through t a human being. I had 2 x 1h phone calls and got nowhere, once I'd sorted out the fact that my date of birth is mixed up with my wife's account. The eBay forums are more likely to help you. Sadly eBay is moving too far away from the private sellers who were the cornerstone of the business at its conception. In moving towards commercial sellers, it makes me wonder how eBay will fair against Chinese marketplaces. If you want to stay 'home grown' and not lose business to China, I suspect you need to nurture and love your private sellers.

suelel1968 · ‎01-08-2025

Hi Geo, @geomusic

eBay Customer Service

It's late and I'm not sure if this link works (i mean it works, but I'm not sure i have copied it correctly) It takes you to a link whereby you request a call back and it's usually within a couple of minutes. An essential to have on the favorites bar i think.

geomusic · ‎01-08-2025

Thanks for the tip. I fear for the future of Ebay then, if their plan is to forsake the private sellers and the small businesses trying to get by. Bigger retailers and corporate ones do not need Ebay at all.

I don't mean to be conspiratorial bit it's almost like a plan to rid us of these channels to be able to buy and sell as regular people and not totally depend on the large business.

nathanb6051 · ‎01-08-2025

The way eBay have enforced this 'Simple Delivery' is quite frankly ridiculous. I've just been on holiday and ended listings beforehand. I've just relisted and everything has changed. The dispatch time I'd always be generous on and despite choosing 4 or 5 days I'd usually get it posted out the next working day. This has been altered to two days on all listings. Buyer was obviously happy previously as they'd get their item sooner than they initially thought and it gives me some breathing space in case something crops up in the meantime. I can obviously go back and amend all these, but it is time consuming and not something that I should have to be doing.

The 'suggested' postage is highly annoying also. It is quite often incorrect and I've had to cancel a sale and relist and ask for the buyer to re-purchase it as the item was underweight due to an eBay amendment. It's completely messy, time consuming and a disgrace how eBay have implemented it. Previously for a small package I'd list items for £4.99 P+P. I'd know that'd cover the postage and I wouldn't have to go around weighing all my items before listing them. If I make a pound or so on postage it can go towards the packaging (boxes, tape, fuel to get to Post Office and paper etc) I have to buy in order to send items out. I don't think the purchaser would be too upset at that and they'd much prefer that their sale isn't cancelled due to the postage label being underweight.

Sometimes there isn't even the option to select the weight you require at all with no customisation offered. It is completely pathetic from eBay and got me thinking of looking elsewhere.

rcnsupplies · ‎02-08-2025

when they screw up un the weight i dont buy the label, i get postage elsewhere, as was said rm wont even accept a parcel with the wrong weight. ill be leaving up what listings ive got till they are gone and list new stuff on other platforms. i think some clueless idiot clicked the approval of simple delivery, its been good while it lasted.

chorisia · ‎02-08-2025

I now have to define parcel as much bigger and heavier so 'simple delivery' low price does not end up with Royal mail surcharging the buyer, (how Evri deal with this I know not); after a significant delay. simple delivery made mandatory is rediculous are they trying to drive us all to be commercial sellers. I wish there was a viable alternative to Ebay, Gumtree that belongs to Ebay? is in my experience not.

maxcameron999 · ‎02-08-2025

Yep I will opt out of Ebay been very happy up to now shame

theweeboy · ‎02-08-2025

Mine didn't

theweeboy · ‎02-08-2025

But don't ebay hang on to your money until proof of delivery?

ribar-2275 · ‎03-08-2025

I'm a private seller and when it comes to something like certain rockband guitars they go over the size requirements as the necks don't come off. Or a guitar hero drumkit that's too big for medium parcel.

I've had to take them off sale whilst I figure out

theweeboy · ‎03-08-2025

Mine didn't!

monster_hugs · ‎03-08-2025

Funnily enough I just had a notification on the ebay app imploring me to sell locally! Could it be because so many private sellers are de-listing (effectively going on strike) due to simple delivery being forced on them? And that they've taken umbrage at being treated like ebay order packers? The whole experience has become very dehumanising.

jsrw1 · ‎03-08-2025

SD is a step too far & has now convinced me to stop using ebay. There is no leverage in p&p to allow for my time packing, nor any packing materials that I purchase. I spoke to them today, to discuss how I can send an item over 100cms long weighing less than 1kg. They said to select the oversize 20kg option!!!! Then it would be accepted & cost the buyer £10.80, when in fact it should be £2.96 (of course they will accept it) - a lovely bit of extra profit for Evri/ebay.

Every week I go to list an item, ebay have changed something, mainly for the worse.