Ebay simple delivery opt out

[cartermk]

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.

[monster_hugs]

I fear it's too late and they won't listen anyway ...   instead turning private sellers into a unified army like Temu Traders.

[suelel1968]

@its_a_cats_life

As there is no actual category for "willy warmers" I'm sure you can find a category which is exempt from SD. Sadly tools are not exempt... 

[its_a_cats_life]

In theory it should not matter as I sell them for under £10.00 and they weigh under 100g. If I move them to say the postcard category will they still be found in a search?

[goodibags]

I probably read that completely the wrong way but your comment made me smile. 😊

[suelel1968]

@its_a_cats_life If I was searching for a Willy warmer that is what i would search for! I really wouldn't know what category to look under anyway. Clothes, Health products, toys. 

Clothes, Shoes & Accessories > Women > Women's Accessories ...Is exempt so presumable men's as well

I thought all accessories was exempt tbf. Have you tried just editing it back to large letter.

[p_and_b_communications]

I had an interesting chat with a real person the other day, albeit English did not sound his native tongue.
I sell an item that weighs 15 grams, and fits in a large letter £1.55. Ebay now think it is a parcel, and charged me £3.??
After trying to explain all of this, and finally making it clear, he came up with what he thought was a solution.
Book it out at £3.??  and then buy an ordinary 2nd class large label via the RM website. Use that one, and claim a rebate for the unused Ebay generated one.
Never heard anything so *bleep* eyed.

[podlingsmum2007]

Yet we know the unused label has to be claimed back and they will only pay it back on proof a tracked service was used. 

[theweeboy]

What I am trying to work out is who actually pays thr postage? The
seller"? the buyer, as in the past?
I resisted an item that was very heavy (nearly 5 k) and I knew it would be
around £6.50 by Evri. SD said it would go for about £3 - so who would pay
the excess charge?

[its_a_cats_life]

What if we all paid for the postage outside of SD and then claimed back the label cost.

If you buy RM online and have it collected from your home (at a 30p cost), you have proof of postage. They also send you an email to confirm with a number on it. It is not a tracking number that follows the package from stage to stage, but it does let you know the package has been delivered.

Before  Stupid Delivery, I always sent my packages, parcels, letters this way and entered that number as the tracking number.

But that aside wouldn't it be fun if we all paid for postage outside of eBay, then claimed the label cost back. Think of the amount of work they would have to do making all the refunds. 🤣😂😅😀

[xyz307xyz]

When you list or revise an item, you should check the suggested size and weight band is correct; and if not correct it.

If you override what ebay suggests and the packet is actually in a larger or heavier band, then ebay may charge you, the seller, the difference plus £1.

The buyer should never have to pay the excess.

Simple Delivery prices are normally different to what is normally charged by RM/Evri/DHL. Ebay have negotiated special prices based on sending x million items. 

[xyz307xyz]

When you list or revise such an item, you can select the Simple Delivery Large letter postage band which will currently cost between £2.70-2.94. (Or the 0-1kg small parcel for £2.94/2.96 with Evri and £2.26 click and collect.)

You can opt out of SD for 15g LL items, if no more than £10, in some [sub]categories.

My understanding is that ebay "corporate" very much want sellers to use SD when they can use it - other than the specific opt out allowed.

Some people have received the label refund (rebate) you mention. Some people say it takes a bit longer than ebay suggest. Some people say it either is taking much longer than ebay suggest or they've concluded ebay isn't going to refund them.

[ndeaki0]

The point is I can buy postage cheaper than what ebay are selling it to me at using the same courier service and also if you did free postage like I do you didn't have to *bleep* around weighing the item then trying to workout what the extra weight might be before you list the sodding thing!!

Sent from Outlook for Android<>

[xyz307xyz]

Lots of people have said similar. At the end of the day, it's ebay's site. There is also the option to have a business account and then you can use whatever postage service you like and choose the postage cost - including free postage.

[pinkychukkles]

I've belatedly realised that all my listings which pre-date compulsory SD and were offered with free p&p that I factored into the selling price and shipped using a method of my own choosing, have now had my own postage policy superceded by and updated to Simple Delivery.

All my prices has been adjusted to show round numbers but now that eBay have adjusted how they calculate the BPF, I'll need to re-adjust all the prices again; <50 items but still...

My question is whether there is still a cost advantage to selecting that the Buyer pays for postage rather than offering free p&p and incorporating the postage cost into the selling price because the BPF isn't calculated on the postage cost if it is separated out?

Thanks.

[ktl_model_shop]

At the end of the day, it's ebay's site. T

Absolutely true, but that's a little like me saying (to my buyers), "these are my products, I don't care what you think of them, and I'll price them and sell them any which way I like". I think most of us here probably appreciate that this is not how most businesses work today, that like it or not, you have to pay close attention to your customers, or they'll become someone else's instead.

(And now, back to what I was just starting... putting my stuff on another platform as well)

[72florence]

I think in future I'm going to give free p&p and add the cost onto the item. I will always want to choose my own courier.

I just sold something fragile and the buyer said he'd had two similar items broken by Evri. I used a reputable courier as I care about what I sell.

[ndeaki0]

Hi if you do free p&p you've still got to use SD and there still only two options royal mail or evri

Sent from Outlook for Android<>

[xyz307xyz]

Yes, up to 7% of the postage.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/paying-items/buyer-protection-fee?id=5594#section2

[xyz307xyz]

I'm sure they modelled everything [including sellers reducing what they sell/sellers leaving] before introducing SD, and are monitoring how things are going compared to the model; and if any changes need to be made.

Same with the recently introduced BPF and payment timescales; which have changed from their original versions.

[its_a_cats_life]

At the end of the day, it's ebay's site.

Quite right, we can complain and moan and carry on, but in the end they will do what they want to do, as we make a few pounds on eBay and they make billions. So why should they care about a few people moaning.

Unfortunately that is life.

But I am enjoying reading all these posts.