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.

[jma2815]

Many feel the same. I no longer use ebay because of this. 

As a seller I got an email a week or so ago headed ‘Ship Confidently’ explaining that SD would become compulsory on 15/4 and how to do it. It looks like the chat bot information you found has the same text. 

Going by this forum not everyone got this email. 

[goldenwolfman]

That's because it has not been fully rolled out - I can still opt out of SD, but for how long? I moved most of my listings over a month ago - made a few sales as well over on e bid - not as much hassle or cost, yes its harder, but I am not a business so no pressure!

SD is just another big money maker for Obey - but they don't seem to understand they are haemorrhaging private sellers and THEY are the buyers as well.

[department28]

Yes, I think Simple Delivery will be the final shove for many sellers that have been wavering... The BPF is bad enough, but this mandatory postage system is by far the worst thing eBay have done!

We now have a 'Hobson's choice' situation for who we post with, and absolutely no flexibility to vary postage prices to suit different items/different packaging requirements etc.

No more buying postage directly from other couriers, or to use postage stamps, apart from letter-sized items. And if we have the temerity to exclude Evri, we are punished with higher RM prices... 

Maybe those new to eBay won't mind all this... but for existing users, losing control of how we post is not something any of us envisioned. Sadly, it looks like eBay has had its heyday...

[cartermk]

Relisted items retain their original postage options at present.

[goldenwolfman]

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@cartermk wrote:

Relisted items retain their original postage options at present.

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It appears so do 'newly listed' items as I've just added one to test - I am still able to opt out of SD for the moment - when that changes ...down they all come and then the *bleep* in Obeys park!

[cartermk]

I think that simple delivery is now the only option for private sellers for newly listed items. Are you a business seller?

[goldenwolfman]

No - I'm a private seller and I can still use RM and opt out.

[cartermk]

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@goldenwolfman wrote:

No - I'm a private seller and I can still use RM and opt out.

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Interesting - I wonder what that's about - I get no option to change postage on my new listings  which seems to confirm the ebay directives. Perhaps some categories are exempt - the wording is 'eligible listings' - but if you have to opt out then presumably the listing was eligible. A mystery!

[ruby*ryan]

The change to SD is being rolled out gradually.

[cartermk]

So some private sellers are targeted with the roll-out and some are not or some categories are targeted and some are not?  Doesn't seem very helpful for transparency.

[cbclassicbuyer]

I'm a private seller and 'normal' post is still available to me for new listings, re lists and sell similar. I have to use chrome on the PC though, on the app, I have to use SD. 

[anne568]

Thank you for that information. I'm a private seller and wondered why I was still able to avoid Simple Delivery by selecting 'Switch To Advanced Options'. I use Brave browser on my Mac Computer as I don't have an app. Hope it stays like this. 😊

[andyf117]

As with the introduction of the much-loathed BPF, the equally-awful SD is taking time to be rolled out across all the categories - BPF took two weeks to reach the category which I mainly list in...

[anne568]

Oh well, just have to do what we can until we find our whether SD works for us or not. Not everyone will be pleased about it I'm sure. They may soon find out that making life difficult for buyers and sellers is not a satisfactory mode of business practice. Have a nice Easter weekend. 😊

[cartermk]

It was some time before I found a postage option which worked well for me. I ended up using InPost delivery because I could guarantee that there was locker space available and combine posting items with a supermarket shop without getting into a queue of customers. InPost is not one of the two postage options available atm, both of which I have tried and rejected in the past. 

Oh well - InPost are going down the tube as well by partnering with Yodel.

[anne568]

I can't understand why businesses like Ebay and the couriers they choose to use don't at least have a questionnaire to ascertain what the public want or even just need. It really can't be that difficult to pair up postage with the best means of delivery to certain areas. Because I live in Shetland we can only use Royal Mail as couriers don't really work efficiently here. Evri works fine for receiving parcels but not for sending. We are very fortunate that Royal Mail is a chosen means of postage by Ebay. Trusting this will continue. This wasn't meant to be a rant. 😂

[vintagelou74]

The issue is where else to sell, Vinted is the same and I feel like eBay have changed to compete with Vinted.  I don't have as much luck with Vinted as I do with eBay and I have even tried FB Market place but people don't feel protected.  It's crazy until there is a better option. 

[goldenwolfman]

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@vintagelou74 wrote:

The issue is where else to sell, Vinted is the same and I feel like eBay have changed to compete with Vinted.  I don't have as much luck with Vinted as I do with eBay and I have even tried FB Market place but people don't feel protected.  It's crazy until there is a better option. 

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There will never be a better option until users start to USE the other options that are currently available. You are better trying other venues, which will be a slower and at this stage poorer than this venue. BUT regardless of business or private - more visibility on multiple sites will give you a better chance of selling elsewhere and it will build. Go to the other sites, through facebook, e bid and all the other big selling sites, do some googling and find places to sell whatever you sell. Those specialist places, stamp, postcard, toys, vintage, clothes - whatever specialist sites you can find. People will never feel safe - even on here it's not safe, more fakes than ever and more goods coming from China than ever - some good - some very bad!

[daveydempsey]

I was against SD, but now having used it, I'm for it.

Private seller, I listed and sold 5 items, I offered free shipping which was well covered by the prices I received.

I only had RM as my preferred shipper.

eBay SD said each item was £2.74 shipping, and I printed off a label for each one.

I used a printer before SD to put a receipt address label, so no difference there.

As soon as the label is printed, the buyer is informed the shipping process has begun.

I took them to the post office yesterday, they are handed over and scanned and sent their way

Tracking is automatically added to your sales on eBay.

It's cheaper, quicker and eBay cover any lost or stolen packages.

3 of the 5 have already been delivered, eBay have updated my sales and I get paid on the 4th

Simples.