Expanded Simple Delivery to be optional

[papso22]

Please read the updated User Agreement effective 17th March.

Also see that Packlink will still be involved in clothing categories and some others.

[porte2425]

If SD becomes mandatory, delivery options will be managed by eBay - i.e. sellers will not be able to set listings as free delivery. It would only affect new listings (at first - I'm sure at some point they will likely change all listings to SD by force, if the seller doesn't do it themselves).

[lucy_farmer]

Hello Value,

 I tried to read today's missive from ebay, but I only lasted about 4 mins before my brain started melting.....

I was hoping I could rely on you to read it all for us 😅  (yes, I'm a lazy git....)

I'm interested in the bit about 'limiting suspending or terminating' user accounts etc , 'creating problems or possible legal liabilities'.  and so on.

Has anything changed in this recently? Between the last contract and this one? Anything got a bit 'tougher' ?

(just because a member has been 'disappeared' and it didn't seem like they'd been saying much different or worse than many other commenters. And they haven't been given a reason for being dumped yet....)

'

[valueaddedresource]

@lucy_farmer  I ran both the old and new version through a difference checker and the main points that changed or had sections added are:

• Adding sections about Illegal Content and Appeals About Illegal Content
• Adding attempting to circumvent buyer fees to the list of activities for which eBay may limit, suspend or take other action against user accounts (due to some clever buyers finding a workaround to avoid the fees)
• Changing the timeframe for providing notice of seller fee changes from 30 days to 15 days, while keeping the previous language which allows eBay to change buyer fees at any time with no notice required

That's really pretty much it for major changes - the rest of the UA has stayed mostly the same.

For anyone who wants to try that experiment for themselves, this one is free and easy to use, you just copy and paste the old version on one side and then copy and paste the new version on the other side and click "find difference" https://www.diffchecker.com/

[andha-21]

"creating problems or possible legal liabilities"

By the wording that could actually extend out to all the users that stopped buying and selling. The slaves rebelling against innocent Rome.

No question that that could put a dent in their plans, how big a dent is hard to say.

I honestly think they did most of the damage themselves when they blocked users from using the app. I don't know Apple models but I do know the Galaxy S8 was a huge seller. I wouldn't be remotely surprised if they lost around 6 figures worth of users just from that.

[andha-21]

If SD becomes mandatory in the way they are currently advertising it to us I can't see how they avoid legal ramifications from disabled sellers.

If their purpose is to deal with habitual UK residents then UK law applies to them.

& in that scenario they have to make provisions for the disabled so things don't adversely affect them.

If the buyer chooses the post from the options eBay give it and the seller has to conform with that because if they don't they are in breach of terms of service and their account could be sanctioned, then in that scenario the disabled basically have to cross their fingers and hope they get a usable choice.

If they don't, they are screwed, devil and deep blue sea time.

I honestly don't see a whole lot of thought applied to it.

Of course, they could provide a workaround allowing for the above but if they do surely that opens them up to counters with an equal rights basis.

If SD is challenged I don't see how it survives.

[lucy_farmer]

Thank you value,

Hmm , this seems to indicate that my 'disappeared' acquaintance hasn't fallen foul of anything new....

(obviously just been dumped  for shouting a bit too loudly on the forum!)

[valueaddedresource]

New announcement just dropped - eBay will be allowing sellers to designate carrier preferences.

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Announcements/Introducing-new-carrier-preferences-for-Simple-Deliver... 

They say they will "strive to honour your carrier selections" but in some cases may be unable to if the package doesn't work with your preferred carrier and in those cases, they'll give you a label for a different carrier and you'll still be required to use it so....a little better I guess, but far from a full solution in my opinion, especially for those with disabilities or who live in remote areas.

[lucy_farmer]

Mmmmmm....they're desperately trying to 'roll it back' without saying they've made a big mistake! 😅

[porte2425]

Nice spot. But as far as I can tell, that won’t fix anything that people are complaining about.

Simple Delivery is still likely to become compulsory. It should not! Well maybe for sellers with poor performance, to give them a kick up the bum.

The requirement to send everything tracked is going to harm millions of listings, and make those items too expensive to sell.

Combined shipping with SD seems to happen automatically, and it is flawed, as it can greatly overcharge.

eBay are obviously trying to copy Vinted, but on Vinted they seem to have got it right. So why are eBay doing things so wrong!

P.s. and lets not forget SD postage charges seem higher on average than normal Packlink charges. And as the seller seems to bare responsibility still, why is this extra charge needed, and where is it going?

[andha-21]

Seems like they may be listening to us.

[goodibags]

Wow! That's progress. Almost as if they read these discussions?

Still need the opt-out. For those items where the postage cost is well above the item price.

[moldosgifts]

Yes carrier you select yes BUT NOT SERVICE, ie 1st 2nd 24,48 24 tracked, 48tracked,

But better than nothing i suppose.

[kath3735_wxmjn]

new announcement just been made in regard to choosing either RM or Evri and that there is collection with SD but it is being rolled out in certain areas etc etc.  'Introducing new carrier preferences for Simple Delivery', just been put on. 

[kath3735_wxmjn]

for me the only 'little better' will be if they announce it is definitely going to be optional (and somehow i cannot see that happening as they are really pushing it now!

[ruby*ryan]

I definitely think that announcements reads that SD will be mandatory - and is there any point making a choice if eBay can override it?

I see the options to tick RM and/or Evri are already in my postage preferences, even though I have never used SD.

Another problem with this for me, is that the choice covers all listings. It would be better if the choice was listing by listing.  If I sell a postcard, I would want to send via RM, but if I sell a kettle, then Evri would be my choice.
Maybe I need 2 accounts - 1 RM & 1 Evri?

[ruby*ryan]

Why does this thread disappear from the list? I noticed yesterday to find it I had to click on the author's ID and get to it that way.
This morning I posted the above post at 8.18 and edited at 8.24 - yet when I cam back to look for the thread, it wasn't showing. The screenshot shows that it isn't where it should have been, between 'That's all folks' & 'Buyer Protection ...'
My threads are ordered by 'Most Recent'.

[andha-21]

You say your threads are ordered by most recent. So if that thread is older than others wouldn't it get pushed off the first page?

I think mine is by most recent post.

[ruby*ryan]

It does show as most recent post.

I had the same problem with a thread the other day - maybe it's my computer/browser?

[valueaddedresource]

For those following along, CEO Jamie Iannone just said Simple Delivery Mandate is being pushed to Q2.

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Seller-Central/SImple-Delivery-Mandate-Pushed-To-Q2/m-p/7788772#M708...

[goodibags]

Hopefully to Q3 thereafter? And from there to 2033?