Have suspended all sales due to Simple Delivery - Absolute Joke of a policy!

[foyersguy]

What a god awful system this is and as such Ive suspended all of my listings as Simple Delivery simply does not work for my business

The vast majority of my items are small car parts which fit into letter envelopes, SImple delivery has increased costs to my buyers maming most items now unsellable at 0.99 - 1.99 each. Also, living in a remote area with limited Post Office Hours where I used to rely on my parents to post items on my behalf when I wasnt there means my entire small business model is now not viable!

Ebay, sort yourselves out!

[gjalp]

My own collection pieces I no longer want I sell off on my private account. Ive also inherited a lot of stuff that I also sell on my private account. The beads were always a different kettle of fish. I had to buy in bulk to get the better price for the ones I wanted so the intention to sell off the extra was always there. They were bought with the intention to sell on. I just deducted the ones I took out for use from my expenses. 

The stamps I sell on my business ID now are mostly bought to sell apart from the odd one I have a gap for. Again They are accounted as for personal use in my records. I made a business of it because I could and I found there was money to be made. Again I bought specifically to sell. If I have bought anything specifically to sell it goes on my business account. It just so happens that at the moment, the items are stamps. What I have bought to sell has changed over the years as the markets ebb and flow. 

My personal collection consists of world stamps as well as GB and I go through phases of which I collect at any given time. It also includes inherited ones and its taking a long time to sort through (14 years so far). Those are not business items and I would not sell them as such as they are my ‘treasures’ with some holding sentimental value. Many of the items I collect have been bought on ebay and if I decide I no longer want a piece, I sell it on my private ID as it is mine and was never bought with the intention to sell, only to add to the collection. I have so much stuff Im decluttering although I am trying not to label everything as sentimental, I hoard waaaay too much 🙂

All you have to remember is if you have purchased anything with the intention to sell, then it is trading and as such a business. Collecting is just that and sometimes you will want to sell duplicates or surplus or change what you collect. Unless you bought the items with the intention to sell, you just sell off as personal items. I sold my entire compact collection individually as I no longer wanted to collect them and those went on my private ID. Bought mostly on ebay, sold back on ebay years later. 

[goodibags]

Thanks @gjalp 

The point is intention is near impossible to prove. Not just for other people but even for yourself.

I too have heaps of stamps to sell but mine were originally bought to use rather than sell on to others. Sadly, the world changed. In practice, their value has come down so much (especially 1st class) they're almost certainly being sold at a loss. Even with those annual price hikes!

Remember when a first/second class stamp reflected the annual increase in postage too? Tracked postage bought online has ensured those days are no more.

As far as job lots were concerned, it never occurred to me that it may have looked like I was buying to sell or 'trading' in some bizarre interpretation. They were just unwanted items included alongside often rare, wanted ones. If job lots didn't exist it'd obviously be a bit easier but those kinds of things are rarely under buyer control.

Perhaps Ebay will ban private sellers from buying job lots? Just to keep it simple. 😉

[gjalp]

Ive done it the way I have because I know I have bought specific items to sell and make money (or try to). It wouldn’t sit right with me to sell those things as personal belongings as they were never bought as such. It is tricky when you are a collector but for most collectors the items are bought to collect and keep and its perfectly ok to sell them as personal items. 

There is no point in ebay banning private sellers from buying job lots as there are plenty of public auction houses out there 😁 I love auction houses although the temptation to bid on lots of things is high in me and Id end up broke fast. Lots of interesting things come up and I do like a shiny 🤣

[eskisteph58]

It beggars belief I am selling my personal collection of postcards free postage each postcard £1.99 and Ebay are charging me £2.70 per item so I owe them £0.69p is this a joke or what, I have had them on the phone 3 times as they keep telling me I am overdo sending my items yes I am as I am not paying them £2.70 to send something that I have not even made that amount for the item. They said they will make it a complaint and asked me to request the fees back.

I told them they will lose sellers with this set up it is outrageous they know full well how much it costs to send a postcard so why the £2.70 charge no one is going to accept this.

[nick-2013]

I haven't read all of this thread, 

My thought's on eBay's simple delivery for private sellers. Personally I think it is a vast improvement, now as a seller, I am automatically covered for breakages, I'm covered when parcels are left behind bins and buyers claim item not received, I'm covered when eBay recommend delivery costs are underestimated. For sure I can't use a few stamps I have lying around the place, but that's ok.  As a seller I know that once I take my parcel the Evri (Hermes) drop off point, I'm covered, a massive bonus, the positives out-weight the negatives. 

[sunflowers4me59]

Postcards should be on the category list that can use custom postage still, not simple delivery. I have a few postcards and I can still use my own postage (£1.60). I think it depends what sub category you use.

[4_bathrooms]

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@eskisteph58 wrote:

It beggars belief I am selling my personal collection of postcards free postage each postcard £1.99 and Ebay are charging me £2.70 per item so I owe them £0.69p is this a joke or what

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If you select "Seller pays" to enable "free" postage it means you have chosen to pay for the Simple Delivery postage label. Simple Delivery means Large Letter Tracked 24/48 as a minimum so you're always going to be out of pocket listing them like that.

Given the size, nature and price of what you're selling I'm surprised you can't opt-out of Simple Delivery. When you create a listing are you able to select a different delivery service than Simple Delivery?

[eskisteph58]

Not let me select anything other than simple delivery. I am totally baffled by all this, just want to do as I always have write name and address on the envelope put a stamp on it and post what can be more simple than this?

I have postcards listed that have been listed months ago. 

Up until last week I was still posting items myself then all of sudden git message saying I have to print a label off who is going to do that pay £2.70 when you have sold item for £1.99. 

I have tried to ring them again today and all I was offered was an email.

[eskisteph58]

I wonder how this can be sorted so.e of the postcards have been listed a long time ago before lock down even.

[4_bathrooms]

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@eskisteph58 wrote:

Not let me select anything other than simple delivery. I am totally baffled by all this, just want to do as I always have write name and address on the envelope put a stamp on it and post what can be more simple than this?

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Simple Delivery is now mandatory for private sellers other than items that can be opted-out of. As another seller is able to sell postcards without using Simple Delivery you might need to check which sub-category you are listing in.

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[gatefittingsdirect]

Business sellers are not signed up for SD? 

[lucy_farmer]

Nope.

Business sellers are still in charge of their own postage options .

[suelel1968]

Hi, @eskisteph58 make sure you have large letter selected on simple delivery and then custom delivery should come up. If not, you will have to change the category. You will not get a refund on the SD you have paid for. Send the cards or cancel the orders (which might give you a refund) are your options i think. 

[eskisteph58]

Not large letter though only small 3x5 inch.

Ebay sent me a link to claim my postage back.

Nobidea how to sort platforms out my items have been listed since before lockdown 

[suelel1968]

@eskisteph58  you have to select large letter just to get Custom Postage then you can select  whatever postage you want. 

[eskisteph58]

I have just received a message from Evri saying they have my simple delivery parcel, how can they have it is a postcard in my house in an envelope it needs Trading Standards getting involved. What is it going to be next the buyer stating they not had this "parcel" and Ebay refunding them

[suelel1968]

Hi @eskisteph58 . Have you tried my suggestion for going back to Custom postage. You will have to amend each one separately, but you don't want to put yourself through unnecessary stress over the posting of a postcard.

[eskisteph58]

So I have to change all my listings to large letter postage? 2nd class Royal Mail? but why large letter they not large if I charge for large letter that will be more expensive and do I offer free postage if not no idea how much to charge. 

[suelel1968]

Hi @eskisteph58 No, you have to select Large letter to get the Custom delivery box up. Once you can see the Custom postage below you can set the postage as you always did. You must add price first, then select large Letter in SD.

[gatefittingsdirect]

"Simple Delivery simply does not work for my business"

If you're a business, as you've stated above, you should be registered as a business. 

As a business, you are not subject to Simple delivery so you can choose what postage options you use for your customers. 

My advise, register as a business.