Having to opt out of Simple Delivery on EVERY LISTING

[zax93]

OK so listing some items tonight

good news first - even though Simple Delivery is now being pushed I can opt out to custom settings and select my standard shipping rates

bad news - I have to opt out of Simple Delivery every time I list even though I am listing similar items. Really? 

This is from ebay itself:  You can opt out of Simple Delivery when you're creating your listing by selecting Custom Postage from the delivery options. If you'd prefer not to use Simple Delivery at all in the future, you'll need to opt out each time this programme is recommended when you're creating listings.

I mean what does that last sentence mean anyway?

[shopping-ferret]

I had a look at your listings as curious what you were selling for low prices.  It is absolutely ridiculous to be paying more for the postage than the item's sale price.   I do not have this same issue as am a business seller, so have to absorb the cost of postage in the listing price.   The problem I have is sell a lot of low value items too, especially under  £4 so the price of the large letter postage 2nd class is £1.55 and about double for 1st... so neither makes much sense!  At least I can usually get discounted stamps but that is another story that occasionally comes with its problems!

If you are competing with others who are business sellers, then makes no sense to keep trading if you are making little or no profit, unless of course it is more of a hobby and you just are selling off your collection.

I also have a private account and until 2 months ago, never used it more than once, but as I am moving home, currently have stuff to sell.  Many items are collect but some are for postage and I have run into problems where Ebay are setting the SD price which is not adequate, however I have learned how to overcome this by ensuring the correct weight and size of package is completed correctly.

As a seller of 19 years, many times I have had to reinvent myself or make adjustments and many times it has caused much stress.  All these rules can be so defeating and get you downhearted.  Maybe you need to sell the stamps in larger collections if that might be a viable option?  

[druchii_dan]

"I do not have this same issue as am a business seller, so have to absorb the cost of postage in the listing price. " You don't have to do that at all, by doing that you make your products less appealing to people who may otherwise buy multiple items. You may think it's ridiculous to pay more for postage than the item, but it's fairly common - I sell that way too. People can have their postage combined, but not so with SD or free p&p - I sold 80 items to a buyer last month in a single order, if I had baked the postage cost into the item cost I would not have made the sale since each item would have been £3.25 more expensive (was a Swiss buyer).

[a45heaven]

@druchii_dan 

The whole process is rather amateurish - Planning and considerations seem to be nowhere to be seen.

What ever happened to giving members choices, i doubt if SD was down to being a postage option along with existing real shipping services to Sellers, then all the reservations would disappear.

But then how could the 'manager of whatever' explain why and merit their bonus when no one opted for SD.

[shopping-ferret]

I am a business seller, therefore have to offer free postage.

[a45heaven]

@shopping-ferret 

I am a business seller, therefore have to offer free postage.

Sorry i dont follow - you have the option to offer Free Postage surely?

[shopping-ferret]

I can see you do not follow!  I have no option regarding postage prices charged as a top rated business seller.   Therefore, I have to offer free postage to qualify for this accolade!  

I do have the option to pick what postage service I use.  Perhaps you can re-read my first message and hope it makes sense?  I see you are a business seller but do not qualify or choose to qualify for top rated status and therefore at liberty to charge for postage.

[nedsram-i]

Yes I could do free postage but SD is allocating a small parcel rather than an envelope - therefore apart from being ridiculous sending an 8 Page football programme in a parcel, the cost to me of the parcel is greater than what I’m getting paid for my old programmes.
Such a shame as I didn’t want to bin them and was happy to create individual listings but now that’s not an option so probably the bin it is for items that have a lot of sentimental value for me but unfortunately due to down sizing I have no space for

[a45heaven]

@shopping-ferret 

Ah sorry as you said i missed your earlier post - yes im the same as you and have been a Top Rated Seller - since when ever it was created. The only difference is that i choose not to be jumping thru ebay hoops to receive the financial benefits from TRS  any longer - i stopped  when the rebate dropped from 25% to what ever it is now, plus i can pick more conditions to sell thru, which i find suits my buyers more than what ebay thinks.

But each to their own.

[shopping-ferret]

you have raised to good point.  I am making changes to my business as have already started to downsize and I may think about charging postage in future.  As you say, you get very little return for free postage.  It does attract some buyers but not all.  So if you charge for postage, I assume Ebay still include your postage charge when calculating their seller fees?

[mustard_tuxedo]

It's a joke and an insult to every decent Ebayer that's used the site for years. Google the grinning asshat that instigated the changes. No rationale whatsoever for the changes that have alienated millions. Well done, Jamie, you prat!

[amillionbargains]

Exactly. Like I said, it looks like it is designed by some one who does not even use ebay much or understand how it works. And I don't think they test their own services before just rolled them out. They just assume all the the sellers on ebay are amateurs and bad actors. It is very toxic.

[a45heaven]

@shopping-ferret 

I do offer Free shipping at times - if a buyer buys a decent number of items over a period of time (ebay and their 4 days to pay or else is a pain, and of zero benefit to my selling activities). ( Sellers ask me to hold items for them after paying - ebay has no facility to cover that). The majority of my Buyers are Regular ones.

When ebay force SD onto Business sellers that will be problematic, but ive already moved all my Set Sale items to a better platform , and increasing other actions away from ebay.

Yes ebay to their percentage on fees, and any other avenue they can think of, im not convinced about BPF although that doesn't get applied to Business sellers - YET.

[shopping-ferret]

I just had a glimpse at what you sell and I can see why it works for you to charge postage as these are more niche, collectors' items, so buyers also want as much assurance items won't likely get lost in the mail. 

What I sell was not common or even a thing when I started about 19 years ago, but has since become highly competitive.  In fact, a lot of sellers have copied some of my ideas over the years or the way I was selling an item.  I have even had some pinching my photos, headings, descriptions etc and the odd items I was once the only person selling, is now so flooded, I hardly sell those items any more, or have stopped selling them all together.  Most annoying.  If I carry on with Ebay, once I have sold off most of my remaining stock, I will have to try think of something more niche and currently less competitive!  Of course we now have Ebay flooded by the Chinese sellers, too! 😁

I find to remain a seller on Ebay, you have to just grin and bear those mostly annoying changes, learn from the problems or mistakes; reinvent yourself when required and remain flexible and positive.  And of course to enjoy what you do.

[edwardian-dreams]

Football programmes/other  under sports memorabilia  allows a  custom postage option so do a couple other sub categories but others  don’t which makes no sense as they’re all football programmes 

(They have to be priced £10 and under)

[nedsram-i]

Doesn’t show customer postage for me - wants to charge £2.70 either to me or buyer which is ridiculous
Sent from my iPhone

[department28]

An alternative to binning would be to make a few 'job lots' - but when time & trouble has been spent creating individual listings, it is understandable that people may not want to spend more time doing this, for probably quite a lot less money.

Unfortunately, SD is making it not worth selling items that were able to be posted economically via 1st & 2nd class large letter.

It is a real shame to think of all that time & effort spent taking photos & creating listings that will now end up being abandoned... ☹️

[edwardian-dreams]

I couldn’t get custom either for a good while but recently I have which makes me think they’re adding all the sub categories that are exempt 

they’re just useless at communicating about what they’re doing 

ifyoure not too bothered about categories try a draft listin and chose sports memorabilia/football programmes other football programmes 

You could also always try do a sell one like this on someone else’s listing who has custom postage and just amend the details 

that’s before you lose the will to live with this incoherent glitchy dysfunctional system 

[nedsram-i]

Thank you - job lots is an option but the way i feel ebay is treating sellers is tantamount to bullying and i think im done with them - i have spent months creating listings all for nothing.

On the plus side going through all my old programmes and other memorabilia brought back some great memories from games either myself or family and friends attended and when working full time never got the chance to

[department28]

'..that’s before you lose the will to live with this incoherent glitchy dysfunctional system'

Yes, eBay really should be compensating us for all the hair-tearing, time wasting, frustration & stress Simple Delivery has caused... 😁

[edwardian-dreams]

Yeah right

maybe they should hire people who know what they’re doing instead of geeks bringing our new improved features every ten seconds that just waste more of your time