If the Post Office is your be-all-and-end-all for selling on Ebay

[aphystykqa]

I fall into the category of Private Ebay sellers who only posts items I have sold to buyers through means of the Post Office. In other words, I parcel up the item, and drive in my car to the Post Office, and then get served at the Post Office counter - and this is indeed a very successful traditional system. I always use the UK Royal Mail and never wish to change that option. It's like when wishing to buy food from a Supermarket. I like to have someone serve me at a checkout, even though (of course) you can use their self-service-points and scan everything yourself, and the other options - is of course to order your food and household products by ordering online.

So, why am I saying this. Well. Basically as years have gone by, Ebay has been trying to persuade it's members to switch from the regular Post Office counter option - and instead use GSP (Global Shipping Programme) - and - online Royal Mail and Other Postage companies with Click and Collect, etc.. etc.. - and (of course) - their new SDP (Simple Delivery Programme)

Now, I understand that Variety is often referred to as 'The Spice Of Life' Lol. Well, Yes I fully understand that there is a variety of different options for posting items to buyers through Ebay, but the most Important things to me, is that the traditional Post Office Royal Mail Counter system remains as an option, regardless of all the other options which Ebay is trying it's hardest to push us towards. Many on Ebay, just like myself wish The Post Office to continue to be our be-all-and-end-all for all time.

So, Ebay sends me an Email message today with the title :- More Protection For Your buyers - with a list of various changes, which have many Pro's and Con's for both the Buyer and the Seller. I am only going to focus on the subject-at-hand which is the part where it says that the Seller gets paid once the Buyer has received the item. So that involves the postal system, naturally.

I have copied-and-pasted the last important paragraph which relates to Ebay's advice in regards to how sellers should now start posting their items to buyers :-

[> Now, to give your buyers even more confidence when shopping, UK-based private sellers will be paid after item delivery, from 4 Feb. Your funds will be available in your eBay balance two days after delivery confirmation.*** We know it's important to get your money fast, so we recommend using a tracked delivery service either through Simple Delivery, or arranging for local collection <]

So, I read through the page about Simple Delivery through this link :- 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/posting-items/setting-postage-options/simple-delivery?id=5575

At the bottom it says that you can Opt Out of this system - which I copied and pasted below :-

[> "

Opting out

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.

Keep in mind that if you opt out, you won't benefit from the enhanced cover for loss or damage to the item during transit offered by Simple Delivery "<]

Q;- My Question is, does this Opting out still apply after these new More Protection for your buyers, and all these other new changes come into force in February 2025 ? - and can I still use the Post Office as before.

[a45heaven]

The PO will be getting paid less per package though.

But ebay arent doing this for love are they?

Like the 'Regulatory Fee' farce that they still wont admit what the fees they are taking to cover.

'Buyer Protection' recognising the existing 'Buyer Protection' ebay provide now is not fit for purpose, charging buyers will improve the process how?

Highlighting the ability for buyers to make more claims against Sellers of all kinds.

Of course ebay reap the rewards.

[jma2815]

You’re accusing someone of being wrong when you are also wrong. 

‘If you have been using Royal Mail before simple delivery you will be using it after it is mandatory’

No. You’ll be using whatever service eBay see fit to offer to the buyer. There’s some debate about what choices there will be but to start with it looks like Evri and Royal Mail and Yodel in some areas. The BUYER will choose, not the seller. 

‘There will also only be one carrier on the listing, a buyer will not have choice between Evri, RM or this unknown courier that 1% the world hasn't heard of.’

Also No.  All listings eligible for SD will have a choice of at least two carriers shown to the buyer. 

There is so much misinformation being shared on this, I'm not sure if it's a concerted effort to put people off selling or they are just out to cause panic and anger in the community.

Yes there is, and you’re adding to the misinformation while putting others (who are rightly confused and angry) down. I am one who will not be able to continue selling if Evri and Yodel are added as shipping options and if I am not able to have RM bring the label to my home as they do now. Going on current information this scenario is at the moment a distinct possibility and although I can just stop if I don’t like the new T&C’s as I don’t need to sell to make ends meet there are many who do and I don’t blame them for for being upset at these changes.

[kath3735_wxmjn]

but i totally agree with you on all points, my comment was that at the moment it is still and choice and will be after Feb 4th, that change (SD) has not been announced yet.  I never buy or sell other than using RM, I hate EVRI with a vengeance!   Regardless of what some others may say i do not think that SD is the be all and end all that they consider it to be and i for one will not be participating when it does become mandatory.  Do i think E Bay will change their minds, not a chance until and if they find it is costing them more money than they are going to be raking in with it.

[moldosgifts]

I may have misunderstood the CS

But

I believe they will offer buyer royal mail if seller offers royal mail.

The confusion is if seller offers service that isn't royal mail or evri.

But you can still opt out at the moment so i would do that

[game_raid]

Do you have a link where it states there will be multiple choice on the courier shown on the listing or can you show me a live listing with Simple Delivery activated?

They would need to develop the whole site to cater for multiple carriers in the shipping because whether you're a business or not we all use the same listing tools.

I have checked the terms and can only find this which states the speed of delivery not the choice between Evri or Royal Mail.

Service is not the same as provider.

December 2024 

eBay Simple Delivery makes delivery labels available to you for your eligible listings on eBay and provides your buyer with choice on the speed of delivery at checkout (the “Services”). It is provided by eBay through third party carriers that eBay has contracted with to operate the Services. By using our Services, you acknowledge and agree that these eBay delivery Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) apply to you as well as any items that buyers purchase from you for delivery through the Services. 

https://pages.ebay.co.uk/shipping/delivery/seller-terms/

Also there is no mention of Yodel anywhere.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sellercentre/postage/simple-delivery

[kath3735_wxmjn]

no, they are taking control of how i want to send it and how i send it.  Not going to happen for me.  You are a business seller so you are not involved in SD (at the moment).  If we private sellers want to moan about it that is our business.

[jma2815]

You are right that at the moment SD is a choice, will be a choice after Feb 4 and the mandatory use date hasn’t been announced yet, but it will definitely be within the next 10 weeks (end of Q1). That’s not long and imo its not too early for those worried to be here saying so. 

When you say you won’t be participating will you be stopping selling or buying your own choice of postage if the buyer has chosen one you can’t/won’t use? If so how will that work when they’ve already bought the label? Genuine question, not trying to have a go at you. 

[vintique*violet]

 Do you have a link where it states there will be multiple choice on the courier shown on the listing or can you show me a live listing with Simple Delivery activated? @game_raid

@valueaddedresource did an excellent post on this with examples but I am unable to find it at the moment.. if you search their posts you will probably find it...

Edit..spelling.. 

[game_raid]

I am and will be involved with SD I am a private seller also who has quite a lot of clothes to sell over the next few months.

I personally can't see any issue with it if it makes my life easier, I no longer have to mess about weighing and measuring items before I list then deciding on what service to you use, it is all done for me.

[kath3735_wxmjn]

that is another factor of course, i only send 2nd class RM either parcel or large letter, no tracking but if i did SD that decision would no longer be mine and the buyer would be paying more for my low value items and that may be enough for them not to purchase.  

[aphystykqa]

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@kath3735_wxmjn wrote:

but i totally agree with you on all points, my comment was that at the moment it is still and choice and will be after Feb 4th, that change (SD) has not been announced yet.  I never buy or sell other than using RM, I hate EVRI with a vengeance!   Regardless of what some others may say i do not think that SD is the be all and end all that they consider it to be and i for one will not be participating when it does become mandatory.  Do i think E Bay will change their minds, not a chance until and if they find it is costing them more money than they are going to be raking in with it.

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I just read on a few posts here in the Ebay community forum that the owner of Ebay said that by March 2025 that all Private sellers shall be mandatory-forced into using the new Simple Delivery service. (Hence my choice to RANT !!) 😡 As I am self-admittedly a be-all-and-end-all Ebay seller that has only used the Post Office to send items I have sold on Ebay, and cannot understand why anyone would wish to withdraw that option - and FORCE them into using Simple Delivery - which to me (and many others) is the Opposite of Simplicity. It is like trying to convince every supermarket shopper that using the checkouts which serve customers shall be immediately and permanently withdrawn because the Supermarket owner thinks they are redundant.

Haha, Evri delivery drivers are excellent at delivering parcels to your address and knocking your door or ringing your doorbell - then leaving the parcel on your door-mat and getting back in their vehicle and then driving off - with no care whatsoever as to whether that parcel gets soaked in a sudden rainfall or gets nicked. I have had this happen to me multiple times and I have heard others say the same. This is the opposite of the Royal Mail, who has a better reputation of at-least making much more of an effort. So, absolutely, Evri is a joke.

[vintique*violet]

I am pleased that you will find SD easier for you to continue...  However, I think you are  missing the point here on Simple Delivery... there are literally 1000's of accounts who are unable to use SD due to personal reasons, whether it be health, disabilities,  or rural areas as an example... and that is discriminatory if there is  no choice to " opt-out? " which by all accounts looks like it will become mandatory later in the year. 

There is a huge difference between those who can accept these terms after 4th Feb , and sellers who have been registered with the platform for years and suddenly  cannot due to no fault of their own, by eBay moving the goal posts! eBay are making decisions without consultation, and not taking into consideration those whereby it would make a huge negative impact and would need to stop using their account to sell and most probably will not buy either.  

This highlights that we are not " members" as members would be consulted... we are " customers" first and foremost which is  " profit" to eBay... Personally I think they have " miscalculated" and if they are " banking" on new accounts registering... I do not see how it can "offset" them losing valuable, loyal private accounts which have been here for decades, many of which helped to build eBay and are now being " dismissed" without a care! 

[kath3735_wxmjn]

Simple Delivery is still optional after Feb 4th,  so the buyer/e bay will not have the  choice of how i post.  (at least that is how i understand it)  When they do make it mandatory i will be stopping all my sales.

[kath3735_wxmjn]

You are lucky, our local courier will not deliver to anyone not on the main roads, takes too much time.  Then lies about no one being in etc.  

[davrman]

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@jma2815 wrote:

All listings eligible for SD will have a choice of at least two carriers shown to the buyer. 

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Are you sure? Listings I've seen that appear to be using Simple Delivery only offer buyers the choice of "Standard Tracked" or "Express Tracked" with no mention of the actual carrier being used for either...

[aphystykqa]

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@kath3735_wxmjn wrote:

You are lucky, our local courier will not deliver to anyone not on the main roads, takes too much time.  Then lies about no one being in etc.  

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Yeah I understand it can vary where you are in the country, I just know Evri (compared to the Royal Mail) is 'Worse' - not - 'Better'. At least my postmen/women who deliver parcels to me shall wait until I come to the door, or at the very least - would leave a card saying that they have left at a neighbours house or somewhere else safe, or to go collect it at the Post Office collection point, or have it re-delivered. But, Evri often doesn't care. Plonked onto the door-mat, and off they go - and don't even check to see if I came to the door or not. For all they know, I could be on holiday, or wherever. 

[valueaddedresource]

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@davrman wrote:

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@jma2815 wrote:

All listings eligible for SD will have a choice of at least two carriers shown to the buyer. 

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Are you sure? Listings I've seen that appear to be using Simple Delivery only offer buyers the choice of "Standard Tracked" or "Express Tracked" with no mention of the actual carrier being used for either...

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@davrman  is correct - here's what the listing looks like on the buyer side when Simple Delivery is used:

And here's what it looks like on the seller's side:

Note: these screenshots are both for clothing listings - there may be some differences for listings in other categories, but I don't have examples of them at this time. They also reflect the fact that currently, sellers can opt out - but eBay CEO Jamie Iannone has said Simple Delivery will become mandatory for eligible items from private sellers sometime in Q1 2025, so the ability to choose custom postage will likely be removed at that point.

This is in line with what eBay shows in the Simple Delivery FAQ which describes how they determine delivery costs shown to the buyer.

So yes, there will still be multiple carriers used for Simple Delivery but eBay will be 100% in control of which carrier and method is ultimately used for the pre-paid label provided to the seller, based on buyer and item locations, convenience of drop off points, appropriate service, whether it's standard or express and more.

This doesn't mean eBay is getting rid of RM, just like it doesn't mean eBay is getting rid of free shipping - it just means they are getting rid of the "seller-selected" part of the equation.

With Simple Delivery, sellers will have absolutely zero input into which carrier is chosen and what costs are shown to the buyer (including whether or not free shipping is offered) - all of that is 100% in eBay's control.

Buyers get slightly more input, in that they can at least select whether they want standard or expedited, but that's it - other than that, again eBay is ultimately in control of determining which carrier's label is purchased and sent to the seller.

[vintique*violet]

@valueaddedresource  Your knowledge and information and the way you can grasp all of these changes and show them in such an "understandable"  way certainly is " valued" - I hope you know that, you are appreciated, thank you so much, sincerely. 

[jma2815]

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@kath3735_wxmjn wroteWhen they do make it mandatory i will be stopping all my sales.

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As will I. Which also means no more buying as I only ever bought (usually spending more than any money I’d just taken) when I’d been drawn to the site by having something to list or pack for sale.

I don’t view it as an ‘online shop’ to simply buy from. 

[jma2815]

Yes. I’m sure. Each carrier will be named in a large clickable box at checkout. 

There’s a screenshot of a live SD listing on one of these threads that shows three boxes - Evri, Yodel and Royal Mail in that order.