NO LONGER SELLING DUE TO SIMPLE DELIVERY

[rugbyguy1960]

AS OF 15TH APRIL MY DAYS AS A PRIVATE EBAY SELLER WILL STOP AFTER 19 YEARS.

I AM FED UP OF THE GREED OF EBAY AND I HOPE OTHER EBAY SELLERS DECIDE TO NO LONGER LET THE EBAY CONTROL FREAKS HAVE THIS MUCH CONTROL OVER PRIVATE SELLERS.

[goodibags]

Yes, because once SD kicks in ALL aspects of the delivery process will be managed by Ebay, so both sellers and their buyers can relax.

Except when it all goes upside over and then it immediately turns out Ebay is 'managing' precisely NOTHING. Not even some basic comms with its users.

So much for 'reaching out'? Nothing there.

[eddypolak]

All I can tell you is that I sent a message to the buyer about SD and I got that automated message. The text is underlining that contacting the buyer is no longer your business. 

[sunflowers4me59]

I presume buyers phone numbers have also disappeared, because they used to be with their addresses, and we don't see them now.

[24-bridgest]

Solution: Make Simple delivery optional-not mandatory...

[blacksea213]

That is another way that EBay makes it difficult for a seller. When you try
to buy something like Royal Mail 48 hour tracked the first thing the app
asks for is a phone number or email address for the destination of the
item. You also have to type in manually the tracking number into the app to
keep a check on it. All of which are possible to get around, just more
inconvenient than before.

[crn303]

Agreed … it’s makes common sense to us selling on eBay.

[eddypolak]

An update ....sort of...

I'm attaching a couple screenshots from the 'Order details' page. The progress bar thing indicates that the item has been dispatched and the second shows what pops you when you click the tracking number link. I guess that's progress....maybe? 

I remind myself of one of most fundamental bits of advice for any business. All businesses make mistakes. It's how you handle them that makes the difference. Key to that is customer communication. The imposition of SD is bad but the lack of communication makes it a lot worse.

And don't get me started on the argument that 'we have such a huge amount of transactions we can't possibly offer that kind of service without increasing prices massively.' That's an admission you shouldn't be doing whatever it is.  And here is the real kick in the privates (will I have that bleeped?). No one asked eBay to introduce SD. If it was an option and it sucked you wouldn't use it. As it is eBay give the customer only the 'nuclear option' and that's to stop using ebay completely. As someone else posted this shows ebay management are incompetent and out of touch. 

Two minutes later....

My MAC screen captures are in the very widely supported png format. Not supported here! I converted them to .jpeg. Not supported here! I changed the extension name from .jpeg to .jpg and one is attached and that's the limit as I am sure many of you know. I remind myself that we are on an eBay platform. 

[diy-genius]

My sentiment's exactly, just STOP selling until these idiot's reverse their
latest "improvement's"

[fantailsforme]

Re: screenshot

Its not right that ebay are making promises that cannot be guaranteed.  Anything that could happen between selling something and getting it to the post office = broken promise.

I can honestly say that I have never promised anything unless I was 100% sure I could keep it.

[grapecr-30]

Exactly, there is no way I will use Simple Delivery, I want control of Postage,and how I send an item, and too be able to deal with a Buyer or Seller directly to work out any problems 

But, one of the main things I have a problem with, is eBay tell you everything is great if there is a problem, but I've read too many problems to believe this is true..... And if there is a problem it seems it so difficult to try and get help from eBay, and if you do, you can almost guarantee whatever eBay assistant you talk too is going to tell you a different thing..... And I feel like eBay just bury their heads in the sand, and say whatever they feel.like on the day.... So you don't know if you are covered for an item or not covered.... And it's not eBay that end up with a Negative Feedback on their Feedback....

I still do not understand what the person was thinking when they came up with this ridiculous Idea, eBay open Postage Choice back up....Some people will use Simple Delivery,like they have always done, because it may work for them.... But you are alienating good genuine Sellers and Buyers....!

[eddypolak]

I suppose this question is strictly off topic (and a cheeky use of an ebay platform but hey they deserve it!) but I have about £1000 worth of camera gear to sell. Where else could I go instead of ebay? 

[goodibags]

If you have £1000 of camera gear AND are worried about it arriving with a buyer safely, promptly and in one piece then the very least you should be demanding is that you are allowed to send it SPECIAL and not simple Delivery.

[eddypolak]

Ah thanks!

I did not know ebay offered 'Special Delivery' (not to be confused with Royal Mail Special Delivery?) Given all the posts above I thought Simple Delivery was the absolutely  only choice . I'll have to  do a draft listing and see what options are offered. For the camera I have just sold I simply ignored any ebay offered shipping.

[j.p.greenwood]

While I do need to update this to add some further info, you may want to have a read before deciding what to do.

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Seller-Central/Entering-your-own-tracking-number-for-non-Simple-Deli...

[goodibags]

I mean RM Special Delivery, though they do charge by parcel weight.

There is a workaround to 'force' custom postage for higher value items. Simply enter a value of £800 or more and then make sure you enter an oversized parcel size.

After that you should be able to change the value while also adding your own postage option.

In theory, Simple covers any item up to £750. In practice, sellers and buyers may want better postal handling assurances than that.

[eddypolak]

Thanks! My intention was to use RM SD for the camera I have just shipped so I agree it's worth it. Your workaround is interesting. Have you tried it? I just wonder how ebay would react given the high handed ways with SD. 

[gmij1961]

For me the term "Simple Delivery" is a  dishonest marketing  scam that has very little to do with making delivery easier and far much more as a starting block for Ebay controlled delivery where Ebay gain a significant chunk of all postage revenue that their sale generate .

The likes of Jamie Iannone and  MS Eve Williams ( so called marketing genius  ! )  need to realise that lying is an EXTREMELY bad marketing policy and will NEVER EVER lead to revenue growth that they have told their investors that SD will deliver . 

SD and all the other gimmick changes are  proving to be deterrent to growth .  

[goodibags]

Yes, the workaround is actually being given out by Ebay customer services, though it may be time-limited. Tomorrow is universal SD Roll Out Day. IF it happens?

I've used it on a handful of SD-inappropriate things, like cheap vinyl records. I expect that loophole will soon be closed.

[blacksea213]

Gumtree? Vinted? London Camera Exchange (if you have one), CEX?

[crn303]

Agreed .. Simple Delivery will do NOTHING to enhance eBays required growth. In fact it will contribute to the reverse.