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.

[rugbyguy1960]

I've become immune to getting headaches here because of sooo many changes.

So now doubt they'll be more changes between now and the 19th.

And more than likely even more changes from the 20th onwards.

The nightmare continues.

[wellingnorth]

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@rugbyguy1960 wrote:

"A promotional postage rate

Until the new rate comes in, there’s a promotional rate for small and medium parcels (between 0-2kg) to match the Royal Mail pricing you’re used to. This only applies to items that are eligible for Simple Delivery, and will end at 11:59pm on 19 May. After this, the new postage rates will apply". 

That is the message I received.

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I thought that previously there was no small parcel rate, so small parcels were charged at the medium parcel rate? And now there will be a small parcel rate and for the promotional period medium parcels will also be charged at that rate? I may have misunderstood this as I've not been switched over yet, just following developments.

After May 20th the £3.38 Royal Mail 1-2kg small parcel rate is cheaper than you'd pay on Click & Drop for Tracked 48. There's no table showing prices for items over £100 after the promotional period, but if they stay at £4.47 that would mean you're paying more than Click & Drop for items between £100 and £150 but above that you're in theory getting extra insurance than you would from Royal Mail direct.

[manicretrominer]

I operate as a small seller, moving things out of storage because space is becoming a problem.

The things I sell are usually small but, and here's the distinction, potentially expensive. So when I send a parcel, its usually bigger than the item because I multi-box and use bubblewrap. So going on the size of an item isn't in the slightest bit accurate when you want to add protection layers and padding, for safe transit. And then, because the postage value is validated (somehow) to stop it going higher than whatever Ebay deem "accurate" you're stuck pumping the item price to make up the difference.

Insurance is also meaningless when the item is potentially irreplaceable. 

I'm looking at this, at the email today, and wondering where do I even begin. I can't even grasp what this means for me as a small seller, let alone what it must be like for big sellers.

What a mess. It feels like my only option is to delist and see what happens next.

[rugbyguy1960]

You are right about in theory.

But its all such a mess and because there will bound to be yet more changes after the 20th it is so very far from being simple.

[akemp1]

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@wellingnorth wrote:

I thought that previously there was no small parcel rate, so small parcels were charged at the medium parcel rate? And now there will be a small parcel rate and for the promotional period medium parcels will also be charged at that rate? I may have misunderstood this as I've not been switched over yet, just following developments.

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Yes looking at the structure of the tables I think they have accepted that users don't want the combined small and medium 2KG parcel rate as it was originally adding nearly a quid onto the cost of small parcels. So the promotion is on the combined rate while it still exists (for sub £100 items) before they can split it out properly. Weirdly they will still keep a combined rate on 0-1KG but as a seller what's to stop you saying a small parcel is 2KG to get the lower rate? I have some old bricks in the garage that I could include free to reduce the postage costs.

[wellingnorth]

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@akemp1 wrote:

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Weirdly they will still keep a combined rate on 0-1KG but as a seller what's to stop you saying a small parcel is 2KG to get the lower rate?

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Yes, that is odd definitely!

From May 20th it looks like there's no 10-15 kg rate either, it's 2-10 then 10-20.

Would be very interested to know if anyone reading who has mandatory simple delivery can see these bands for their listings on the active listings page or edit them in the bulk editor?

[rugbyguy1960]

Hopefully because we've been given yet another new date for something that was announced as mandatory as from the 15th April and now the latest changes will be effective from the 20th May things will start to become clearer than mud.

[manicretrominer]

Looking at this again, it states that for Royal Mail usage, you can then set a collection. However, collection by RM is normally more expensive than regular postage costs and yet, the options I'm given for SD for RM don't separate out between a PO dropoff or collection and I'm left looking at postage costs that are not reflective of collection.

So what happens if someone buys the item, at a postage cost of X? Is collection now bundled into that cost as standard? Or do I then need to make up the difference?

[aymanalvi]

Ebay are once Again, Copying VINTED delivery method. NOTHING NeW.  20th of May, parcels received will have locker option Just like Vinted. How my alloys wheels will fit in a Locker is questionable. 
how are Yamaha Keyboard will fit in a locker is (let me think). Ebay have lost the plot, Instead of reversing the stupid BP and SD they are bringing lockers in the mix. Is there anyone in Ebay who is paid to think about Buyers and Sellers? More account closures on the way.

[rugbyguy1960]

There are so many more questions than answers to all of this.

All we can do is keep a eye on the many changes and really hope things will become clearer from the 20th onwards.

Although I won't be holding my breath regarding that.

[rugbyguy1960]

I'm just waiting to see how things unwrap from the 20th May onwards.

I still don't think there will be enough to stop more people going elswhere and for me there isn't anything that gives me any incentive to start relisting anything.

[henley-theatre-services]

Either that or ebay have set up some AI decision making tool to maximise profit and simplify actual human input on their end. But as we all know these AI systems lack common sense and day to day problematic obstacles that only humans would understand or encounter. It literally feels like they do not give two f###s about anyone using there site anymore. I will actually be happy if they ever crashed hard because someone made a better model platform just like the one we all miss.

[rugbyguy1960]

That's why at the end of this month I am going to the platform with a similar name to here.

Their listings are increasing which means they are gaining more sellers. That will only increase the number of buyers and hopefully lead to more categories. Then it will be like it used to be here.

[rugbyguy1960]

I just don't agree with having to pay to have your listings highlighted.

They are already making money from sellers and buyers without even more additional costs.

[kath3735_wxmjn]

or popping into the local PO with their very nice staff!  Then again nothing is going to be perfect but at least it will be better than this ongoing farce.

[cz7373]

Went to update my only 2 listings, due to their category that had to be "Simple Delivery", and discovered they now had access to "Advanced/Custom" for postage.

I did this after the "Postage email update" message regarding changes in price.

I also discovered that one of them had no postage cost assigned to it or a length of dispatch.

I suggest anyone who has any listing with SD, check those listings, and possibly those that haven't got SD as well.

[paulblueandwhite]

They should give sellers the change  to add extra on P&P  for packaging materials, tape, time to wrap fragile items etc. and for collecting parcels by RM at £ 0.30 each.  All need to be done for free: adding to the price of an item is an option but it was fairer to add this on the P&P.

 SD is not cheaper, only cost us more. 

[rugbyguy1960]

I actually received proof today that my decision to end my listings has been justified.

I received a birthday present a few days early that was sent using Large Letter.

The cost of postage was £3.60.

When I sent items I sold here by RM Large Letter using 48hr Tracked it cost me £2.70.

That's all the justification and proof I need.

[rugbyguy1960]

Definitely true.

I received proof of that today.

[aymanalvi]

Not to mention, 90 days later you may receive a email from Ebay asking for more money to cover the weight because the item you sent 90 days ago to someone you might not remember was over weight and need to pay extra £4.50 including admin costs. Thats what you call learning the hard way after watching a dangling carrot ebay shows to everyone.