New postage policy seems a bit dodgy...

[lord.ford]

Anyone else find the ‘new’ postage process for sellers frustrating and a bit suspicious?

Specifically:

• Ebay now require sellers to select the postage service during the listing and only allow them to use that postage service once the item has sold. 

• This would not be too bad but they do not display the costs for the various services at the point of selection (as they used to when selecting after sale) and so buyers are committing to buying a postage service without knowing the price - as such this is not technically a valid contract (under UK law at least).  

• Ebay also no longer allow sellers to insert tracking numbers for items they have posted themselves (i.e. sellers who did not buy postage from eBay directly). This is bad for buyers but also disastrous for sellers as eBay also now only releases funds 2 days after delivery has been confirmed - in the absence of the ability to add tracking numbers or for buyers to confirm receipt, it means sellers not buying postage from eBay now have to wait up to 2 weeks(!) for funds to be issued. 

I’ve been an eBayer for 18 years and never once posted on these forums but these changes seem a bit ‘dodgy’ at best. 

OK, so eBay are trying to reduce seller fees and recoup it by selling postage services, I get it. But at least allow sellers the choice of not buying postage through eBay and at the VERY least give us an idea of what the postage service we are buying through eBay will cost.

Questions to eBay: why are you to forcing sellers to confirm delivery service at point of listing with no way of changing it afterwards? Why do you not list the prices for the deliver services at the point when the seller is forced to select? Why do you not allow sellers to add their own tracking numbers? Why do you not allow buyer’s to confirm receipt (same way as you can for collections)?

In the hope of getting some response from eBay, I’m not even sure forcing sellers to choose postage without knowing the price is legal in the UK - said it.

LF

[abi.sales.247]

& Evri???? Local Co-op more often than not label printer out of order and not just for a few hours or even days last count not working for a month.

[stanleybarnard1946]

I’m so sorry for you it must be frustrating having used e as for so long but I’m afraid a lot of people will move to other selling platforms .I’m lucky I have a printer but really object to being told I cannot just go to Post Office and post the item with handwritten label , not used new system yet but if I have problems I will move to another platform think eBay will lose a lot of users .
Est of luck for future selling .
Sent from my iPad

[cabezacool]

I cant comment on the tracking aspect of the post as i buy all my postage via ebay, as its easier for me to keep track of everything and easier for me when there is a problem,

Selecting postage only being able to send via that postage choice despite not knowing the cost? I will state the obvious first, as a seller it is my responsibility to know my costs before i list an item. That is on me (and you) i'm afraid. 

Secondly, if i am buying an item and it says royal mail delivery, i expect royal mail delivery so i think this is a good thing if correct as i personally, and i am sure many buyers use the delivery method to determine which item they will buy.  The only issue i see with this is if i listed RM 2nd class, as i do for most of my items, but wanted to upgrade to RM 48 hr tracked and couldnt. As far as i am aware though, i can do that.

[kristeltips66]

I have been on EBay from since 2004 as a buyer and seller. What I have done is go through my inventory since the simple delivery was introduced overnight. After 2 months of having Evri NOT delivering packages to my parcel shop / home address over the past few months. I have taken action deselect Evri from my listings. 

[nicklfry]

Simple delivery is compulsory if item is more than 61cm long (ie quite small)  and then it compels you to use a collection service only meaning I have to stay in a whole day awaiting that collection.  Its utterly impractical.

[nicklfry]

I agree with you, there is no benefit, its worse and its *bleep*.  

[stuart3176]

Totally agree. It is putting me off selling and buying on eBay as the cost are too much and the delivery I’m forced to use doesn’t suite me. I have been on the phone twice to eBay since selling a golf club. They are going to email a different QR code for another service where I can drop off at my convenience. However, this is causing a 3 day delay at least in sending the golf club to the buyer. Being forced to choose a service for a 30kg suitcase is not appropriate for a 1-2 kg club. Not good!

[beauty557]

Hello , Looks like Ebay UK now FORCING us  to use their SIMPLE DELIVERY system whereas a couple of weeks ago we could "opt out".They are really aggravating Ebayers and it would be interesting to know if the number of UK Ebayers has diminished over the last 12 months and if so,by how many??? Anyone have any stats??

[mle_drones]

I managed to get a reply from one of eBay's board members. He confirmed, "long time sellers are leaving the platform, but they are getting a lot of new buyers joining".





I wonder if they had a shortage of buyers that might explain why everybody says their sales are down. Maybe to address this they put all these new things in place to attract new buyers including that horrendous advert that seems to be everywhere.




The rules regarding simple delivery is if your item is under £20 and is small ie it will fit in a large letter then you can choose which postage you want like the old system. Unfortunately eBay moved everything to simple delivery so to switch it back to non-simple delivery you have to open each one and change it manually a huge deal if you have hundreds of items

[beauty557]

Thankyou for the info. Long time sellers should be the backbone that Ebay
retain,not let go but Ebay do not seem to understand that and only seem
motivated by greed and control and this could bring them down.I only use
them rarely now and any Loyalty I had to the Brand has now gone.A sad thing
to have to say,but it is the truth.