Problems with simple postage

[daviddchb]

I’m a private seller just returning to ebay after a long absence, so ‘simple’ postage is new to me. I’ve only sold a small amount so far but have become entangled in various problems and am not finding any solutions through the AI help ebay offers. I could really do with some advice.

First issue - I sold three items to a buyer but he paid for them in two transactions, a single item then a pair meaning two postage labels. He asked for everything to be shipped together which I did and I’m now left with one unused postage label, ebay chasing me for late posting and the buyer wanting that postage refunded. But there is no way to cancel the label and all routes through ebay help invariably lead to cancelling the transaction which is obviously not what I want. Basically I want the ebay system to recognise the item has been successfully delivered with positive feedback and to refund the buyer for the unused postage.

Second issue – a buyer bought 9 items from me in one session, 4 were collection only and the other 5 postage. She initially paid for 2 of the collection items. I could not get access to the invoice for the postage items so I messaged her to say that she’d have to null the postage costs if ebay didn’t do it automatically. Anyway she’s now paid for the 5 postage items including the postage costs so ebay is chasing me to post them even though I’m assuming she’d prefer to collect. All I want is for a combined invoice for all 9 items recognising they will all be collected.

Third issue – mea culpa, I sold an item and realised I’d put it in the wrong postage category. I did deal with it – I contacted the buyer, cancelled the transaction and then immediately relisted as a BIN with a £5 reduction in price for goodwill. Such a palaver – is there anything I could have done which meant the customer didn’t have to get involved.

As I say, I would really appreciate any help here.    

[style_wise]

Whew! Let's try to unpack all that in reverse order 😉

3rd issue, you did great. This is how other Sellers are handling it, but without the goodwill discount.

Sidebar: if the too small/light Simple Delivery category is the one 'Recommended' by eBay the courier is supposed to take the Item with no extra charge.

2nd issue, you could use the same skills as 3rd issue. Leave the four Collection sales as is. Cancel the other 5 sales and relist them as one lot for Collection. With each sale/bundle you will receive a Collection Code from the Buyer before she collects. You enter this into eBay to release your payment.

Sidebar: Simple Delivery paid by the Buyer but unused will be automatically refunded within 30-days'.

1st issue: Yes, SD is still glitchy regarding Combined Postage. And Sellers no longer have an option to send a combined Invoice. Most Sellers - with the Buyer's permission - are doing what you did for the 3rd Issue. Cancel and relist as a bundle with one lot of postage. Since you have already dispatched this won't work.

Sidebar: You can ignore any SD label and elect to pay for your own postage. You download the SD label as normal (this marks the item dispatched with SD tracking in eBay system). Send your own way - in the 1st Issue instance this is combined into a different SD tracked parcel - and then update the Tracking in eBay. Again the Buyer's unused SD label will be automatically refunded.

To update Simple Delivery Tracking, in Orders find the item with incorrect tracking

View Order Details > Track Package down arrow > Add Tracking

[daviddchb]

Thanks for your help, it’s really really appreciated.

You say ‘Simple Delivery paid by the Buyer but unused will be automatically refunded within 30-days’. That possibly solves my problems. The first issue the buyer gets the postage for the unused label refunded, but I’m hoping he doesn’t get the whole sale refunded!! Also do I get a black mark on my account.

Likewise on the second issue the buyer collects the 5 postage items and gets the postage refunded after 30 days. (I really don't think this buyer would be open to the cancelling and re-buying route on 5 items). Again though what’s the penalty for me? Also in general (not this case) it leaves you open to unscrupulous buyers if they know the system.

I’m really finding this lack of control over postage to be a show-stopper for me, as the kind of stuff I sell is a mixture of collection and postage.

[department28]

'I’m really finding this lack of control over postage to be a show-stopper for me, as the kind of stuff I sell is a mixture of collection and postage.'

Yes - things like combining postage/refunding excess postage etc used to be so much easier to sort out before Simple Delivery... it is far from ideal, having to cancel & relist items for buyers to repurchase as a 'lot'. Not all buyers are happy to do this - or appreciate having to wait for a postage refund.

Sellers are obliged to explain the situation to their buyer - and spend time fiddling about with their listings - all because of the inadequacies of Simple Delivery.. 😖

Simple Delivery will combine postage for items paid for in one transaction, but I think you have to 'enable combined invoices' in your postage preferences to allow combined shipping, so it might be worth checking to see if any options need ticking/unticking.

'If you're a private seller, items listed with Simple Delivery will automatically be combined at checkout. If a buyer completes checkout in separate transactions, the postage won’t be combined. To ensure you're protected, you should send items that aren’t combined using the Simple Delivery label provided.'

Hope all your issues will work out ok. Good luck! 

[daviddchb]

Thanks for the help on this.

On Issue 1 One I downloaded the unused postage label, then changed the tracking number to the other label. It seems to have worked - system now recognising all 3 items as safely delivered. I've messaged the buyer and he says he'll let me know if/when the postage refund from ebay comes through.

[department28]

It is interesting to hear how someone like yourself, who hasn't been selling for a long time, is coping with being 'thrown in at the deep end' with Simple Delivery... 

I think many have been finding the problems & palaver with combined postage + not being able to choose the courier, or service you would prefer + not having any control at all over postage prices, are the worst issues/causing the most frustration.

Simple Delivery only seems to be designed to handle 'simple' sales - but sales can often involve something more complicated, requiring combined postage, or buyers asking for a quicker/different delivery service, or going through the checkout in separate transactions instead of in one go, etc.

Trying to sort out any problems after the Simple Delivery labels have been churned out, is not for the faint-hearted... 😱