Royal Mail collection not available

[spiff101]

I just sold an item, with me paying for postage, and the seller chose Royal Mail as the delivery service - great. However the only RM service available for me to buy was “Royal Mail Tracked 48 | drop off” (ie QR code) and it said booking a collection was not available. I had to select Evri to get a collection at more expense.

I’ve had the same problem with Vinted: when the platform selects the Royal Mail 48 option and supplies the details, it uses the QR code/dropoff method. This can’t be combined with collection, because you’re only supplied with a QR code, not a full label, and the postie can’t print out a label on his/her round - that can only be done at certain designated Post Offices. In my case, the only available dropoff points are miles away so it’s useless. 

Is there a way to prevent this from happening and ensuring a collection is possible rather than the extremely inconvenient QR+dropoff method?

[**peaseblossom**]

You can opt out of Simple Delivery during the listing/revising process and choose your own postage.    Click on "Switch to advanced options" at the bottom of the postage section, and again on the pop-up you'll get.

If you're not getting the switch link click on Collection Only, then click back to Postage Only and Custom Options should appear, which is what you want.   Or remove the pre-entered postage weights and the link should reappear.

For your current transaction you'd have to cancel it altogether (a refund would be issued if the buyer has paid) and relist opting out of SD as above for the buyer to buy and pay again.

[department28]

It is very bad news that Royal Mail Tracked 48 purchased via 'Simple Delivery' is not offering the 'book a collection' option. Many of us either can't, or don't wish to 'drop off' items, or use QR codes.

eBay should not be forcing this on us, dictating how we post, & what the postage prices will be etc. Coming on top of the BPF, this really is the last straw!

[parsley2003]

I've cancelled the shop and removed my listings and told them why. This site is doomed 

[spiff101]

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@**peaseblossom** wrote:

You can opt out of Simple Delivery during the listing/revising process and choose your own postage.    Click on "Switch to advanced options" at the bottom of the postage section, and again on the pop-up you'll get.

If you're not getting the switch link click on Collection Only, then click back to Postage Only and Custom Options should appear, which is what you want.   Or remove the pre-entered postage weights and the link should reappear.

For your current transaction you'd have to cancel it altogether (a refund would be issued if the buyer has paid) and relist opting out of SD as above for the buyer to buy and pay again.

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 For the next item I listed, I've opted out of Simple Delivery - thanks. However, as this is an auction and I want the buyer to pay postage, I am required to select a delivery method/company, and no mention is made of collection/QR code etc. I'm therefore worried that when the buyer buys the item and postage, the system will generate a QR code and send it to me, making arranging a collection impossible. 

[square-monkey]

You can book a collection via the Royal mail website.

[spiff101]

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@square-monkey wrote:

You can book a collection via the Royal mail website.

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You can't if a QR code has already been sent. Are you saying that eBay definitely won't generate a QR code when the buyer buys postage?

[edwardian-dreams]

I don’t see what their problem is

if you buy online you can arrange collection

unless they can’t be ars Ed to incorporate it into their programming 

it’s potentially discriminatory for those who are housebound

[department28]

So, what we need to know is, if Royal Mail Tracked 48 postage is purchased from Simple Delivery, does it only generate a QR code, or can you get a 'normal' postage label, which can be affixed to parcel & booked for Collection? 

If SD only churns out QR codes, presumably it isn't possible to book a collection, either via eBay or Royal Mail?

[snowylilliput-2]

You can always book the collection via the royal mail website once you have the tracking number .

[spiff101]

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@snowylilliput-2 wrote:

You can always book the collection via the royal mail website once you have the tracking number .

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The problem is that if you are sent a QR code, you can only get the tracking number after you drop off your parcel at the drop-off point or designated Post Office. The QR code itself is not enough to arrange a collection. 

[spiff101]

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@department28 wrote:

So, what we need to know is, if Royal Mail Tracked 48 postage is purchased from Simple Delivery, does it only generate a QR code, or can you get a 'normal' postage label, which can be affixed to parcel & booked for Collection? 

If SD only churns out QR codes, presumably it isn't possible to book a collection, either via eBay or Royal Mail?

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Yes, I guess it would be good to confirm that. It certainly looked like no collection was possible but I didn’t go ahead and buy the RM postage because it would’ve put me in a bind. 

[snowylilliput-2]

Your settings are not correct then , you can still get a label if you wish . I have used it once and had no problem 

[spiff101]

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@snowylilliput-2 wrote:

Your settings are not correct then , you can still get a label if you wish . I have used it once and had no problem 

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You have used what once, exactly? Did you buy through Simple Delivery, did the seller purchase the postage, did you receive a QR code, etc? Just saying “your settings are incorrect” isn’t much help I’m afraid. 

[department28]

Just to clarify, is this postage for an auction item that has sold, & is now awaiting the postage purchase?

If the item sold with Simple Delivery as the default postage setting, I don't think you can change the postage now, to be sure of getting a 'normal' RM label instead of a QR code.

Unless anyone knows differently.  

[spiff101]

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@department28 wrote:

Just to clarify, is this postage for an auction item that has sold, & is now awaiting the postage purchase?

If the item sold with Simple Delivery as the default postage setting, I don't think you can change the postage now, to be sure of getting a 'normal' RM label instead of a QR code.

Unless anyone knows differently.  

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I sold one with Simple Delivery but used Evri because collection wasn't RM available; subsequently I've listed another auction without Simple Delivery. Again I chose Evri because it wasn't obvious that RM collection would be possible, but if I can get confirmation from eBay customer support I'll change it to RM.

[department28]

For the item listed/sold without Simple Delivery, the RM 48 Tracked Collection option should be available, as usual.

Last time I used it, RM 2nd Class, Evri, & Yodel were at the top of the list, and you have to click on 'Show all services' to drop down all the other options, including RM 48 Tracked Collection.

Hope CS can help sort this out for you.