Transcript of chat re. Simple Delivery. As you can see something so simple has been made impossibly complex to the point of not working or generating overly expensive postage for the buyer:
I sell CDs using multi-list adverts and several listings so buyers can select the CDs they want. I offer a flat rate postage of £3 for any number of CDs to encourage buyers to buy more than one CD. If they buy from more than one listing, I refund excess
postage above £3 When I revise one of my listings, Simple Delivery has stopped me doing that; can my account be set to allow Custom Postage again please so I can buy the postage I need and the buyer pays a flat £3 for postage for any number of CDs across
all my listings?
I understand that you are concerned about listing your items with custom postage and wish to know how this is possible, am I right with my understanding?
Dipanwita
yes I would like to choose the postage charge and carrier myself
I am unable to do that with simple delivery
I revised a listing and the only option is Simple Delivery now
Thank you for confirming and sharing the information.
Dipanwita
I would like to share that in order to provide eBay buyers with a consistent experience that aligns with market expectations, Simple Delivery will be the only delivery method available for private sellers when listing eligible items.
Dipanwita
However there are two exception here. 1. For business sellers Simple Delivery is optional. 2. If the item is under 100g and less than £10, it does not need to go through Simple Delivery in certain categories.
Dipanwita
Well neither apply to me; I am not a business seller, and my CDs are over 100g
In that case you may also try to include your additional postage cost in the item cost only.
Dipanwita
That doesn't work for combined postage across any number of CDs
Also Simple Delivery is charging far too much for postage when I test my revised multi-list advert with more than one CD in my basket; it is just not working for me
For offering combine postage you need to set the combined settings on this ebay account postage preference page.
Dipanwita
And if any buyer is adding all the items in their basket and complete the check out process, simple delivery will automatically combine the postage cost for buyers.
Dipanwita
is that across multiple listings or just within the same listing?
There are both the options
Dipanwita
- Combine postage works for multi qty items 2. Promotional postage works for different number of items
Dipanwita
So if I set a Combined Postage rule in my account, Simple Delivery will apply it to all adverts?
Yes simple delivery will be applied but buyer needs to complete the checkout process for all the items together.
Dipanwita
In case this does not happen then you also have the option to communicate with buyer after the items are sold.
Dipanwita
If buyer agree then you can ship all the items in one parcel and let the other labels remained unused.
Dipanwita
Buyer will get a refund for unused label cost automatically from ebay after a few days.
Dipanwita
If I set a combined postage rule of say large letter £2.70 and then no increase no matter how many CDs are bought, Simple Delivery will then produce and charge for an inadequate label? i.e. large letter instead of small parcel? I can't see how it can work
In that case simple delivery will automatically combined the postage cost and you get a label according to all the items weight and sizes.
Dipanwita
You also can print the same label and stick to your parcel in case you have two parcels for one buyer only.
Dipanwita
But then my combined postage rule of £2.70 and no additional charge would be ignored?
Let me explain it for you.
Dipanwita
yes please
Let us assume buyer purchases 5 items together in oner order, then buyer will automatically pay discounted postage cost. Now your 5 items does not fit in one parcel so you make two parcels for all 5 items. In that case you can use the same printed labels for your two parcels to ship the buyer. You will not have to generate a new label or buyer need to pay anything extra.
Dipanwita
So you are saying, even if the buyer only pays for large letter (one CD) £2.70, but then buys 5 CDs, Simple delivery will still charge the buyer £2.70 but produce the correct small parcel label? who pays for the increased postage then?
If buyer purchases 5 items together then simple delivery system will auto calculate the parcel weight as per the items and decide a discounted postage rate for all the items and not £2.70 only buyer pay.
Dipanwita
So I can no longer offer a flat rate of postage then?
and my postage rule gets ignored
Why has eBay made this so complicated; the seller knows best what postage is required and what service they can use
I am frustrated extremely by this Simple Delivery
I realize that this situation is frustrating, I would feel the same in your situation, but this programme has been designed to provide safety and benefits for sellers.
Dipanwita
It means ebay will take all the responsibility of your parcel shipping and you get full item cost coverage.
Dipanwita
In case your parcel goes missing or damaged then ebay will refund the buyer and you can keep your order amount with you. Your negative feedback will also be removed if any.
Dipanwita
When I tested Simple Delivery is charging far too much for postage when I test my revised multi-list advert with more than one CD in my basket; it is just not working for me
May I please know the postage cost you want to set and the cost you see with simple delivery?
Dipanwita
I set a cost for one CD, say £2.70 and it was doubling it for two Cds to over £5
I cant see how a combined postage rule is going to work if Simple Delivery calculates the combined postage and charges the buyer what it wants anyway? MY combined postage rule will be ignore
Let me check and explain it for you
Dipanwita
thank you
If any buyer is adding two of your items int heir basket then they pay a total postage cost of £3.50 approximately and not the entire ££5.40
Dipanwita
well it should be £2.94 with Evri up to 1Kg so that is not working
and Simple Delivery is supposed to give a discount of 20% on postage costs but it charges more
May I please know where do you see this 20% discount n postage rate with simple delivery?
Dipanwita
I think it says 'discounted postage rates' actually; the 20% was on an eBay forum
I apologies but at this moment we are not shared with any such specific discounted rate information. But I can assure you that with the complete protection of your shipping and ebay account buyers are given the best combined postage discounted rate on ebay.
Dipanwita
- Can you please explain to me again how a combined postage rule works, when, as you say, the Simple Delivery will calculate a combined postage and charge the buyer? Seems like the combined postage rule will not work
Certainly I will explain.
Dipanwita
If buyer add two different items of your's in their basket then the postage cost £3.50 applied to them as explained above.
Dipanwita
So combined postage rule is ignored then
If buyer add 2qty of your same item in their basket then a postage cost of £2.94 applies to the buyer
Dipanwita
So th erule is only for a quantity of 2 of exactly the same item?
like 2 identical Cds
Combined postage rule is for the same listing with multiple qty
Dipanwita
Promotional postage rule is for different listings with single qty
Dipanwita
But there must be instances where the actual postage costs more than the rules allow
Then with custom postage I would pay the difference but with Simple delivery either I will get an insufficient label or the buyer will be charged more ignoring my rule?
Yes for those situation if buyer add the items int he basket simple delivery will automatically combine the postage for buyer and provide a total postage cost according to the number of items weight buyer has added to their basket.
Dipanwita
So combined postage is ignored then?
Combined postage is for the same item or listing with multiple qty and for that simple delivery does not combine the postage automatically.
Dipanwita
For an example this item of your account - Heavy/Extreme Metal/Rock/Punk CD *Rare* **Choose** - LIST 3 Item number: 135305107167· Qty: 150
Dipanwita
Ok so it doesn't work for my case where I only have 1 of each CD
If you have only 1 qty item then simple delivery will combine the postage when buyer add separate items with 1 qty
Dipanwita
But if buyer add the same item in their basket with multiple qty then your combine postage rule will work as per the setting. (like this item only 135305107167 with 5 qty)
Dipanwita
That listing was for 1 set
This is the listing I am referring here -Heavy/Extreme Metal/Rock/Punk CD Rare *Choose* - LIST 3 Item number: 135305107167· Qty: 150
Dipanwita
It has 150 qty available I could see
Dipanwita
so if they buy 5 CDs from that listing but my rule says only charge £2.70 then if the combine postage rule works, I will get a label for large letter £2.70 and not one sufficient for 5 CDs?
do you see the problem here?
Either the buyer gets charged more or the label will be wrong
Yes I do and this is why we recommend our sellers to keep atleast £1 postage cost for
each additional item while setting the combined postage rule on the account.
Dipanwita
OK I could try that. How do I link a rule to my revised advert; I could see no option to do that?
You do nto have to select it in individual listing and it will automatically applied as per yoru settings.
Dipanwita
What if I have more than one rule saved then?
which will it use?
I have 2 rules currently saved as a test
I suggest you to keep only one please to avoid any confusion in the system otherwise it may automatically apply for buyers by the system.
Dipanwita
OK thanks
You know the problem with adding £1 per item is that for a buyer buying 10 CDs, they would be paying over £10 postage instead of around £3.39
Maybe best not to use a rule
In those cases you always have the option to refund the buyer partially from your item cost through ebay.
Dipanwita
Thats good for the buyer but wouldn't I still get charged over £10 for the label that has been generated?
No, because you will only be paying the total postage cost according to all of the items weight and parcel dimension only.
Dipanwita
But then my combined postage rule is ignored?
Your combine postage rule will not be ignored but you are just generating the label as per yoruyour parcel weight on ebay and refunding the buyer partially.
Dipanwita
*as per your parcel
Dipanwita
I would suggest you to please use the rule first on the account and check how this works with your sold items.
Dipanwita
I can't seem to delete either of the two rules I just created?
If you find this difficult or not working then you can remove the setting again from your end.
Dipanwita
You will see the delete options once you click on pencil icon or EDIT beside "Flat postage rule"
Dipanwita
Here is the link for you, please copy and paste this link to a new browser
Dipanwita
https://www.ebay.co.uk/ship/prf/combinedshipping?&education=false
Dipanwita
Ok I've got one rule left but once I delete it, the save button is disabled so the only option is Cancel and the rule is still there. Seems like a bug
It is updated already and I can only see 1 rule is set
Dipanwita
yes I can no longer delete that last rule
You can try the same way or use different browsers and it will surely work.
Dipanwita
what happens , as i say, is when I delete the last rule, the Save button is disabled
It will work as per the setting but once you try with different browser after some time it will surely work.
Dipanwita
Because there is no such issue here I could see otherwise the previous rule could not be deleted.
Dipanwita
can you delete it for me?
I wish I could but we are really not given this access due to seller privacy policy. I hope you understand this
Dipanwita
yes Ok well seems like a bug to me.
Thanks for your time; one more thing
Can you raise a complaint to management then that I am not happy with the introduction of Simple Delivery which has removed my control of the postage and limited my ability to use eBay to sell CDs. Please bring back the custom postage option?
Absolutely, I have filed a complaint from my end on your behalf please eb assured.
Dipanwita
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