Simple Delivery for Business Sellers?

[gsm.commerce]

Hi everyone,

I know this post will devide opinions on here and go against the grain but its probably worth mentioning.

I'm wondering if ebay would introduce optional Simple delivery for Business sellers.

My reasoning is that I have been having serious issues with Evri & Inpost of late with currently 8 parcels lost in the system (i don't sell huge volume)

I know they are both experiencing pretty high rates and usually I use parcel2go and self insure but this has recently with the higher losses than usual ended up leaving me quite out of pocket.

A freind of mine is in a similar position as a private seller and has just had ebay foot the bill for all her losses, and obviouly with all the problems recently this is certainly a more attractive proposition to me.

I know Simple delivery has its issues and faults but I think a very attractiuve perk of being covered for loss/damage easily outweighs moist of the problems.

I welcome other peoples opinions even if you think I'm an idiot!!

Many thanks

[tommystrezures]

If you are having problems with inpost and Evri, don't use them. 

[gsm.commerce]

Hi yes thats very true and may be an option going forward, the only issue with that is that it doubles the shipping costs in alot of cases.

Maybe ebay could do a deal where if you buy labels through ebay they cover the loss claims.

I think mainly its just a rant from me for frustration.

I do get a feeling they will roll it out to everyone at some point.

[pegr-834437]

eBay in the medium term will introduce it for business sellers, I spoke to somebody who worked on it at the Open event and they said they hope to offer it to business sellers but it wont be till some time next year and I'm pretty sure they said it would be optional as they know some businesses get special discounted rates and the likes. I didnt hold back on how badly they rolled it out to private sellers (I've mentioned before on other threads about me going 2 footed in a conversation with Eve Williams too) and the person asked if I would mind if they gave me details to the person running it so when it is close to being released for business sellers they could get in touch directly and I can tell them just how badly they done for private sellers. I honestly don't expect to get that call/email but again I wont hold back.

In short though yes but not in the next few weeks sadly, for all its faults the positives do outweigh them imho, I just think they are wanting to make sure everything is pretty tight before rolling it out to businesses as thats where they could lose millions or tens of millions in claims. 

[a45heaven]

@tommystrezures 

With respects , that answer was not to the question -'Simple Delivery for Business Sellers'

As ebay launch of this fiasco has not had a mountain of issues, and still does - will this be pressured onto Business Sellers now ?

[cobwebcottage]

I use Packlink as the broker for Evri and they are spot on chasing packages when needed and keeping the communication link going if there is an issue. If they deem the parcel as lost, they will pay the compensation.

It takes all the frustration out of chasing parcels as they do it all for you and you get a dedicated person from start to finish until it is resolved.

[vinylscot]

For my business, where the vast majority of packages are pretty much the same size and weight, something LIKE a properly functioning Simple Delivery would be a real boon. (Don't jump on me - I know it wouldn't be suitable for many business sellers, perhaps even the majority.)

Obviously. the current problems with SD would need to be ironed out first (and that seems to be happening, slowly.)

Also, some things would need to be changed/added. For example, for the volume of items I sell, I don't want to go into every sale individually to print off labels - that would need to be automated. As noted before, it would need to be optional, and it would need to be much "simpler" to opt out on a case-by-case basis, should SD prove unsuitable.

[a45heaven]

@vinylscot 

How long have the folks at ebay been working on the problems ?

I think it was back in May when a Community Manager said they were working on the still not resolved 'combined items' issue - my how time flies.

Business' will really relish all the hassle waiting for feedback before they get paid by ebay , some of the older ones will remember the Paypal days, when ebay used to tell sellers not to ship until the funds were in their bank !!

And all those poor private sellers who were pressured into becoming Business Sellers  by even mentors to avoid SD - how they will regret that move, justified or not.

[vinylscot]

Obviously, SD is not just going to be dumped onto business sellers in its current state, and on the same terms and conditions as currently apply to private sellers.

The timing of payments is unlikely to be the same for business sellers. I think eBay would need to be really naive to think it could be. Most business sellers complete many transactions so there isn't the same need to tie specific funds to specific transactions, as there usually is with private sellers.

Regarding your final paragraph. Yes, I can see those individuals may not be happy, BUT, as I and others have said, it is extremely unlikely that it would be made compulsory for business sellers to use SD, so these individuals need not be affected.

[suelel1968]

@vinylscot hi Vinyl, I tend to agree that it will become optional for Business sellers. I don't think eBay really see the issues with SD from a sellers perspective, but the main selling point of insurance by eBay must be hurting them-the question really is, how much? And how much is too much? 

If I was in charge (🤣😂🤣) i would introduce a small business / starter business option which allowed them to sell under the same no fees, BPF situation as private sellers with SD. 

[pegr-834437]

The multi label print off is certainly something I'd raise if they ever got in contact with me, for authenticated items (its basically SD for all sellers) you have to click get free label, then print free label and then print. That process if you sell 30/40 over a weekend would be a nightmare come Monday morning knowing which ones you've printed and keeping them in order so no idea how anyone selling 100+ a day will manage. Considering Royal Mail can let you print multiple labels for different orders I cant see why eBay couldn't.

Like you I think SD for businesses would be a game changer for many, after you take into consideration any extras Royal Mail add on to the cost like the surcharge and green surcharge then the additional compensation and no need to contact Royal Mail for loss/damage in transit the price looks better going via eBay.

[gatefittingsdirect]

The day SD is rolled out to business sellers will be the very day we close up shop with ebay. 

It's horrendous. Most of our customers want items fast, SD is nowhere near what we want for our customers. 

[pegr-834437]

What service do you send items out on now as I thought SD used tracked 24/48 for the Royal Mail options, I could be wrong though .

[varl131]

Should a large number of Business Sellers adopt Simple Delivery. the pressure on second rate couriers  such as Evri would bring them to their knees, and E-Bay would see a huge increase in payouts for lost parcels.

Can you see E-Bay accepting this  without increasing the costs to  their users.

[suelel1968]

Hi @pegr-834437  it does state 24/48 tracked but it's not guaranteed. The other thing about SD is that it covers the whole amount of the package ie selling price plus postage. I don't know if all couriers and all rates are the same but if a private seller claims for "custom" postage off RM they get selling price +postage, but if you are a business you get cost price plus postage. I wonder which side of the fence ebay would jump on that.

[pegr-834437]

Sorry to sound dumb but what do you mean by its not guaranteed? Do they sometimes give you a different label or just the 24/48 isnt guaranteed as in thats the time taken for delivery? Thats the Royal Mail line, 24 and 48 are just names and not anything to do with the hours we expect the parcels to take, not sure how they get away with it as if you asked 100 people on the street I'm sure 99 would say o yes that service delivers in 24 or 48 hours.

If they were not to cover the whole price it would just be another level of staff theyd need to check invoices and cost price, they could possibly just say we cover 75% of your listing price but theyd want it all done by AI so I cant imagine them wanting invoices like RM did. Plus we all know SD will make money for eBay long term so to get businesses on board they have to offer a service just as good as RM, I honestly think theyd just do the same as private sellers and refund both sides but they will certainly be wanting the items back to resell.

[suelel1968]

@pegr-834437  Yeah, just not guaranteed delivery in 24 or 48 hours.

[bravergrace]

I have sent a few things on my private ID using Simple Delivery, and I'd say that, even for a private seller, it's got drawbacks.

For instance, out of the 5 items I sold this weekend, two of them now have notes saying "Your buyer has reached out about their order. Since you used Simple Delivery, we'll work with your buyer directly on any delivery related questions."

That's great, except: I didn't receive either of the messages , they aren't showing up, so I have no idea at all what the buyer wanted.   Could be:

"Please include a note saying "Happy birthday from Flo"? "

"Please don't post till tomorrow because I've just remembered I won't be home"?

"I want to cancel please.  Is it too late?"

"Do you have any more items in this series? "

"Thank you, it looks lovely".

The main trouble, though, is the basic one of combined postage.  If a buyer wants to buy 10 books, they might reasonably want combined postage.

[pegr-834437]

Its not guaranteed ever, its just a sneaky play on words by Royal Mail;

Non Account Tracked 48 and Non Account Tracked 48 with Signature, we will aim
but do not guarantee to deliver your Item within 2 - 3 Working Days

Thats off the site for tracked 48, I'm sure if you ever phone up they say you need to wait 5 or 6 days after posting to raise a claim.

[gjalp]

Ive recently had a tracked 48 take over a week to arrive. And of course I got the late defect for it 🙄