Simple Delivery gone live? How's it going/courier choices?

[headfodder]

I'm curious to know how the Simple Delivery process is working for private sellers. I have a very specific issue about which courier I use for certain items:

I have stopped listing on my private account because as I read it when ebay sent their email, Simple Delivery does not allow me to specify the courier. I often sell (used) vintage cigarette lighters  as a hobbyist and these should not be posted via Royal Mail under their prohibited items rules. Many in our collecting community have had issues with items being confiscated and destroyed. (The Zippo official website for instance advises against sending repair items by Royal Mail).

EvrI on the other hand have no issues with these items, (properly defueled and packed), mostly I understand because they do not use airfreight, which is where the issue arises: fear of unspent lighter gas or fuel as a fire/explosive risk.

So I have had a  longstanding 'policy' to only post lighters by Evri (and have had no issues in over a decade).

On a long thread elsewhere someone said there is now an option to chose your courier under Simple Delivery? Is that right and how is it working out? There are mixed responses on the thread I saw about whether you can select courier or not, and that your preference can still be overridden anyway: so I'm asking how people are finding it in practice. 

I have in the distant past had one or two lost parcels with Evri, (in their system evidenced by their tracking freezing though it hasn't happened in the last few years - they seem to be a lot more careful than back in Hermes days). I've also had no issues over getting compensation for lost items through my direct account with them. 

So here's another reason I am cautious about being forced to use Simple Delivery: If anything gets lost in transit when I send with a personal account with the courier, I can deal with the refund on eBay and that closes down the case there promptly: claiming compenstion with the courier is then my private issue to sort out independently of eBay. Early days yet, but worried that parcel losses under Simple Delivery will be messy to sort out?

Sorry for the long read but just trying to be clear and interested to hear how its going. Anyone had issues or  is is it all hunk-dory! 🤔

TY.

[lucy_farmer]

'So here's another reason I am cautious about being forced to use Simple Delivery: If anything gets lost in transit when I send with a personal account with the courier, I can deal with the refund on eBay and that closes down the case there promptly: claiming compenstion with the courier is then my private issue to sort out independently of eBay. Early days yet, but worried that parcel losses under Simple Delivery will be messy to sort out?'

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Your first question about being able to *not* have RM on your listings is yes 😊 that is indeed possible.

(go into your 'postage preferences' then to Simple Delivery, then 'edit')

And secondly : if you're in the Simple Delivery system *ebay* say they will be covering loss and damage in the post; not the seller !

Provided your items 'meet the terms of S.D. and the carrier's terms',  ebay will take responsibility for the items once you've deliverd them into the hand of your carrier. (i.e. ebay will refund the buyer and deal with any carrier refunds themselves)

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The only fly in the ointment is *still*   'The Exclusion List' problem.

(The exclusion list on the evri site being 'items that are excluded form compensation for loss or damage in the post'. And there's a LOT on that list 😂    but *empty* cigarette lighters don't appear to be on that list 👍)

i.e. Do ebay, under S.D,. cover things on the Exclusion list , as they do *not* meet the 'carriers terms'?

We've yet to get a definitive answer on that.

Ebay have said that 'fragile' items will be covered -provided they're packed properly. (But who makes the judgment call on that?)

[downsizingxs]

Still able to list the old way & choose my postage by clicking on 'Switch to advanced options' rather than use SD. Never have and never will until eBay sort it all out.

[lucy_farmer]

'Still able to list the old way & choose my postage by clicking on 'Switch to advanced options' rather than use SD'

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Yeah, ebay are rolling this whole thing out in a very 'lumpy' and uneven fashion; some sellers have everything forced onto S.D., and some sellers (like you) can still choose your own postage.

But, apparently we will all be forced into it in the end ☹️.

(ebay have pushed back their date that absolutely *all* private accounts will be under the S.D. cosh, from the 15th of April to the 28th of April.... we'll have to wait and see. Again.)

[suelel1968]

I haven't seen  a single post from anyone who has been switched over. Do they get blocked from the forum at the same time? I'm kidding, EBay IT can't do two things at once.

I'm still waiting........ 

[wintersdawn1]

My theory on the delay to roll out simple delivery is because ebay's greed outstripped their technical ability.  They were dying to start grabbing their cut from every postage label they force the buyer or seller to buy from them but they just couldn't make the original deadline due to incompetence.  

[headfodder]

Re Refunds for lost and damaged: lots of 'ifs' and 'buts' in the small print which you correctly point out and which I saw too. I wonder if anyone has actually tried making a claim yet? Probably not enough time passed?

[edwardian-dreams]

And some of my stuff has been changed to SD and some of it hasn’t 

not pleased with one medium parcel being changed  to 10,55 postage for up to 5 kgs I had it at 6.80

changed  it back easily enough

🤣

[edwardian-dreams]

if you’re happy to send anything via evri then keep both carriers selected in postage preferences

you can’t chose which carrier to use for different listings

I was told by customer services that custom postage would be available for prohibited items

so if you deselect evri and keep RM only you should be able to bypass simple delivery as lighters are prohibited with them

its all so complicated and the new system hasn’t been finalised yet 

so tomorrow things might be different 

bit like the weather 

[lucy_farmer]

'I wonder if anyone has actually tried making a claim yet? Probably not enough time passed?'

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I think you're right there. 

We will just have to wait and see.... until some poor soul of a private seller comes to the boards trying to 'clear up' some confused S.D. mess of a sale that's all gone 'orribly wrong. ☹️

[jma2815]

Since last Sunday 14/4  (when it happened)  a lot of my posts state that I have been switched over.

I’m pretty sure they haven’t been deleted. 

[a45heaven]

One would imagine 'Scammers' will have already plotted a route through the claims minefield to eat into ebays very big pockets. 

[craddockcourtsales]

 I tried listing a used cigarette lighter, as a draft

I was not given the opportunity to use Simple Delivery but went straight to selecting own courier etc.

[kath3735_wxmjn]

I went looking for an item today and after my confusion last time i decided to go for someone where only RM was offered.  Anyone who does not specify RM does not get any sale from me.

[lucy_farmer]

'I decided to go for someone where only RM was offered. ...'

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How and where could you find out only RM was offered, @kath3735_wxmjn 

I thought it was impossible to tell from the postage options...? ( just 'standard' or 'express' to pick from; no named carrier...)

Do you mean sellers who stated the carrier in the description?

[kath3735_wxmjn]

it could be that they deleted EVRI as a choice or it could be that their listings have not been changed yet but it showed up as '£2.70 RM Tracked 48', it is a small item so could just be because it falls under the SD umbrella.   Not that i care as long as it shows as coming by RM....   Mind you the second item i have purchased (from a business this time) stated RM but they are sending YODEL.  Good job it is not EVRI as it would never get here.