Simple Delivery, just a couple of questions. lol

[neovass0]

Hi,

Reluctantly, I will be ending my listings by the end of the week, but will probably be dragged kicking and screaming into simple delivery. Having created my first simple delivery listing as a test, just a couple of questions. I have thankfully excluded Evri from my listing by using the 'postage preferences' in my account.

Looking at the postage options in the listing once live, available to the buyer are two options, standard tracked and express tracked delivery. It doesn't specify what these are. Other than select parcel size, I was at no point able to select a royal mail postage service like previously. Is it, hopefully due to the compensation level, RM Tracked 48 and Tracked 24 ? Please not second class signed for, lol.

With the international shipping, i have not opted for international postage in the postage options tab, but confusingly the 'excluded locations' tab further down the page is still showing and there are no excluded locations filled in. Furthermore, does anyone know if you can include international postage for some listings, and opt out for others ? Previously, it was either a blanket yes or no.

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to reply and feel free to ask any other questions in the thread if you want to. Simple delivery, unfortunately is here.

Thanks

neovass0

[buffster1963]

According to the posts, those sellers have either paid postage out of their own pockets or canceled the sales. 

[edwardian-dreams]

EBay have stated if you click on their “recommended “ parcel weight when listing

if your parcel is actually over they will foot the bill

at least that’s how I read it 

It would be great if they underestimate size and weight but not the other way around though

[neovass0]

That's another thing I don't understand. If the parcel is rejected due to insufficient postage at the post office, the seller then has to pay postage himself. But surely the tracking data on the original ebay label, that is entered into the system, is then not valid and will never show as delivered? The new label will have a new tracking number. Apparently the edit tracking number feature has disappeared, so will the seller then not get paid, or will the 14 days rule still continue ? 

[buffster1963]

Yes, they will have to wait 14 days to be paid. 

[dch2112011]

The agreement is with Royal Mail - the same with all business post, If the package is put in a post box or in the sack provided at post offices, the item with the ebay label will not be checked by the post office  counter staff, therefore if the ebay label is underestimated it will be picked up at first scan at the sorting centre -  the agreement between RM and ebay is that it will be  sorted and proceed to be delivered - any  extra costs are between ebay and Royal Mail / Evri and are not being passed onto the seller.

This system has been in place for business accounts since conception - an underpaid postage is scanned by RM  - whether you drop in a post box or in the sack at the post office or it is collected by RM - the package is allowed through the system to delivery and the extra charge is charged to the account holder not the recipient .

Why are sellers giving an ebay simple delivery parcel to post office counter staff  to weigh or size - the label has been generated  ?  It has absolutely nothing to do with the post office they are merely acting as the collection point for RM which they are contracted to do.

It makes no sense whatsoever unless sellers like to queue for some bizzare reason.

If a seller has a lot of packages they can ask for sacks and bag and label them and a post office has to accept them - they are then collected by RM from the post office 

[waytogo2]

that's shocking.. so if you don't want to use losEVRIparcel, you actually pay more on Royal Mail than you would if you also had losEVRIparcel selected.

The more I think about this, the more I think Ebay need reporting to the CMA.

[waytogo2]

i obtain proof of postage receipt for all my items and they all have to be weighed and sized by the PO for them to give me that receipt. The Post Office can turn away any item if it doesn't have correct postage on it. They told me some time ago that they can get into trouble for accepting items that are underpaid. Not sure if that's still the case.

[dch2112011]

What purpose is a post office proof of postage receipt ? 

The postage has been purchased and applied via RM who are the carrier and therefore the tracking number on the post office receipt should be the same as the tracking number on the label ?  This tracking number is used for ebay mbg / simple delivery where it is automatically added to ebay's system so you can never lose it unlike a postal receipt which if lost cannot be tracked.

If the post office issue a different reference number on a receipt it has no purpose for tracking - the label and receipt reference number need to tally

'Your number is between 9 and 27 characters long. You’ll find it on your item’s label or your Post Office® receipt.

It may be called a barcode or a reference.

If you’re using a Customer Collection, your manifest should list the reference numbers of items collected.'

[podlingsmum2007]

The post office staff insisted on my parcel being put on the scales and she measured it too. She had already scanned the QR code to print the label and knew it was a simple delivery label as I had told her from the outset.

[sml192]

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@rainbowtrax wrote:

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@neovass0 wrote:

Presumably, if I select 'seller pays postage', the buyer has no input into what service I use (i.e. he cant select Tracked 24 and expect me to pay for it ?) and I will have some flexibility with which postage service I eventually choose to use.

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The buyer has no input but neither do you. Ebay still provide you with the label, just at your expense. The buyer won't get the option of an express service and ebay will charge you for and provide you with the standard tracked service. Your only input is the ability to allow/disallow Evri and RM in general in your postage settings.

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The buyer does get the option of 'Express' delivery when a seller offers free postage but if the buyer chooses 'Express' delivery then they get charged for the label instead of the seller. 

[sml192]

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@dch2112011 wrote:

The agreement is with Royal Mail - the same with all business post, If the package is put in a post box or in the sack provided at post offices, the item with the ebay label will not be checked by the post office  counter staff, 

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Not all post offices have a sack that you can put the parcels in though so they have to be sent passed over the counter. 

[sebastian4ever]

So if the parcel is overweight and RMail still deliver it.  
Who pays the excess postage?

is feeBay paying for that?

or will the recipient be getting a bill?

[dch2112011]

If the package size and weight is estimated by ebay and ebay AI get it wrong, the package will still be delivered and any excess charge is between ebay the account holder and RM - the seller is not charged.

However if the seller chooses the size and weight and it is wrong the seller may get charged 

[dch2112011]

All post offices should have a drop off point, there should be absolutely no reason for a post office counter to weigh or measure a parcel, think of going into a post office to buy a stamp,

Do they demand that you hand over the package weigh and measure it before selling you the stamps ?  

If not Why should they demand the parcel before printing the label for you - of course most people print their own - if you went to a post office and asked just for the label to be printed saying you had not got the parcel with you - you were packing later they should not be able to refuse.

Take a look at the drop off points - you may be surprised just how many there are near to your address - we are very rural and there are seven points within a couple of miles.

https://www.royalmail.com/services-near-you#/ 

[kath3735_wxmjn]

I do not care how many drop off points there are locally, i will not be using them.  You can defend this system all you want but i will not be using it.  My choice to walk away and good luck to those who remain, i think you will need it.

[dch2112011]

Absolutely you can choose to sell or buy on any online medium, but on ebay this will be the norm and new account holders and the majority of existing members will adapt without any major problems,

You can close your account and not give it a chance and complain or you can embrace it and learn how it works to your advantage. It is purely a matter of choice 

The same 'end of ebay' everyone will leave' etc  was repeatedly stated on this forum when managed payments were introduced and some still grumble about it and refuse to understand why information is needed but it worked out ok in the end.

Now National Insurance numbers being provided is being complained about even though it is a government requirement - apparently every one is leaving, it's against their rights, ebay will use it against them - in reality this is all nonsense.

Some people are just adverse to change which is fair enough but those that leave will be replaced and at the moment ebay's membership in the UK is rising not falling with the advertising of free selling and simplified selling.

Members selling for the first time can find it daunting if they have not sold online before - just having, scales, packaging, choosing the right delivery service, writing an advert, getting paid, claiming for lost or damaged parcels are all unfamiliar to them, ebay are just taking the worry away and trying to ensure that items get delivered promptly.

Of course seasoned regular sellers have learnt to do it themselves and do not like being pushed out of their comfort zone, change is not always for the worst although some will always advocate all change is bad when it affects them

[kath3735_wxmjn]

i have actually not complained (moaned and whined) about any of the other changes that have been made.  I may not have liked them but always willing to give it a try.  Not this one, I will not be controlled in my posting by e bay or any other organisation.  I choose to walk away.  You and others may think the new system is fine but many of us do not.  Not a doubt that new sellers will be happy to use it and replace us.  Your whole tone smacks of arrogance, you think that just because some do not agree with you on this subject that we are 'stuck in the mud'  'dinosaurs' etc, to me it just indicates that we have our own standards and requirements.  I joined e bay not knowing a thing about it and yes, i worried about maybe getting it wrong but i survived.  I do not need e bay to take my 'worry' away.  So you think that moving from one platform to another is not 'being pushed out of the comfort zone'?   That is what i will be doing eventually, taking a break from online when SD comes in.

[edwardian-dreams]

How do you adapt to being overcharged for postage but being told you’re  Saving up to 20% 😐

[vinylscot]

Not all post offices have drop-off points, as I'm sure you know.

I am in a densely populated suburb of Glasgow, and the second-to-nearest post office to me does not have a drop-off point. As the "post office" consists of two counters at the back of a densely stocked general store, there simply wouldn't be room for it. All mail must be handed to staff or posted in their standard pillar box outside on the pavement.

I can also appreciate that sellers would want to pass their parcels to a human and receive a receipt. Otherwise, there is nothing to prove you actually dropped off the item. There have been many tales on here of items never being scanned anywhere, after being left at post offices, and even accounts of entire mailbags full of mail "disappearing". With no proof of postage, sellers will be unable to claim for those missing packages. (I presume eBay would also be unable to claim, if there was no evidence that the parcel had ever entered the network.)

So, although I agree there is no absolute need for packages to be handed to post office staff, I do think it's prudent to do so for security reasons, particularly at the moment, when nobody knows how this ridiculous mess will eventually pan out.

[dch2112011]

No one is saying you have to like changes or in the instance of ebay you can choose to walk away that is your choice.

Unfortunately it is here to stay and it is therefore surely in members interests to understand the benifits as well as the negatives before making such a decision.

Fortunately on ebay you can make an informed decision unlike changes that are forced upon you such as reporting thresholds for HMRC or the identification needed to buy knives which are nationwide.

Or how about HMRC access to your bank accounts to mine information - Do you suggest that we all simply close our bank accounts  or disagree with car tax increases and simply stop driving and walk away ?

Change is inevitable at least on ebay you have a choice to use the platform or not, pointing out some of the perceived  benefits as well as perceived disadvantages is not arrogance, it is merely offering a balanced view.

Are you suggesting members can not look at any of the positive benifits to sellers and buyers on ebay  or  must all posts be negative ?