Simple Delivery postage rates keep changing, again

[petepott18]

Each day as I relist items SD postal charges are changing - most of my sales are bundles of books, most between 1 and 2kg in weight - so can anyone tell me why I'll relist one day and the rate is £3.44 for up to 2kg and the next the rate is £5.15 (which is then retroactively applied to all my other listings that were previously £3.44).

As happened last week, I  could look again tomorrow and they're all at £3.44 again... Why is this?

[sml192 · Accepted solution]

There are new prices coming in to effect from tomorrow which is probably what is causing  the discrepancies that you are seeing.  Hopefully, once the new rates have been fully set up there won't be any further issues.

'Starting 20 May, we’ll be introducing additional small parcel sizes and new competitive postage rates.'

For items sold between £0-100

Item weight & size	Both couriers selected	EVRi only	Royal Mail only
1kg large letter	£2.70	£2.94	£2.72
0-1kg small and medium parcel	£2.94	£2.96	£3.38
1-2kg small parcel	£3.38	£4.06	£3.38
1-2kg medium parcel	£3.71	£4.06	£5.15
2-10kg parcel	£5.21	£5.64	£6.65
10-20kg parcel	£7.19		£10.80

[*maetrix*]

"Why is this?"

Because ebay is run by clowns would be my guess.

[gjalp]

Because ebay is being ebay. Rolls something out before it is ready. If my IT son did the same at work, he would be fired. Even when something is ready when rolled out, there is snagging that needs to be fixed but nothing on ebay’s SD level. Ebay should have asked it’s sellers what they use and why. They then should have had a data sheet which would churn out all options such as no printer, no smart phone, needing a collection and they absolutely should keep to the sellers preferred method. I use Royal Mail as I can have collections or I can drop in a mail box. I do not want Evri UNLESS I can have a collection for that too. While I do have a drop off place nearby, it requires carrying parcels and walking. On a bad day, Im not walking anywhere because I can’t. Neither can I carry weighty parcels. 

[goodibags]

Evidence suggests that Ebay do not employ testing staff, so developments will be rolled out when 'ready' to be tested by Ebay sellers and their buyers. Yes, you're effectively an Ebay 'employee' now. 

That doesn't explain the crazy random SD postage charges tho. Unless you think of it as another live test.

e.g. How many buyers/sellers will spot that they've been deducted the wrong amount for postage?

And if they complain about being overcharged by 20p will they still complain if it's only 12p? It's all useful data.

[robin1941]

It's because they are now a delIvery company and therefore has a deal with evri and the PO to get a certain rate from the couriers pretty much the same as what parcel monkey and similar so they pay 'x' amount and charge you 'y' amount.They can dictate what they charge and because simple delivery is now forced they have carte blanche on it.Irony is they are now more expensive for a 2kg parcel(£5.15) than going direct to the PO(£3.90 2nd class with tracking number) so unfortunately the buyer is being ripped off and this will decrease sales for sellers.

[gjalp]

Im sure I read somewhere that ebay declared it to be cheaper to send via ebay’s postage (although don’t quote me on it as my memory is rubbish these days) although other than in the item price, there is no way to include packing materials. I recycle where possible but much of mine is new. 

[petepott18]

Thanks for that - but where do ebay post these announcements? 

I searched before I posted, and have just searched again and find no table...

[*maetrix*]

It's called "making it up as you go along".

They've turned this into such a joyless place - to shop & sell.

[mandrake_pie]

They probably meant it was cheaper "for Ebay" to send with Ebay's postage......not the seller.

[ruby*ryan]

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@petepott18 wrote:

Thanks for that - but where do ebay post these announcements? 

I searched before I posted, and have just searched again and find no table...

---

The table was linked to from one of the other SD 'help' pages. It always take me a while to find it.  It's in the FAQs here:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sellercentre/postage/simple-delivery#eligible

[petepott18]

Cheers for that!