Simple Delivery: why do the postage costs change based on whether the buyer or seller pays?

[hamalami]

I've been clearing out a load of unwanted items and between some stuff not yet selling and some not yet being listed, I'm forced to work with Simple Delivery for the time being. I have excluded Evri (i.e. Hermes) so the only option is Royal Mail, and now I have noticed that the postage costs change based on who pays for the postage:

Postage option	Cost if buyer pays	Cost if seller pays (buyer sees "Free Postage")
Up to 100g (RM only)	£2.74	£3.46
Up to 750g (RM only)	£2.74	£3.46
Up to 1kg	£3.74	£3.95
Up to 2kg	£4.27	£4.46
Up to 15kg	£10.55	£12.35
Up to 20kg	£10.66	£12.47

Why is there a difference based on who pays for the postage? eBay have hammered home to sellers that offering free postage is what they want sellers to do, but now sellers will be charged more because of it.

[wintersdawn1]

I haven't seen this before, have you got a link?

[wintersdawn1]

This is what I have been referring to so far:

[hamalami]

It was literally what the new listing page was coming up with. I just copied the different rates onto the post above.

1) Exclude Evri from postage options in account settings.

2) Begin making a new listing and pick Simple Delivery

3) Switch back and forth between "Buyer pays" and "Seller pays" to see the different rates

 

[hamalami · Accepted solution]

I worked it out: this seems to be a bug that happens if you play around with postage before inputting a price. It picks the < £100 price for "Buyer pays" and the > £100 price for "Seller pays" if the price hasn't been filled in. Very strange bug.

[wintersdawn1]

Thank you, I haven't had the 'pleasure' of listing with Simple Delivery yet.

[wintersdawn1]

It may not be a 'bug' just another devious way for ebay to make more money, I wouldn't put anything past them based on the recent changes they've made.