Simple Delivery

[colcoo-616]

Is Simple Delivery mandatory now ? used to be able to select custom postage option but it’s not available now. Just tried listing and Simple Delivery is the only option for postage 

[rgrahamsmith1403]

I've just been chatting with someone on a facebook page about this, and he said his parents were selling on eBay and had a load of listings in which they had specified custom delivery, so he thought they'd be alright. I told him to get them to check their listings, because eBay may well have changed them all to "simple delivery" without informing them. That's what happened to my listings.

Really - ALL of us ought to complain directly to eBay about all this mess. Maybe they will listen if enough of us complain.

The link to the place to contact eBay is:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/account/contacting-ebay-customer-service/contact-ebay?id=4379&st=3&pos=1...

 and scroll down till you see "How to get in touch with eBay" and click on "Get in touch by email"

[emma-dilema]

Hi
I was leaving my last few items on it but certainly won’t be adding any more.

Sent from my iPhone

[emma-dilema]

That’s correct but eBay did tell me though that if the postage was incorrect they would deduct it along with any charges off my account
Sent from my iPhone

[department28]

'Ebay told me to ask to speak to the manager if my parcel was refused and if still refused to go back to them.'

I think it is outrageous that eBay have been expecting sellers to tackle post office staff about Simple Delivery parcels. No-one should have been put into this awkward situation.

If post offices aren't up to speed about Simple Delivery, it certainly shouldn't be the job of eBay sellers to have to explain it to them. We're having enough trouble explaining it to ourselves...!

[goodibags]

You gotta hand it to 'em. Not only has Ebay managed to outsource Ebay's own 'Managed Postage System' to sellers, it has also managed to outsource explaining to third parties (like post office staff) how it is supposed to work to them too! 

[anglia-uk]

They assured me I would not have to pay any extra postage or charges and I have a transcript of that conversation. Had I faced any charges they would have a lot of explaining to do.

[rgrahamsmith1403]

Update (Tues 26 Aug) : Surprisingly, I got a response to my complaint (after emailing eBay) but all it contained was a description of what simple delivery is, and the confirmation that it is now the only option for anything selling at over £10, and weighing more than 100g. The ONLY option. There was no suggestion of a solution to the concerns I expressed - i.e. the lack of any possible adjustment for packaging costs and the inability to choose my own postage method - and basically the tone of the reply was - "Don't like Simple Delivery? Tough. P*ss off, then." Well, I will. I've taken down all my listings and I'll come back in a couple of months to see if the situation has changed, though I doubt it will unless ALL OF US keep complaining.

[silverw53]

Thanks RGH, well done, it seems their reply is almost an exact reproduction of what they have online which I read about a month ago. So much for looking after loyal customers' interests.
Regards Peter Williams

[incredible_how]

Can I ask why you need recorded delivery rather than tracked 48/24?

[maujohwai]

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@incredible_how wrote:

Can I ask why you need recorded delivery rather than tracked 48/24?

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On this topic, readers may find my post of 23-08-2025 6:47 PM helpful. (Flatteringly, 3 people already have!)

[rgrahamsmith1403]

My very last communication on this matter of "simple delivery". (I will no longer be selling on eBay) -

I had posted my very last order using SD, and wanted to message the buyer to ask if it had been delivered and was in good condition etc. When I clicked on "message buyer", I was puzzled to see a message from eBay in the message box, which said "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."  It would appear that if the buyer has any concerns about delivery, these are dealt with directly by eBay, and the seller isn't even consulted!!!!! I call that really offhand and insulting. Clearly, eBay wants to control EVERYTHING, and we as sellers have lost any chance of managing things for ourselves. I say "we", but from now on, it's just "you", because I won't be one of the sellers any more.

[emma-dilema]

I had that too and am with you 100%


Sent from my iPhone

[incredible_how]

Yes I've had that, had sent the expect to dispatch on message then went to confirm and received that message from eBay; Think I put it into a discussion topic to see what experience other sellers had had. I rely on the tracking to say it is delivered and just wait to see if the buyer leaves feedback...

When a SD that my father sent got lost eBay did everything - answer the buyer, sent message to him to say they were dealing with it and sorted the refund for them; so nothing to do. I think the message from the seller didn't arrive until everything was sorted. No refunding and chasing Royal Mail for the seller

[goosewell]

FYI , that message comes up every time you message a buyer , it does not
mean anything , except maybe in EBay’s warped world. I would ignore it,
like I do every time I see it !

[rgrahamsmith1403]

It never used to!  Why would they say that unless the buyer asked a question? eBay control freaks!

[goosewell]

Exactly they are , it is quite frankly pathetic. They must spend all
their time thinking of how to maximize the amount of money they can
snaffle out of each and every buyer and seller ! What lives they must
lead.

[maujohwai]

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@rgrahamsmith1403 wrote:

[...] a message from eBay in the message box, which said "Your buyer has reached out about their order. [...]"

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Honestly, "reached out" is almost enough to make me leave eBay.

[rgrahamsmith1403]

Hah! Me too. Morons.

[rgrahamsmith1403]

When you look at the breakdown of the selling/buying charges, it looks like the buyer is the one who's being shafted most. What with "buyer protection fee" and the simple delivery charge, the buyer ends up spending way more than they need to. I mean - Buyer Protection Fee - what's that all about? It means "Pay us and we'll make sure you get what you ordered." But responsible sellers would make sure of that anyway!

[xyz307xyz]

The Buyer Protection Fee is (currently) for:

1. 24/7 customer support
2. Risk monitoring and fraud detection
3. Secure transactions

(2. used to be - Delayed payments to sellers)