Sold an item worth almost £1100

[leewilliam30]

I sold a mobile phone today for approx. £1100, had no option but to choose Simple Delivery. Other recent sales suggest it will be sent via Tracked 48 delivery, but I know that only covers the item up to £150. 

I can't use other suggested methods (sending via RM special anyway) as I need the money quickly.

Worried that if anything were to happen to the item I would be out of pocket in some way. 

Thanks

[sml192]

With Simple Delivery items are covered against loss or damage in transit by eBay rather than the carrier so the £150 cover provided by Royal Mail doesn't apply.

According to the Simple Delivery Terms and Conditions items with an auction start price of £750 or less, as is the case with your item, are eligible for Simple Delivery and there is no cover limit for items sent with Simple Delivery, so you shouldn't have anything to worry about with regards to loss or damage in transit:

'5. Eligibility. 

b) Price Eligibility.

Items must have a ‘Buy it Now’ price or auction starting price of £750 (inclusive of taxes) or less to be eligible.'

'12. Liability for Loss or Damage.

You remain responsible for any loss or damage to your item until it has been scanned into the carrier’s network. Once your item has been scanned into the carrier’s network and providing yo used the Simple Delivery label and are compliant with these Terms and eBay’s Policies, as well as the relevant Carrier Terms, your item will be covered fo loss or damage during transit up to the sold item value on the eBay.co.uk site. This means you will retain your sales proceeds in relation to the item sent using the Simple Delivery label. The item will be in transit from the point it has been scanned into the carrier’s network until it has been marked as delivered by the carrier. For the avoidance of doubt, your item will not be covered for loss or damage during transit if you have acted fraudulently.'

'There’s no cover limit for eligible items with Simple Delivery. They’re fully protected for the amount they were sold for on eBay providing you post the item using the prepaid Simple Delivery label provided, comply with the eBay delivery Terms and Conditions, and properly package the item.'

[realspark]

If you are a seller in good standing - 10+ sales totalling £150+ in the last 5 years - you should be able to draw funds within 24 hours of payment.

Fixed price sales over £750 are not eligible for Simple Delivery.

If it was an auction with a start price below £750, Simple Delivery will cover the item up to the full sale price.

The actual insurance cover is very good - eBay take full responsibility for any delivery related issues after the package is scanned into the system. EBay resolve any issues directly with the buyer, and the seller does not get involved at all.

Royal Mail insurance limits are not relevant here as they don't insure it - eBay have a bulk contract with Royal Mail and Evri, and self insure the service themselves.

[department28]

That is a very expensive item to risk sending with Simple Delivery. If the item was sent by Simple Delivery RM Tracked 48, the parcel could just be left in a safe place, and a dishonest buyer could claim it was stolen.

Posting any valuable item is risky, so you will need to think carefully about what would be the safest method. I have no personal experience of sending valuables, but there are options like RM Special Delivery, with extra insurance, signature & photo on delivery etc. 

Of course your buyer might not be dishonest - but they might be...

[realspark]

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@department28 wrote:

That is a very expensive item to risk sending with Simple Delivery. If the item was sent by Simple Delivery RM Tracked 48, the parcel could just be left in a safe place, and a dishonest buyer could claim it was stolen.

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That would be between the buyer and eBay, the seller is not responsible for loss or damage once it's scanned in to the system.

[sml192]

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@department28 wrote:

That is a very expensive item to risk sending with Simple Delivery. If the item was sent by Simple Delivery RM Tracked 48, the parcel could just be left in a safe place, and a dishonest buyer could claim it was stolen.

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Whilst that is true, provided the tracking shows as delivered then the seller would be protected by eBay.  Normally for items over £450 a signature would be required for the seller to be covered but that doesn't apply for items sent with Simple Delivery.

Royal Mail Special Delivery does have the advantage of items having to be physically handed to someone at the recipients address rather than just left in a safe place or with a neighbour.  The OP could opt to send that way (they actually sold another phone today that is going by that method) instead of using the Simple Delivery label and the buyer would automatically receive a refund for the unused label within 30 days. 

[thepillenwerfer]

Even with Special Delivery a dis-honest buyer can claim to have received an empty box, or one weighted with junk.

[papso22]

Simple delivery is not meant to be available (eligible) to use for items of that value.  

Perhaps starting the auction at £751 would have avoided it?

Are you aware you sold what seems to be the same phone, twice yesterday?

[jckl1957]

Simple Delivery only covers items up to £750 and does not require a signature.  Don't use it to send your phone.

Take it to the Post Office and send it using Next Day Special Delivery.

You will have to change the tracking to the Special Delivery number.

[dancewithadingo]

Good Morning Lee

You must have nerves of steel. You sold two new phones yesterday with a combined value of £2200.  I hope for your sake that everything goes smoothly and problem free, however you may not realise that phones,laptops,tech items and Pokemon cards etc are a high risk sale item.  Scammers will be drawn to your items like a moth to a light. There are a number of things that could go wrong.

If you ask me how I would handle that type of sale then I wouldn't be selling them on eBay, nor would I have bought them in the first place. I assume that you bought these for a 'quick flip', I wish you well and good luck.

Finally if I was a serious buyer in need of a new expensive phone then I would pay a bit extra and purchase one from the likes of John Lewis etc. 

[department28]

'Even with Special Delivery a dis-honest buyer can claim to have received an empty box, or one weighted with junk.'

Yes, indeed. The buyer claiming the box was empty is probably a bigger concern than getting the item delivered safely. The buyer can also claim the item is damaged/faulty, and return an empty box, or a different item.

Sad that we need to be prepared for these situations.

[sml192]

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@jckl1957 wrote:

Simple Delivery only covers items up to £750 and does not require a signature.  Don't use it to send your phone.

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According to the 'eBay delivery Terms and Conditions'  and the Simple Delivery help page there is no cover limit for eligible items.  Items with an auction start price (not end price) of £750 are eligible for Simple Delivery.

I do agree though that using Royal Mail Special Delivery instead of Simple Delivery might be better for peace of mind given the value involved.