Sorry Yet Again Another Post About Simply Delivert Conbine Postage

[snowylilliput-2]

I sold two items to one buyer last night , when listed they where marked as small parcel 1kg which would be £3.38 for each parcel . The buyer uploaded both items together as Ebay now says is the correct way to get a postage discount.  They paid £5.62 together including vat for combined postage . The question I ask is how come 2 x 1kg separate parcel is not charged as a 2kg parcel which is £3.38 . The point is sellers are no longer able to charge for packing material but Ebay cream off £2.24 . Years ago I remember where Ebay had a thing about Sellers Making Profit On there parcels . The point off it all is had the two items been been packed separately it would have cost £3.38 each which means the buyer saved a grand total off 13p . When Ebay first brought Simply Selivery in they said it would be 30% cheaper postage than a seller doing . The point off this is not only is the buyer being over charged for postage but the seller will get marked for postage costs when the buyer leaves feedback which is not in there

control . Is it not about time Ebay gives the seller control off being able to refund any overpaid postage back to the buyer . 

I googled (How come Simply Delivery charges 2 x 1kg parcel is not charged as a 2kg parcel ) The answer was it is down to the seller to make sure the postage details are correctly entered when listing.  How difficult can it be when all you click 1kg parcel on the listing pages . But Simply Delivery can not even do a simple sum 1+1=2 . 

[akemp1]

Yes sadly the way it combines seems to be a bit simple.

From my brief experimenting it just seems to go up a postage band regardless of if the weights of both items would fit in the current band.

Hopefully they will fix this but as always they will make excess profits in the meantime.

They really shouldn't have started forcing SD on people or violating their listings with it until they had consulted with users and it was fit for purpose.

[a45heaven]

@akemp1 

They really shouldn't have started forcing SD on people or violating their listings with it until they had consulted with users and it was fit for purpose.

Very true words, but alas deaf ears - expect nothing, you wont be as disappointed

Selling despite ebay.

[snowylilliput-2]

I have just contacted customer services asking why SD can not calculate 1+1=2 and was told it is up to the buyer to contact ebay about the over charged postage paid . I asked him could he explain how SD can not get the correct combined postage . His answer is why are sellers worried about this as it is between Ebay and buyer . I was also told this does not impact sellers , but they do not understand things are not selling due to the changes they have made . When I email the customer later I will say to them the postage charge was calculated by Ebay not me and your parcel was should have been charged as a 2kg  . My advice Is you need to contact  ebay about the matter . Maybe it is about time sellers advise buyers about this . Maybe if there is enough buyers ring up they may do something about it . 

[colinive]

I have just looked at your current listings and the postage on some is showing as 3.64 which was the rate for 1kg medium parcel pre eBay finally sorting out the small parcel rate at 3.38, I suspect that one of the items in the combined order was at the the 3.64 medium rate which has caused the problem. You need to amend any of your listings that show the incorrect postage rate to correct them, eBay did actually say that sellers would have to check that postage was showing correctly when the 3.38 rate came in.

[snowylilliput-2]

What is the point off what I have listed , the two items sold where listed as 1kg small parcels yet it could not calculate the correct parcels . You must the only person who fails to understand the way SD calculates combined parcels is not fair to the buyer . A seller can list 3 items each falling into the 1kg postage price , but they may only weigh 400g each which means under the old system it would have been a 2kg parcel but the way ebay calculate it will be 3kg which means you get charged £5.54 instead off £3.38 plus vat how is that fair . 

[ruby*ryan]

It's not just the weight though, it's the size as well. Ebay have no way of knowing if combining 2 x SP weighing up to a kilo each will result in a Medium Parcel or still be a Small Parcel. There is never going to be an accurate method for them to judge the new weight/size, so being eBay they will usually go for the more expensive option.

Having said that, they combined my last multiple order (2 x 1kg SP) into a 1-2kg via Evri. Buyer paid a lot less (3.38) than they would have done if I had bought the label directly from Evri (4.70).

[snowylilliput-2]

Sorry at the end off the day why should any buyer pay £2.24 more than they should do for postage . My local evri is a round trip off 12 miles so why would I offer them as a delivery method when royal mail is 10 minutes walk away . Plus they also have a inpost locker outside which I am not able to use . Because off the restriction Ebay put on us 

[ruby*ryan]

I didn't suggest buyers should pay extra, I didn't suggest you should use Evri. I was merely explaining that it would be impossible for eBay to know exactly what the size and weight of the new combined parcel, and that being eBay they will usually judge it in their favour, not the buyer's.

[snowylilliput-2]

What I fail to understand why are siding with Ebay , all sellers need to stick together . Would it not be more fair for Ebay to give the seller some control over combined postage price or is it they thinking more about lining there own pockets.  After all Ebay would ne nothing if it was not for the sellers or buyers . 

[snowylilliput-2]

You are new to Ebay,  you do not know how much fairer it was in the old days . Infact you probaly have not even sold a item on Ebay so you do not understand how the system works . At the end off day some sellers are trying to get a fairer system because they have discovered how all the changes have effect us all . 

[ruby*ryan]

For goodness sake! I am NOT siding with eBay, and nothing in my posts has suggested that I am.

I am simply saying how it is not possible for eBay to know the size/weight of the combined parcel. If, as you suggest, the seller has control over the combined charge, how would that work?  Buyer buys 2 items. They can't pay until seller puts in weight/size of combined parcel. Seller goes and packs/measures/weighs parcel and puts figures into eBay.  Buyer decides it's too much, so they cancel. Seller goes and unpacks parcel (probably moaning about eBay as they do it!). 

At the end of the day, if the buyer has bought , having seen the postage cost, then they must have been happy with the price (even if the seller was not).

[vinylscot]

Apart from the fact that @ruby*ryan is probably posting using an account used only on these boards, even that account shows as having been opened over ten years ago.

This is a poster who is a regular on these boards, and is very knowledgeable and dependable.

Nobody is suggesting that what eBay is doing is right, or the best thing, but people are trying to help you in your situation, and you are rather rudely rejecting their advice.

eBay did advise sellers to check their postage when SD was introduced to ensure postage charges were correct. If you decided not to bother, it isn't too surprising that you have come across an anomaly.

[snowylilliput-2]

That's put it another way , many sellers have decided to walk away because off SD . As I say you look like you are new to Ebay with only 5 feedback . What do you not understand if a buyer is not happy with the postage change he asks the seller to cancel which means they are the ones which are effected . Sellers can not even pass any packing charges these days so if we sell something for £4 that has to cover all off the packing materials which means you probaly get £3 . If you was a seller would you be happy with that . 

[snowylilliput-2]

Ebay could always give the sellers the option off refunding any over paid postage which ebay has charges . But off course that will never work as that would be giving away there profits what they making on parcels.  We all know what Ebay charge the buyer that is not the price they will be paying RM . Postage would not be £3.38 now if had not been for sellers pushing Ebay to make SD fairer . 

[vinylscot]

There is another way to avoid this problem, and take charge of your own postage methods and prices.

With your multiple unused hubs and brand new power supplies, have you considered converting your account to a business account? You would pay fees, but you would also be able to keep your postage prices down, as SD would not apply, and you would also be offering your buyers the protection they should be receiving under consumer law.

It's just a thought.

[snowylilliput-2]

Why would I change my account to a buisness account when only a handful off the 80 feedback I have received are items I have sold . 

[vinylscot]

Because you are operating as a business on your account. (all businesses start somewhere)

[snowylilliput-2]

The two items in question which I sold last night where two lilliput lanes which was part off my collection not brought to sell on to make a profit because at £5.99 .  

[snowylilliput-2]

As you seem to be interested in me making my account to a buisness account . I am wondering why someone who sells as a buisness be getting involved with a conversation about SD when it does not even affect you because you do not have to use it .