You can no longer send items RM Special Delivery......

[j.p.greenwood]

I am a private seller of over 20 years on E-Bay.

While a lot of people complained extensively about the recent changes with payment systems frankly it never bothered me as I only sell bits and pieces and occasionally will have a burst of selling some specific items when I'm in an upgrade cycle (which I am currently).

The items I sell when in this 'upgrade cycle' are Tablets, I'm currently upgrading to the most recent Tab S10 series from earlier models, so as I buy one, I'll list the one it's replacing to sell.

However, some of these Tabs can have quite high values, up to £700, therefore I'm *bleep* about the shipping I use and even detail in my listings that I'll only use RM Special Delivery.

There reasons for this are numerous

Firstly RMSD is tracked all the way through the system, every depot and truck, so I know where it is within RM's network.....that gives me peace of mind.

Secondly it has a one day guaranteed delivery time, the other new Simple Delivery options do not give a guaranteed time (and I wouldn't even contemplate using EVRI to delivery high value electronics items).

Thirdly, on the very rare cases where RMSD has gone wrong, I usually get a refund cheque inside a week, once it was three weeks when we had a too and fro about the packaging, but when I provided the photos of what was used they paid out.

Fourthly, as the delivery time is guaranteed it means I get paid faster by ebay.  I don't want to wait an extra three to four days before I get paid because there's now no premium shipping service.

Lastly, buyers like it, not everyone wants to save every last penny.  By buying RMSD in the Post Office my package is weighed and the weight is on the Postal Receipt, I photo this and send to the buyer so they can see exactly what was paid and that's what the RMSD premium pricing provides......Simple Delivery is just rubbish in comparison.

[j.p.greenwood]

Also, I've just found out.

If you edit an existing live listing, E-Bay will force change whatever postage method that listing had to a Simple Delivery only option. 

So even if you have a listing that currently has Special Delivery, but try to change say a picture or a few words in the description, then E-Bay will remove the Special Delivery postage settings and insert a Simple Delivery option.

[notstopbuying]

IMHO, it is crazy, to not have the option to send things Special delivery, even if it was a "Seller pays" postage option only.

Just think about all those expensive items just left on peoples door steps, as no signature is required....left with neighbours etc.

People coming home and complaining the item never arrived, as it has been stolen from their porch / door step.

Maddness.

[j.p.greenwood]

In my listings for high value items, it's the only shipping option available, in the listing itself I have an extended explanation why and the buyer must either pay for Special Delivery or they can collect in person and pay no shipping charges.

As I said in an earlier post, most people in the UK would probably say that RMSD is the 'gold standard' of UK shipping services, as it has timed delivery and you can see the tracking all the way through the RM network, admittedly it's not cheap, but paying circa £15 to ship a £700 item fully insured and knowing it won't just be left on a doorstep is a no brainer.

I don't know of any other shipping service that does that and certainly none of the Simple Delivery options currently do, so I won't be listing any more high value items till E-Bay reverse this ridiculous decision.

[j.p.greenwood]

Assuming that RM and EVRI are likely paying E-Bay some kind of commission (although worded in some other way I'm sure), I'll be surprised if RM don't take issue with E-Bay totally removing RMSD as an option for private sellers, after all, it's probably quite profitable for RM as all the infrastructure is already in place and paid for.

RM are unlikely to be happy at the thought of an item shipping in their network for say £8 (or whatever figure) when the RMSD fee might be around £14. 

Although some have claimed that the compensation offerings are the same for RMSD and Simple Delivery, I'm not at all convinced after reading the exceptions and small print of both, but RM will also be losing a revenue stream for insurance income that RMSD generates while still being 'at risk' for the same value items travelling through their network, but at much lower cost/income.  That's not a great commercial decision to take and likely to cost them millions in extra income over the course of a year.

[j.p.greenwood]

Some people have stated in other threads that their Simple Delivery option is no longer 'enforced' although it was a few days back, thus allowing them to choose another delivery service if they wish.

I've checked my draft listings and there is still no ability to choose anything other than Simple Delivery, so no possibility to use Royal Mail Special Delivery, I could use the alternate Royal Mail offerings (I'd never use EVRI) but as I've previously stated those options don't have guaranteed timed delivery, nor do they track all the way through the Royal Mail network, every depot and every depot transfer, thus allowing me to know where the parcel is at all times.  I'm also pretty certain that the compensation offerings from Simple Delivery are not as comprehensive as those with Special Delivery after reading the small print from both offerings.

Special Delivery insists on a signature at point of delivery as part of their terms, thus no possibility to leave a high value electronics item just sitting on a doorstep for assorted 'porch pirates' to come along and take, while the tracking system shows it as delivered because it was left on a doorstep.

If you are selling high value items on E-Bay would you really want to risk your shipping to anything less than RMSD?  I know I won't and won't be listing any high value items going forward.

[downsizingxs]

Unfortunately Post Offices will go out of business if SD carries on. Without the income that eBay is now 'stealing away' from them it will be a grim future for small sub P.Os.