eBay not paying seller until delivered - 'New Buyer Protection' message

[elliott-grafix]

I'm a long standing private seller. The latest "New Buyer Protection Rules" Message States - "Seller paid after delivery: When buying from private sellers, funds only sent once item is delivered"

I know eBay have had this as an old rule to cater for new and/or troublesome eBayers but, if this is now applied across the board for all private sellers, it could be a real problem for us oldies with pristine records.

1) I sell many low value items which are only worthwhile and 'saleable' when postage is at its cheapest. I am happy to take the risk for loss or customer denial but the item is not tracked so no delivery is recorded.

2) I offer to Bundle Multibuys to save customer postage. Generally I just marked the extra items in the parcel as  'Dispatched'. Originally, the system would not allow me to copy the same Tracking number to multiple items. Therefore - No Delivery would be recorded on those. I have heard on the grapevine that that may have changed now but will need to try it out first to see if it works.

3) I have two eBay accounts and occasionally I have customers buying items from each site. I always used to bundle them (as above) and refund saved postage. I do know for a fact that you cannot copy over tracking numbers to different eBay account sales but I have been happy until now getting a messaged response from the buyer and just marking the item as 'Dispatched'. I gather that is now 'Out'.

4) Last year I had a total of 4 items (out of a 1000+) that were sent Royal Mail 48 hour tracked, purchased through eBay, successfully delivered and marked on the "Royal Mail" Tracking app as "Delivered" --- but --- remained marked as only "Dispatched" on the eBay records.

Can't say I fancy the prospect of having to chase eBay every time these occasional and expected hickups occur.

[bassy_was_here]

It can't carry on like this.
Can you go into Tescos and take something from the shelves and say I'll pay you in 2 weeks!

Sent from Outlook for Android<>

[chamat-5431]

Every little helps ?and all that Tesco BS 😂

[thedancave27]

Thanks for this info, I have several sold items that I posted Royal Mail and delivery hasn’t been updated but the buyers have left positive feedback. I hope that the 14 days rule is correct as I’m concerned I will never receive payment for these items 

[iceatfusion]

The following has already appeared in this thread and I found it again with Google's help. It might make things a little easier:

"This eBay statement informs sellers that, based on user feedback, they are updating their policy to allow faster access to funds for low-priced items: when selling a single item costing £10 or less and shipped untracked, sellers will now receive their funds within 24 hours of receiving positive buyer feedback; this change will be implemented by the end of February. "

[nuggett46]

Well you cannot blame them. You have the facility of being able to use a Top name selling platform with millions of users worldwide, to get rid of your personal unwanted items as a private seller, to receive money that you otherwise would not get or have. If you have to wait a few days to receive the payments, it should not be a problem as it is only a bit of extra after all.

[4170kw]

This new eBay rule is complete c**p, as I expected I sent an item 48 tracked and the *bleep* post person didn’t mark it as delivered, I checked with the buyer and sure enough it had been received, they left positive feedback but I’m still waiting for my money while evilbay earn interest.

[dunstun365]

I only just found this out. large letter items aren't worth selling by tracked. I'd have to double my prices for cheapest listings plus the new fee ebay is now charging buyers. If I use 2nd class post when will I get paid?

[jckl1957]

I send many of my items out as a Large Letter with just a stamp on.

You will get paid 14 days after the transaction date.

Or, for items under £10, you will be paid 24 hours after the buyer leaves positive feedback.

To be honest, it is working OK for me.

I sent 2 items last week. (I don't sell a lot)

One the buyer left feedback for on the day they got it and I was paid shortly after.

The other one was sent overseas, untracked, and payment will be made to me after 14 days:

Buyer paid date: 16 Feb

Order: 02-12728-47498

Funds pending – in eBay balance 3 Mar

[woodberry-watts01]

I must admit, i am astounded by this policy, how can we control the postal service. Just had a package attempted to be delivered on Saturday and the recipient was out, still awaiting delivery.

We have no control over the delivery, my parcels are insured, don't understand this policy.

[nuggett46]

About just over 2 weeks after you mark as posted I would think! I am finding that the Tracked 48 that I always use, from the time the item has been paid for, posted normally the next day, delivered 2/3 days later plus the extra 2 days that eBay have added, I am looking at 7 days. No problem for me as it is stuff that I am getting rid of, but a nightmare for cashflow for any business I would imagine. The most laughable thing is this 'eBay Buyer Protection' fee. Protecting what? If items went missing before, the seller had to foot the refund, so what is eBay offering the buyer extra. The answer is, they are not. It is just a new fee added and they will perhaps recover some of the £Billions they lost last year.

[buffster1963]

The changes only apply to private sellers so does not affect businesses or their cashflow at all. 

[dulon68]

BUT..    ebay is not accepting  evri as proof of delivery,  still waiting for significant payment, 10 days after posting of positive feedback,  long standing ebayer,   feedback of 2000 +           DULON68

[wizzywizzy100]

I have items on Ebay that were sent 48hr tracked but royal mail haven't updated the tracking system  I have received positive feedback but Ebay are still holding my funds. I contacted them and the Ebay customer services chap said he would release the money but this still hasn't been released. The buyer received their item on 21 February.  It is so unfair of Ebay to do this.. i have 100% feedback and have been a private seller of Ebay for 20 years

[wizzywizzy100]

I am in the same position. Still waiting for my money a week after items delivered. I even spoke to customer services who said they would release money but I'm still waiting. This is so

---

@4170kw wrote:

This new eBay rule is complete c**p, as I expected I sent an item 48 tracked and the *bleep* post person didn’t mark it as delivered, I checked with the buyer and sure enough it had been received, they left positive feedback but I’m still waiting for my money while evilbay earn interest.

---

---

@4170kw wrote:

This new eBay rule is complete c**p, as I expected I sent an item 48 tracked and the *bleep* post person didn’t mark it as delivered, I checked with the buyer and sure enough it had been received, they left positive feedback but I’m still waiting for my money while evilbay earn interest.

---

unfair

[tressygirl]

It does depend who you speak to at Customer Services as to the reply / answer you receive.

If you have tracking that shows delivery and 48 hours have passed that delivery date, contact CS again,  but only very first thing in the morning when the lines first open at 8 a.m.  on a weekday, as there's more chance of Dublin answering.  Inform them of that tracking showing delivery and ask if your payout can now be released as 48 hours has passed that delivery date.  Only speak to Dublin.

This is the easiest and quickest way to contact eBay Customer Services, for a Call Back option.

 https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/eua?id=5275&mkevt=1&mkpid

Lines open between 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays.

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.

I recommend contacting CS very first thing in the morning, when the lines first open,  as there's more chance of Dublin answering.

@wizzywizzy100 

[bassy_was_here]

Totally agree !!!
eBay are ripping us off !!!
It's never been so bad !!!
I've been on here for 23 years and am seriously thinking of packing it in.
I didn't get paid for an item until I complained about it by phoning them.
It had been delivered 4 days previously!
Also I sold an item and the buyer wanted to back out due to having to pay an extra £5.52 for 'The New Buyer Rip Off Fee'

Sent from Outlook for Android<>

[thedancave27]

It’s really a bit of a mess, makes it harder to keep track too. Another
thing I find difficult is that as a private seller I make most of an effort
to get things listed when I’m in need of a bit of extra cash for a bill or
whatever. Before it was very handy to be able to do that but now waiting
for weeks doesn’t help when you have need of a quick few quid.

[roger_8491]

I have been a small scale Private Seller for nearly 20 years. eBay has helped me to keep our house relatively free of unwanted clutter and unworn clothes. Buyers have ( judging from feedback) been happy to pick up bargains and I have had a small cash bonus from eBay (on average about £400 per year). The current changes for private sellers seems to have thrown the "win win" baby out with the bath water. I might still use eBay but also (like many others I guess) will be using alternatives plus dusting off the old Car Boot table. eBay does operate inside a market system and markets tend to reward good service.

[strangelysane]

I have to say the satisfaction I had with eBay no longer charging a fee on sales and the postage (particularly) was short-lived.  eBay always manages to find a way of ruining the experience for private sellers.
Not paying until the item has arrived has me a bit wary. 
Recently I've had a few buyers play the system - buying hard to get items, claiming they don't work, applying for a refund and then stealing the bit they needed to repair their existing item before returning the goods.
Another buyer obviously found a cheaper deal elsewhere and deliberately broke my item before claiming a refund.  I was left considerably out of pocket.
So I'm feeling vulnerable to people claiming they didn't receive items and not getting paid.
One thing I would advise against is using Royal Mail Tracking - it's useless at the best of times but its worst flaw is that oftentimes a parcel will be delivered but never recorded - so "officially" logged as being in the system but never actually changing status.  This means having to use a registered courier service - which seriously bumps up the cost for the hobbyist de-clutterer.
It seems eBay no longer inform sellers when the money has actually been paid out now - presumably so sellers forget about the money and it languishes in eBay's system accruing interest on OUR money.

[bassy_was_here]

Totally agree with you!
This is the end of me with eBay now after 23 years!
Can't sell safely on here anymore and can't buy from private sellers without this Rip Off Fee!
They've shot themselves in the foot bigtime!

Sent from Outlook for Android<>