eBay now refund your buyer if the item gets lost in the post

[myriad*seller]

eBay are now responsible for refunding buyers where items get lost or damaged in the post and are sent after 4th February when the new Buyer Protection kicks in (private sellers only)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/returns-refunds/returns-missing-items-refunds-buyers?id=4008

Will this protection apply to untracked items?

If so, I can see potential for lots of scams! 

[kempseykate]

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@myriad*seller wrote:

Simple Delivery will be compulsory from March 2025. So yes, all items will be insured by eBay and buyers will be refunded by eBay

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You can't say that for a fact, given that we have still (despite asking since November) been given any info on how the forces Simple Delivery will work.

Also, I'm pretty sure that while ebay might refund the postage to the buyer (as they should), they won't be refunding the item cost as well.

[aphystykqa]

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@myriad*seller wrote:

Re: The CEO of eBay has confirmed Simple Delivery will be compulsory from end of Q1 eg March so free post will be a thing of the past for Private Sellers 

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So, if Myself or any other Private Ebay seller chooses to change from a Private Seller to a Business Seller. Can we send items without using the Simple Delivery option - and carry on sending items through the Post Office counter service via The Royal Mail - as well as the Free Postage option you mention ? - Did the Ebay CEO find the time and courtesy to mention this

[buffster1963]

Yes you would as it only applies to private sellers. 

[myriad*seller]

The low value items that sit unsold for months, listed and relisted and never selling must use up a whole big amount of eBays server space AND take up a lot of time with phone calls to CS etc

For very little (or no) return for eBay

The low value items probably cost them too much to even have on the website 

[sml192]

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@kempseykate wrote:

Also, I'm pretty sure that while ebay might refund the postage to the buyer (as they should), they won't be refunding the item cost as well.

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Sellers are protected for the full amount that the item sold for:

Does Simple Delivery have a cover limit for items during transit?

No, there is no cover limit within Simple Delivery for eligible items; they are fully protected for the amount they sold for on eBay.

[myriad*seller]

It's all in the help pages and T&Cs 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/posting-items/setting-postage-options/simple-delivery?id=5575&st...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/posting-items/setting-postage-options/simple-delivery?id=5575&st...

https://pages.ebay.co.uk/shipping/delivery/seller-terms/

[myriad*seller]

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@kempseykate wrote:

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@myriad*seller wrote:

Simple Delivery will be compulsory from March 2025. So yes, all items will be insured by eBay and buyers will be refunded by eBay

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You can't say that for a fact, given that we have still (despite asking since November) been given any info on how the forces Simple Delivery will work.

Also, I'm pretty sure that while ebay might refund the postage to the buyer (as they should), they won't be refunding the item cost as well.

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From the eBay page itself.....

 

How is my item covered?

Items are protected against loss or damage from the moment they are scanned into the carrier's delivery network until they are marked as delivered by the carrier. In the event that a buyer raises a claim for an issue that occurs during transit, you'll not be held responsible.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/posting-items/setting-postage-options/simple-delivery?id=5575&st... 

[myriad*seller]

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@aphystykqa wrote:

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@myriad*seller wrote:

Re: The CEO of eBay has confirmed Simple Delivery will be compulsory from end of Q1 eg March so free post will be a thing of the past for Private Sellers 

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So, if Myself or any other Private Ebay seller chooses to change from a Private Seller to a Business Seller. Can we send items without using the Simple Delivery option - and carry on sending items through the Post Office counter service via The Royal Mail - as well as the Free Postage option you mention ? - Did the Ebay CEO find the time and courtesy to mention this

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Yes, business sellers do not currently have to use Simple Delivery. They will have to refund buyers if items get lost or damaged in transit though. 

[aphystykqa]

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@buffster1963 wrote:

Yes you would as it only applies to private sellers. 

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Thankyou. I shall continue as I am until the changes come into effect, then remove 100% of my Ebay listings  (since Private sellers are being punished) - then consider my options of either upgrading to a Business seller (even though I am not one) - or - move to Discogs and 'Other' sites where the Post Office Royal Mail postal service is allowable - as it always has been on Ebay, since it was first founded on September 3, 1995 in San Jose, California by Pierre Omidyar (10,716 days ago - from 3rd September 1995 - 4th January 2025). - Who would have ever thought that Ebay would now choose to sink this low ☹️

[myriad*seller]

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@sml192 wrote:

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@kempseykate wrote:

Also, I'm pretty sure that while ebay might refund the postage to the buyer (as they should), they won't be refunding the item cost as well.

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Sellers are protected for the full amount that the item sold for:

Does Simple Delivery have a cover limit for items during transit?

No, there is no cover limit within Simple Delivery for eligible items; they are fully protected for the amount they sold for on eBay.

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eBay will insist the buyer pays for a postage service that fully compensates for the value of the item though. For auction items the postage price shown may be subject to change based on the eventual sale price of the item though, so some buyers will be forced to choose Special Delivery to ensure the item is covered for the full value. 

[kempseykate]

So, instead of the seller having to do the claiming from the carrier, ebay will be doing that. I hope they have taken on a whole heap of staff to deal with that!

But of course, this is all for SD now, we don't know yet what the terms will be when it is forced on private sellers.

[millcottage]

I offer free postage on 90% of what I sell.

Once sold, I get buyers address via email from eBay.

I then label parcel (explain why below *) with the buyers address.

Next I go onto Royal Mail web page and buy postage with option for postman to bring label with them as I don’t have a printer at home.

When Royal Mail collect I pop sticky label on parcel and postman takes package from me.

This has worked perfectly for over 300 items I have sold over last couple of years.

Is this now being stopped  and I have to get a printer to print my own postage label and go to post office to send parcel?

*Postman has forgot label (left in the van) and he pops label on later - thus I address parcel in case of this.

[lucy_farmer]

'ebay will insist the buyer pays for a postage service that fully compensates for the value of the item though. For auction items the postage price shown may be subject to change based on the eventual sale price of the item though, so some buyers will be forced to choose Special Delivery to ensure the item is covered for the full value'

Well, I deeply hope that ebay will stick to their word about compensating the buyer if deliveries go pear-shaped.

I'm just not convinced it'll all work out that way.

Will ebay be mandating the packaging for sellers ? and if it is packed in anything other than then the 'approved materials ' will the seller have to deal with postal damage refunds?

(I know that most people are perfectly capable of securely and safely packaging stuff. But trying to claim off shipping companies in the past for damage during shipping, has always brought up the excuse of  'you didn't package it properly', so we're not paying...🙁....)

[vintique*violet]

As per eBay policies... If an item has gone missing and hasn't arrived, you'll either need to provide additional/more detailed tracking details, or offer a refund.

[sml192]

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@vintique*violet wrote:

As per eBay policies... If an item has gone missing and hasn't arrived, you'll either need to provide additional/more detailed tracking details, or offer a refund.

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That page clearly needs updating.  It would be unfair to expect the seller to refund the buyer in the event of loss or damage in transit if the seller isn't able to claim from the carrier. 

[sml192]

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@millcottage wrote:

I offer free postage on 90% of what I sell.

Once sold, I get buyers address via email from eBay.

I then label parcel (explain why below *) with the buyers address.

Next I go onto Royal Mail web page and buy postage with option for postman to bring label with them as I don’t have a printer at home.

When Royal Mail collect I pop sticky label on parcel and postman takes package from me.

This has worked perfectly for over 300 items I have sold over last couple of years.

Is this now being stopped  and I have to get a printer to print my own postage label and go to post office to send parcel?

*Postman has forgot label (left in the van) and he pops label on later - thus I address parcel in case of this.

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Royal Mail collection is still available with 'Simple delivery' :

Collection is available for items sent through Simple Delivery with Royal Mail labels only. You can book a collection on the Royal Mail - opens in new window or tab website after you create your Simple Delivery label.

[millcottage]

So I sell an item worth say £145.

The buyer gets option to buy postage using say Royal Mail 24 hour or 48 hour service and pays for postage with item cost (both insured to £150 and tracked).

(how will buyer know size of parcel? )*

I then get option from eBay to select collect parcel from my home and bring a pre-printed label with them.

*I offer free postage and sometimes until I pack item I don’t know if it will be large envelope or small parcel.

i have a RM template with slots on it.

[twin--turbo]

Well that's me done if it's compulsary.

If a buyer hits the express option for traked roayl mail then I would be lumbered with goign to the PO and as I work full time that means I can't, or it's a PITA. 

Most of my posting is done at 9PM via a parcel locker.

...

There is however a workaround...

List all your items ar 20.1KG and then you won't be forced to use SD.

[sml192]

Ebay will estimate the size of the parcel when you create the listing or you can enter your own measurements.  

How it works

If your listing is eligible, you'll automatically see Simple Delivery as an option when you're creating your listing – you don't need to do anything to update your listings.

After selecting the Simple Delivery option, we'll recommend the weight and dimensions of your parcel. Make sure to check that our recommendation is the accurate size for your item to avoid any issues later with the carrier. If we can't predict your package's dimensions, you'll be asked to enter the size and weight of your item.

What if the label provided is not appropriate for my item?

If your parcel exceeds the maximum size and weight of the label, and you listed following our recommended size and weight for your item, you won't have to pay additional costs. If you provided the item's size and weight yourself, and these are not accurate, you'll need to take care of any additional costs.

[uerseya_2019]

There's a contradication there:

1st paragraph - Make sure to check that our recommendation is the accurate size for your item to avoid any issues later with the carrier. 

2nd paragraph - If your parcel exceeds the maximum size and weight of the label, and you listed following our recommended size and weight for your item, you won't have to pay additional costs.

Surely the 2nd negates the 1st?