Simple Delivery?

[Flying10uk]

Nope, far too complicated for me.

I thought that it was going to be a simple task to re-list a few of my eBay listings this evening but I was "greeted" by the sight of eBay having messed with all the postal charges for my items up for re-listing and undercharging postage on every single one.

I've never even heard of "eBay Simple Delivery" before this evening and after figuring out how to opt out, I had to opt out for every re-listing.

It is suggested online that the plan is to make "Simple Delivery" compulsory for private sellers but currently one can opt out.

I can't understand why "Simple Delivery" undercharged postage on every item I had for re-listing. Do eBay expect sellers to send their wares just in paper envelopes with no protective packaging which obviously has weight?

[browningautorifle]

I've never understood Ebay delivery and mail. I'd ask a seller to just mail it to me and it would come direct, instead it goes from a couple hundred miles south of me to the great lakes and up, then back. I ordered a balance end off a Maasai lion spear from Texas and told her to mail it so it would get through. She let Ebay handle it and it was rejected at the border as a dangerous pointy thing...so I had to get one from Mombassa Kenya and it took under two weeks to come over.

So, simple delivery? Hard to say...

[CINDERS]

I do my own calc on the cost of mail as the fleabay one always under does you.
You can set it yourself in one instance I got it wrong and in the end due to the weight of the book (Non standard item) I actually paid the buyer $20 to receive the book ! it was the book by Coulthart The Lost Diggers.

So now I set the postage even so I try to be fair to ppl my last sale I made a whopping 30 cents profit still I was glad the book hopefully went to a good home as I upgraded.
Still I made good on a purchase of a 200 limited ed on the 7th LHR for $49/AUD which currently on the market sit at $98/USD so one loss = a gain.......!

[Flying10uk]

I'm not sure which countries eBay has "rolled-out" their "Simple Delivery" scheme to yet and it may have only been launched in the UK so far.

As far as I can understand you don't get to choose which courier is used and eBay decide the postage cost.

I've always done my own postage, choosing and booking the courier.

[CINDERS]

F10 when you go to the postage bit as you said you can do it yourself rather than let fleabay diddle you out of $'s as I'm sure it will end up in their pockets.

[Flying10uk]

Apparently "Simple Delivery" is only currently available in the UK and presumably eBay will see how it goes in the UK before rolling it out in other countries.

If you want to do your own shipping you now have to change the listing every single time you re-list the item to reflect this and also reset the handling time. Apparently there is no way to change your settings to remain opted out and the only way to opt out is to do so for each and every listing, every time the item is re-listed.

Also with this new system it seems to sometimes re-list items that are "Collection only" with a shipping charge which you then have to change back to "Collection only". Obviously there is normally a reason why an item is listed as "Collection only" such as being too baulky to send in the mail.

[Flying10uk]

eBay UK has now given a date of 7th April when they are going to start changing listings to "Simple Delivery" and make it compulsory on eBay UK. As far as I can understand it after the 15th April for most listings, for private sellers, it will be the only option.

Every time one of my items has been coming up for re-listing I have opted out of "Simple Delivery" but shortly this option will no-longer be available.

What I have found is that for smaller items eBay want to undercharge on delivery and so items that I have as a small parcel they may possibly want sent as a large letter (inadequate packaging?). For larger items they seem to overcharge on delivery and so the buyer may feel "fleeced". Obviously eBay would then pocket the excess.

I have also found that large items that are listed as collection only they may sometimes want sent through the mail, apparently judging by the delivery charge, sometimes as a small parcel.

Like the large mirror that I've had listed as collection only but eBay think can be sent through the mail. What do they want me to do? Smash it up with a hammer and send the buyer a million pieces?

Like I've said "Simple Delivery" has only, currently, been introduced in the UK.

[Flying10uk]

Has anyone used the e-bid site, particularly for selling, as a private seller?

Reading online, it sounds like eBay are trying to compete with Vinted, in the UK, but I think that these latest changes are likely going to have the opposite effect that eBay may be hoping for.

[CINDERS]

I'm useless at selling stuff I can never get the price others have obtained for the same item therefore I've just stored it all.

[Flying10uk]

I can never get the price others have obtained for the same item therefore I've just stored it all.

Some items I just let go cheaply if I'm not likely to want them again rather than store unwanted items.