eBay UK Makes Opting Out Of Simple Delivery Harder In Run Up To Q2 Mandate
UPDATE 3-31-25
It's official - private eBay sellers in the UK will be required to use Simple Delivery managed shipping starting April 15, 2025. Here's what you need to know!
Liz Morton
eBay UK sellers say eBay is making it increasingly difficult to opt out of Simple Delivery as mandated usage of the managed shipping option for private sellers is expected to go into full effect some time in Q2 2025.
Simple Delivery was introduced in the UK in May 2024, initially only available to private clothing sellers before expanding to cover more categories late last year.
With this managed delivery service, eBay decides which shipping options to show to the buyer on the listing, the buyer pays whatever rate is shown (with that money going to eBay), eBay then provides a pre-paid label to the seller and eBay pockets any difference there may be between what the buyer pays and the rates they have negotiated with the shipping carriers.
Liz Morton
CEO Jamie Iannone had previously said Simple Delivery would be mandated to be used for all "eligible items" sold by private sellers in the UK in Q1 2025, but pushed that mandate back to Q2 during the most recent earnings call after introducing updates to the program including the option to set carrier preferences, use Royal Mail collection, and offer seller-paid "free" shipping to buyers.
eBay has taken a gradual path to eventually making Simple Delivery mandatory, first by changing the listing form to make Simple Delivery the default setting rather than Custom Postage.
Now, according to some sellers in the eBay UK community forum, they've gone a step further and hidden the Custom Postage option behind a "click wall" requiring users to click Advanced Options link in order to opt out of Simple Delivery.
OK. Simple delivery will override your domestic postage policy. It's here
Just tried to list an item. Can't put free postage option. It's simple delivery or nothing. They're just making this even more complicated now.
Some sellers shared some possible workarounds, like using Sell Similar on an old listing with Custom Postage or switching the option to Collection only and then back to postage only, in order to override the apparent forced Simple Delivery.
I found this worked for me , I'm using a laptop and Chrome, no idea if it works on apps or mobile browser.
If confronted with a current compulsory Simple Delivery, no other option, in the Postage section click on Collection, then go back and click on Postage Only, custom option then appears and you cans elect the service and charge you wish to use.
Others say they are still able to access the Custom Postage option - but it's hidden where you have to click on an easy to miss link that says "Switch to advanced options."
While that option does appear to work for now, these workarounds will likely be short lived since eBay has made it very clear the eventual goal is to mandate Simple Delivery usage for all eligible items sold by private sellers in the UK.
What do you think about eBay's plans to make Simple Delivery mandatory for private, consumer to consumer sellers? Let us know in the comments below!
As many of the items I sell are £10 or less, this makes it not worth the bother and I'll probably have to give it away to the charity shop.
Add that to the "buyer protection" fee they've added on - and the costs are making it untenable for people trying to clear the house, or make a few bob from old bits and pieces. Not happy at all and there doesn't seem to be a way of opting out.
The sooner these sleazebags at the top can be got rid of, or some community-run buy/sell/swap sites come up - the better. We don't need ebay.
I can’t be the only one doing this, eBay have not thought this through. We will have to use a different platform for these sales unless eBay sees sense and provides an opt out.
Additionally I do not like being dictated to in this way. I’ve used eBay for 22 years and it’s worked fine, so why mess it up??
Since I'm really a private seller, meaning I sell very little (I'm not a store that sells privately to avoid taxes), I go to the post office two or three times a week with a few items and ask for Proof of Postage. If Royal Mail loses or breaks an item, I file a claim. So far, Royal Mail has paid every claim I've filed, previously with a bank check and, for some time now, with stamps. When they pay me with stamps, they send me roughly double the value of the loss in stamps. If I sold something for 5 or 6 pounds, they send me eight first-class letter stamps, about £12.80. I use those stamps for second-class large letters (£1.55). I add a note next to the stamp explaining that the stamp covers the value of second-class large letters. And I've never had any problems.
Now everything will be more expensive for the buyer, I'll have to leave eBay.
Can anyone advise me on where to sell online in the UK, and where it'll be effective? Another option is to sell my things as job lots, at very low prices to clear my stock.
I'm sure "Simple" will raise shipping costs for buyers, effectively driving private sellers out of the market with noncompetitive prices. Another problem is that I live in a village and there's only a post office. I won't spend a drop of petrol shipping packages miles away because the buyer chooses another shipping company. And if the option is for the buyer to pay even more to have someone pick up what I sold from my house, it will be impossible to sell. And add to that, having to wait for someone who will come to pick up the package whenever they want. Or will I leave it lying outside the door? Because now the custom is for the delivery person to leave everything lying right outside your door. They don't even ring the bell anymore. And if you're lucky, it's your door and not someone's in another town.
If simple delivery is the only option then I shall no longer be using eBay. It’s a shame but eBay is obviously putting its profits (kick backs from their chosen couriers) before loyal users.
This, on top of Buyer protection Fee, has made it impossible to sell competitively on eBay. My buyers don't need protection from me!! I have 100% feedback rating over 20 years - this is just another money-making scam from eBay. The price with the protection fee is not competitive for anything and i am not even getting views let alone watchers!! Identical listings where items sold for £10 plus £3.75 postage and packing 6 weeks ago, have necessitated me reducing to £2.75, few people, if any looking, and now a silly offer of 75p!!!!! - Then i lose out on the postage as eBay pocket the difference between what Royal Mail Charge and their estimate of Evri! Evri - which used to be Hermes and smashed an antique set of China worth over £100 a few years ago by leaving the box out in the rain until it was so sodden that it collapsed!! Well done eBay - no regard for your customers!
I've been on eBay for 20 years, through the early bad times and the good, but if Simple Delivery becomes mandatory, I'm off.
