eBay UK Simple Delivery Mandate Goes Live In April 2025 - What Private Sellers Need To Know
It's official - private eBay sellers in the UK will be required to use Simple Delivery managed shipping starting April 7, 2025. Here's what you need to know!
eBay has updated the Simple Delivery terms and conditions to show that some existing listings will start to transition on April 7th and all new eligible listings starting April 15th will no longer have the option to opt out of managed shipping for private sellers.
Important info from the FAQ:
Which listings are eligible for Simple Delivery?
Simple Delivery is currently available to private sellers in the UK selling:
Items in eligible categories that have a 'Buy it Now' price, auction starting price, or reserve price of £750 or less.
Items within the following dimensions and maximum weight (once packaged):
- A weight of up to 20kg.
- For an Evri parcel shop drop-off – no side exceeding 120cm in length and a volume no more than 245cm. To calculate the volume, just add together the two shortest sides and multiply it by two. Then add the length.
- For a Royal Mail parcel shop drop-off or collection – dimensions should be up to 61cm x 46cm x 46cm.
- For locker drop-off – dimensions should not exceed 66cm x 41cm x 38cm.
Authenticity Guarantee and bulky listings are currently excluded from Simple Delivery.
Do I need to do anything with my current listings?
Starting from 7 April, Simple Delivery will apply to your existing live listings that are eligible, so you can enjoy more protections and benefits. If you selected buyer-paid postage, this will stay the same when your listings are updated. If you’re covering the costs, they’ll be deducted from your sales. Please note that in both cases, the costs may change.
This change may mean that you’ll be sending your parcel with a different carrier to the one you selected when listing. Once your item sells, we’ll let you know where to drop off your parcel.
Starting from 15 April, Simple Delivery will automatically apply to all new eligible listings.
How is the label provided to me chosen?
We’ll take into account the buyer’s location, the item location, your distance to a convenient drop off point, the appropriate delivery service for the item you're posting, whether the buyer has selected a standard or express delivery service at checkout, and your carrier preferences, amongst a number of other factors.
eBay also provided this table of current rates for Simple Delivery, depending on whether you have set your shipping preferences to allow both EVRI and Royal Mail or whether you have excluded either carrier.
Reminder: while eBay is now allowing sellers to set these preferences, they make it very clear they are under no obligation to actually honor them and sellers may still end up with a label from a non-preferred carrier in some situations.
What carriers are available on Simple Delivery?
Royal Mail and Evri. You'll automatically be opted in to use both carriers. If you have a preference, you can go to your Postage preferences and adjust the toggle next to the carrier under the Simple Delivery settings. Bear in mind, if you choose to exclude carriers, delivery costs may increase, and your item may be available to fewer buyers. If you need to have your items collected, you should exclude Evri.
There may be cases where we’re unable to honour your carrier selection, for example because of the weight of your item. If this happens, we may provide a label for a carrier you've excluded.
eBay did add an option for collection through Royal Mail, however, since they also make it clear that they may not always honor seller carrier preferences, this option does not completely address accessibility concerns raised by sellers who are disabled or who may live in remote areas without access to transportation to reach drop off points.
Can I arrange for my item to be collected?
Collection is available with Simple Delivery through Royal Mail. If you'd like your sold item to be collected, make sure Royal Mail is selected as one of your preferred carriers. Once your item is sold and after you've generated a prepaid label on eBay, book your collection on the Royal Mail website.
What will the transactions look like for the delivery costs?
If you choose not to offer free postage, your buyer will pay for delivery at checkout. The amount will be credited to you and deducted from your account. These delivery costs are paid to eBay, and will cover the cost of the label.
If you choose to pay for postage, the cost will automatically be deducted from your sales.
As previously noted, sellers will want to pay careful attention to the section on returns - eBay says the seller may be responsible for refunding the buyer the original shipping costs, even though that shipping amount is not paid to the seller.
What happens if the buyer wants to return an item?
Should the buyer request a return, you may be responsible for refunding the buyer any outbound delivery costs for the label provided to you (including for express delivery), in addition to the item cost. See 'How to handle a return request as a seller' for more information.
Private sellers are also being forced into having a handling time of no more than 3 business days and eBay will be removing access to some functionality and features through the app as well.
When do I have to send my item? What is my handling time?
Your handling time is defined as the length of time it takes you to package and send off your item. You should aim to send your item within 2 business days to ensure that buyers receive their order quickly, and we're able to estimate the delivery date accurately. You can select a maximum handling time of 3 business days.
Can I still use business policies?
Starting 7 April, certain features on the eBay app will no longer be supported. This includes business policies, the ability to set a handling time of more than 3 days, adding a custom SKU, subtitle, and Global Trade Item Number, and using the Gallery Plus feature.
You’ll still be able to use business policies when listing through your web browser, but if you’d prefer to list using the app, you can disable business policies in My eBay. The policies set on your existing listings will not be affected.
While there is nothing in the FAQ or terms of service that explicitly states there are exceptions to the Simple Delivery mandate, the email sent to sellers says 'There’ll be a few exceptions, such as low-priced, bulky items, and local pick-up, which aren’t eligible for Simple Delivery" - leading sellers to ask what exactly is a low-priced item.
A Simple Delivery Fact Sheet that eBay is sending to journalists as part of their media kit with their press release about the update shows that eBay says items less less than £10 and 100g will continue to have the option to use custom delivery instead of being forced into Simple Delivery.
And eBay UK community staff have confirmed as well that those exceptions will still be in place after April 15th.
Sellers are encouraged to read the full FAQ and updated terms of service for Simple Delivery to understand how it will impact their accounts and selling activity on the site.
Will you continue selling on eBay once Simple Delivery becomes mandatory? :et us know in the comments below!
