Sellers now forced to buy postage labels is unfair
Summary: beautiful-buys98 expressed frustration with eBay's recent policy change forcing non-Pro sellers to buy postage labels through eBay, noting it feels unfair given their history of reliable service and positive feedback. countessalmirena and *casey* explained the policy, highlighting that it applies to those on the free selling plan, and suggested considering a Pro plan for more flexibility. Other participants emphasized that the change is part of eBay's terms, with no reimbursement for prepaid satchels. beautiful-buys98 expressed disappointment in the platform's handling and the lack of options for casual sellers, feeling that eBay is not valuing long-term, consistently reliable sellers.
The recent change by Ebay that forces sellers who are not 'Pro-sellers' to buy labels is unfair.
I have been a casual Ebay seller for years and have never had a buyer return anything. I have consistently received positive feedback and have been rated by Ebay as "above average" month after month.
When an item sold, I would use prepaid Australia Post satchels. I'd write the buyers name and address on the satchel, and then manually add the tracking number on Ebay once I had posted the satchel. This method worked very well and it was efficient.
I am now forced to buy postage labels from Ebay.
I would like to know if Ebay will reimburse me for the prepaid Australia Post satchels I have on hand? I bought these satchels in order to have them on hand ready for the time a listed item was sold. Having them on hand meant that it was quicker to package something up and take it to a post office as quickly as possible.
I can't return these satchels to Australia Post because I bought them more than 60 days ago and Australia Post's return period of 60-days has expired.
With this new method of buying labels from Ebay, I still need to buy plain satchels from Australia Post. And then faff about with a QR code at the post office. I don't have a printer and I'm certainly not buying one just for one or two Ebay sales each month.
Why doesn't Ebay respect the sellers who have consistently good feedback? Why have seller ratings like "above average" if these ratings mean nothing at the time a blanket change is made that treats all sellers the same?
lezned-toycollector
·yesterday at 6:06 PMYou seem to be misinterpreting what free selling and Pro subscriptions actually are...
Pro Starter is exactly what you were on before free selling was introduced. They've just given it a new name and thrown in a free store.
Free selling is an additional option for those who qualify - yes additonal. Everyone who qualified had the option of opting in or out
Nobody is forcing you to use the free selling option or purchase eBay labels, but rather, you are choosing to do so. You know that free selling requires you to use eBay labels, yet you made the conscious decision to stick with that option anyway. It was and still is entirely your choice. If you don't like the terms associated with free selling, then simply don't use it.
sandypebbles
·Aug 6, 2026 at 6:27 PMAt the end of the day, you agreed to it
The emails that were sent by ebay over and over made the rules totally clear
You opted to stay on free selling and thereby were obligated to use their labels
You agreed again by continuing to sell under free selling
No amount of ‘it shouldn’t include me because’ or ‘I didn’t know’ etc etc will change anything
All the buts and excuses in the world will not change that
And everytime you list something under free selling, you are agreeing to buy a label
You don’t get to do your own thing and expect eBay will give you special treatment
As for the will ebay reimburse you, I can only assume you weren’t being serious
beautiful-buys98
OPyesterday at 12:11 AMWhat a cop-out.
I got two emails that said, "this is what is going to happen".
There were no questions asked, no surveys, and no transparency.
It was basically a case of: "if you are a casual seller, then this is what will happen."
No "choice" whatsoever.
Actually, I was being serious about Ebay reimbursing me for the prepaid postage satchels I can no longer use. Ebay earns BILLIONS because of sellers like me. Why does it act like it can't afford to shell out a few bucks? It certainly expects that from its sellers.
I didn't agree to Ebay buying Depop so that it increases its market power and decreases competition in this market.
I didn't agree to Ebay acting like a Nazi who enjoys cracking a whip over the people who earn its income and create its profits.
I didn't agree to my positive feedback being treated as though it means nothing.
Although, thanks for showing me what this so-called "community" is really like.
sandypebbles
·yesterday at 2:08 AMWhat it is really like
Factual replies
Where is the 'cop out' ?
You admitted, you got two emails, hence you chose to ignore the information in those two emails
The emails very clearly stated this is happening
they very clearly said if you don't agree with the free selling rules, you can move to a pro account or close your account
You do agree to all eBay's rules and policies when you use eBay and when you sell
It is called the user agreement
And again, nowhere did it make any mention of seller's with a certain amount of feedback will be excluded
And feedback as a buyer does mean nothing, since eBay only allows buyers to receive positive feedback or no feedback
Huff and puff all you want
Other members are not responsible for your choices, nor what eBay does
e_purchasing
·Aug 6, 2026 at 2:46 PMThe recent change by Ebay that forces sellers who are not 'Free-sellers' to to pay fees is unfair.
gutterpunkz05
·Aug 6, 2026 at 6:07 PM · EditedYeah, a 13.4% advantage on pricing, give or take. But paying fees does come with some advantages even if you are subsidizing the buyers protection fee.
gutterpunkz05
·Aug 6, 2026 at 11:05 AMUpgrade your account, tell ebay what they can do with their free selling, pay selling fees and ship however you like.
But if you want to keep selling for free, then meet your obligations under T&C's.
beautiful-buys98
OPAug 6, 2026 at 11:31 AMIt's not actually "free selling". The sale price is bumped up by ebay and the buyer pays the added amount.
The buyer doesn't actually see that the sale price has been increased by ebay.
I've just purchased a postage label from ebay because I had no choice since I need to post an item. Now, if the buyer looks at their purchased item at their end, it looks like it has already been posted even though it's not posted.
This new 'free selling' policy sounds like a ploy to force casual sellers to pay for postage through ebay because of an agreement between ebay and Australia Post.
If the 'free selling' policy was introduced purely to enhance buyer protections, why does it come with the "obligation" to pay for postage through ebay?
gutterpunkz05
·Aug 6, 2026 at 1:00 PM · EditedBuyers having to pay a buyer protection fee, is not a selling fee, and does not cost you the seller anything, so you are selling for free.
So you have to buy your postage from ebay, big deal. You have to pay for your postage anyway, no matter what service you use. The agreement between ebay and AP has been in existence for years, and you get discounted rates when using ebay labels, which might work out slightly cheaper than AP.
I have not used ebay labels for years, instead using an AP account, but the other day I bought a label via ebay, due to an AP integration error. Now considering using ebay labels instead of AP account, just have to figure out settings for my label printer, which is automatic via AP
beautiful-buys98
OPAug 6, 2026 at 1:35 PMBeing forced to do something IS a big deal. The control of what sellers do is a big deal.
As I said in my original post, I have prepaid Australia Post satchels that I can't return. If Ebay is forcing me to pay for postage then it should reimburse me for the prepaid satchels I can no longer use.
A while back, Ebay wanted sellers to send items within a few days because it wanted to compete with Amazon. To do that, I bought prepaid satchels to speed up the sending process.
Why would or should a casual ebay seller have an account with Australia Post? For what? A handful of sales every six months?
This is why feedback and a seller's history should count for something. Not all sellers are the same and not all of them want or need to be 'Pro-sellers'. It's just Ebay doing whatever it likes, again.
gutterpunkz05
·Aug 6, 2026 at 6:24 PMYou are not being forced to do anything, it is your choice to use free selling, which comes with conditions, your choice.
You don't need an AP account (which is free to all) to use AP, and you do not need to have a printer to use ebay labels.
As for your prepaid satchels, you can use them for anything else you like, just not for items you sell via ebay free selling, maybe use them to send yourself a christmas gift, or items you may like to sell elsewhere. I doubt it will take long to deplete your storage room full of satchels.
gutterpunkz05
·Aug 6, 2026 at 6:48 PM · EditedUsing your prepaid satchels
We understand that some sellers have purchased prepaid satchels in bulk for sending orders. You can continue using these prepaid satchels to send orders until 1 June 2026.
From this date, if you are eligible and choose to remain in the free selling experience, you may still be able to use your satchels for low-value or light-weight items that are exempt from labels on eBay. Sellers on a Pro Plan can always choose how they send their items, including using prepaid satchels.
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Ebay gave plenty of warning about prepaid satchels, prior to implementing free selling.
So , No , Ebay will not be offering to buy your unused satchels.
beautiful-buys98
OPyesterday at 12:30 AMPlenty of warning?? I don't think so.
The first email I received was dated 27-Mar-2026. It said the changes would start on 1-May-2026.
That's about one month. Not a lot of time to use all of the postage satchels I had on hand.
Also, there was no mention at all about the prepaid satchels sellers may have previously bought. Where was the information included in your reply above? I haven't seen it until now.
gutterpunkz05
·yesterday at 1:34 PM · EditedAlso, there was no mention at all about the prepaid satchels sellers may have previously bought. Where was the information included in your reply above? I haven't seen it until now.
_________________________________________________
Did you bother to look at the more info, provided in ebays messages. Yes it was all provided with 2 months notice. Sometimes it pays to fully read messages,
The fact you have not seen the info I provided until now, is down to you.
gutterpunkz05
·Aug 6, 2026 at 1:27 PM · EditedThe buyer doesn't actually see that the sale price has been increased by ebay.
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The buyer protection fee is disclosed to buyers prior to purchase.
countessalmirena
·Aug 6, 2026 at 11:52 AM@beautiful-buys98
Because eBay say so. There’s no other reason. eBay offer “free selling” with that caveat. It sounds good in commercials and advertising posters, it’s in line with their promotion of their recent acquisition of Depop, and they’re pushing quite a number of sellers to their special labels which lays the groundwork for the future.
Nothing is only free. There is always a payoff along the way. Were I selling, I would be using the Pro starter plan… but it is your decision. You’ll know what works out best for you; I’m assuming you’ve done the calculations in a spreadsheet to compare your options.
beautiful-buys98
OPAug 6, 2026 at 1:43 PMWhy or how would a casual seller who sells a handful of items every six months or so compare options using a spreadsheet? The items could be anything from shoes and clothes to furniture and household items. The buyers could be anywhere in Australia.
How predictable or consistent do you think the sales are going to be? And how often will the postage be the same?
This is my first ever post on this Community platform. It doesn't seem like a 'community' at all. Instead, it feels like everyone who has replied is determined to prove me wrong or tell me my views are irrelevant.
gutterpunkz05
·yesterday at 12:21 AMYou could sell your prepaid satchels on ebay, but if you insist on using free selling, you will still need to buy postage via ebay
gutterpunkz05
·yesterday at 12:30 AMYou seem to want it all your own way, why not just move to the pro starter plan, and you will be in the exact position you were before the introduction of free selling.
No additional costs, you pay the same FVF you paid before and you can post however you like.
*casey*
·Aug 6, 2026 at 10:16 AM · EditedIt's nothing to do with how long you've been a member , having no returns or how good your feedback is.
It's the new Free Selling plan so you pay no selling fees .
Many sellers in your position have changed to a Pro Starter plan.
There's no monthly fee.
Under that plan, you're free to use all your existing packaging and choose your own postage method.
In exactly the same way you've been selling prior to June 1st... including paying final value fees.
EDIT to add :
The post from the countess must have been 'pending approval ' as it wasn't there when I posted this information !
beautiful-buys98
OPAug 6, 2026 at 11:34 AMI can see that Ebay doesn't give a damn about how good a seller's feedback is or how reliable their past performance has been.
davewil1964
·yesterday at 8:11 AMCorrect.
Their sandbox, their rules.
Which, as been pointed out many times, you agree to every time you list an item.
I opted for Pro Starter in order to manage my own selling. Rather than seeing $ signs and 'free' and expecting that eBay would subsidise me just because I am a Top Rated Seller.
beautiful-buys98
OPyesterday at 12:30 PMMaybe I'm fed up with 'subsidising' ebay every time it has a knee-jerk reaction because a new selling platform enters the market. Now that Vinted has launched in Australia, ebay is bending over backwards to be the same. Before that, it was competing with Amazon's delivery times.
Each time, it's sellers or buyers who have to accommodate new 'rules'.
It makes ebay look insecure about its own presence and brand.
Why doesn't it stick to a reputation of its own? If it really wanted to compete effectively, it would care about seller feedback and reliability. That would actually make buyers feel more confident about buying. They could rely on seller feedback because it would actually mean something.
At the same time, sellers would know their efforts and consistency were appreciated.
But no, every time a new player comes on the market, ebay has a fit.
countessalmirena
·Aug 6, 2026 at 9:31 AMI agree that it’s inherently unfair for a seller to be forced to use eBay labels. However… the cold hard truth is that eBay have made it a requirement for sellers on the free selling plan to use those labels.
Quoting:
— https://www.ebay.com.au/help/selling/shipping-items/labels-packaging-tips/buying-printing-shipping-labels?id=4157
You could still use your purchased satchels for items under $20…
You may also want to take a look at the available Pro plans. The starter option could be a good option for you, and it would allow you to use your satchels.