We recently launched free selling on eBay.com.au for Australia-based sellers. If you've recently sold an item for free and wondered: When do I need to buy postage through eBay? Why can't I see the buyer’s address or upload my own tracking? Can I use my own prepaid satchels? Are labels on eBay more expensive? We're here to explain how to send your items when you sell for free and how buying labels on eBay helps simplify sending orders. What you need to know Since 1 June, when you sell for free, you must generally send your items with a label bought on eBay. There are some exceptions for low-value, small or bulky items. When you buy a label on eBay: You’ll access negotiated rates which are often cheaper than going to the carrier directly You can choose printer-free options if you don’t have a printer Tracking information will be automatically uploaded to your order Your order and tracking details will be connected and visible to both you and the buyer so your buyer will know the item is on its way. You’ll be protected for events outside your control such as delayed or lost deliveries For most orders, tracking information helps determine when your funds can be released. If you choose not to use a label purchased on eBay to send your items, it will generally take longer to receive your funds. If you want more options to send with the carrier of your choice or use prepaid satchels, you can choose to upgrade to a Pro plan. Our Pro Starter plan has no monthly fee, however a 13.4% Final value fee will apply to sales. Compare Pro plans Do I have to buy labels on eBay? If you sell for free, you'll generally need to buy your labels through eBay for eligible orders. There are some exceptions. If your item falls into one of these categories, you may be able to use an alternative method. These include: Items sold for less than $20 Items sold for more than $5,000 Items that can be sent in an envelope, such as trading cards, stamps, postcards, greeting cards and similar items Heavy or bulky items where an eBay Label isn't available Orders where the buyer selected local pickup What happens if I don't buy labels on eBay? When you sell for free, you must send your items with a label bought on eBay, unless an exception applies . We'll support you with reminders and educational information about shipping requirements, however sellers who continue to send eligible orders outside of eBay may be moved to a Pro Starter plan, which provides shipping flexibility with no monthly cost, however you will pay Final value fees on sales. If you send an eligible order with a label bought elsewhere, here's what to expect: You won't be able to upload tracking. The option to manually add tracking or mark an item as sent is not available, even if you shipped with a fully tracked service. Tracking is automatically uploaded when you generate your label on eBay. Your funds will be held for up to 14 days. Since eBay can't see tracking activity for your shipment, your payment won't be released until the hold period ends , regardless of whether your buyer has already received the item. You won't be protected against delivery issues for that order. Seller protections for events like loss in transit are only available for orders shipped using a label bought on eBay. When you buy a label on eBay for orders up to $750, we'll take care of any reports that the item hasn't arrived, respond to the buyer and you won't be responsible for providing a refund. Why can't I see the buyer’s address or upload my own tracking? Tracking will be automatically uploaded when you generate your label on eBay, this means both you and the buyer can track every step of the journey on eBay. That's why manual tracking uploads are no longer available. Important: If you purchase a tracked service at a post office or through another provider, you’ll no longer be able to manually upload tracking information, so you and your buyer will not see tracking activity on eBay. This means: Your item can't be marked as sent on eBay Your payment may be held for up to 14 days, even if your buyer has already received the parcel You won't be protected by eBay if there are any delivery issues for that order Remember, it is against our Member-to-member contact policy to exchange any personal information (including addresses) over messages. Are labels on eBay more expensive? We partner with Australia Post to offer discounted label rates compared to standard retail pricing, with savings of up to 35% on selected services. The cost of shipping will vary based on the item size, weight, destination and delivery service selected. We are working on adding more carriers and differentiated delivery options to eBay so you can access convenient, tracked shipping at competitive rates. How do I ensure buyers pay the right postage on my listing? Selecting 'calculated shipping' as your delivery option means that we will calculate the shipping cost based on your parcel's weight, dimensions and buyer's destination. Shipping is calculated using weight bands so it's important to be exact with your measurements to avoid under or overpaying for shipping. We recommend accurately estimating your parcel size and weight so that the buyer pays the right price for shipping and you aren't left out of pocket. You can also choose flat rate postage if you want to set a cost for any buyer e.g. $10. This option may be right for you if your item fits in an Australia Post Flat Rate satchel or box (Extra Small, Small, Medium, Large or Extra Large). Can I use my prepaid satchels? Shipping labels generally need to be purchased through eBay. If you regularly use prepaid satchels, or have better rates through your own carrier, a Pro plan may be a better fit for you and offers more flexibility in how you manage shipping. Our Pro Starter plan has no monthly cost and sellers pay 13.4% (incl. GST) final value fees. Compare our Pro plans . Can I still use Flat Rate Satchels? When you buy your labels on eBay and choose to send with Australia Post, you’ll have a choice of Flat Rate or Parcel Post. With Flat Rate , you pay a fixed price based on the size of the Australia Post satchel or box you use, rather than the weight of your item (up to 5kg). You'll need to use official Australia Post Flat Rate packaging , which you can buy from Australia Post. With Parcel Post, the shipping cost is based on your parcel's weight, dimensions and destination. Shipping is calculated using weight bands: Up to 250g, 250g to 500g, 500g to 1kg, 1kg to 3kg, 3kg to 5kg so it’s important to be exact with your measurements when using Parcel Post to avoid under or overpaying for shipping. While Parcel Post can cost more than Flat Rate, it gives you the flexibility to choose your own packaging. Next steps Do ✅ Buy labels on eBay when you sell for free ✅ Check whether your item qualifies for an exception ✅ Use the QR code option if you don't have a printer ✅ Simplify sending with automatic upload of tracking info to your order Don't ❌ Buy labels outside of eBay to send items, unless an exception applies ❌ Manually upload tracking ❌ Send messages to buyers asking for any personal information ❌ Use prepaid satchels ❌ Ignore reminders about shipping requirements
