Free ebay problem
Summary: collectibleclassiques expressed frustration with eBay's policy requiring sellers to use eBay labels, which led to their payment being held due to an inability to provide tracking information as per eBay's guidelines. *casey* and sandypebbles clarified that using eBay labels is mandatory under the 'free selling' rule, explaining that funds would be released after 31 days if the policy isn't followed. collectibleclassiques argued that the requirement could be misleadingly interpreted as 'free selling' not being truly free. Others in the discussion highlighted similar issues, with varied opinions about compliance and misunderstandings of the selling terms. Some participants mentioned seeking help from consumer protection agencies, though this claim was disputed by others.
So now we have to buy a label or pay for one anyway. I sold an item without doing that and now i am not allowed to upload the tracking no; Ebay keeps telling me to post and i already have. I can't prove i posted it so may ot be paid.
My payment is on hold because Ebay can't see that I posted it Tried ebay support live chat etc and they are useless A!. Australian Financial Services complaint to get my funds for the sale from ebay seems the only possibility
billexploited
·3 weeks agoI had the same issue, there is a simple fix if you're willing to pay selling fees, you can upgrade to pro-seller basic which costs nothing a month. That way you upload tracking information manually, and choose the postage methods .
louiemania91
·3 weeks agoI am not going to sell over 20 dollars anymore,i guess i lose money and ebay loses money.
lezned-toycollector
·3 weeks ago · EditedYou are not losing any money by not selling something - you still have the exact same amount of money you started with... plus you also have the goods that you didn't sell.
Since eBay is not outlaying any monetary amount because you're not selling, they're not losing any money either.
Using your logic, every person in the entire world who isn't selling on eBay would actually be losing money.
louiemania91
·3 weeks agoI uploaded the tracking straight to the seller.and took a photo of the docket.
sandypebbles
·3 weeks agoWhich proves nothing to eBay
*casey*
·Jul 17, 2026 at 8:26 AM · Edited@collectibleclassiques
"refund the additional label costs that have been added to selling"
"So now we have to buy a label or pay for one anyway"
"If there is an unavoidable fee that every seller must pay in order to complete a sale"
"an additional fee on shipping is a cost to sell"
"if you have to buy an expensive label "
Perhaps it's just me but the way I'm reading your posts indicates that you may think the eBay label is a separate extra fee, as if it's a sticker or something similar displaying the eBay logo .
If you set up your postage correctly, fill in all the relevant details, flat rate, calculated, etc, the buyer pays for the postage shown on the listing.
All you have to do is use an eBay label to post the item. It just means you're buying postage through eBay at discounted rates instead of going to the post office to pay for postage.
With an eBay label, the tracking uploads automatically.
There is no additional fee.
yuki1984
·Jul 17, 2026 at 7:46 AM · EditedHello, I also made the same silly mistake and did the same thing. My last sale was a few months ago and I just did what I did before which was take my parcel to the post office. I didn't know it was mandatory to used Ebay's postage label until I tried to update with the Tracking Number and mark the item as sent... like I used to. I have already sent the parcel so I don't know how to fix it :(
I listed my item a few months ago so I think I missed some notification about the label being mandatory now.
I don't mind paying for label but now I just don't even know how to fix this situation or what will happen since it is stuck in Awaiting Postage status.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
collectibleclassiques
OPJul 17, 2026 at 8:11 AMsend the tracking number to the buyer, ignore endless messages from Ebay to post it, wait until the tracking shows delivered. Ask Ebay for payment 28 days later. If repeatedly ignored by Ebay AI lodge a complaint to the Financial Services group that Ebay is a member of and hope to get paid a few weeks later,
yuki1984
·Jul 17, 2026 at 8:24 AMYes yes I have sent the tracking number to the buyer and asked them to mark as recevied when they get it.
Hopefully eBay payment will come through for this one.
Ebay AI... it was very unhelpful :'(
davewil1964
·Jul 17, 2026 at 6:57 PMit was very unhelpful
As is your suggestion that the buyer marks it as received - given there is no facility for a buyer to do so.
I didn't know it was mandatory to used Ebay's postage label until I tried to update with the Tracking Number and mark the item as sent...
That would mean you ignored the numerous notifications from eBay about when and how 'free selling' was going to be implemented.
yuki1984
·Jul 17, 2026 at 11:41 PMYes you're right about the buyer not being able to mark it a received so I asked them to please leave feedback when they receive the item.
I know I made a mistake and I admitted it.
I was only trying to find help on how to fix this but I couldn't find it anywhere.
lezned-toycollector
·Jul 18, 2026 at 3:25 AMI was only trying to find help on how to fix this but I couldn't find it anywhere.
Of course you couldn't. Surely you understand that nobody is going to help you breach eBay policy, or provide any type of workaround to circumvent same - not other members who frequent these pages, and definitely not eBay.
gutterpunkz05
·3 weeks agoFeedback, + or -, does not replace or count as proof of delivery. So you are going to have to wait for your money, probably 30 days +. do not know if ebay can deduct from your payment for failing to meat T&C's, or if they have other avenues available
twyngwyn
·Jul 17, 2026 at 6:07 AMYou have freight listed in your shipping, so you need to change that to eBay labels (if you want free-selling)
collectibleclassiques
OPJul 17, 2026 at 5:28 AMsandypebbles
·Jul 17, 2026 at 10:35 PMYes it does fit
They said it was free to get to the zoo
They never told me I had to pay to get into the zoo once I got there for free
Exactly the same as your saying free selling also means free to post
And again, the ACCC are not looking into it, say it all you like, they are not looking into nowhere did it say free to post but I should have gotten free to post
Many people who genuinely need the help of the ACCC have to wait and wait and wait because of those who ignore selling requirements that they were notified of numerous times opted to ignore the requirements
collectibleclassiques
OPJul 17, 2026 at 5:06 AMI acknowledge my silly mistake. I thought 'free to sell' meant 'no cost to sell' and later discovered I was wrong. A reasonable person may share my view that free meant no cost and that an additional fee on shipping is a cost to sell. That is the concern that consumer protection agencies such as the ACCC in Australia are looking into. If they won a court case against Ebay the company would have to reframe its slogan to 'cheaper to sell' and refund the additional label costs that have been added to selling. It's early days but don't dismiss that scenario out of hand.
sandypebbles
·Jul 17, 2026 at 5:12 AMAnd again
It says free to sell
It does not say free to post
Two entirely different things
I do not know how many reasonable people would imagine 'free postage' exists when it does not
The ACCC are not going to take such a thing seriously when there is zero indication anywhere that postage is/will be 'free'
It would be like me saying, they said free fares on public transport on such and such a day, but I had to pay for entry into the zoo when I caught the free transport to the zoo
gutterpunkz05
·3 weeks agoIt says free to sell *terms and conditions apply. The ACCC is not going to side with anyone who does not bother to read the terms and conditions and then expects that they do not apply to them.
collectibleclassiques
OPJul 16, 2026 at 9:34 PM@ shoppingbag. Because you did not buy a label on eBay you will be charged fees on this sale. That's not correct i will not be charged fees but i will be charged for the label. Is it really free for sellers if you have to buy an expensive label or has the final value fee just been changed to the expense of the label? That's what a number of consumer protection agencies are weighing up right now.
sandypebbles
·Jul 16, 2026 at 10:35 PMThey said free selling
Nowhere was it mentioned free posting
Consumer protection agencies are doing no such thing
YOU agreed to the user agreement when you stayed on free selling and AGAIN when you listed
lezned-toycollector
·Jul 17, 2026 at 3:43 AM · EditedThe FVF is paid by sellers who subscribe to a Pro plan.
There are no selling fees involved for sellers using FREE Selling (exclusions apply).
eBay postage labels were an option prior to the introduction of free selling, and they remain an option now (the only option for some)... although the savings band discount has increased from band 2 to band 4, making eBay labels cheaper than before - even after the latest AP price increase.
So to answer your question... no, the FVF has not been changed for those using free selling. It has been removed.
*casey*
·Jul 17, 2026 at 4:16 AM · Edited@collectibleclassiques
"Because you did not buy a label on eBay you will be charged fees on this sale"
"That's not correct i will not be charged fees"
You're correct , you wont be charged selling fees on the sale.
eBay did make an announcement recently though, warning Free Sellers that if they continued to use their own postage system instead of an eBay label (when required) they may have their account changed to a Pro Starter where selling fees do apply:
"What happens if I don't use eBay labels ?"
"When you sell for free, you generally 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 choice of postage flexibility with no monthly cost, however you will pay Final value fees on sales"
shoppingbag*
·Jul 16, 2026 at 8:25 PMBecause you did not buy a label on eBay you will be charged fees on this sale. The conditions for getting free selling is that you need to buy a label on eBay. You can't have it both ways.
e_purchasing
·Jul 16, 2026 at 2:36 PMIt's funny you know, You can work but you have to pay taxes, you can have internet but you have to pay for the service. The choices in life are always like a basic programming command "if" "then" "else" So......" If " you register for free selling "then" you must use eBay labels "else" you cannot upload tracking or get your money for 30 days.
You follow the rules and everything works out. Do your own thing and not so much.
I'd complain to your neighbor, It's quicker and will give you the same result but you can also talk about each other's lawn as the AFS will have none of that.
sandypebbles
·Jul 16, 2026 at 9:06 AMYou are on free selling therefore obligated to use an eBay label
As you choose to disregard that requirement, you have no valid complaint to make, you ignored what was required so you will need to wait for 31 days like any seller who just do their own thing and ignore the policy they agreed to
Yes, eBay staff are indeed useless, however they neither can nor will give you or any other seller special treatment
*casey*
·Jul 16, 2026 at 8:59 AM · Edited@collectibleclassiques
"so may not be paid"
You'll be unable to upload tracking because with Free Selling and the item you sold,
you were required to use an eBay label.
Your funds should become available to request a payout 31 days after the buyer paid.