Free selling Sub using envelopes
Summary: tianfu2011 is trying to use eBay's new free selling option to send items like DVDs and video games using personal envelopes and stamps, but can't find the listing option. davewil1964 and *casey* offer differing advice. *casey* suggests using the Flat Rate option or creating a new postage policy to access letter posting methods, but tianfu2011 reports these options are missing in their interface. The discussion highlights confusion over eBay's postage requirements under the free selling model.
Hi everyone,
I’m going a little mad trying to figure this out!
I’ve been selling on eBay for 20+ years, but I’m now winding down my account and have changed from a paid store to the new free selling option to avoid the 13% fees. I figured, why not?
From what I’ve read, if you’re selling things like DVDs, video games, etc., you’re supposed to be able to send them in your own envelope with stamps rather than having to use the compulsory eBay postage labels.
For the life of me, though, I cannot find any option on the listing page to select an envelope/letter postage option.
I’ve just sold a game and eBay charged me $8.60 for a postage label, when I could have simply put the game in my own padded envelope, added the appropriate stamps and posted it myself.
Am I missing something obvious? How are other sellers sending DVDs/games as letters or envelopes under the new free selling system?
Any help would be greatly appreciated because this is doing my head in!
*casey*
·3 weeks ago · EditedThe 'letter' options do disappear from time to time but here's a couple of suggestions
Go to a similar free selling item listed with domestic letter postage
eg ( purely random) 820114157233 or 358730315508 (sold) and select "Sell one like this"
Or try a basic new listing
Postage
Postage policy > Click 3 dots > Create postage policy
Postage method > Standard postage > Small to medium items
Cost type > Flat Same cost to all buyers
Underneath > Add Primary Service
This should display the options of
Standard Service
Australia Post Domestic Regular letter untracked or
Australia Post Domestic Regular letter with tracking
Save
Hopefully one of these options will help you. If not, someone else may have a suggestion.
*casey*
·3 weeks ago · Editedtianfu2011
You've chosen Standard Parcel Delivery as your Primary service.
Go to the 3 dots on the right and click on Change Service
You should then see the option to choose from all the letter / parcel options available
..............................................................................................................................................................
The exceptions to compulsory eBay labels are:
Items sold for less than $20, or over $5,000 ...or
Items that may be sent in an envelope. These include: trading cards, comics, magazines, coins and banknotes, jewellery, CDs/DVDs/video games, patches, postcards, greeting cards, seeds, stamps, stickers and decals... or
Items where a label isn't available, such as heavy or bulky items ...or
Orders where the buyer selected local pick up
tianfu2011
OP3 weeks agoI’ve tried exactly that. I click the three dots, select Change service, and nowhere in the list is there an option to use your own envelope with stamps. Every option I’m given is some form of tracked/registered postage or parcel/package service.
This is exactly why I’m asking the question.
As you’ve quoted yourself, eBay specifically says that compulsory eBay postage labels are exempt for items that may be sent in an envelope, including CDs, DVDs and video games.
So if compulsory eBay labels are exempt for those items and eBay says they can be sent in an envelope, where is the actual option to select ordinary envelope/letter postage and use your own stamps?
I’ve gone into Change service as you suggested, and that option simply isn’t there. Everything shown to me involves tracked/registered postage or a parcel/package service.
That’s the part I’m trying to get an answer to. I understand that eBay says envelopes are exempt from compulsory labels — the problem is that I cannot find any way to actually select that exempt envelope option when creating the listing or after the item has sold.
tianfu2011
OP3 weeks agoThis is what i see when listing, what do you select to post in your own stamped envelope so after the sale it does not auto come up with ebay labels?
*casey*
·3 weeks ago · Edited"From what I’ve read, if you’re selling things like DVDs, video games, etc., you’re supposed to be able to send them in your own envelope with stamps rather than having to use the compulsory eBay postage labels"
Correct.
Items that can fit in an envelope don't require a compulsory eBay label and they don't have to be under $20 when Free Selling. It also applies to $20 + items
You'll find the option to post as a letter under Flat Rate postage, not calculated
tianfu2011
OP3 weeks agoThis is exactly the drama I’m having — two replies and two different answers! Under $20, over $20… either way, where are the options you’re talking about? I simply don’t see them.
When I’m creating a listing, under POSTAGE my 3 drop down options are:
Standard postage: small to medium items
Freight
Local pickup
If I select Standard Postage, it then takes me to DOMESTIC POSTAGE, where the only options I have are:
Flat: same cost to all buyers
Calculated: cost varies by buyer location
I cannot see any option anywhere for “Flat Rate Postage / Not Calculated” or anything resembling the envelope/stamp option mentioned.
Are these options supposed to appear while you’re creating the listing, or are you talking about options that appear after the item has sold?
Where on earth is this option? Am I completely missing something obvious, or is it simply not available on my account/listing format?
davewil1964
·3 weeks agoFlat: same cost to all buyers
By definition that is not calculated
tianfu2011
OP3 weeks agoMate, can you stop replying with incorrect information? You said that items over $20 require eBay postage labels, which simply isn’t the case.
You’re also completely missing the question being asked. At no point does selecting “Flat: same cost to all buyers” mean that the item will be sent in an envelope using your own stamps.
All of my listings are already set to Flat: same cost to all buyers, and after the sale they still default to eBay postage labels, starting at $8+ as the minimum postage. Once dimensions and the postcode are entered, it jumps to around $13+ because eBay has assumed the item is being sent as a parcel rather than an envelope which is what im wanting to use.
After the sale and during listing, there is no option anywhere that I can see to select “envelope”, use my own stamps, or remove the eBay postage label entirely.
So selecting Flat does not solve the issue and does not answer the question.
The question is very simple: where is the actual option that allows a seller to send an eligible item in their own envelope with stamps, rather than purchasing an eBay postage label? Do you select the option when listing, or do you do it after the sale?
If you don’t know the answer, that’s fine, but your replies are not addressing the actual question.
davewil1964
·3 weeks agoIf the item is $20+ you are required to use eBay labels. All set out in the T&Cs when the changes were made.
I opted not to use free selling so I have all postage options available
davewil1964
·3 weeks ago · EditedMate, can you stop replying with incorrect information?
Maate, my response was my experience.