Click and Collect, new monopoly for Australia Post no more couriers

[stackthecards]

Anyone noticed the rules on the new Big W click and collect, you must use Print Postage lables to use it and its now automatically getting added to all Premium Service sellers.

Is this the same as how paypal became mandadory.

What if you send via a courier or send items using regualr mail sevices such as large letter or another service not offered by click n send.

In essence here are the new rules cut from ebays press release I recieved.

We'll automatically add a Click & Collect option for FREE to all of your eligible listings that: 

• Offer free postage
• Offer 0-1 day handling
• Have tracking uploaded
• Meet weight & dimension limits:
• 16kg
• 50cm x 41cm x 34cm 

When you print your postage label, we'll include a unique identifying code in the delivery address.

Woolworths/BIG W use this to process the parcel and let your buyer know they can collect their order. If you don't include the code, Woolworths/BIG W may dispose of the parcel when it arrives at the store and you could receive an 'item not received' defect.

[annieoakley2000]

My question is: How Is This Beneficial To The Buyer ??????

Having to go to a Woolworth/Big W store to pick up their E-Bay mail/parcels when Australia Post delivers to your door ?

What if there is no Woolworth/Big W store near you - do you have to go on a trip around the world to collect your parcels ?

Am I missing something ??

[*tippy*toes*]

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@annieoakley2000 wrote:

My question is: How Is This Beneficial To The Buyer ??????

Having to go to a Woolworth/Big W store to pick up their E-Bay mail/parcels when Australia Post delivers to your door ?

What if there is no Woolworth/Big W store near you - do you have to go on a trip around the world to collect your parcels ?

Am I missing something ??

---

Yes, you are missing something. C&C isn't the only option for delivery in a listing. If the buyer still wants an item delivered by AP, they select that option. If they want it delivered to Woollies, they select that option. The idea behind it is for people who can't get to the PO during operating times can collect their parcel from Woollies instead as they are open longer. They collect it when they go to do their shopping on the way home, or Sunday afternoon when they go to BigW.

If there is no Woollies/BigW near you, then you wouldn't select that option. In fact, it probably wouldn't show up as a postage option for those people.

[annieoakley2000]

It looks like it is by invitation only and you have to register your interest:

How can I get involved in offering Click & Collect to my buyers?

Join the thousands of sellers already participating by making sure you've got eligible listings and registering your interest. One of our team will then be in touch.

Are there any additional costs for participating in Click & Collect?

There are no additional fees charged by eBay for offering Click & Collect as a delivery option on eligible listings and it's unlikely you'll be paying anything extra to post your item to a chosen Woolworths or BIG W than if you were sending your item off to a buyer's home address.

How do I make sure my listings are eligible? Are there any restrictions?

Once you've been invited, Click & Collect will be added to your listings automatically if they meet the following criteria:

• Free postage with an eligible carrier service
• Have a fast handling time – we recommend 3 days or less
• Listed in an eligible category
• Within maximum parcel weight and dimensions

[*tippy*toes*]

It WAS invitation only while they ran the trial. The trial is now complete and it's been rolled out to every seller. Sellers have been automatically opted in. If you don't want to use it, opt out. There are other threads telling how. If you don't offer free postage, or a 1 day handling time, it won't show up in your listings any way. Basically, unless you show the premium badge in your listings, it won't show up as a delivery option to buyers (even though the option is there when you create a listing).

[jfmgray]

Yes I was opted in automatically yesterday.  The way I read the option, I would have to provide tracking which I do not provide (large letter) so I quickly opted out in individual listings and then for all future listings.  If you send items by large letter without tracking, then I would very quickly opt out as you could be forced to pay for registered or send as a parcel if a buyer chooses C&C as the post option

[*tippy*toes*]

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@jfmgray wrote:

Yes I was opted in automatically yesterday.  The way I read the option, I would have to provide tracking which I do not provide (large letter) so I quickly opted out in individual listings and then for all future listings.  If you send items by large letter without tracking, then I would very quickly opt out as you could be forced to pay for registered or send as a parcel if a buyer chooses C&C as the post option

---

Your buyers wouldn't have seen the option in any of your listings because none of them are free post. Yes, the option appears when you are creating a listing, but if that listing doesn't qualify, then it's not a visible option for the buyer. If you have a postage cost on your large letter listings, then you won't be forced to pay registered or send as a parcel as the buyer can't select C&C to have their item delivered BECAUSE IT'S NOT THERE.

You didn't need to go to the effort of opting out on each individual listing. Opting out in your postage preferences would have removed it from all active listings, where it wasn't visible to buyers any way.

Just for everyone's benefit, even though it's been said before if you don't offer free postage, the option won't be visible to buyers, even though the option appears when you create your listing. If you have a premium badge on your listings, then the option IS visible. If you have more than a 1 day handling time, the option won't be visible, regardless of whether you are opted in or not.

There is too much panic about this service. Yes, I've opted out, but I didn't need to as none of my listings qualify because I have a postage cost on all my items, including large letter. Yes, everyone was notified by email that they were going to be opted in on X date. If you have notifications turned off, that's no-one's fault but your own. As a seller, having to send the item is no different to before. You package it, you address it, you take it to the post office.

[ivak245]

I used this service as a buyer, and it was hopeless!  After several emails to the seller, and days after it would have been delivered to my door by Aust. Post, EBay was supposed to send me an email saying my parcel was ready to pick up. I went to the Big W, my parcel had been there a few days, and I showed them I.D.& then picked it up. 

2 WEEKS later I get an email from EBay saying it is ready to be picked up. I sent the seller an email telling them I had got my parcel, but the click and collect service is a joke.

[gec2002]

If you have the eBay Premium Badge on sales ie offer Free Shipping, 1 day handling time, 30 day returns, you cannot alter these to avoid C&C if you want to retain your Premium status.  You need to opt out

Goto

My eBay - Accounts

Site Preferences - Selling Preferences - Postal Preferences

Edit Click & Collect to NO

You are now opted out, however your Premium status will remain.

As an aside Big W had a Pay and collect for their online sales before this eBay idea.  I used it twice and never again it was a complete disaster, on both occasions items were missing and when you went to pick up staff took half an hour to find the items if they could at all.  Be prepared for long waits and frustration at pick up.

[*tippy*toes*]

Exactly. That's why I can't work out why sellers whose listings don't qualify are in such a flap. EBay is not forcing anyone to use it, nor are they forcing people to alter the current listing practices so they do or don't qualify. It's up to the individual seller if they do or don't want to use it. It's also up to the buyer if they do or don't want to use it on qualifying listings.

Even though my listings don't qualify, I was not interested in it anyway even if they did. There are too many things that can go wrong, some of which have been mentioned in this thread already. Sellers would still be blamed if Woollies lost it or damaged it.