3 min article

Simple Delivery

Simple Delivery can help streamline every step of your postage experience on eBay, from listing your item to providing you with a prepaid label when your item sells.

We launched a limited Simple Delivery pilot with Packlink in summer 2024 for eligible fashion listings. If your listing was included in this pilot, please see our Seller Centre - opens in new window or tab page for more information and FAQs.

How it works

If your listing is eligible, you'll automatically see Simple Delivery as an option when you're creating your listing – you don't need to do anything to update your listings.

After selecting the Simple Delivery option, we'll recommend the weight and dimensions of your parcel. Make sure to check that our recommendation is the accurate size for your item to avoid any issues later with the carrier. If we can't predict your package's dimensions, you'll be asked to enter the size and weight of your item.

When your buyer pays for the item at checkout, they may be able to choose either a standard or express delivery option. If they choose express, your handling time will still be the same – this is the speed the item moves through the carrier network. When your item sells, you'll receive a prepaid delivery label and QR code and you can then post your item at the nearest drop-off location.

Benefits of Simple Delivery

There are several benefits to using Simple Delivery, including:

  • You'll be protected if the item is lost or damaged from the point the item is scanned into the carrier's delivery network and until it's marked as delivered
  • There are no transaction fees on postage
  • Tracking is automatically uploaded to your orders on your behalf
  • You don't need to have a printer to use the labels

If the item is posted with the prepaid label provided and scanned by the carrier within your stated handling time, you can also benefit from the following:

  • Your seller performance standards and service metrics won't be affected by late deliveries
  • You can request the removal of negative or neutral feedback about delivery using Seller Help - opens in new window or tab

Eligibility

Simple Delivery is available for eligible listings by private UK sellers listing on eBay.co.uk (including the eBay app).

To send your items through the Simple Delivery programme, your packaged item will need to meet the following requirements:

  • Weighs up to 20kg
  • Dimensions:
    • For an Evri parcel shop drop-off – no side exceeds 120cm in length, the volume is no more than 245cm. To calculate the volume, add together the two shortest sides and multiply it by two, and then add the length
    • For a Royal Mail parcel shop drop-off – dimensions should be less than 61cm x 46cm x 46cm
    • For locker drop-off – dimensions shouldn't exceed 66cm x 41cm x 38cm
  • £750 or less (Buy It Now price, auction starting price or reserve price)

See our Simple Delivery Terms and Conditions - opens in new window or tab for more programme requirements.

Posting and tracking your items

When your eligible item sells, you'll receive a delivery label and QR code and you can then post your item. If you don't have a printer, you can bring the QR code to a drop-off location and the carrier will print the label for you. When you're creating your delivery label, you'll be provided with a link to the carrier's website with a list of drop-off locations.

Collection is available for items sent through Simple Delivery with Royal Mail labels only. You can book a collection on the Royal Mail - opens in new window or tab website after you create your Simple Delivery label.

If you're sending multiple items from one order, all items will need to fit in one package which meets the Simple Delivery package limits. For tips on packaging, see our Packing your sold items article.

Tracking is automatically uploaded for you and you can track the status of your item in the View Order Details section of My eBay or Seller Hub. If your item can't be delivered to the buyer, it'll be returned to you.

Tip
Simple Delivery is available for UK domestic deliveries only. If your item sells to a buyer overseas and you use the Global Shipping Programme, you can use your Simple Delivery label to send your item to the UK shipping centre.

Restricted or prohibited items

Items listed on eBay need to comply with eBay's policies, including our Prohibited and restricted items policy. Items posted with Simple Delivery also need to comply with the prohibited and restricted items guidance and packaging requirements set out below, as well as the policies of the carrier.

We recommend checking these policies and the guidance below before you print your Simple Delivery label and before you bring your parcel to the drop-off location.

Restricted or prohibited items

The following items aren't allowed to be posted with Simple Delivery:

  • Alcoholic beverages, regardless of alcoholic concentration
  • Animals, alive, dead, stuffed and any of their parts
  • Batteries, in particular lithium-ion (including those contained in electronic devices), which are damaged or recalled, or any type of used battery. However, functioning batteries may be sent providing they are properly installed within the devices they power and are secured to prevent movement during transit. See also Packaging Guidelines.
  • Biological and DNA samples, including but not limited to organs, tissues, cells, bacteria, viruses, DNA, RNA, clinical waste, body fluids such as: blood, urine, faeces, saliva and sweat
  • Clinical and medical waste, including but not limited to contaminated dressings, bandages and needles
  • Drugs, any medicinal, narcotic or psychoactive substance controlled under applicable legislation including medical tests
  • Environmental waste, including but not limited to used engine oil
  • Explosive items, including but not limited to fireworks, flares, blasting caps and party poppers
  • Flammable items or items containing hazardous material, such as fuels, nail varnish, certain types of paint, and solvents. Items which are combustible and could react dangerously with other substances.
  • Funerary items such as human remains, including but not limited to ashes
  • Gases and pressurised containers, including flammable, non-flammable, toxic, and compressed gases. Pressurised containers, such as aerosols (that do not comply with the Packaging Guidelines set out below), oxygen tanks or fire extinguishers
  • General waste, including dirt, filth or refuse
  • Illegal items, which refers to goods which are illegal, the carriage of which is illegal, or the supply of which to the recipient is illegal
  • Magnetised materials, with a magnetic field strength of 0.159A/m or more at a distance of 2.1m from the outside of the package
  • Matches, including safety matches
  • Miscellaneous manufactured articles, which includes goods made in foreign prisons, except those imported for non-commercial purposes of a kind not manufactured in the United Kingdom, or those in transit
  • Oxidising materials or organic peroxides, including disinfectants, nitrates and hair dyes or colourants containing peroxide
  • Pesticides, includes weedkiller and any chemical used to kill pests and insects including fly sprays
  • Radioactive materials and samples, which are classified as dangerous goods, such as luminous dials from aircrafts
  • Scripts and subscription certificates, including but not limited to prescriptions for medical purposes
  • Sharp or pointed items, including, but not limited to, knives, scissors, axes alongside gardening and household tools which have blades or sharp edges, for example, shears, secateurs, saws etc.
  • Stamps, any stamp or stamped document issued by a government or related official agencies, other than those that have expired for use or cannot be used to send items
  • Tobacco, all types of tobacco, including e-cigarettes
  • Valuables, such as jewellery, watches, and precious metals, including, but not limited to, jewels, watches, gems, precious metals, real pearls, silver, gold
  • Weapons and ammunition, including replica weapons (i.e., decorative, deactivated or air powered weapons), and ammunition

Packaging guidelines

The following categories of items have specific packaging requirements:

  • Aerosols must be securely packaged in a box, limited to a maximum of 8 aerosol cans per box and the Limited Quantity decal is displayed on the outside of the box (100mm x 100mm decal where packaging allows). Aerosols of more than 100ml can only be accepted where transit would be via road only within the UK and there is no UN number, as per ADR Limited Quantity requirements
  • Batteries must be securely packed to prevent short circuits and accidental activation, have no damaged or recalled units, be limited to 4 cells or 2 batteries, weigh no more than 5kg, and must display the Lithium Battery Mark
  • Food items (Perishable and Non-perishable) must be packaged according to safety standards to prevent spoilage. Use insulated packaging and cold packs to maintain appropriate temperatures throughout transit for perishable items. Non-perishable items should be securely packaged to avoid damage. Perishable items include but are not limited to plants, seeds and plant derivatives
  • Fragrances must be properly packaged and sealed to prevent leakage. They must be 1000ml or less and be contained within leak-proof packaging

This is not exhaustive guidance. For more detailed information on items prohibited and restricted by each carrier and to ensure your item is eligible to be sent through Simple Delivery, see Evri Prohibited and Restricted Items - opens in new window or tab and Royal Mail Prohibited and Restricted Items - opens in new window or tab.

Fees and charges

There's no extra cost for using the Simple Delivery programme. You also won't be charged transaction fees on the delivery costs for the postage label provided to you as part of Simple Delivery. See our Fees for private sellers article for more details.

At checkout your buyer is charged for the delivery cost and the amount is then paid to eBay for the label. If you decide not to use the prepaid label, you'll need to purchase your own label instead at your own cost.

Troubleshooting tips

If you experience any problems with a Simple Delivery label, the following tips may help:

  • If the buyer's name or the first or second line of the buyer's address is incorrect, you can edit this information before you print your label
  • If the buyer entered the wrong town or postcode, you can cancel the transaction and ask the buyer to repurchase the item with the correct address
  • If your item isn't accepted by the carrier, check that your parcel meets the programme requirements, package limits and complies with the relevant policies. If it does, try another drop-off location, if possible
  • Once the label is created you can reprint it if you need to, but you can only use a Simple Delivery label once

If you decide not to use your Simple Delivery label, you don't need to void the unused label.

Opting out

You can opt out of Simple Delivery when you're creating your listing by selecting Custom Postage from the delivery options. If you'd prefer not to use Simple Delivery at all in the future, you'll need to opt out each time this programme is recommended when you're creating listings.

Keep in mind that if you opt out, you won't benefit from the enhanced cover for loss or damage to the item during transit offered by Simple Delivery.

If your listing is eligible, you'll automatically see Simple Delivery as a delivery option when you're creating your listing.

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