eBay's Simple Delivery: What Sellers Need to Know

10th April 2025, 10:10am in Shipping Advice by Dan Jones

Important note: eBay’s Simple Delivery changes, effective from April 15, 2025, apply only to private sellers listing on eBay. If you operate under a business seller account, these changes do not currently apply to you—you can continue using your own couriers and platforms like Interparcel as normal.

What is eBay "Simple Delivery"?

Simple Delivery is a fixed-rate, prepaid postage system introduced by eBay for private sellers. It allows sellers to purchase shipping labels from pre-selected couriers directly through the eBay platform.

This removes the freedom for private sellers to choose their own couriers, and forces them to use services selected by eBay at the price that they dictate.

When is it Coming Into Effect?

7 April 2025:
eBay will begin automatically updating eligible listings to include the Simple Delivery option.

15 April 2025:
Simple Delivery becomes mandatory for all eligible listings by private sellers.

Can Sellers Still Use Their Own Couriers?

Until April 15, private sellers can still select “Custom Postage” and use their own delivery services. However, once the policy takes effect, most eligible items by private sellers will require the use Simple Delivery — unless the listing meets one of eBay’s official exemptions.

Exemptions from Simple Delivery

Private sellers can still opt out of Simple Delivery if their item meets any of the following criteria:

1. International Delivery

Simple delivery is available only for UK domestic shipments (including to the Channel Islands)
Direct international deliveries must be arranged using your own courier

2. Low-priced, Lightweight Items

Item is priced under £10 and weighs 100 grams or less

3. Bulky or Oversized Items

Item exceeds 120cm in length

4. Heavy Items

Item weighs more than 20kg

5. High-Value Items

Item is priced over £750 (applies to Buy It Now, auction starting price, or reserve)

6. Local Pickup Only

If the listing offers collection in person only, Simple Delivery does not apply

If your listing meets one or more of these conditions, you're free to continue using your own shipping method—such as booking through Interparcel.

Who Pays for Simple Delivery?

By default, the buyer pays for Simple Delivery postage at checkout. However, if the seller chooses to offer free delivery, they must change the setting to “seller pays”, in which case the postage cost will be charged to the seller when purchasing the label.

This gives private sellers the flexibility to build postage into their item prices if desired.

What Does This Mean for Interparcel Cutomers?

If you’re a private seller, you’ll need to adjust how you handle eBay shipping from 15 April onward. You’ll still be able to use Interparcel for:

Non-eBay orders
Listings that meet any of the exemption criteria above
If you upgrade to, or operate under, a business seller account, this policy does not apply to you

If you're a business seller, you can continue using Interparcel to fulfil all your eBay orders without restriction.

What Is a Business Seller?

With the rollout of Simple Delivery for private sellers, many eBay users are exploring the benefits of switching to a business seller account — and for good reason. Business sellers are currently not affected by the new shipping rules, and the upgrade opens the door to more flexibility and professional tools.

While business sellers do pay listing fees, they also gain access to a wider range of features and selling options, including:

Increased selling limits to list more products and scale up faster
Lower fees per listing when using a monthly subscription plan
More control over delivery options, including continued use of your preferred couriers
A customisable eBay shopfront to help build your brand and showcase your range
Access to advanced marketing tools such as promotions and insights
The ability to create auction-style listings for better reach
Enhanced customer support, especially with higher-tier seller subscriptions

You can sell without a monthly plan for a flat 30p per listing, or choose a subscription starting from £27/month, which includes 250 free listings and reduced fees beyond that.

How Do I Become a Business Seller on eBay?

If you’re ready to upgrade, switching to a business account on eBay is a quick process. You’ll need to provide a few key details:

Your business name
A business email address
The location your business operates from
A VAT number (only if you're VAT-registered)

Once you’ve set up your business account, you’ll be able to pick between pay-as-you-go pricing or a monthly subscription. Subscribing gives you access to more features and lower listing costs, but it's entirely up to you based on how much you sell.

You can make the switch by heading to your eBay account settings and selecting “Upgrade to business account".

What's the Cheapest Way to Send Parcels on eBay?

If you’re looking to keep shipping costs down, Interparcel offers some of the most competitive delivery rates in the UK — making us a smart choice for eBay sellers looking for flexibility and value.

Our shipping starts from just £2.05 + VAT, which is much better value than eBay’s Simple Delivery service, where prices start at £2.25 + VAT.

With Interparcel, you're not tied to a single courier. We give you access to a wide range of trusted delivery partners including Evri, DPD, FedEx, Yodel, UPS, Parcelforce and more—so you can always find the right balance of speed, service, and cost.

We’re committed to offering great prices without sacrificing quality, and we regularly run exclusive discounts to help you save even more.

👉 Ready to compare your options? Get a free quote now and see just how much you could save.

Exclusive Discount Code

Exclusive Offer for eBay Sellers: As an extra bonus, we're offering eBay senders 50p off FedEx UK Next Day services when you use the code FEDEX50 at checkout. This offer is valid until 27th April (inclusive) — perfect for fast, reliable deliveries at an even better price.