eBay shipping - new shipping process for private sellers
Summary: stubenkram informs us about eBay’s new Terms and Conditions, which will take effect on September 15, 2026, and discusses the changes to the shipping process for private sellers. There are concerns that using eBay shipping may become mandatory, and uncertainty about which listings will be affected. lidor3073 and stubenkram exchange views on the impact on their selling practices, while roter_rauch speculates that the changes could mainly affect two special areas. stubenkram expresses doubts about the vague wording on eBay’s help pages, especially regarding international sales and the options for customizing shipping settings.
Hello everyone!
On September 15, 2026, the new version of eBay's terms and conditions will come into effect. The differences from the current version can be compared here.
Not long ago, there was still a note on the help pages that said something along these lines: "For private sellers, the use of eBay shipping labels is set by default." A somewhat odd wording, but from this "default setting" you could still infer that it currently can also be done differently. So as a private seller, you can, for example, have the packages stamped at a DHL branch, or buy the shipping labels online from DHL, or get them through eBay.
It seems these options will soon no longer be available?
In the new version of the terms and conditions, this is stated under § 1 section 16:
For certain listings, eBay may provide shipping options and services ("eBay Shipping"). The eBay Shipping Terms as well as the respective applicable terms of the shipping providers apply to sellers for eBay Shipping. eBay may make the use of eBay Shipping mandatory for listings. The seller may, where applicable, choose that the buyer bears the shipping costs. If this is provided for under eBay Shipping for the respective shipping option, these shipping costs are to be paid to eBay.
I would especially like an explanation of this sentence: "eBay may make the use of eBay Shipping mandatory for listings."
Which "certain listings" will this affect? Only certain listings, or all of them?
Here https://www.ebay.de/help/selling/posting-items/setting-postage-options/simple-delivery?id=5575 there is currently only this text:
eBay Shipping
For private sellers, we're introducing a new shipping process to make shipping on eBay even easier.
From September 15, 2026 we will be introducing eBay Shipping for eligible private sellers on eBay.de.
With eBay Shipping, shipping for eligible listings is handled through eBay. You'll find more information about how it works, the requirements, and the options for labels and QR codes on this page.
The content on this page will be fully updated at launch.
This new shipping process will be available to private sellers who list eligible items on eBay.de. Over time, we will expand the offer to more sellers, categories, and destinations.
roter_rauch
·1 week agoI actually don’t see any hidden "tricks" there. In connection with the new "Ebay International" (option, not mandatory), that doesn’t sound illogical – still, there’s quite a lot to watch out for in the further terms of use (requirements, "eligible", etc.), which is already being discussed here / has been discussed; I think under "Commercial".
The same applies to authenticity checks (mandatory). If I remember correctly from the email or news about it, those are actually supposed to be extended to shipping abroad as well. Maybe a mandatory option with the possibility to opt out, I don’t have the exact wording in my head.
So both are driven by Ebay’s wish (I’m guessing) to boost international sales. Maybe that’s also why the absurd delivery times stated by Ebay aren’t disappearing, with sellers being almost "tortured" here to switch to the new shipping option. Ebay supposedly bears all risks of delay, loss, and returns. A sly one, whoever … etc.
This passage you’re quoting: …
"The seller can explicitly exclude international shipping locations in their shipping settings. In addition, the seller can deactivate eBay International Shipping there."
… sounds more logical than before, because it makes official that buyers from the whole wide world can buy, which often happens, for example, by giving a shipping address within Germany. These addresses, often warehouse or forwarding services, kept irritating private sellers again and again.
roter_rauch
·1 week agoEbay changes its T&Cs several times a year. This time, two new things could be the reason:
1. a new Ebay shipping service for international sales/shipments that Ebay will be offering shortly could be found under "News" and was also recently a topic here
2. For authenticity checks, Ebay will in future provide the shipping label more often, previously only for some selected products.
I can't imagine that this means major changes for all sellers. It affects more these two "special groups". The EU shipping isn't included yet either/will follow later. And then you can still choose if you're "eligible" to participate, and/or using the label will become mandatory, as with authenticity items.
stubenkram
OP1 week ago · EditedThanks for your reply, @roter_rauch Hopefully you're right.
There’s a big difference between "offer", "eligibility", and "obligation". But does eBay see it that way too? I didn’t like this wording in the eBay help because it’s extremely vague: "Over time, we are expanding the offer to more sellers, categories, and destinations."
Right now, on eBay’s help pages, there apparently isn’t any info left for private sellers from which one could at least infer that you can have your parcels stamped at a DHL branch, for example. The only information available on this at the moment seems to be this:
It still says "can" here, not "must". But it does give the impression that shipping will take place through eBay.
I saw the discussion in the community about the new eBay shipping service for international sales/shipments. In that respect too, I was somewhat irritated that this passage was replaced like this in the revised terms and conditions:
Old:
New:
The function that lets you exclude bidders/buyers from countries you don’t want to ship to from purchasing is still there for now. But that might change too?
lidor3073
·1 week agoGreat. What are eligible items? 😏🙄
stubenkram
OP1 week agoAt the moment, probably only these, which are mentioned here eBay shipping conditions under point 5. Participation requirements. But the eBay help says: "Over time, we are expanding the offer to more sellers, categories and destinations."
Participation requirements.
Eligible items. eBay Shipping is offered by eBay only for selected items. eBay reserves the right to adjust the requirements for participating in eBay Shipping at any time at its sole discretion, including with regard to the number, type, categories and/or value of the items.
Authentication check. Items subject to eBay authenticity verification can be shipped with eBay Shipping, provided they are offered using the “Buy It Now” function or have a starting auction price of €10,000 (incl. taxes) or less. In addition, the following minimum starting prices apply for the following categories of items subject to authenticity verification:
Watches: €1,500
Handbags: €200
Sneakers: €200
Clothing, shoes, accessories: €200
For items subject to eBay authenticity verification, the eBay shipping labels provide for delivery to the respective location of eBay authenticity checkers in Germany.
lidor3073
·1 week agoAnother lever of control. I'm doing well with buying shipping labels online from DHL & Hermes and entering the tracking number....
I'm curious whether that should apply to my items too. 😏
stubenkram
OP1 week ago · Edited@lidor3073 I don't want to wildly guess here right now, but I could imagine that it will affect only high-priced offers from private sellers, i.e. everything with a starting price/purchase price of 200 euros or more.
I'm hoping for a clear answer on whether it is planned for the future that from all private sellers, every offer will only come to buyers via Ebay shipping.