Ebay taking a fee for postage!!!

soolin

stevelogan said:

Noticed that a while ago, Ebay is not my favorite for selling stuff anymore

What other sites are you finding useful? I know some people on here sell on places like Amazon and Etsy but their fees are more expensive, but most of us are always interested in new ideas.  I've been using Vinted quite a bit and doing well, but it's limited in what you can sell and it is not for business sellers . 

ahfat41

Vinted is ok but you have to sell very cheap to make it worth for the buyer. Facebook and gumtree no fees but loads of scammers and time wasters.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

soolin said:

stevelogan said:

Noticed that a while ago, Ebay is not my favorite for selling stuff anymore

What other sites are you finding useful? I know some people on here sell on places like Amazon and Etsy but their fees are more expensive, but most of us are always interested in new ideas.  I've been using Vinted quite a bit and doing well, but it's limited in what you can sell and it is not for business sellers . 

Etsy isn’t far off eBay at around 10.5% plus VAT, and of course charge that on postage.

Amazon is 15.3% plus VAT in a lot of categories I believe, plus a whole host of fees but their customer base beats both eBay and Etsy hands down. 

FVFs on postage was an obvious revenue stream for eBay, regardless of any justification they may have given in years gone by about people loading the postage element. 

Everyone is in the same boat, either as a business you have a level playing field, or as a private seller you decide whether access to their customers is worth the fees, which they are IMO. 

Just to add if you sell (direct or with GSP) to a US state that imposes a sales tax eBay will add that tax to the order value and charge a FVF on it.

I read on a US forum these companies can cover their “admin” out of the revenue they collect before passing it on.

Only the US sales tax for some reason rather than on taxes to other countries (at least with GSP, haven’t sold directly overseas since COVID started).

theonlywayisup

olgadapolga said:

hubb said:

Well, this is outrageous. I have looked at my account (after some searching as they keep throwing up the horrible seller hub I keep opting out of only to be thrust upon me on my next visit) and not only do they charge a fee for selling and final value, but also postage!!!!!!This is unbelievable as the postage is NOT making me any proffit. Ebay are just making it less and less appealing to sell all the time. I shall just have to add extra on my postage from now on to cover my costs.

This isn't new.

No, quite, but this is hubb. 

soolin

theonlywayisup said:

olgadapolga said:

hubb said:

Well, this is outrageous. I have looked at my account (after some searching as they keep throwing up the horrible seller hub I keep opting out of only to be thrust upon me on my next visit) and not only do they charge a fee for selling and final value, but also postage!!!!!!This is unbelievable as the postage is NOT making me any proffit. Ebay are just making it less and less appealing to sell all the time. I shall just have to add extra on my postage from now on to cover my costs.

This isn't new.

No, quite, but this is hubb. 

I Initially wondered if it was an attempt at an April Fool joke as hubb is an experienced seller. 

hubb

soolin said:

theonlywayisup said:

olgadapolga said:

hubb said:

Well, this is outrageous. I have looked at my account (after some searching as they keep throwing up the horrible seller hub I keep opting out of only to be thrust upon me on my next visit) and not only do they charge a fee for selling and final value, but also postage!!!!!!This is unbelievable as the postage is NOT making me any proffit. Ebay are just making it less and less appealing to sell all the time. I shall just have to add extra on my postage from now on to cover my costs.

This isn't new.

No, quite, but this is hubb. 

I Initially wondered if it was an attempt at an April Fool joke as hubb is an experienced seller. 

I hardly use Ebay these days. I find the seller dashboard they inflict on us horrible. Everytime I opt to resort to the old, much clearer type it defaults back to the new one where I can't find anything.

soolin

hubb said:

soolin said:

theonlywayisup said:

olgadapolga said:

hubb said:

Well, this is outrageous. I have looked at my account (after some searching as they keep throwing up the horrible seller hub I keep opting out of only to be thrust upon me on my next visit) and not only do they charge a fee for selling and final value, but also postage!!!!!!This is unbelievable as the postage is NOT making me any proffit. Ebay are just making it less and less appealing to sell all the time. I shall just have to add extra on my postage from now on to cover my costs.

This isn't new.

No, quite, but this is hubb. 

I Initially wondered if it was an attempt at an April Fool joke as hubb is an experienced seller. 

I hardly use Ebay these days. I find the seller dashboard they inflict on us horrible. Everytime I opt to resort to the old, much clearer type it defaults back to the new one where I can't find anything.

The seller dashboard has only been around for about 2 years, you were selling and posting on here for many years before that when the FVF were being charged on postage, hence me thinking it was an April Fool. 

Exodi

ahfat41 said:

Vinted is ok but you have to sell very cheap to make it worth for the buyer. Facebook and gumtree no fees but loads of scammers and time wasters.

I won't necessarily disagree with Vinted (though it is heavily focused on clothing) but I don't think Facebook or Gumtree are reasonable alternatives.

Both of these are generally only suitable for 'Collection Only' listings, especially given Facebook's recent moves away from offering Purchase Protection and an unfortunate (but deserved) reputation of being full of scammers. Gumtree is similar in this regard.

The other obvious alternative is Amazon. I sell professional on Vendor Central and Seller Central, and I can tell you now that if you think eBay's fees are higher, you want to be sitting down when you learn of Amazon's fees. But obviously their customer base is bigger and mostly focused on new products.

I think eBay is still the market leader in posted, used items (excluding clothing).

As has been said above, if they didn't change FVF on postage, an item that might sell for £20 + £5 postage (£3.52 fee), could be listed for £1 + £24 postage (£0.43 fee).