Ebay - Profit help

CharlieD2k

Hi I used Ebay years ago and always found after postage that my profit margin would be very low or even negative. Is there a way of working out fees etc to see what the min selling price on an item should be to make the desired amount of profit after postage and fees? 

I now use Vinted a lot for smaller cheaper items but would like to try Ebay for the dearer things but don't want to end up losing out. 

Tia 

KxMx

Try this calculator: 

https://www.ebayfeescalculator.com/uk-ebay-calculator/

You may also get offers which usually come around once a fortnight (not everyone gets them). Free listings and 70-80% off FVF's for example.

Thread to watch is here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3824175/free-listing-email-alerts-no-chat#latest


Also as you haven't sold there in a while, you may not be aware of Managed Payments whereby eBay and not PayPal now manage the money for sellers.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-sold-?id=4814

soolin

KxMx said:

Try this calculator: 

https://www.ebayfeescalculator.com/uk-ebay-calculator/

You may also get offers which usually come around once a fortnight (not everyone gets them). Free listings and 70-80% off FVF's for example.

Thread to watch is here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3824175/free-listing-email-alerts-no-chat#latest


Also as you haven't sold there in a while, you may not be aware of Managed Payments whereby eBay and not PayPal now manage the money for sellers.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-sold-?id=4814

The word profit suggests OP is a business and therefore not going to get the FVF offers available to most private sellers. 

OP, assuming you are just selling your own things and are not in fact a business then apart from calculator charts it is possible to do quick  and easy back of the envelope type calculations. After a while it's possible to do them in your ehad without even thinking about it.

So take item sale price and add postage that you are going to charge to give a total price. From that remove 12.8 % plus 30p , from the remaining total remove the actual postage cost and cost of any envelopes or boxes you have to buy. The amount left after that is what you will get in your pocket.

After a while you will start to know automatically what for instance a £10 item where you charge £3.30 for a parcel would net you, and you can work up and down from that. There is no excuse at all for making a loss unless you make a daft mistake (and believe me I've done that !) never list anything without knowing what you will end up with and if its pennies, just charity shop the item instead.

EDIT I have not allowed for the FVF offer as a new seller might not get them for a while. However when they do appear on your listing (and we usually get a note about them on here first!) just factor that in to your calculations.

CharlieD2k

KxMx said:

Try this calculator: 

https://www.ebayfeescalculator.com/uk-ebay-calculator/

You may also get offers which usually come around once a fortnight (not everyone gets them). Free listings and 70-80% off FVF's for example.

Thread to watch is here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3824175/free-listing-email-alerts-no-chat#latest


Also as you haven't sold there in a while, you may not be aware of Managed Payments whereby eBay and not PayPal now manage the money for sellers.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-sold-?id=4814

I tried using it again last year at some point so know about PayPal being gone and I do normally get free listing offers and that would be the only time I post things but still never make much unfortunately. I will 100% try that calculator for some of the items I am looking to list shortly. 

Thank you very much.

CharlieD2k

soolin said:

KxMx said:

Try this calculator: 

https://www.ebayfeescalculator.com/uk-ebay-calculator/

You may also get offers which usually come around once a fortnight (not everyone gets them). Free listings and 70-80% off FVF's for example.

Thread to watch is here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3824175/free-listing-email-alerts-no-chat#latest


Also as you haven't sold there in a while, you may not be aware of Managed Payments whereby eBay and not PayPal now manage the money for sellers.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-sold-?id=4814

The word profit suggests OP is a business and therefore not going to get the FVF offers available to most private sellers. 

OP, assuming you are just selling your own things and are not in fact a business then apart from calculator charts it is possible to do quick  and easy back of the envelope type calculations. After a while it's possible to do them in your ehad without even thinking about it.

So take item sale price and add postage that you are going to charge to give a total price. From that remove 12.8 % plus 30p , from the remaining total remove the actual postage cost and cost of any envelopes or boxes you have to buy. The amount left after that is what you will get in your pocket.

After a while you will start to know automatically what for instance a £10 item where you charge £3.30 for a parcel would net you, and you can work up and down from that. There is no excuse at all for making a loss unless you make a daft mistake (and believe me I've done that !) never list anything without knowing what you will end up with and if its pennies, just charity shop the item instead.

EDIT I have not allowed for the FVF offer as a new seller might not get them for a while. However when they do appear on your listing (and we usually get a note about them on here first!) just factor that in to your calculations.

No just selling my own things trying to clear the house out a bit and make some money if possible. Thank you the advice I will start working out what I'll be making per item before posting them to eBay. I've started sending more and more to the charity shop but would like to make something back if possible.

jon81uk

CharlieD2k said:

KxMx said:

Try this calculator: 

https://www.ebayfeescalculator.com/uk-ebay-calculator/

You may also get offers which usually come around once a fortnight (not everyone gets them). Free listings and 70-80% off FVF's for example.

Thread to watch is here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3824175/free-listing-email-alerts-no-chat#latest


Also as you haven't sold there in a while, you may not be aware of Managed Payments whereby eBay and not PayPal now manage the money for sellers.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-sold-?id=4814

I tried using it again last year at some point so know about PayPal being gone and I do normally get free listing offers and that would be the only time I post things but still never make much unfortunately. I will 100% try that calculator for some of the items I am looking to list shortly. 

Thank you very much.

You will normally get a permanent free listing offer of around 1000 a month. It’s the final value you pay fees on. 

soolin

jon81uk said:

CharlieD2k said:

KxMx said:

Try this calculator: 

https://www.ebayfeescalculator.com/uk-ebay-calculator/

You may also get offers which usually come around once a fortnight (not everyone gets them). Free listings and 70-80% off FVF's for example.

Thread to watch is here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3824175/free-listing-email-alerts-no-chat#latest


Also as you haven't sold there in a while, you may not be aware of Managed Payments whereby eBay and not PayPal now manage the money for sellers.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-sold-?id=4814

I tried using it again last year at some point so know about PayPal being gone and I do normally get free listing offers and that would be the only time I post things but still never make much unfortunately. I will 100% try that calculator for some of the items I am looking to list shortly. 

Thank you very much.

You will normally get a permanent free listing offer of around 1000 a month. It’s the final value you pay fees on. 

A good point to have made, thank you. I think many of us, myself included, forget that private sellers effectively get free listings on everything as it’s been years since that was brought in. It is well worth noting, for new sellers or returning sellers that FVFs are also discounted for most private sellers at certain points. 

FFHillbilly

CharlieD2k said:

soolin said:

KxMx said:

Try this calculator: 

https://www.ebayfeescalculator.com/uk-ebay-calculator/

You may also get offers which usually come around once a fortnight (not everyone gets them). Free listings and 70-80% off FVF's for example.

Thread to watch is here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3824175/free-listing-email-alerts-no-chat#latest


Also as you haven't sold there in a while, you may not be aware of Managed Payments whereby eBay and not PayPal now manage the money for sellers.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-sold-?id=4814

The word profit suggests OP is a business and therefore not going to get the FVF offers available to most private sellers. 

OP, assuming you are just selling your own things and are not in fact a business then apart from calculator charts it is possible to do quick  and easy back of the envelope type calculations. After a while it's possible to do them in your ehad without even thinking about it.

So take item sale price and add postage that you are going to charge to give a total price. From that remove 12.8 % plus 30p , from the remaining total remove the actual postage cost and cost of any envelopes or boxes you have to buy. The amount left after that is what you will get in your pocket.

After a while you will start to know automatically what for instance a £10 item where you charge £3.30 for a parcel would net you, and you can work up and down from that. There is no excuse at all for making a loss unless you make a daft mistake (and believe me I've done that !) never list anything without knowing what you will end up with and if its pennies, just charity shop the item instead.

EDIT I have not allowed for the FVF offer as a new seller might not get them for a while. However when they do appear on your listing (and we usually get a note about them on here first!) just factor that in to your calculations.

No just selling my own things trying to clear the house out a bit and make some money if possible

if you are just clearing out old things I can't see how you ever hope to make a profit, unless you have a load of stuff that has suddenly increased in value?
in my mind, clearing out old things you just make what you can, and to maximise the amount you get, make sure you use the most efficient postage method, make sure it's properly listed to get the most views, and make sure it's listed on a FVF offer weekend.
say for example you bought something for personal use 5 years ago for £50 , the going rate for that item second hand is now £30, you sell for £30, buyer pays £3.49 for postage , assuming you post online you would pay £2.99, and you pay 2.5% fees plus 30p (or thereabouts, assuming listed on a 80% off fees offer weekend)
+£33.49 
-£2.99 postage 
-£1.16 fees 
-£50 initial purchase price
=-£20.66 profit

and it always will be a loss unless you have bought something that has increased in value.

is that what we're talking about or are you saying you somehow end up spending more money just to get rid of the item? in which case, what are your costs for selling

TOP_CAT

Using 2.5% is easier in your head
If you work the  FVF 80% offer out on a calculater  using 2.56% of the total plus .30p its abit more accurate

RFW

FFHillbilly said:

if you are just clearing out old things I can't see how you ever hope to make a profit, unless you have a load of stuff that has suddenly increased in value?
in my mind, clearing out old things you just make what you can, and to maximise the amount you get, make sure you use the most efficient postage method, make sure it's properly listed to get the most views, and make sure it's listed on a FVF offer weekend.
say for example you bought something for personal use 5 years ago for £50 , the going rate for that item second hand is now £30, you sell for £30, buyer pays £3.49 for postage , assuming you post online you would pay £2.99, and you pay 2.5% fees plus 30p (or thereabouts, assuming listed on a 80% off fees offer weekend)
+£33.49 
-£2.99 postage 
-£1.16 fees 
-£50 initial purchase price
=-£20.66 profit

and it always will be a loss unless you have bought something that has increased in value.

is that what we're talking about or are you saying you somehow end up spending more money just to get rid of the item? in which case, what are your costs for selling

I don't think they mean actual profit, more getting back a positive figure after postage and fees. It's easy enough to think you're selling something and getting a tenner back and then have to pay fees and a courier fee.

I recently, accidentally, sold some items in Europe that ended up costing me more than taking them to the tip and I've been doing this for donkey's years! (that was a bit of a glitch on Amazon but I should have picked up on it after the first sale.)