Ebay holding private sellers funds until proof of delivery from 4th Feb, 2025

noitsnotme · 3 January at 12:52PM

Details have now been released…

” What’s changing for private sellers

We recently made changes to our fee structure so it’s free for private sellers to sell on eBay (excl. Vehicles). As part of this, from 4 Feb, a Buyer Protection fee will be added to listings from UK-based private sellers so we can make investments into these protections. This fee will be included in the item price and be paid for by the buyer. As a reminder, this is free of charge for business sellers.

To give buyers more protection and encourage timely shipment, private sellers will be paid once the item is delivered. There’s no change for business sellers and you’ll still receive your payouts as quickly as you do today.”

The Buyer Protection fee will be calculated as:

A flat fee of £0.75 per item, and
4% of the item price up to £300, and
2% of any portion of the item price from £300 to £4,000

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/paying-items/buyer-protection-fee?id=5594

noitsnotme · 3 January at 12:56PM

Payment after delivery details here - https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold?id=4814

“Changes to when you get paid beginning in February 2025

From February 2025, eBay will typically make the sales proceeds of private sellers available in eBay balance after the order has been successfully delivered, unless subject to a hold. These are the criteria we'll use to determine when an item has been successfully delivered:

For tracked deliveries, funds will be available 2 calendar days after we receive confirmation from the tracked service that the delivery was successful
For local collection, funds will be available after you exchange the QR or 6 digit code with your buyer. For same-day local collection, funds will be available 24 hours after the order is collected
If the item includes Authenticity Guarantee, funds will be available after the item is successfully authenticated
For items sent via Global Shipping Programme, funds will be available after the item is delivered to the UK Shipping Centre
For untracked deliveries, or tracked deliveries when there is no delivery confirmation, funds will become available 14 calendar days from the order date”

caprikid1 · 3 January at 12:59PM

Lots of changes, Fee's back on Private Sales ...

We recently changed our fee structure, so it's now free for private sellers to sell, and there are no barriers for you to list the items buyers will love. As part of this change, we're launching Buyer Protection to give buyers more confidence and security when shopping.

We wanted to share what this means for you and your buyers. From 4 Feb, a fee will be included in the item price when purchasing from private sellers, but buyers will only ever pay what they see, so there are no surprises at checkout.

What's great about Buyer Protection

We've added benefits to give buyers more peace of mind when shopping:

• 24/7 customer support: Buyers can connect with a real person by phone at any time of day, or start a chat to get quick answers.

• Seller paid after delivery: When buying from private sellers, funds will only be sent once their item has been delivered.

We've also still got buyers covered with other great free services like eBay Money Back Guarantee and Authenticity Guarantee.*

How the Buyer Protection fee works

• The fee will be included in the item price from private sellers, so there are no surprises at checkout.

• Buyers will pay up to 4% of the item price, plus £0.75.** For example, when they see an item for £20, the fee of £1.49 will already be part of the price.

• The fee is lower on higher-priced items over £300, and there's a cap on the total amount they'll pay.

• For items from business sellers, they'll get the Buyer Protection benefits at no extra cost.

Learn more about the Buyer Protection fee

How we're improving things for private sellers

As part of our ongoing mission to be the best marketplace for buyers and sellers, we recently announced:

• It's free to sell (excl. Vehicles) so you can bring buyers more of the things they love.

• It's simpler to list so you can get your items out faster.

• It's easier to get your items to buyers with the launch of Simple Delivery.

Now, to give your buyers even more confidence when shopping, UK-based private sellers will be paid after item delivery, from 4 Feb. Your funds will be available in your eBay balance two days after delivery confirmation.*** We know it's important to get your money fast, so we recommend using a tracked delivery service either through Simple Delivery, or arranging for local collection.

Learn more about what's changing for sellers

We're also updating our User Agreement to reflect the Buyer Protection service. If you have any questions or concerns, just get in touch—we're here to help.

Thanks for being part of the eBay community.

soolin · 3 January at 1:06PM

Quote The Buyer Protection fee will be calculated as:

A flat fee of £0.75 per item, and
4% of the item price up to £300, and
2% of any portion of the item price from £300 to £4,000

So basically private sellers will have to reduce the cost of their items to be competitive against business sellers in the same category. Business sellers will be very happy at this move as it goes towards evening up the selling experience again.

Buyers used to Vinted will be used to this as there’s already a buyer protection fee there. However the difference on Vinted is that it is paid on all purchases, not just those deemed to be from private sellers.

caprikid1 · 3 January at 1:51PM

"So basically private sellers will have to reduce the cost of their items to be competitive against business sellers in the same category. Business sellers will be very happy at this move as it goes towards evening up the selling experience again. "

Private sellers items are still paying less fee's and no VAT , 4% vs - c12% + 20% VAT

Chances are a Private Seller who is selling the same item at a similar price to a Business Seller is probably a business sellers as far as HMRC is concerned.

soolin · 3 January at 1:57PM

caprikid1 said:

Chances are a Private Seller who is selling the same item at a similar price to a Business Seller is probably a business sellers as far as HMRC is concerned.

Which is why I suspect this change has been implemented. Whilst it might all be bluster and bravado there were quite a few business sellers claiming to be closing their ebay accounts when the free listings for private sellers was brought in. The business sellers mainly affected were those who sold in categories most used by wrongly registered businesses pretending to be private sellers. I found one the other day which I mentioned on here who had 4000 listing virtually all for brand new items and in large quantities selling in one of my business categories. With my buisness fees I couldn't possibly compete against their prices. If this goes some way to making selling a more even platform, it may well encourage more business sellers and they make up the vast majority of profit by ebay.

caprikid1 · 3 January at 2:16PM

I think Ebay fails to understand it's the business sellers who separate it from Market place and pay the majority of their income.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head · 3 January at 2:57PM

soolin said:

Business sellers will be very happy at this move as it goes towards evening up the selling experience again.

I'm not sure they will be that happy about it, business FVF are closer to 15% with the VAT added!

Previously, although they ran offers, it excluded listings with multi QTY* so at least those obvious businesses on private accounts with 756 sold had been paying 12.9% and only really benefiting from not having the upfront listing cost.

I'm sure business sellers will think 4% is better than zero but I'm fairly confident they won't be happy!

*I read eBay are taking away MVL for private sellers, had to say if that's to force change or a token gesture to business sellers, if they really want to force change removing the actual QTY box would make more sense, after all private sellers with two identical beans to sell can always sell one and then relist to sell the other.

If eBay really wanted to level the playing field they'd give business sellers, at least some, free listings, say 25-50 a month to test the waters. The big businesses are fine as they have the volume, for small businesses starting out although 36p isn't much 10 listings is £43.20 a year, that's £43.20 they don't really have to pay as they could get away with a private account....

soolin · 3 January at 3:19PM

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

soolin said:

Business sellers will be very happy at this move as it goes towards evening up the selling experience again.

I'm not sure they will be that happy about it, business FVF are closer to 15% with the VAT added!

Previously, although they ran offers, it excluded listings with multi QTY* so at least those obvious businesses on private accounts with 756 sold had been paying 12.9% and only really benefiting from not having the upfront listing cost.

I'm sure business sellers will think 4% is better than zero but I'm fairly confident they won't be happy!

*I read eBay are taking away MVL for private sellers, had to say if that's to force change or a token gesture to business sellers, if they really want to force change removing the actual QTY box would make more sense, after all private sellers with two identical beans to sell can always sell one and then relist to sell the other.

If eBay really wanted to level the playing field they'd give business sellers, at least some, free listings, say 25-50 a month to test the waters. The big businesses are fine as they have the volume, for small businesses starting out although 36p isn't much 10 listings is £43.20 a year, that's £43.20 they don't really have to pay as they could get away with a private account....

Don't forget the 75p standing charge per item as well.

This doesn't level the field entirely especially when business sellers either have to pay for a shop or pay for each listing, but having seen the unregistered businesses listing for free and having no additional fees to pay anywhere- this must be better.

Vitor · 4 January at 12:54PM

I wonder if RM lent on Ebay about private sellers having to buy postage online due to the number of fake barcoded stamps that are available 'under the counter'?