topic Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously? in Selling

13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

earthl1ng — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 02:22:43 GMT

I buy stuff on ebay regularly and wanted to sell a couple of items. I hadn't actually thought about the fees because I naively thought they would be reasonable. So I checked and found out it is 13.4%, pretty outrageous.

It is especially weird when ebay has a significant stake in (and used to own) gumtree, where I can list for free.

No wonder people sell on gumtree rather than ebay these days.

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

padi*0409 — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 02:38:32 GMT

@earthl1ng wrote:
I buy stuff on ebay regularly and wanted to sell a couple of items. I hadn't actually thought about the fees because I naively thought they would be reasonable. So I checked and found out it is 13.4%, pretty outrageous.

The fees have been about the same for many years now, even when Paypal could be used by sellers.

It is especially weird when ebay has a significant stake in (and used to own) gumtree, where I can list for free.

No they don't, it was sold in it's entirety back in 2022.

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

sandypebbles — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 02:38:47 GMT

*IF* you do decide to sell the odd thing on eBay, just remember you must fully complete sign up to Managed Payments, and be verified to sell before you list

And be aware of the 30 day hold on funds for new sellers

At least you took notice of what the fees are

You will be amazed at the number of people who come on and abuse other members, claiming there was nothing to say 'what the fees are'

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

sugar249 — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 05:37:13 GMT

Not sure if you have noticed, but they need to run a platform, develop software, they even provide some buyer and seller protections.

I pay plenty of fee's per month and do it happily, the more fee's the more dollars in my pocket.

Gumtree, no protections, no anything, oh sorry there are heaps of scammers, so I suppose it does provide something. Enjoy the wild west.

Oh you forgot to complain that the fee is also included on the postage, wait till you work that out.

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

k1ooo-slr-sales — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 08:54:53 GMT

what level of fees would you consider 'reasonable' ?

Did you know that fees are also charged on the postage amount?

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

aandread — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 12:04:04 GMT

I'd sell more stuff on ebay if they had a lower FVF.... the fee is really high, especially when selling $800 mobiles, etc. But I get that there's not really any other platform that offers what ebay does. Gumtree is more akin to the old trading post than anything. It relies on people coming round to check out the item and there's so many opportunities for something to go wrong, whereas with ebay you usually pay and its posted. I don't generally trust the ebay guarantee (never having used it), but I think people generally trust ebay way more than gumtree

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

sugar249 — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 20:51:36 GMT

@aandread wrote:
I'd sell more stuff on ebay if they had a lower FVF.... the fee is really high, especially when selling $800 mobiles, etc.

I don't generally trust the ebay guarantee (never having used it), but I think people generally trust ebay way more than gumtree

So what fee do you think is fair, remembering Ebay need to run at a profit to keep the system running, they aren't a charity for you to sell your $800 phone on.

Interesting comment, you don't trust the guarantee, but havent used it. Makes sense??

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

gutterpunkz05 — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:07:01 GMT

13.4% FVF is very reasonable for the service provided, plus MBG and seller protections, often funded as goodwill payments by ebay, and of course no buyers premiums.

20 - 25% is quite the norm elsewhere with buyers also charged a premium.

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

davewil1964 — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 07:21:39 GMT

I'd go with Gumtree.

Nobody with a couple of braincells to rub together would buy a used phone online, especially an $800 one.

I can buy a new one for way less than than that.

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

p9games — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 07:57:53 GMT

if you want to sell your old toaster and your old gym equipment then gumtree is the best fit.

If you are a business and want to sell at volume on a sophisticated marketplace with a variety of tools, API integrations and a huge ecosystem of third party systems, then 13% is a reasonable price to pay.

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

aandread — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 10:21:37 GMT

Geez, such a welcoming crowd here.

I've been on ebay for 23 years, very happy with it thanks. I simply meant ebay could make more sales (and thus profit) with a lower FVF (selling more items) than what they do now. I think 10% is a nice round number, makes it easy to work out ebay's fee will be. Wasn't expecting a charity, but thanks for assuming that's what I meant..

And since y'all got upset about my example (the $800 phone), just wanna assure everyone I haven't sold an $800 phone on ebay yet, it was just an example to highlight the high FVF a sale like this would attract ($107.50). People buy used phones for > $800 davewil1964.... maybe someone should tell ebay to stop allowing sales of 1-2 yrs old phones, cause noone will buy them lol... just cause you won't buy one, doesn't mean others won't. No kidding you can buy a new phone for less than that!

I don't trust the guarantee, cause over the years just generally heard a lot of horror stories about how its gone wrong both from people and from stories online. I think its a great concept, but Ebay has to make it much easier for buyers and sellers to get help. A lot of what goes wrong in the process could be sorted if there was better comms. The way the navigation works now, when I've needed help, its too hard to get to the 'chat now' button, having to go through a labyrinth of options, and all manner of offers to chat with a useless automated chat bot before getting to an actual person. When I've gotten to an actual person, the query is always sorted.

Cheers

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

gutterpunkz05 — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 11:08:50 GMT

I think 10% is a nice round number, makes it easy to work out ebay's fee will be. Wasn't expecting a charity, but thanks for assuming that's what I meant..

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The FVF has been 10.9% including GST, for many years, plus sellers were also charged 2.5% by paypal, being a total of 13.4%.

Since managed payments came in, about 4yrs ago ebay now charges 13.4% with no additional financial institution fee.

So before GST and financial fees are included, it is pretty close to your nice round number.

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

sugar249 — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 11:12:55 GMT

@aandread wrote:
Geez, such a welcoming crowd here.

I've been on ebay for 23 years, very happy with it thanks. I simply meant ebay could make more sales (and thus profit) with a lower FVF (selling more items) than what they do now. I think 10% is a nice round number, makes it easy to work out ebay's fee will be. Wasn't expecting a charity, but thanks for assuming that's what I meant..

Cheers

I find a calculator, or spreadsheet, or even a few fingers and toes, makes it simple to calculate the fee's, back a few years ago, you had to add Ebay and Paypal fee's to it all so far easier just one very simple calculation.

But also remember when calculating you need to add postage, packaging, GST,

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

supermussolinibros* — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 21:36:23 GMT

hey don't forget the real hub of activity is facebook as well - i haven't sold here for over five years and never looking at coming back - too many filthy scammers, and just an old fashioned place that hardly anyone uses these days due to the fees. More of a price reference for me these days and i always undercut ebay sellers by 50% (and still come out better)

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

repentatleisure1952 — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 23:52:22 GMT

@supermussolinibros* wrote:
hey don't forget the real hub of activity is facebook as well - i haven't sold here for over five years and never looking at coming back - too many filthy scammers, and just an old fashioned place that hardly anyone uses these days due to the fees. More of a price reference for me these days and i always undercut ebay sellers by 50% (and still come out better)

I am humbled by your modesty & thank you for once again sharing your wisdom with us plebs.

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

domino-710 — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 01:50:06 GMT

LOL - I got lost on the ' hub of activity '.

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

gutterpunkz05 — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 02:23:56 GMT

@supermussolinibros* wrote:
hey don't forget the real hub of activity is facebook as well - i haven't sold here for over five years and never looking at coming back - too many filthy scammers, and just an old fashioned place that hardly anyone uses these days due to the fees. More of a price reference for me these days and i always undercut ebay sellers by 50% (and still come out better)

And you have not been missed once, don't you feel loved.

Over 5 yrs, you are that far out of date as a seller it is not funny.

Ebay protections Vs FB or Gumtree, Uhhm which way will I go!

Re: 13.4% seller fee? Seriously?

gutterpunkz05 — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 02:38:00 GMT

@supermussolinibros* wrote:
hey don't forget the real hub of activity is facebook as well - i haven't sold here for over five years and never looking at coming back - too many filthy scammers, and just an old fashioned place that hardly anyone uses these days due to the fees. More of a price reference for me these days and i always undercut ebay sellers by 50% (and still come out better)

Laughable that you use the platform with the largest market share and reach as a price gauge, rather than checking prices where you sell. Ah well, I suppose you can not expect a significant comparison there