on โ06-06-2026 10:46 AM
Hi, if anyone can help me with the following, it would be greatly appreciated.
I recently had a buyer offer of $15 on one of my โbuy it nowโ items. While I rejected the offer, I received the attached sale break-up from eBay, saying that I would be charged a $1.39 โBuyer protection feeโ. Essentially, I would receive $13.61 from a $15.00 sale.
I donโt have a pro account and so was under the impression that the buyer would pay this fee. Iโve checked my plan and itโs definitely โfree sellingโ.
Perhaps Iโve misunderstood the process and Iโm being about thick. Iโve tried using eBayโs help option, but I didnโt find it very helpful at all.
Thanks.
โ
Solved! Go to Solution.
on โ06-06-2026 03:01 PM
Not if you accept an offer and havenโt done the maths on their sneaky way of going about it ๐คฌ
on โ06-06-2026 03:08 PM
My take on this FWIW, donโt do offersโฆ.go to auction instead and start with price youโre willing to accept
on โ06-06-2026 03:26 PM
Looks like it, dom. ๐ So typical of ebay
โ06-06-2026 03:39 PM - edited โ06-06-2026 03:43 PM
Just be aware that if you list as an auction , the buyer protection fee is added to the starting price when you list and increases with higher bids.
The final calculation is shown at checkout when the auction ends.
IMO, where buyers have used Buy It Now and see the breakdown in checkout they may query it with a seller. A one time query.
Buyers of auctions 'may" say they wouldn't have continued bidding if they knew there was a buyer protection fee involved , which they won't see until they get to checkout.
on โ06-06-2026 03:45 PM
The whole thing is fraughtโฆ.the only winner is eBayโฆ.but itโs still cheaper than paying fvf
on โ06-06-2026 03:46 PM
@*casey* wrote:Just be aware that if you list as an auction , the buyer protection fee is added to the starting price when you list and increases with higher bids.
The final calculation is shown at checkout when the auction ends.
IMO, where buyers have used Buy It Now and see the breakdown in checkout they may query it with a seller. A one time query.
Buyers of auctions 'may" say they wouldn't have continued bidding if they knew there was a buyer protection fee involved , which they won't see until they get to checkout.
Good point, casey.
Itโs not straightforward.
on โ06-06-2026 03:59 PM
Someone - like twyn or casey - perhaps should begin a thread on the ' free selling ' wrought.
Both are very aware of the pitfalls -but the number of those who aren't and are going to get caught should at least have a heads up.
List the pros and cons.
on โ06-06-2026 04:10 PM
Thanks dom, but Iโm still trying to work it all out ieโฆ.. a free seller has free postage and accepts an offerโฆ.then fee is on the whole transaction??
casey, do you know?
on โ06-06-2026 04:13 PM
What a mess the whole thing is. I thought I understood, but I obviously don't.
on โ06-06-2026 04:15 PM
My headโs spinning and Iโve got a store ๐คฏ