mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999
Hi everyone,
I'm new to selling trading cards on ebay and was wondering if someone could help me understand the transaction fee. I was expecting a 13.25% for selling this card, but it's more like 22%. What am I missing? Thanks in advance!
@ketchumcollective wrote:Deceptive is too harsh of a word. It was unclear to me at the time. I assumed the phrase "List up to 250 items for FREE" means I'm not being charged to list my item. I knew about the 13.25% cut that they would take from the sale but I didn't realize there was an additional .30 standard fee. It's my fault for not knowing that going into it. I indeed should have done more research but it's been great having these conversations and learning other things along the way. "Transaction Fee" on the order form doesn't exactly break it down. You're right though, it's spelled out in other places.
Just to be clear, I'm not complaining about the fees. I just wanted to understand them, which I do now, thanks to everyone's help/advice.
Yes, as I said early assuming stuff will more often work against you. The statement was clear, you just wanted it to say something different, so that is the way you read it. That isn't Ebay's fault as the statement is clear. However what you said above is EXACTLY what the statement by Ebay means.
You weren't charged to list the items.
The per transaction fee is shown / stated on the Seller Fee policy page as well as you can see it in the detailed deductions taken from your MP account on the right side of the Summary page.
https://www.ebay.com/sh/fin/summary
@ketchumcollective wrote:Got it. But if I have the buyer pay for shipping, it's my understanding (based on what dbfolks shared above), that the 13.25% DOES include the shipping cost.
Don't confuse two separate things.
First the fees you pay to Ebay are based on the total amount a buyer pays on the transaction, which is normally the product, shipping and sales tax if it applies. Plus you pay a 30 cent per transaction fee for a sale under $10 or 40cents for over $10.
So now the buyer has paid YOU for shipping. You now need to purchase the actual shipping for the item and you have to pay the carrier.
Two separate things. The cost you pay for the shipping is an additional cost of sales for your little business.
Just a little thought for your consideration. If shipping costs you 64 cents, you need to charge more than that to the buyer to cover your fees to Ebay and shipping supplies. You can put that cost onto what you charge the buyer for shipping or you can roll the cost into the costs you use to then develop your item price, but it all needs to be covered or you won't make any money and you might end up paying your buyers to buy your stuff.
For example: what I charge my buyers for 1lb or under shipping media mail is $4.99. The actual cost to me is $4.13.
@ketchumcollective wrote:No, I didn't want it to say something different. I simply misunderstood it. It's not that big of a deal.
Happens to us all. You are terrific.
@ketchumcollective wrote:Got it. But if I have the buyer pay for shipping, it's my understanding (based on what dbfolks shared above), that the 13.25% DOES include the shipping cost.
If you sell something for $1 and have the buyer pay for shipping, which may be $1, then the TOTAL SALE is....wait for it.....
$2
Then, you pay the FEE for $2.
$2 x 13.25% would be .27c PLUS the .35c 'transaction fee' for a total FEE cost of .63c.
So, you GET $1.37 ($2 MINUE .63c).....but....
wait for it....
YOU then pay for THAT Shipping Amount that YOU charged the customer.
So, $1.37 minus .64c (or whatever your 'shipping cost' is) is what you are left with
73c
But, that FEE is still 13.25% of the TOTAL- as clearly shown when you created the listing
It is really quite simple.
