Grifterbay is raising the minimum promoted listing fee from 3% - 5%
Summary: tenoem criticized a company for raising minimum promoted listing fees from 3% to 5%, attributing it to corporate greed and shareholder appeasement. Other participants like frugalmarketplace and zzzz-0-zzzz expressed similar frustration, highlighting dissatisfaction with the company's practices and the pressure on sellers. Some users suggested alternatives like using other platforms or reconsidering pricing strategies. Meanwhile, valueaddedresource noted that the company confirmed the fee increase was a temporary test. The conversation also touched on differing perspectives that compared eBay's strategy to other marketplaces, and criticisms of corporate behavior versus user expectations.
According to Valueaddedresource, grifterbays solution to the 8 - 10 shipping rate increases this year, is to gouge sellers even more with their pay to play antics. Grifterbay is experimenting on some users by making the minimum amount they can promote a promoted listing now 5%, where before it was 3%, and before that it was 1%.
I'm sure the ebay cheerleaders will have a valid reason as to why ebay, who provides nothing but a website, needs to make hundreds of millions every year off of fees. Could it be more appeasement of shareholders, you know the people who put in all the work on this platform, or could it be to pay Jamie FEEnone his $30,000,000 yearly salary for doing nothing but sitting on his rear in an air conditioned office? Oh does that offend you, why don't you send some of your top employees to harass and stalk me like the steiners. Oh wait maybe that's why your raising the fees, to pay that 50 million dollar harassment lawsuit you just lost.
Grifterbay should be looking at ways to ease the burden on online sellers after all the shipping rate increases, and not continuing on this planned "Death by a 1000 cuts".
I know when this change occurs, I will be turning off promoted listings, and I will also stop paying ebay $3000 a month for promoted listing offsite. I will list all items on other platforms who do not continually look for new ways 24 hours a day to take advantage of me, while providing me with no support at all, while also providing me with no voice as I can't even leave negative feedback to buyers, who pay no fees to ebay, when a buyer commits fraud.
This platform is a stinking pile of trash on a garbage barge that has several holes in the hull, it was sinking slowly, as walmart and apple now are higher on the totem pole of ecommerce than grifterbay, but with these continued changes, it's going to start sinking a lot faster. Ebay is not gaining buyers, ebay is increasing their revenue every year by raking sellers through the coals.
It makes no sense as to why anyone would want to build a relationship with such a company of bottom feeders who are looking at every corner for a new way to stab you in the back. A disgusting marketplace, with the
most disgusting management of any ecommerce platform I've dealt with in my life. 
valueaddedresource
·1 week agoeBay community staff has now confirmed this was a limited test.
https://community.ebay.com/forum/linkto/c15e07a5-f10c-457c-9c61-3045c52f3b0c/?focus_post=1875536
"For a very limited time on October 1 and 2, certain customers may have seen a temporary pricing change. We’re continually testing across our platforms to enhance the user experience and strengthen our processes. We have not announced any planned increases to Promoted Listings minimum ad rates. Should we make any changes, we will communicate directly with our sellers."
12345jamesstamps
·1 week agoWow, all the regulars are back who chit chat in this community discussion(i.e, artificial intelligence).
Here's what happened as I see it...anyone who has promoted items under the 5% threshold now means your items are not actually promoted to any benefit.
I notice my sales are almost at 0 when talk about this began.
To be clear. My best month was August this year...great sales.
I had like 25 International buyers a week...now 0.
One does not go from 100 sales to almost 0 in a week-span.
Can't blame the economy when these are international buyers.
beautifuljewelrynyc
·1 week agoPromoted at 2.5%, 1 sale in 4 days, never saw before.
onefootflipper
·1 week ago · EditedMessage erased, leaving forum due to threatening forum member following me around on the internet.
zzzz-0-zzzz
·1 week ago · EditedWhat's that car - or what's it an imitation of? 1985 LTD Crown Victoria. Often a police car - but not in that color!
It seems more 70's style, than 80s somehow!
chapeau-noir
·1 week ago"...cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks."
zzzz-0-zzzz
·1 week ago@chapeau-noir Why are you "Closing soon" & what do you mean by that? (Just wondering)
chapeau-noir
·1 week agoClosing my store/any listings.
zzzz-0-zzzz
·1 week ago@chapeau-noir Why did you decide to "quit"?
chapeau-noir
·1 week agoMoving on in life - I'll probably still sell some...somewhere but I'm outta here end of November and have other projects to work on.
Since I can't resist advertising myself I figured I'd hang up a notice, though I'm rapidly running out of items.
zzzz-0-zzzz
·1 week agoGetting out (truly out) before the possible election chaos? Or, something else?
albertabrightalberta
·1 week agoWhy is it always "greedy" ebay's fault when sellers don't charge enough to make a profit?
Why is it always "greedy" ebay's fault when sellers opt in to promoting their items when it's optional?
Why are those of us who point out OPs' mistakes and offer constructive criticism to OPs called "cheerleaders?"
duffy4444
·1 week ago · EditedWhy?
Because some people are chronic malcontents and are only interested in grinding an ax and seeking attention by tearing eBay down... even though on the other hand they may still have thousands and thousands of items listed here and are most likely making an overall handsome profit that's keeping them here.
Makes a lot of sense, huh? As much sense as biting the hand that feeds you.
BTW, this is the last "attention" I'll be giving this thread. I've got some inventory and listings to get to...
Cheers, Duffy
chapeau-noir
·1 week agoSome of us are simply sceptics.
frugalmarketplace
·1 week ago · EditedWhat should they be called?
It is eBay’s fault concerning promotions because otherwise your products are not seen.
EBay is GREEDY and likely doing this without divulging it to the seller/AKA customer is illegal.
In conclusion “charge enough to make a profit” prices are high as it is. I can list an expensive candle for $50 that retails for $70…a drop shipper had sold the same one for $243. Explain that, Did they have a lower price..NO..did they have perfect feedback NO…and on and on. I had a customer that I sent an offer to for a kids sweatshirt for $20. including shipping that was the cheapest price. She came back of said $15. I told her no and for $29.95 she was welcome to buy it from Amazon. ..the next day she paid my price. the enjoyment is gone. I have sold more stuff today elsewhere that I did all week. EBay is a sad place…I loved it here..no more.
I can explain it to you…or so I tried.
powell-collectibles
·1 week agoSome of our sellers are grandfathered into the 1% minimum promotional rate. I can’t imagine being at a minimum of something like 5% or even 3%. I have gone up to 3% before – but I’ve lowered it back down. For the things that I sell, I just don’t see the big benefit of something that high.
frugalmarketplace
·1 week agoI have never seen anything about grandfathered at 1%…I am in my 26th year. I think that would be grandfathered.
powell-collectibles
·1 week agoIt wasn’t something that they publicized – that would’ve been a little bit silly. From what I understand it was granted if you were at a certain level of sales and if you made a big enough complaint.
frugalmarketplace
·1 week ago · EditedThat is discrimination. I see so many lawsuits from all this garbage. I never knew about it and likely would have qualified back then. Shame on them.
onefootflipper
·1 week ago · EditedMessage erased, leaving forum due to threatening forum member following me around on the internet.
mam98031
·1 week ago@frugalmarketplace Nor have I, for what that is worth. To my knowledge it was a universal change that applied to all sellers, but I am more than willing to read / review any information to the contrary.
onlinecentral
·1 week agoI looked at the first page of your Sold listings, 60 of them and found these with Free Shipping. Ground Advantage costs between $5.28 for nearby and $8.40 for rural. Revise your prices to make your store more profitable.
$6.99 PCV Valve Standard V347
$6.29 Engine Camshaft Plug Dorman 555-039
$6.79 Genuine BMW OEM 07-14-6-978-618 Headlamp Assembly Screw
$6.89 Genuine Ford OEM W706860-S300 Dowel
$6.49 Engine Cooling Fan Motor Relay TruMark 35903
$6.99 NAPA OE Quality Miniature Bulbs BP168LLN (2 pack)
$6.49 Engine Core Plug-Expansion Plug Dorman 555-019
Is paying to promote listings mandatory? No. Instead of being irate with eBay, figure out why you fell into the Fear of Missing Out trap. There are books and videos to learn to overcome FOMO.
bashort
·1 week ago · EditedI just refuse to participate, that works for now, may not always work .
ebay will continue to increase the required cost of promoting as long as sellers keep agreeing to pay more.
frugalmarketplace
·1 week agoI agree. Yesterday when I was checking out this unknown increase and it confirmed to be correct…I wonder how many people don’t even notice this totally hidden change. All of a sudden they are generating another 1% for the company. Wouldn’t you think they would be required to disclose this…I sure would.
chapeau-noir
·1 week agoThis is why I see it as short-sighted. How long before sellers just say 'nope' and the penetration rate drops?
Or perhaps they'll take a page from Etsy's book and levy a a mandatory 'success penalty' of 12% on anyone who grosses over $10k/year?
luckythewinner
·1 week agoeBay provides much more than website - they also provide traffic to that website. You can put up your own website and see for yourself what selling on a website without traffic looks like.
eBay is a public company. Everything on eBay is about the shareholders.
frugalmarketplace
·1 week agoI turn on the TV and never see an advertisement for eBay. Wait..I saw ONE at Christmas.
pickapaper
·1 week agoOne of the most interesting things I noticed in your diatribe is that you have been on eBay for nine years and have sold over 56K items. To me, that's pretty impressive totals. Even though you obviously hate eBay, you must realize that you would not have sold that much on any other platform. And I'm guessing that even though you complain about fees and such, you have made a profit selling here or you wouldn't still be doing it.
It's actually pretty simple: Quit selling on eBay; there are plenty of other venues out there. Start your own website where you can make your own rules. Continue selling on eBay but make some adjustments to cover those fees, returns, and other expenses.
roccotacodad54
·1 week ago"buyers, who pay no fees to ebay"
As a buyer I assume sellers work that into the price they charge me. If I'm not paying the fees etc. through the price of the item then that's on the seller for not taking fees into account when they price said item....................................
chapeau-noir
·1 week agoI actually think the base fee rise is silly and a short-sighted idea. But, then, this is not a 'free market.
zzzz-0-zzzz
·1 week ago · EditedI think ebay has found itself "stuck" on a plateau and there is nowhere to go except to take a big leap into something new and expensive for the company - or to just cut, cut, cut to try to reduce costs & charge, charge, charge sellers to increase profit. This eventually becomes ensh*****ification & self-destruction.
ebay needs to consider what amazon / etsy /others have that they don't.
One (example) "big leap" would be to create their own distribution network - or merge with an established big delivery company (& all sellers would then use that delivery service exclusively) so that (hopefully) delivery will be less expensive for everyone so "lower prices, more sales". Any "big leap" will be high-risk! (Solar-electric trucks for delivery? Diesel is probably not going down anytime soon!)
This moment is total political / financial uncertainty, so the big question is how things will "settle" (more or less) and when they will - so acting at all now is probably not the best time.
zzzz-0-zzzz
·1 week ago · EditedIDEA: No "base fees" if you pay for a store subscription!
ALSO: "No Fee" at all promotions for sellers. For example: the first item or 2 per month - or possibly every 10th item sold per month is "Fee Free" - or a seller can choose 5 items at any one time (below $10) that are designated "Fee Free", that will be lower priced than the rest, that can be used as a "promotion" of sorts.
Sellers that have more total sales could get more "Fee Free" listings per month than the minimum - a "reward the winners" strategy.
ten_o_nine
·1 week agohttps://www.flowmusic.app/song/1c64a6f5-0e7c-4e0e-ab1f-9e3e333dca71
christworks
·1 week ago · Edited@tenoem Cheerleader here.
All fun aside, nearly 70% of what I sold in Q3 was not promoted. I only promote items that have been around in excess of a year. If they are still in my store a year later, there is a reason for it. None of them are eBay's fault. Either I set my price too high or, there are 1000 of that item listed or, simply put, it is junk nobody wants. If I had as much negative feedback as you did or responded as rude as you do to your buyers, that would also impact sales. There are a few exceptions, certain items that are waiting on a specific buyer. Those items don't have to be promoted though. Those buyers will find them at the right time.
If you have to promote all your things, I submit to you that you have an inventory issue. Of course, you may not see it that way and should absolutely create your own reselling site since it is as simple that you believe. Actually, creating it is simple. Maintaining it and scaling it takes hard work.
People who complain about Capitalism sure have no problem living in a larger house than me or owning more cars than me. I can about guarantee they take more time off than I do and go on nicer vacations.
Keep doing you, eBay. I'll be here cheering you on. 🙃
roccotacodad54
·1 week agoLOL Lol. Rah Rah Rah, Sis boom Baa...........................
pickapaper
·1 week ago@roccotacodad54
The answer: "Sis boom bah."
The question: "Describe the sound made when a sheep explodes."
zzzz-0-zzzz
·1 week ago · Edited(JOKE)
About 5% of the population thinks that dood is Fire/Hawt. (Possibly) unfortunately, only .0001% are female - not that an AI guy would ever care.
Put that "meme" on a sticker - or magnet & sell it on ebay in the pinups section!
inhawaii
·1 week ago · Edited"I'm sure the ebay cheerleaders will have a valid reason as to why ebay, who provides nothing but a website, needs to make hundreds of millions every year off of fees."
Ebay cheerleader here.
If all they do is provide a website, perhaps you should do the same. You can buy a domain and have a website up and running for less than a hundred dollars. Then you will make hundreds of millions of dollars every year and not have to worry about a 2% fee increase. Nobody said eBay "needs" to make hundreds of millions every year. They "want" to. They are here to make money just like the rest of us. Why do you charge $12.19 for your GM headlight spring instead of $5.00? Because you want to. Instead of coming here complaining about fees, why don't you re-think your no shipping to Alaska and Hawaii policy? Most of your items are small and light and can be shipped to Alaska and Hawaii for the same price as shipping to the West coast. The extra income you make will probably pay for that 2% fee increase.
cyberontix
·1 week agoFeel better? If so, at least someone got something out of that.
zzzz-0-zzzz
·1 week agoThe Stock Price arrow must always be pointing upward forever for a Publicly Traded company, so the company must always be growing - or they will eventually do a variety of "dirty tricks" that are destructive - or crazy mergers that often kill the original business.
ten_o_nine
·1 week agoI'm sure the ebay cheerleaders will have a valid reason as to why ebay, who provides nothing but a website, needs to make hundreds of millions every year off of fees.
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Simple, because their business model allows for that. It's a free market and other options are available, eBay is betting most of us will just accept it.
sfau
·1 week agoI had my listings promoted at ten and then dropped to 2. Got more sales at 2 - go figure.
annadryl
·1 week agoI promote most of my listings at 2 and wouldn't go higher. 2 is really nothing and can easily be worked into the price. Shipping on the other hand...
mozartbach1971
·1 week agoI do auctions and always promote at the suggested rate which is around ten percent. I keep hearing you only need to do two percent. I want to try it however I'm just concerned my items won't get as many bids.
zzzz-0-zzzz
·1 week agoI've generally found that setting promoted listings higher than the minimum seemed to make no real difference!
inhawaii
·1 week agoGrifterBay?
How clever.
I think I like "FeeBay" better.
gone.c-33
·1 week agoGrifterbay makes Feebay sound almost clever, dunnit?
chapeau-noir
·1 week agoIt's not very catchy.
A while ago someone here kept trying to call eBay 'eBamazon' or something and finally gave up. Nobody paid him royalties, I guess.
gurlcat
·1 week agowomp womp womp
gurlcat
·1 week agoIKR. Who's making up the nicknames nowadays, His Royal Orangeness????
annadryl
·1 week agoSixth graders nation-wide take polls, there is a 2% margin of error.
zzzz-0-zzzz
·1 week agoHow about "AuctionWeb"? How about a "Dancing Baby" screensaver? Which lizard is working today?
monroe67
·1 week agoSo very creative.
eBay, Inc., is a corporation. Corporations are supposed to earn profits.
Increasing profits is a Good Thing for corporations.
Corporations must answer to their shareholders and pay dividends on the investments by those shareholders.
frugalmarketplace
·1 week agoI think you are missing the point.
cyberontix
·1 week agoYup. Weird how many people do that on this board.
broto_64
·1 week agoNo, monroe is on point.
Too many people confuse a corporation with a human being capable of emotional connection and sympathy and empathy.
Corporations are none of that, never have been, never will be.
As to Amazon / Walmart being better...
LOL
Yeah, right.
But go ahead, try it out.
zzzz-0-zzzz
·1 week agoMarketing: Promotion!
But the humans within the company (& the company's structure/culture) can be basically decent - or just plain evil.
broto_64
·1 week agoWhy would these underpaid employees want to do the decent thing when doing so puts them at risk of running afoul of metrics and hoops they need to jump through?
Most of them don't care, they do as they're told, they follow policy to the letter and that is all they have to do.
Yes, they COULD do the right thing, but there's no reward for that and in fact there may be risk associated with it.
Unfortunately most large corporations operate that way.
zzzz-0-zzzz
·1 week ago · EditedTrue, and that is "Bad structure / culture".
Being "publicly traded" likely encourages that - but if a company is privately held, it can be difficult to get loans - assuming you need them for "working capital" - or to "grow" at all. If a privately held company can just do the same things (& nothing new) & turn a small but respectable profit - or just become non-profit (and break even) - it can still exist!
(If a company is also truly dysfunctional - you could just be a "Wally" there! You're the "Who is that?" employee).
gurlcat
·1 week agoWhen did it go from 2% to 3%?????
broto_64
·1 week agoYeah idk about that either but I do rem when it went to 2%
valueaddedresource
·1 week ago@gurlcat it didn't.
It went from 1% - 2% in 2022. Then in 2024, eBay raised the minimum for General ads using Dynamic rate strategy to 5% while leaving it at 2% for Fixed rate.
And now all the reports I'm seeing so far for this new minimum for (some) listings using Fixed rate is 5%.
I haven't seen anything about 3% as the minimum.
zzzz-0-zzzz
·1 week ago · EditedI just set "promoted ads" at 2%. At least 25% of my sales are "promoted ads". A 2% "tax" is tolerable, but 5% or more & I'll just skip it.
selsa84
·1 week agoIf eBay is trying it on a select group then you can bet it will happen. Doesn't surprise me at all.