Free to list but I'm charged .35 to list a 1.00 item to list?

[ken-12732]

I seem to see contradictory information on ebay.

At first I was alerted to the 250 free monthly listings (but began receiving .35 listing fees after 200 listings.

Then I see the attached screenshot's information claiming we have 5000 listings for free.

The problem is that no matter whether I'm relisting an item that failed to sell or listing a new item, I'm charged a .35 listing fee (with the final unknown value fee based on if the item sells).

How can anyone do  this as a seller?  I mean most of my stuff is only $1 or thereabouts.  1.00 - 0.35 = 0.65 

Then after extracting the other fee (the final value fee) of hopefully 10% (could be 15%) which leaves aprroximately 64cents.  Postage and taxes (not any to my profit and apparently ebay calculates nothing for supplies to package up the product) makes this a very expensive venue in light of the fact that anybody can just willy-nilly file a claim for a return and voila, now we are in the negative (just to sell something for a buck).

Garage sale items  for the Spring maybe?

[golfingaddict]

You are looking at data for two different measurements.

The data you posted is your seller limits.  That applies to how much eBay will allow you to list and sell.

The free listings are usually 250 per month and have nothing to do with your seller limits.

Each time you list something, it goes against your free listings.  After you use the 250 in a month, you will be charged for each additional.  As well, if you use Fixed price/good until cancelled, those will be counted each time they relist.  

You get 250 listings free and that includes new listings and relistings.

You also are charged for any listing upgrades you use such as Bold, Subtitle, Reserve, Gallery Plus.

[ken-12732]

Thanks for clarifying the 5000 listings (I thought that it was something new to counteract the precursor of tarrifs and the ensuing reduction of foreign sellers and items here).

But pertaining to the 250 listings, I never made it close and began being charged the 35 fee.

Any relisting attempts also have at the bottom of the listing page a 35 cent fee

Am I missing something else maybe?  This and the fact that out of 195 listings more than 150 haven't even had a solitary view.  recently I witnessed a listing I made of my almost one-of-a-kind original Lee Iacocca ebike (the very one he is sitting on in the press-release upon the new manufactured ebike...4 views).

*don't look now but i think house of paws is coming soon

[golfingaddict]

Could you show me a screen shot of your free listing count?

Have you used Gallery Plus in any of your listings?  Did you use two categories?

[ken-12732]

No added perks to any of my listings were made, all of my listings do have a portion going to charity (10%...just like the ebay final value fee).

I think it was about 201 listings before the final value fee was boldly placed just above the submit listing button.

Here's a screenshot of a new listing and next is a screenshot of a relisting (both show a listing charge) and your requested number count is the image at the bottom of this post.

[golfingaddict]

To check how many free listings you have on eBay, you can:

1. Go to My eBay.
2. Open the Activity tab.
3. In the Sell section, click on "All Selling". 

Then look for listings or free listings and take a screen shot of what that shows.

[wooden_flower]

@ken-12732 

Do you ever end and delete fixed price listings (buy it now only)? If so, you could be using up some free insertions and not seeing the items in your active or completed items. When you list an item, it counts against your 250 free insertions.

On the issue of listing items for $1 or even $2, the short answer is it will never be profitable. Even without an insertion fee, you are not going to make any money on $1 items. If your shipping is $5, you’re paying final value fees on $6+ tax, so around $.85. Plus the transaction fee of $.30, you’re already at $1.15 and have not paid for any packing materials.

Use your free insertions to list items where you will make something on the transaction. Set a minimum amount that you want from each sale to make it worth your time - use that as the number to beat when trying to decide what to list.

[ken-12732]

The number shows 218 but maybe it's counting stuff I took down (about 20 or so larger items were removed without a view or bid but before it's termination date).  

I 

[ken-12732]

LOL  funny....I was thinking it was extremely high 181 listings (pretty sure I never had over 200 by very much because it was realized a new image was showing up prior to the submit button (i.e. $0.35 listing fee).

Yes, there was upward from a dozen deletions (primarily because I'm clueless to sell larger items that cannot be shipped by me).  The prospective buyer wanted the address to inspect the items (the largest trojan dt batteries available to the public) but a large popup warning me about giving out my address and some other scary stuff.  So the listings were removed, off went the ebike, trojan batteries, solar panels, kits, etc.  not to mention the ordeal over something that literally sold for a penny (long story)

[golfingaddict · Accepted solution]

The deletions/ended listings still count towards your 250 per month.

Remember, it is not the actual count that matters.  It is how many you list.  If you sell items during the month, you may never reach more than 200 listings. 

You have now posted the correct place to check how many "free listings" you have left for the month. 

Be sure to check that before listing more or you will be charged.  You will also be charged for listing that "relist" during the month. 

[ken-12732]

Okay, I understand now.

But again, when does the next month start?  I don't see a calendar or countdown ticker to give me a clue.

Do you know the answer to this one (thanks for your help thus far by the way)?

LOL...doh!  

nevermind

[golfingaddict]

The new month/count starts on March 1.  It will reset to 250 listings at that time.  

You may want to look into a store if you intend to list more than 250 per month.

eBay Stores overview | eBay

[ken-12732]

I think part of my problem is that IN THE BEGINNING I entered almost everything in auction format because it was the preselected choice when listing an item (and to turn off "make offer" was hidden from view requiring going into the small links that are placed intermittently)....anyway, I sold a 20 dollar NEW never-used item that went to auction and was seen by one person (in the whole wide world?) and bid by that one person and then that person filed for a return promptly (same day).

Soooooo....long story short, I had to manually go in and change almost 200 listings to "buy it now" only (and many of the higher dollar items I quickly removed because if I got scammed on a penny.....well....

Maybe I deleted a dozen listings so it would add up to the 250 is my guess.

Thanks for the response 

*In reference to the inability to make any profit (even without a listing fee) when selling 1 and 2 dollar items, can you tell me how there's others that actually must make something (because I see on ebay and some foreign selling sites where dollar items are everywhere).   How do they do it (if you know)?

[ken-12732]

Thanks, I saw the image I posted upon your request (further up this page) and it states when the new month starts.....must have missed it.   Thanks.

[wooden_flower]

@ken-12732 

I think you see a few types of sellers that list for $1 or $2.

There are international sellers that are subsidized by their government, mainly China.  

There are seller that overprice the shipping so that part of the item price is actually in the shipping.

There are sellers that start auctions at $1 or $2, and hope that enough items go higher to raise the average realized price to a good level. Probably not a good tactic until you have a good following, or outside of the holiday shopping season.

There are seller that play the averages. While you can’t make a profit paying a $.30 transaction fee on every $1 item, if the buyer purchases many items, the fee stays at $.30, or $.40 if it goes over $10 total.  Shipping can also be a profit tool for these sellers. Even if you charge only $1 extra on additional items, your shipping doesn’t go up by that much. Media mail is $4.63 for 1#, $5.38 for 2#. I think you can ship a lot of CDs or DVDs in 2#. Offering combined shipping can help entice buyers to purchase multiple items.