EBAY FEE ON TAX??

[findsandfounds]

After 22 years of selling on eBay, I thought I'd FINALLY look into a monthly statement in detail to see what I'm paying for.  Is this for real???  Ebay charges 12.9% not JUST on the sale of an item including shipping, they also charge 12.9% on the sales tax??  And, if you want to open a dispute to talk to them about it, there's a $20 dispute fee.  No wonder I'm not making any money on eBay any more.  If I increase my prices to cover JUST their fees, I lose buyers.  If I don't, I lose my shirt.  

[stuff4divas]

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@findsandfounds wrote:

After 22 years of selling on eBay, I thought I'd FINALLY look into a monthly statement in detail to see what I'm paying for.  Is this for real???  Ebay charges 12.9% not JUST on the sale of an item including shipping, they also charge 12.9% on the sales tax??  And, if you want to open a dispute to talk to them about it, there's a $20 dispute fee.  No wonder I'm not making any money on eBay any more.  If I increase my prices to cover JUST their fees, I lose buyers.  If I don't, I lose my shirt.  

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Yes, we all face that dilemma as sellers. This is not an 'eBay' thing, all other selling platforms do the same thing, at least the ones I am familiar with.

[tinsoldierunderground]

Seems like plain and simple thievery to me.  I'm just I buyer, but with the hell you sellers go through on this site, I really feel for you guys. 

[albertabrightalberta · Accepted solution]

@findsandfounds 

It's been around and widely publicized forever. Whose responsibility is it to educate you as to the fee structure when it's readily available?

[donsdetour]

for real yes:

Fees ( variable final value fees) are charged on final value of item plus shipping plus tax.

Normal if you ever used real systems in the world; PayPal also charged such:

 Nothing new in this mess but manged payments has taught a great many what it cost to sell on eBay.

Should have already known but many did not.

[ebooksdiva]

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@findsandfounds wrote:

After 22 years of selling on eBay, I thought I'd FINALLY look into a monthly statement in detail to see what I'm paying for.  Is this for real???  Ebay charges 12.9% not JUST on the sale of an item including shipping, they also charge 12.9% on the sales tax??  And, if you want to open a dispute to talk to them about it, there's a $20 dispute fee.  No wonder I'm not making any money on eBay any more.  If I increase my prices to cover JUST their fees, I lose buyers.  If I don't, I lose my shirt.  

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I find it amazing that someone who sells here for 22 yrs is just now getting around to looking at your monthly statement.... surely you jest.

Makes one wonder how you've done your taxes on your income from sales without looking at a statement.

Have you even looked at the policy for seller fees?

It's all there for you to read Selling fees | eBay

The $20 fee for disputes for when a seller gets a chargeback from a buyer's financial institution and loses the case. Not from challenging ebays policies. 

Sorry for sounding blunt, but, you really need to read up on eBay's policies. 

[fab_finds4u]

There is nothing about the fee on sales tax to discuss or dispute so save your $20.

eBay's final value fees on the total cost has never been hidden.

When PayPal was handling payments the PayPal fee was on the total. 

[dolcetreasures]

What’s your point? Who on Earth charges a 12.9% fee on taxes not to mention the fact that most international fees are now 3.3%. eBay stacks that 12.9% on top of the entire transaction. That IS corporate thievery. 

[monroe67]

"After 22 years of selling on eBay, I thought I'd FINALLY look into a monthly statement in detail to see what I'm paying for." 

Well, there's your problem right there.  You have sold things on eBay during the entire 21st century to date and this is the first time you've looked at a monthly statement???

Most deities, I believe, will help those who help themselves.   But if you're not keeping track of things, you might be reaping karmic results.  

"Is this for real???"

Oh, indeed, yes, it is for real.  And it is legal.  And it is fully disclosed for those that have eyes to see.   

"No wonder I'm not making any money on eBay any more.  If I increase my prices to cover JUST their fees, I lose buyers.  If I don't, I lose my shirt."

I took a look at the sold items under your user ID.  One of your items, a vintage unopened Avon cologne in one of their collectible bottles.  It sold for $9.09, and shipping showed as $8.00.   (OK, if you used calculated shipping, that amount might have been different for the buyer.)   I think you might have been able to get more than $9.00 for it.  I also think some of your current listings may be priced very, very low.  Are you doing comparisons with other such sold items on eBay.  

You might also have heard of the ongoing inflation happening in the American economy.   That is hitting lots and lots of sellers pretty hard.  Including those who know all about the fees and rules and regulations for selling on eBay.  

[monroe67]

"Seems like plain and simple thievery to me.  I'm just I buyer, but with the hell you sellers go through on this site, I really feel for you guys."

Guess what!  Many sellers build the fee percentage into the price they list their items at, or their starting bids at.  So, kinda, sorta, buyers do pay those fees.  Or at least they help to pay the fees.  

[bobby_b421]

LoL. And many times you will not get a buyer because everyone wants to buy stuff for peanuts on eBay.... Or, if you lucky, you have to wait weeks or months to get someone and who will not cancel you out. Been there done that....

[fab_finds4u]

Most processors charge 3.49% (what PayPal charges), however PayPal doesn't have to fork over the tax portion on the payments  they process to forty some states either. I'm pretty sure if they had to remit sales tax money they processed their fee wouldn't be just 3.49%. 

I look at it as basically I'm paying eBay 12.9% broken down to 3.49% to process the payment and 9.5% of the sales tax to remit the tax.  Otherwise that headache would be on me. 

If a $25.00 item w/ free shipping  sells to FL  that's  17 cents I'd rather pay them, or if the item was $250 that's $1.66. Still happy to pay that. In my mind it's a "convenience" fee.

[soh.maryl]

So you have been selling for 22 years and just recently looked at the fees?

You were apparently satisfied with the selling costs up until you did the research.  

[mandisattictoyz]

Yes only eBay charges the fee on taxes, Amazon not Walmart does.  But when you use a credit card at the grocery store guess what?  It’s on the total not subtotal, so everywhere else except the two above charge when you sell something.  Can you believe this conspiracy?

[mandisattictoyz]

If you truly want to blame someone, blame NORTH DAKOTA!  They started this whole mess!