What's Going On?

[pwil-23]

I have made 8 sales since I started selling on Ebay about 2 weeks ago.  If that's not bad enough, I just went through my sales report.  I am very disappointed to say the least.  I made a rounded amount of $150.00. YEAH! Taxes and fees came to a rounded amount of 10.00, but the real kicker is the selling costs, which came to a rounded amount of 55.00.  That equals to over 35% of my sales.  How am I going to make a living doing this if my profits are being consumed by FEES: Ebay fees (final value fees)=22.00, Shipping labels=32.00?  Is there any advice as to how I can mitigate this loss.  Grant it, some will say that is the cost of trying to do business in these difficult economic times, but this isn't about that.  It's GREED.  There is no rational explanation someone can give me as to why an item that sells for $20 leaves me with a net profit of $9.00. What is that? Please, someone explain this to me, in laywoman's terms so that I can grasp what's happening and get a grip of myself.  I am so very upset!!

[donsdetour]

ebay fees:

Listing fee if any.

Final value fees:

Variable calculated on the final value of item, plus shipping if any. plus tax if any then calculated.

fixed is an .30 on top of that.

--------------------------

International fee is buyer is out of country.

Any promotional fees as well if any.

All of this must be taken into account for what you charge for your item.

You had a few items for free shipping:  that of course is a full lose to you.

Make sure what you charge the buyer for item and shipping covers that cost.

Not simple to figure out.

Of course I have not stated your original item cost, or shipping and office supply and so on..

[mtgraves7984]

I have made 8 sales since I started selling on Ebay about 2 weeks ago.

@pwil-23 

I just looked at my last 8 sales. They went back to mid-August, so I can't say that I don't envy you a bit...

With that being said, I usually round my expected 'in-pocket' to be about 85% of the overall transaction, so that I'm not disappointed. As to 'mitigating the losses', that's what Schedule C is for... FVFs, COGs, s&h costs, etc. 

[janet9988]

"I have made 8 sales since I started selling on Ebay about 2 weeks ago. If that's not bad enough, I just went through my sales report."

You should be more grateful and less greedy.. 8 sales is a lot more then others have sold. And only selling for  2 weeks does not give you enough long term experience for selling.

[bonjourami]

The buyer pays sales taxes. not the seller.And I wish you good luck 'making a living' selling on Ebay.

[redmodelt]

You didn't read what fees would be charged on and what the percentage would be before you started selling so you could get an idea of your profit margin would be?