eBay seller fees higher than net sales!! **bleep**!

[retros_rares_and_relics]

Hi there! 

lmy seller fees have been the same amount as my net OR above! Lately it’s been between 46-49% that’s being taken !!! Has anybody ever had any issues with eBay taking higher fees? Why? What would these reasons be? 
last 7 days it says my selling costs have been 628.00 and my net sales is -89! 
We make money on every item for shipping as well so that can’t be right. What am I missing?? I feel like a total idiot! What can I do to figure this out/ fix it? Any suggestions on seller hub? I am so confused ! 

[gjs_16]

All I can tell you is I carefully review my listings before posting, to make sure I am aware of all the fees.  Those fees are part of my cost of doing business, so that in order for me to make a profit I must include these fees as part of the price of the item for sale.

[oldcoin007]

Hi - This doesn't even seem possible. Are you checking everything carefully? 

[alcoforever]

Are you using any listing upgrades such as reserve price, bold face or promoted listings, etc.?   Are you keeping a spreadsheet listing all your items and all the costs associated with each item?   Have you looked at Seller Account->All activity to review all your fees and payouts?

[nobody*s_perfect]

The final value fee is based on the total of the buyer's full payment including shipping, handling and sales tax if any. You have recently sold some items with very low selling price and very high shipping costs. If you look at your fees as a percentage of the selling price, it's going to be a high percentage.

For instance, if you sell an item for $5 and it has a shipping cost of $25, you pay a final value fee based on the whole $30.

[2013grotz]

@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

The final value fee is based on the total of the buyer's full payment including shipping, handling and sales tax if any. You have recently sold some items with very low selling price and very high shipping costs. If you look at your fees as a percentage of the selling price, it's going to be a high percentage.

For instance, if you sell an item for $5 and it has a shipping cost of $25, you pay a final value fee based on the whole $30.

---

This is the issue.  FVF is going to be on your shipping as well as the cost of the item.  You have some items that you are asking very cheap prices for that are going to kill you on fees come time for shipping.  So your net proceeds are going to be smaller than your fees as a result.

You need to rethink how you are selecting things to list - if these things genuinely cost that much to ship, you need to ask prices for them commensurate with what your fees will be.  Or just not list them at all.  Case in point is your auctions.  You start them very cheaply, to the point of unsustainability.  99 cents might seem great, but if you only get one or two bids, the ebay fees are going to wipe it out and then some.  Go to BIN and offer something that'll make you money.  Or start your auctions at a more reasonable place on your end, that you'll at least claim *something* when they sell instead of having to pay to get rid of items.

[caldreamer]

Selling fees based on (purchase price + shipping costs + sales tax) plus 30 handling charge.   I looked at your sold item and noticed Picture Frame 99cents ($14.20 shipping) and Lithograph $5 ($51.90 shipping).   By the time you pay EBAY selling fees on that you would lose money.   Rarely can you make money unless you sell items over $20.

Instead of having 99 cent auctions...you should sell items as a group (to increase your sale average).  Starting price on auction should be closer to what you expect to get (you don't want customers to steal your items for 99 cents).  

Your shipping prices seem very high (remember customers hate to pay for shipping).   Whenever possible I would raise cost of item and lower shipping costs.

[retros_rares_and_relics]

Thank you very much for this information. I am going to talk with my boss about all of these replies and do something different 

[retros_rares_and_relics]

Thank you very much for this information. I am going to talk with my boss about all of these replies! 

[retros_rares_and_relics]

Thank you! 

[luckythewinner]

Afuly 8”x10” Glass Picture Frame Metallic Silver Sparkles- Seaquins
$0.99 1 bid
+$23.60 shipping

If I bought this item from you, I would pay you $24.59 and your final value fees would be $3.38, leaving you with $21.21. So if the shipping actually costs you $23.60, then you are losing money. 

[gsteinuis]

I just learned if you’re selling sports cards, don’t list that at 99 cents. If they sell, for that, you’ll owe actually eBay money. My net sales was negative 3 cents! Either I have to cancel the sale or just eat it. 

[mybigsale]

@retros_rares_and_relics 

 What am I missing?? I feel like a total idiot! What can I do to figure this out/ fix it? Any suggestions on seller hub? I am so confused ! 

The devil is in the details...

List your orders and click on the order number for the order in question....

Look along the bottom right-hand side of the order... "What you earned".  Those are all the detailed numbers broken out ending with the order earnings.  Can you see the problem? Do you have a large Ad fee? Something else? Do the numbers add up correctly? The problem should jump out at you.

Orders — eBay Seller Hub