"Special Promotion" fee on non-promoted listings?

[bontragerbargains]

I have recently been getting charged an additional "special promotion" fee on listings that *were not* promoted. I do have some promoted items, and when those sell, it shows up in my payment feed as a separate transaction, so I know this is different. I also have a sale running on my store, but this particular item is not part of that sale. Can anybody explain what's going on? They aren't usually large fees, just little ways to leak money out. 😞 See the attached screenshot...

[popblox · Accepted solution]

The FVF fee on $39.50 @ 12.55% is actually $4.96  - the "Special Promotion $.50" is actually a credit, which is why you were only charged a FVF of $4.46.

Why eBay wouldn't make it clear that the promo is a credit instead of a debit is beyond me.

[bontragerbargains]

Ah, yes. Doing the math would have told me that, but yes, why didn't eBay say so? 🙂 Thanks for clearing it up for me! I appreciate it. 

[tribeardllc]

The word "fee" is what makes this confusing.  So what exactly is the "Special Promotion" fee on non-promoted listings?  How is this "discount" calculated or determined?  Is there a qualification to receive it?  I see it on almost all my sold listings, but I don't understand it.  Originally, I though is was a cap but now I'm not sure there is a cap.  Before eBay managed payments, the cap was $250 except on certain items.  Is there still a cap?  Some of my items can be quite a bit of money, $20K+.  

[whitewaterford]

In my case (and probably yours), this has nothing to do with promoted listings.  Instead it is likely your Top Rated Seller Discount (10%) of the Final Value Fees.

12.55% of $39.50 = $4.96 for Final Value Fees, but you get a discount of 10% of $4.96=$0.50

Hence your Total Final Value Fees are only $4.96 - $0.50 = $4.46, so eBay subtracts the $4.46 from your payout.

[a_sharper_image]

Thanks for clearing that up! Yes, would have been so nice if eBay listed that as a credit.

[mam98031]

Yes and likely the TRS discount.