ABSURD SELLING FEES?

[paraisocollectors]

Is anyone here fed up with Ebay selling fees??? They are taking nearly 35% of my profits and overall I can't see how that could be sustainable for anyone trying to run a business with fair prices. Does anyone know any alternative marketplaces (particularly for booksellers [but not Amazon]) with fair fees and a similar User Interface? Thank you.  

[dbfolks166mt]

     From my perspective on this side of the pond it's not the fees that are causing the slow down in sales but everything else. The fees have remained pretty flat for quite some time but shipping costs, additional taxes, ecommerce competition and the opening back up of B&M stores post Covid are offering buyers a wider choice. I seldom buy on eBay anymore simply because I can get it cheaper elsewhere and often faster.

     I have never used promoted listings I consider it to be a ripoff and one of the things that lead me to greater diversification across multiple platforms. It's a tough highly competitive market place out there these days and eBay does not enjoy the quasi monopoly they once had. 

[bearswatching]

How is it even possible you are being charged 35%? No wonder new sellers get scared off when they read statements like that. The vast majority of sellers pay 30 cents plus 12.9% of the selling price and sales tax. Can you show a breakdown of those charges and tag one of the “blues” for an explanation? Something is very wrong if you are getting overcharged like that. BTW, asking fellow sellers to violate policy and recommend they take their business off the eBay site and go elsewhere will put you on eBay’s radar pretty quickly. And not in a good way.

[johnrj1226]

My  guesstimate would  be about 3 years ago - but  PayPal was collecting their  fee  on the entire amount the buyer paid until the Managed Payment was in full throttle for all eBay Sellers in the US and the PayPal vs eBay divorce was finalized.

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[redmodelt]

If you have free shipping or set at fixed rate, if you under charge and count the extra charge as part of the fee percentage, getting a larger FVF, that is one you for not doing correct calculations. FVF in most all category's is 12.9% + .30 transaction fee. There is no free shipping, it is covered in the cost of the sold item. 

[stephenmorgan]

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@dbfolks166mt wrote:

OP is likely talking % of total receipt (a more honest value), not the admittedly non-transparent rates that ebay posts.  The 14.6% is on the *total amount the buyer pays*.  Shipper or the government isn't going to pay the FVF bill on what they get so it all falls on that purchase price.  So on OP's latest sale, $8.82 * .146 = $1.29  That figure is effectively a 26% fee that OP was charged for selling the book.

It is all in how you look at it.

If a sale of $8.82 had a net gain of $3.69 then 35% of the gain is $1.29.

[profitweb]

My cost is around 30% but that includes Shipping costs, which is almost half of it, and I promote most of my items.

[2feets]

Thay take 13% if youre in good standing, idk **bleep** you clowns are talking about

[theteamsetguy]

I'm not trying to be unsympathetic but you only have one person to blame if you are not in good standing.

[powell-memorabilia]

Finally, someone that has a basic understanding of math 🙂

 I’m taking the OP at his word - eBay fees are taking 35% of his profits.  Again, he’s close to a 40% margin, before fees.  Not too bad.

[wrong66]

Yep, selling very low value items can result in some very high fees after the smoke clears.

[lepke1979]

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@2feets wrote:

Thay take 13% if youre in good standing, idk **bleep** you clowns are talking about

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With books it's ~15%.

Beyond that, fees being fair or not I guess are up to interpretation. You say other than Amazon. Assuming you can sell there and are ungated (if books require that). I'm guessing you don't like that they charge higher fees than eBay for books (if I read the fee chart right).

As mentioned, you should be able to search for alternatives. But my guess is the fees are about what eBay and Amazon charge if not more. And even if they are less, you may get fewer potential viewers. Only way around the fees is to maybe create your own store. But then you gotta pay money for people to even know it exists and shop there.

Other than that, I noticed you have media mail set for comic books. It's up to you if you want to risk it, but comic books aren't OK under media mail unless it's a graphic novel (usually those are fine).

[katzrul15]

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@bearswatching wrote:

How is it even possible you are being charged 35%? No wonder new sellers get scared off when they read statements like that. The vast majority of sellers pay 30 cents plus 12.9% of the selling price and sales tax. Can you show a breakdown of those charges and tag one of the “blues” for an explanation? Something is very wrong if you are getting overcharged like that. BTW, asking fellow sellers to violate policy and recommend they take their business off the eBay site and go elsewhere will put you on eBay’s radar pretty quickly. And not in a good way.

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OP said 35% of his Profits.........not 35% fvfs

[collectfest]

The fees, good or bad, are clearly stated by eBay in my eyes. Admittedly wish they were different but it is eBays site so their rules. 

I try to sell items within the eBay system that make since to achieve my goals. Admittedly many things I use to sell here I have found better outlets elsewhere to sell them. Some items do well on eBay, I am grateful eBays here for me to sell those items.

Good luck to you finding your sweet spot. 

[zero29zero]

It all depends on how you define "fees", I guess. I'm simple minded so I see my fees simply as what did it cost me to sell my item?

The stated fee of 12.9% applies only if your listing includes free shipping and you happen to sell to a state that has no sales tax. If you charge for shipping and/tax is charged your cost for selling your goodie will be higher. an example; 

I sell my item for $20, charge $6 shipping & buyer is in my state which charges 10% sales tax, total payment $28.00

ebay takes 12.9 %= #3.61

$20 X 18%= $3.60

I've just paid 18% to sell my item

I know, I'm doing this wrong, I just don't understand as stated upthread, just the way I see it

[dogstruffles12]

YES YES YES i am disgusted...please let me know if you find any I am ready to pull my listings and find another service thank you I am with you 100000%