Ebay is charging 50% final fees! How is that fair?

[denisemb2001]

I’ve read all the prior kumbaya responses justifying Ebay charging the final fee based on sale price plus shipping, but let’s just tell it like it is.  At first Ebay’s auto listing was putting things I list with a suggested starting auction of $.99.  Well after a couple of things sold at that amount I found myself in a negative position but wasn’t sure why.  I’m not a dealer, just an older person trying to sell off a few collectibles so I don’t have to throw them away or donate somewhere where they will be destroyed.  I raised all of my minimums to $5.00 and am still wondering why I end up with so little.  To charge a final value fee based on shipping is like usary and I do not know why there hasn’t been some sort of action or complaint.  I am buying the label from Ebay so it is not like I have hyper inflated the shipping cost in some sort of covert way.  And this **bleep** that it is to encourage people to offer free shipping doesn’t fly.  12% of the total is still 12% of the total whether it is inflated to hide the shipping cost or is the actual item price plus shipping.  I read lots of people defending Ebay because people were inflating shipping costs etc, but I have used Ebay for purchases for many years and never bought anything with high shipping - that’s on the seller to know what things cost to ship.  This is just a money grab from Ebay.  Tell it like it is - for small items, or heavy items YOU ARE CHARGING A 50%+ FINAL VALUE FEE.  Shame shame shame on Ebay.  I wasn’t selling here for some sort of get rich quick scheme.  I just thought I could recover some of the cost of the items I am selling - most of which were originally purchased on Ebay in the past - Well now they have definately double+ dipped into my pocket.

[kensgiftshop]

Can you show us where they are charging you 50% on the FVF?

[heckofagame]

You are very incorrect, but if you want to defend your bold accusation, please show your calculations. 

[susanb1872]

We all know they are not charging 50% and we all know that the fee is 13.25% of the total paid by the buyer. However, if you sell an item for $1.00 and the fees end up being 50 cents then the fee is 50% of the item selling price. Just a different way to look at it.

[caldreamer]

You cannot make any profit selling items for 99 CENTS because selling fees based on (purchase price + shipping + sales tax) plus 30 cent handling charge.   By the time you pay the fees...there won't be any profit.

 You should bundle items together and sell for at least $25 if you want to make any money.   Always best if you can sell "lightweight items" and keep the shipping costs down by shipping by cheaper options (USPS Ground Advance or Fed Ground).

[sextons-sweet-deals]

I just looked at a few of your listings. 

What I can see is you need to entertain actual shipping weight, size of box to ship, safe packing materials / fragile / glass labels in your shipping cost calculations / handling fee.

You will lose money if you're using a flat fee shipping cost. 

best wishes!

[klhmdg]

It is up to you the seller to set the price, NOT eBay.

eBay "suggested" a price and you went along with it.

Why are YOU blaming eBay for not pricing correctly. A suggestion is just that, a suggestion.

You are in control of your listing price. 

Blaming eBay for your bad business decisions .... Shame shame!

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@denisemb2001 wrote: ....  To charge a final value fee based on shipping is like usary and I do not know why there hasn’t been some sort of action or complaint.....

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There was plenty of commotion and discussion back in 2011 when this policy was introduced.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@kensgiftshop wrote:

Can you show us where they are charging you 50% on the FVF?

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Those inflated FVF claims are usually based on comparing just the selling price to the FVF that was charged.

So for instance if an item sold for 99 cents but the shipping was $3, then a FVF of 13.25% of $3.99 would be 53 cents which is more than 50% of the item price.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

If you have read the past threads on Ebay fees and why the FVF applies to shipping as well as the product cost, you are simply venting.

Ebay established a FVF on the shipping because sellers were low-balling the item to reduce the fees and kiting the shipping.

Ebay is not the only marketplace to take this action. It is now normal for Internet Marketplace sales. You are welcome to build your own website if you do not want to pay a FVF, but you will still wind up paying credit card fees on the total, and that total will include relevant sales tax.

Ebay charges a FVF on the sales tax because they are providing collection, and remittance services, as well as credit card fees on the sales tax.

A $5 minimum sales price is probably too low except for under 4 oz. items, and too low for me with them.

[jerseyboymusic]

"You are very incorrect, but if you want to defend your bold accusation, please show your calculations."

You DO realize we now live in a world where people can just make bold accusations without any backing proof and it's just accepted as fact... right? 😄

[dhbookds]

If you don't understand the fees........don't list until you do........AND until you understand what you will garner from the sale after shipping and fees are deducted.......    It's hard for me to understand why people don't do this......and then gripe because of the fees...........  Has absolutely nothing to do with fairness. 

[stainlessenginecovers]

If you are using the dollar amount charged vs. just the ACTUAL price of an item, then yes, you will (wrongly) come up with 50%.

Some States charge SALES TAX on shipping, so not much different. This site charges it's fee on Shipping also.

The information is clearly stated BEFORE you list so you need to do some calculations PRIOR to listing to determine if it will be 'worth' listing/selling as there are MANY things in this world NOT made to Sell/List on  this site. 

[luckythewinner]

I’ve read all the prior kumbaya responses justifying Ebay charging the final fee based on sale price plus shipping

I see very little "kumbaya" or "justifying". I just see statements of fact and eBay's own explanation of why they  made the decision they did. 

 I found myself in a negative position

eBay' suggestions are about what is best for eBay. I use my own judgement and set my prices to ensure a profit if they sell.

but wasn’t sure why

You did not understand the fee structure before you sold? I always check the price before I buy something. 

 I raised all of my minimums to $5.00 and am still wondering why I end up with so little.

Why did you choose to raise by $5 without checking to see if that was the right solution? Why not calculate the fees and see? 

 I do not know why there hasn’t been some sort of action or complaint.

There has been plenty of complaining. Your lost is evidence of that. But what "action" are you hoping for? Credit card companies have been charging fees on shipping and taxes for 50 years. 

for small items, or heavy items

Not all items are a good fit for eBay. That is why you should calculate the fees and see whether it is worth listing. That is just common sense. 

Well now they have definately double+ dipped into my pocket.

They did not "double dip". They charged you exactly what they told you they would charge. 

[inhawaii]

No, you're "fee" is 13.25% not 50%

If the amount you "net" is 50%, that's not ebay's fault, that's your fault.