Fees are out of control

[jaynrot0]

I started selling on eBay years ago. It was worth selling a $10 item. My item that sold today for $410.00 buyer purchasing priority mail and paid taxes. My net is 217.83. The fees are out of control. It doesn’t pay anymore. I’m better off traveling to sell my vintage toys at toy shows. 

[gloryglorygifts]

A friend of mine does very well doing shows and having a small website and a nice-sized facebook page. She used to have an ebay store but closed it because of the fees and that's before PL's came along. She does it full time though and has tons of new toys and fad things too. She literally does shows every single weekend and drives all over her state and the 3 neighboring ones. She also sells direct through her fb page (not marketplace) and is pretty consistent at showing items every day, a few times a day. It can be done, but it is a heck of a lot of hauling, set up and gas. She is extremely impressive - to me anyway.

There is a market out there so if you have the stamina, it's another market for you to reach. Of course, ebay reaches more people with a little promotion!

[meme6253]

Fees are high but we are all aware of that prior to listing, But you are correct that your fees are out of control, You need to check your promotional costs, shipping charges, If you offer free shipping & know that it's really not free. Good Luck to you!

[estate_echoes]

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@gloryglorygifts wrote:

A friend of mine does very well doing shows and having a small website and a nice-sized facebook page. She used to have an ebay store but closed it because of the fees and that's before PL's came along. She does it full time though and has tons of new toys and fad things too. She literally does shows every single weekend and drives all over her state and the 3 neighboring ones. She also sells direct through her fb page (not marketplace) and is pretty consistent at showing items every day, a few times a day. It can be done, but it is a heck of a lot of hauling, set up and gas. She is extremely impressive - to me anyway.

There is a market out there so if you have the stamina, it's another market for you to reach. Of course, ebay reaches more people with a little promotion!

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I do week long shows... $400 for a 20x20 spot, $400 to rent a 20x20 tent. $15 a rental table. Uhaul rental. Fuel. $5 a shower if you rough it and sleep in the back of the truck to save on a hotel room. $30 an hour for unloading help. Food. etc. Easy to have $1500 invested, not including what you invested in your inventory

Then you gotta deal with the weather, thieves, and rude and cheap people all week. And load up when done. And these shows have slowed way down like online shows.

Makes eBay a whole lot more tolerable.

Sitting on your couch in your underwear is much easier... and cheaper. 

[hartungcards]

"But again eBay's paid bit farm will try to change the outlook people.have by saying the fees are justifiable in some way.."

It's not a question of whether or not the "fees are justifiable."  eBay doesn't have to "justify" them for anyone.  They are what they are, and they're clearly stated.  You either accept them or you don't, but whining about them is pointless.  They're not about to change the sand in their sandbox just because you found a bug in it somewhere.

[adamcartwright]

@Anonymous 

If you believe your fees are approaching 25%, why not post a screenshot from a recent sale to prove your point.  Maybe you're the bot/fake account?

[bonjourami]

"Don't believe a word most of the bots and fake accounts in here saying.

They are in almost every thread and there job is to .make sure eBay's image stays positive"

If you actually believe that Ebay would pay for ringers or bots in here, when they dont give a rats behind about sellers complaints, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.  

And no...fees do not 'approach 25%, thats ludicrous.

[tools*]

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@jaynrot0 wrote:

I started selling on eBay years ago. It was worth selling a $10 item. My item that sold today for $410.00 buyer purchasing priority mail and paid taxes. My net is 217.83. The fees are out of control. It doesn’t pay anymore. I’m better off traveling to sell my vintage toys at toy shows. 

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You haven't returned to say how much you chose to spend on eBay's "promotional" fee option.

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@ryry-jj wrote:

Why do sellers continue to think that after adding shipping and tax to an item, that now becomes what they think the item sold for?   

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Simple Math ineptitude. Remember back in 3rd, 7th, 10th Grade Math class.....70% of the class got a 'C' or worse?

[bonanza125]

@Anonymous 

"Don't believe a word most of the bots and fake accounts in here saying."

Coming from someone who just created an account last week.  

[johnrj1226]

When on sold on eBay and in my4 decade selling career - all my selling costs and expected profit margin we determined be for I listed any item or provided a proposal to  a prospective buyer...

Had  an excel work sheet like this -  If you don't know  excel then this is Greek to you - There are other software  programs - but  learned excel and I'm good to go.

[gloryglorygifts]

"Then you gotta deal with the weather, thieves, and rude and cheap people all week. And load up when done. And these shows have slowed way down like online shows."

That's not what my friend is experiencing with her business. She cleared $30K just from December last year. It depends on what you sell and she supports a household on just doing shows, so she is doing very well selling old and new toys.

The items that she sells can go to just about every type of venue there is. She also has done pop up shops in malls. I, on the other hand, can't sell at all of them. I started out doing that, but carting wood products around got tiresome so I opted for a website and selling from my couch in my underwear. LOL

[tobaccocardyahoo]

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@jaynrot0 wrote:

I started selling on eBay years ago. It was worth selling a $10 item.  

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I set my minimum dollar profit per sale at $5.00 many years ago. That translated to a $8 sale price plus shipping with my typical COGS. I obviously have greater dollar margin and percentage margins on most of my sales. But a $8 sale on Ebay still makes more than $5.

Over the years I have reduced the amount of time I take to pack my orders, and had a modest increase in the packaging materials cost. But I can sell make $5 or more on a $8 Ebay sale.

There is a lot of merchandise which does not meet my profit requirement. I do not buy it. If I own it, I consign it to an in person auction and it usually sells to either a flea market vendor or an online seller who does not value their time.

[kensgiftshop]

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@Anonymous wrote:

You're correct.  The fees are approaching 25% .

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No, they are not, unless you're using promoted listings, which is your choice.

[Anonymous]

None the less....

The place is filled with eBay bots..

Regardless of my status...

[Anonymous]

One thing these accounts like to do is ask for screenshots and other bits of info about YOU!

My answer is... No thank you 

No need to prove what's already been proven..

eBay's fees are indeed approaching 25%

The fact that eBay charges a fee on the taxes brings the total to an outrageous total ..

No, eBay is not charging a fee to collect taxes or other such nonsense you all have repeated over and over for a while now . eBay is literally collecting fees to do one thing..

Take your money !

Money you didn't even have because taxes are not sold!

Ain't that something!  ? 🤯