eBay

springs_2013 · ‎09-26-2019

Hi everyone. I usually don't look at all the fee updates and invoices, but since sales has been so slow with only a couple of sales a month, I decided to have a look at my last invoice. It did not match my assumption that I would be paying 10% on final valuation fees on sales price plus shipping.

Upon further investigation, I found that the categories for books, music, DVDs, and movies are charged 12% including the shipping on the sale.

It's interesting that eBay is actually charging 12% on those categories including the shipping. First of all, books are being sold for really inexpensive as most people don't read books anymore. Secondly, they are very heavy, but are subject to be shipped Media mail. When using media mail label on eBay, there are no discounts, so we don't have any cushions to offset a little of the expenses related to the sale .... sooooo.... why is eBay charging more in these categories that nets seller less than other categories?

readabouthorses · ‎09-26-2019

That change in FVF has been going on for awhile.

I also don't understand why these categories were singled out for this increase but I do have a theory that will sound crazy if I post it here so I will keep it to myself.

luckythewinner · ‎09-26-2019

@springs_2013 wrote:
When using media mail label on eBay, there are no discounts, so we don't have any cushions to offset a little of the expenses related to the sale

I am confused by this statement.

You can add as much cushion to your shipping prices as you want.

The 1 lb media mail rate is $2.75, but I charge my buyers $3.50

southern*sweet*tea · ‎09-26-2019

Media FVF went up last year in August or September to 12%, so it's been a full year. Still lower than Amazon, but an increase none the less.

Media Mail is already a discounted service, so no online discounts are available. Add a small handling fee or work your expenses into the price of the item. That's what I've always done.

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell

upgradedendmills · ‎09-26-2019

You owe it to yourself to be aware of actual fees before listing anything. I think eBay went with the 12% FVF on media items to slow down the number of listings in that category.

earlyant-77 · ‎09-26-2019

@readabouthorses wrote:
That change in FVF has been going on for awhile.

I also don't understand why these categories were singled out for this increase but I do have a theory that will sound crazy if I post it here so I will keep it to myself.

Like to offset the 1% FVF that is probably what the mega book sellers pay?

judydu2 · ‎09-26-2019

@upgradedendmills wrote:
You owe it to yourself to be aware of actual fees before listing anything. I think eBay went with the 12% FVF on media items to slow down the number of listings in that category.

Not for one second do I believe that the mega-booksellers pay the same fees as the "regular" folks.

ozarkjoe · ‎09-26-2019

Are you guys really sure that there is no discount for media mail when purchased online? I would swear that there was a discount of about 5% versus paying at the post office.

I would really love to hear that theory about why they raised FVF on media. I assume that the reasoning was that there is a higher profit margin, especially for the megasellers who get library culls and donations. I have noticed that the same book here sells for less money than when it is found over at the River. You can find a hardcover here for about $4 shipping included while at the other place it may cost closer to $7. That is a more recent observation in the past couple of years.

judydu2 · ‎09-26-2019

@ozarkjoe wrote:
Are you guys really sure that there is no discount for media mail when purchased online? I would swear that there was a discount of about 5% versus paying at the post office.

Media mail shipping cost through eBay has no discount. It's the same price as retail at the post office.

myjunqueyourtreasure · ‎09-26-2019

The least they could have done is kept the FVF on shipping for media at 10%.

Reality is the leading cause of stress.

m60driver · ‎09-26-2019

Most books, and other media, sell, when they do sell at all, for so little that I am not surprised that Ebay felt a need to raise the FVF. Such categories take up a huge swath of real estate on the platform and due to low prices generate relatively little income.

fuzzface50 · ‎09-26-2019

I agree with that they sell for so low of a price they charge a higher % to help make up for it. Like a local auction company here, you bring him good stuff that has a decent selling price he charges you 10% but you bring him garbage or low ticket trinkets then he charges 35%. He still has the same 4 person team that cost him the same x amount per hour selling the good stuff versus the cheap stuff so he needs to make up for it.

springs_2013 · ‎09-27-2019

@fuzzface50 wrote:
I agree with that they sell for so low of a price they charge a higher % to help make up for it. Like a local auction company here, you bring him good stuff that has a decent selling price he charges you 10% but you bring him garbage or low ticket trinkets then he charges 35%. He still has the same 4 person team that cost him the same x amount per hour selling the good stuff versus the cheap stuff so he needs to make up for it.

What you said sounds very logical, but what about when eBay used to suggest the starting and sales price of items at $0.99 in the categories that only charge 10% fvf?

springs_2013 · ‎09-27-2019

@m60driver wrote:
Most books, and other media, sell, when they do sell at all, for so little that I am not surprised that Ebay felt a need to raise the FVF. Such categories take up a huge swath of real estate on the platform and due to low prices generate relatively little income.

I agree with you and fuzzface. Sounds very plausible to me, but could there be any other reason behind the rise in fvf for books?