Final Value Fees too High

[bobafett1008]

Can someone please clarify the outrageous FVF fees. Here is an example.....I just sold an action figure set for $29.99 USD. I was charged a FVF of $5.48+.30. Now I understand the stand .30cents but why was the $5.48 (18%) taken from the sale. I sell mostly figure and Funk POP and as I am looking at the FVFs they are all above 13%. I am rated as a Top Seller as well. I thought the FVF were 12.35%.

Definitely will stop selling on eBay for now. Between these FVFs and the horrible forced acceptance of managed payments, it does't make sense anymore. 

[reallynicestamps]

The poster lives in Florida and used his own state as an example.

This seems reasonable to me.

[coolections]

@reallynicestamps 

It is where the buyer lives not where the seller lives so actually not that relevant.

[penguins_dont_fly]

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@sugarnspice777 wrote:

Why are you USING a state that charges no tax?? 

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Because that is where I live??

It is easy to look up what the shipping amount to me would be just by clicking on the sold item.

[demarkhix]

They didn't give me a choice!  I had to move to managed payments!  My Ebay fees for last month were 18.24%!!!  That's just crazy!!

[luckythewinner]

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@demarkhix wrote:

They didn't give me a choice!  I had to move to managed payments!  My Ebay fees for last month were 18.24%!!!  That's just crazy!!

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18.24% of what? The total amount the buyer paid? The item price plus shipping charge? The item price only? Your profits?

I don't even know what percentage eBay takes in fees, because that does not matter to me. 

The only thing that matters to me is what percentage of the selling price that I am putting in my pocket after all fees and expenses. 

[mam98031]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

Are you in Managed Payments?

I am not, and am resisting it, but the 30c makes me think you are.

If so that charge is 10% * of the $29.99  as FVF.

Plus 10% of your shipping charge**

30c non-refundable payment processing fee***

2.9% of the total customer payment ($29.99+ shipping) 

and 2.9% of any state sales tax your customer paid.

Without knowing what your shipping fees are, if your customer is in a state with sales tax, or if you are in Managed Payments that's as far as I can go. But that's $4.16 of the $5.78 you paid. Add in the fees on shipping and sales tax and you probably will come pretty close.

With Paypal payment processing, the fees were pretty much the same, but they were more scattered and the eBay fees were charged monthly instead of at the end of the 30 day billing period.

*May vary by category

** has been in effect for several years

*** same as Paypal processing fee

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Whether you are in MP or not, there is a 30 cent per transaction fee as that is exactly what PP has been charging for a LONG time.

MP FVF is not an increase on fees if you look at a broader view than just one or two transaction.  Sometimes we do pay a little more than preMP, but then other transactions are LESS.  Overall in a months time is it a very neutral change.

[shado-x]

So what is the issue here?  With the fees taken out, you are not on the hook at the end of the month.   Add postage on top of the $29.99 next time.  Managed Payments is brilliant, so glad I switched.  Someone mentioned to get an eBay store.  I recommend that.  Go with the Basic Store and watch your fees drop.  Starter store is good just to get the "feel of it".

You forgot to mention the USPS raising postage rates starting today too.  More cut for Uncle Sam.

[alcoforever]

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@luckythewinner wrote:

The only thing that matters to me is what percentage of the selling price that I am putting in my pocket after all fees and expenses. 

In which case your tactic should be to sell higher priced items and add a hefty shipping and handling charge to your items.

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[usdon_9hmt9]

I wholeheartedly agree. If I try to reclaim the ridiculous fees by raising the price or increasing the shipping costs, I usually don't receive bids. It seems that more and more Ebay is just a place for the Chinese to pedal their goods, and that's who they cater to. I will start the search for other options. I know there are many, just have to find the right ones. Good luck!

[mam98031]

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@usdon_9hmt9 wrote:

I wholeheartedly agree. If I try to reclaim the ridiculous fees by raising the price or increasing the shipping costs, I usually don't receive bids. It seems that more and more Ebay is just a place for the Chinese to pedal their goods, and that's who they cater to. I will start the search for other options. I know there are many, just have to find the right ones. Good luck!

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Depends on how much you feel you need to raise pricing.  But moving into MP isn't going to likely increase your fees at all.  It is much more of a neutral change overall in a months time.  So you will be happy to know you don't really need to raise your pricing.

@usdon_9hmt9 

[usdon_9hmt9]

Thank you for your explanation. I only list a few items in a year, so I'm not a professional seller on Ebay. For me the bottom line is that the fees are simply too high. I also think that being shown the final value fee (or at least a close estimate) before you click "list the item" would be a much more above board method that would help to build trust. Thanks again though!

[mam98031]

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@usdon_9hmt9 wrote:

Thank you for your explanation. I only list a few items in a year, so I'm not a professional seller on Ebay. For me the bottom line is that the fees are simply too high. I also think that being shown the final value fee (or at least a close estimate) before you click "list the item" would be a much more above board method that would help to build trust. Thanks again though!

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@usdon_9hmt9 

For giving you worldwide access to buyers you think paying 12.35% FVF is too much?  How else are you going to accomplish that on your own if not using a website such as eBay?

[releasethekraken_1]

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@usdon_9hmt9 wrote:

Thank you for your explanation. I only list a few items in a year, so I'm not a professional seller on Ebay. For me the bottom line is that the fees are simply too high. I also think that being shown the final value fee (or at least a close estimate) before you click "list the item" would be a much more above board method that would help to build trust. Thanks again though!

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All of your listings are auctions. How exactly is eBay supposed to give you an estimate of your fees without having any idea what the item will sell for? Magic 8-ball?

[usdon_9hmt9]

That's why I said (estimate) maybe you should read my post again. Most items listed on Ebay sell within a specific range from the price listed. You would rarely if ever find an item listed for $100 that sold for 2$. The estimate would be non binding. I think most people could grasp this concept.

[usdon_9hmt9]

I think a sliding scale would be more appropriate. a $7 fee on a $60 item, or a $65 fee on a $500 item. Both require the same amount of oversight by Ebay. I'm not interested in worldwide access, but I know many are.

But again, these are just my opinions. I am an infrequent seller who uses craigslist and similar sites as well. If the majority of sellers on Ebay think the fee structure is fair and equitable, then they will continue to use the platform and that's all that really matters.