Final value fees are too high

[calisun14]

People selling on ebay aren't rich. Matter of fact, if we've resorted to selling our used items like an online yard sale, we're probably hurting for a little extra money. If ebay wasn't *constantly changing* little things here and there (which serve primarily to trip the user up) then the system would basically run itself--in which case, why do you need to take over 10% of the final value (does that even include taxes?) from a bunch of poor people's used junk? I get it, ebay is a marvel of a modern digital marketplace. I am in awe every single moment I'm on the site. But while used junk is only getting less valuable, fees are only ever increasing, and this isn't a consignment store. Ebay spends no time and makes no effort to mind inventory, and none of their space is being taken up by the same. With the massive amount of sales the site hosts every day, do you really need to take that much? From yard sales, by poor people? How much do you actually need, and how much is just because you can and everyone likes more money no matter how comfortable they already are?

If there was a less greedy alternative, I'd use it. Things always get worse never better for the people on the bottom, because those who have the means to bend the rules in their favor make sure they're never the ones to lose.

[rosszonebricks]

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@calisun14 wrote:

...If there was a less greedy alternative, I'd use it. ...

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Well, there's the rub isn't it? 

'Greedy' is subjective of course, but if you take advantage of the broader audience available on eBay and sell something for $100 and walk away with $65 after fees, taxes, etc. vs selling that same item without fees for $10.....   

Easy choice to me.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Maximizing profit is exactly how capitalism works. eBay's primary responsibility is to their stockholders, not to the sellers who use the site.

eBay set the final value fee at 10% in 2013, and sellers also paid 2.9% to PayPal.  Now in most categories, sellers who don't have a Store subscription pay 12.9% and there's no PayPal fee because eBay processes the payments.  So, fees haven't increased drastically over the past 9 years in most categories.

[kabilab]

nobody's_perfect opines--Maximizing profit is exactly how capitalism works. eBay's primary responsibility is to their stockholders, not to the sellers who use the site.

The above opinion completely sums up my thoughts. I first, unknowingly, became a capitalist in 1953 and have remained so for almost 70 yrs. I sell my products for the absolutely highest possible dollar. I DO NOT price my items to help out buyers, give them a good deal or be their buddy. Therefore, I do not expect e-Bay to ignore their shareholder obligation to increase profits.

[pwil-23]

I agree with your post 100%.  There is so much truth in the saying "the rich get richer while the poor get poorer."  I'm not selling on Ebay as a hobby, for the fun of it.  No, I am trying to supplement my income. And right now, because of the excessive fees, I'm not doing very well.  With the help of some of the resellers on here, I am being enlightened a bit on the shipping side of things.  Maybe we just need to do more research. Or maybe just resort to the old school way of making money off our junk-YARD or GARAGE SALES.

[chapeau-noir]

I make a lot more selling here than garage sales.

[pwil-23]

Great selling strategy I need to implement!!  I constantly feel pressured by the "watchers" to lower my prices. What I realized of late, thanks to other Ebay sellers, is that I've lowered them to a point where they are commensurate with my shipping cost.  Maybe breaking even, but definitely not increasing my profit. 

[lepke1979]

What do you think the fees should be that would make them less greedy?

With the exception of a few sites that I know of. Ebay's fees are nearly the same with most others.

[collectfest]

Agree, but all things balance out when it comes to the fee's folks are willing to pay. For me, I am finding this venue less productive as a seller and more importantly less interested as a buyer. I am also sure some folks are doing quite well here. 

As I am a buyer/seller of vintage items, there are a multitude of venues that are becoming a better avenue to sell. As to items I see for sale within your store, I see eBay as a good choice but there are MANY alternative venues they can be sold, California is a strong market.

Good luck.

[annadryl]

I think the ebay fees are an absolute deal compared to what shipping costs. But My customers pay for all that so I don't mind. There are some inexpensive things that it's just not feasible to sell and ship anymore, but I can easily work the 13% ebay fees into my price. No, they haven't increased (except media) in a long time.

[chapeau-noir]

I know people who make six figures selling on here and they are not large firms, they're independent sellers.  I don't think eBay is just for po' folks. 

[buyologist-3]

I know nothing is perfect, but the OP stated it well, not just for ebay but for many things across the board.  Things might get a bit more interesting. Buckle up and hang on!

[mam98031]

Ebay is a for profit company.  This is why they exist, to make money.  It is the way in the USA.  If Ebay is "greedy" for earning money, then every single seller should be called the same "greedy", as we are all here to make money.

In most categories Ebay charges 12.9% on the total amount of money the buyer pays the seller.  This hasn't changed a lot in the last handful of years.  Before Ebay took over being our money processor, we paid 2.9% to PayPal and 10% FVF to Ebay.  That equals 12.9%.  The same as most sellers pay today.

You can likely find sites out there that charge less in FVFs than Ebay and others that charge More.  A simple Google search should get you that information.  But then what you need to do is decide what is more important to you, how much you pay in fees or how much you actually sell.  Most other sites, especially less expensive sites are not likely to have the same traffic that Ebay gets.

It is also important to remember that Ebay has every right to be paid for the services they provide you.  From the ability to list something that can be seen around the world to all the other features Ebay offers.  These things didn't magically appear one day.  

[mam98031]

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@pwil-23 wrote:

Great selling strategy I need to implement!!  I constantly feel pressured by the "watchers" to lower my prices. What I realized of late, thanks to other Ebay sellers, is that I've lowered them to a point where they are commensurate with my shipping cost.  Maybe breaking even, but definitely not increasing my profit. 

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Why?  If they are emailing you, tell them no.  If it is the mere fact you have watchers, then you are making something out of that, that is not likely intended.

I will sometimes watch something for weeks.  Depending on how fast I need it, or if I'm still shopping to see if that listing is the best one for me, or any number of other reasons, none of which am I trying to get the seller to lower their price.

[mam98031]

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@lepke1979 wrote:

What do you think the fees should be that would make them less greedy?

With the exception of a few sites that I know of. Ebay's fees are nearly the same with most others.

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Oh no.  Amazon is much more expensive, or at least it is for me.