@c172_20 wrote:
Not starting a business. But I have a good bit of stuff and would like to try and see if I would like it or not.
Three important things you will not readily see in your research of selling on ebay
1. They have a buyer "Money Back Guarantee" meaning they will take the word of the buyer in virtually every instance over yours - If buyer says the $300 item you sent them was an old shoe, there is the highest likelihood you will lose that item and the money(though, they may give you a "courtesy refund" the 1st time it happens if you work hard enough for it) - And my guess is the amount of professional scammers shopping here due to that money back guarantee would likely blow the minds of even the the most staunch ebay apologists...
2. When they say they will charge you 13.25% in fees to sell, dont fall into the trap of thinking its 13.25% of the item alone - Its 13.25% of the ENTIRE TRANSACTION - So if you sell a $25 item with $12 shipping and $2.50 sales tax the, fees will be $5.60(including the .40 cent transaction fee) - That fee equates to 22% of the items price - the only profit bearing number in the transaction - see how they do that - pretty slick right?
3. They will be hounding you to take part in their heinous "Promoted Listings" program for higher visibility - They will be "recommending" you give them an additional 12% to 17% of, again, the entire transaction, effectively pushing your fees to 40% to 50% of items selling price in the above exampled transaction. Some long time sellers/full time posters have been saying "but its optional" for several years - When you see stats showing the use of promotions have grown to 50% to 65% of sellers in many categories, the situation has moved well past the "optional" time frame they believe we still live in...
Seller beware...
