Insertion Fees Confusing And Onerous

[dadepfan]

As a seller of vintage and collectibles, I have MANY things to list and most are not priced very high.  I had an Ebay store, but the monthly fee ate up all my profits.

I think that Ebay should do away with insertion fees, at least for things priced under $10, and even if they have to increase final value fees.  Paying $0.30 for an item listed at $1.95 is ridiculous.  Add the Paypal processing fee, and it is not worth listing the item.

I use up my free 50 listings each month by about the 20th, and because I refuse to be nickeled and dimed to death by insertion fees and other charges, I usually do not list anything for the last part of each much.  Is this good for Ebay?

I also sell on Etsy, Bonanza, Ebid, and Amazon, and only Amazon is more expensive than Ebay.

Dave

[audioarchive]

So, why not use the free listings for the cheap items and pay the insertion fee on the higher priced ones. eBay shouldn't have to change things because you can't figure something like this out.

Just because you CAN list something for sale on eBay doesn't always mean you should.

[lauralemur]

I only use the free and promo listings for my low cost items...each month I usually get one or two promos (i.e. 100 listings free) - the only challenge with the promos is they run for a few days or a week, so I have to rush to get everything listed.  It helps to have the photos and descriptions prepared ahead of time, so I can maximize the full number allowed.  

[muttlymob]

I think that Ebay should do away with insertion fees, at least for things priced under $10, and even if they have to increase final value fees.  Paying $0.30 for an item listed at $1.95 is ridiculous. 

Maybe eBay is using the fee to discourage the listing of low price items in favor of higher price, more profitable items?

Add the Paypal processing fee, and it is not worth listing the item.

Bingo!  Unless you are selling things as a hobby with no concern for profit, they are not worth listing.

[dadepfan]

I don't have that many expensive items, but how do you pay an insertion fee for an item you are listing if you have free listings left?  The fee at the bottom of the item listing screen says $0.0 until the 50 are used up.  Is that changable?

Or, are you suggesting I simply hold off on the expensive items until my free 50 are used up?

Also, I'm sick and tired of people defending Ebay's complicated and expensive fee system, AND the "if you don't like it go away" attitude.  Not cool!

Dave

[bigbadmomma45 · Accepted solution]

I'm not sure how long you have been selling on ebay but one thing I might suggest is to up your sales volume by selling more expensive things along with your cheap things and selling around at least 3 to $4,000 a year. You will automatically get an increase. You can request a selling increase as well which will also increase the number of free listings, but depending on your traffic and sales, you may not get it. There were months where I waited on the free extra 100 promotions because I had already exhausted my 50 free and like you, I did not list anything past 50 because of the insertion fees. Like I said earlier, sales speak loudly to them and if you're making the money they will give you the increase, you won't even have to ask.

[fern*wood]

I'm not sure if you are aware or not of the new store level announced in the Spring Update.   It announced a starter store level for around seven dollars a month that gives 100 free listing insertions per month. 

[audioarchive]

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@dadepfanwrote:

I don't have that many expensive items, but how do you pay an insertion fee for an item you are listing if you have free listings left?  The fee at the bottom of the item listing screen says $0.0 until the 50 are used up.  Is that changable?

Then you need to look at the overall picture and see if it's worth paying insertion fees on any of your items. Or you need to list only your 50 best and most likely to sell items. Or you need to read my last statement.

Or, are you suggesting I simply hold off on the expensive items until my free 50 are used up?

That is exactly what I was suggesting, but only if your item actually stands a chance of selling in the first place.

Also, I'm sick and tired of people defending Ebay's complicated and expensive fee system, AND the "if you don't like it go away" attitude.  Not cool!

It's not complicated and it's not expensive if you know what you're doing. To blindly list low value items that take a long time to sell is not eBay's fault. It may be complicated and expensive for you and your items, but apparently it's not to thousands and thousands of other sellers. I sell low value items and it works just fine for me. So, the 'if you don't like it, go away' is technically a valid option. Sorry that you find that option won't work for you, but it seems that selling your stuff here isn't working either....

Dave

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[delaney020]

gosh Dave, thats Harsh and kind of jerkish. The truth about your selling is this. Ebay wants to make a profit and so do the sellers, The higher priced the item, the more profit, They care not about your 1.95 sale. Ebay would prefer you not to sell your small items on their venue simply because the profit margin is not large enough to generate revenue for you or them. Insertion fees guarantee Ebay a cut of your sale regardless of cost to you whether it sells or not.. Remember Ebay is there to generate revenue no matter how shady it seems. The minute you post an item Ebay gets paid.

[nobody*s_perfect]

@delaney020 

Is there some particular reason that you resurrected a thread from April 2018?

[luckythewinner]

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@dadepfan wrote:

Paying $0.30 for an item listed at $1.95 is ridiculous.  Add the Paypal processing fee, and it is not worth listing the item.

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Not every item is a good fit for every venue.

Just as there are items that do not make sense to sell on eBay, there are items that do not make sense to sell online, in a yard sale, or at Sotheby's. 

Selling costs, size & weight, supply & demand, potential for damage, and the risk of theft or fraud are all factors that a seller must evaluate when choosing the appropriate venue for an item.

There are even sellers who post here suggesting that eBay should raise insertion fees to further discourage sellers from listing items like the one you mentioned.

[delaney020]

The thread was there I felt like replying I don't really need a reason to reply or an explanation to you

[brian@ebay]

Hi everyone,

Due to the length of time that has passed since this thread began, we have locked it from future replies. If this is still an issue that warrants discussion, don't hesitate to begin a new thread here.

Thanks.