eBay

antiquesnemethdi13 · ‎01-31-2025

Hello, I have been selling on Ebay since 2003 and have witnessed many buyer trends and in my selling. That is why I want to address the new Final Value Fees. Ebay has been a life line for me selling in my later life. My ancestors did not have this asset. However, we need to keep a grip on things with the new eBay policies especially the final value fees increasing when the new trend is for the younger generation and others to no longer have a desire to buy collectibles especially collectible that at one time where very expensive to buy originally. I feel these fees are actually over the top and excessive when one takes that into a fact. Also, I do enjoy the 250 free listing fees each month and other incentives iniated by eBay. However, there are so many added fees that this last year I sold at a loss or break even point on sales when we factor in the larger shipping fees for those we ship to at a distance but still want to keep competitive on our shipping cost offered to potential buyers. I feel we should be able to either adjust the shipping for mileage on an indiviual completed sale or restrict selling to those areas. If anyone has any suggestions, please respond.

Thank you, a senior citizen, Diane

isaiah53-57 · ‎02-14-2025

@luckythewinner wrote:
However, there are so many added fees
What specifically are the "many fees" that have been added?

@antiquesnemethdi13

I also started selling here in 2003 - At that time, there was a .10 cent cost to list an item under $9.99 and the FVFs were 1.9% for auctions ending less $10... and up to 2.9% for items ending $50 to $100, and 3.9% up to $1000 - after that there were caps...There was a .10 cent charge for additional photos later, but back then, it only took 1 photo to sell an item anyway - actually, likely 1/4 of all listings didnt even have a photo, just a description.

The FVFs were on THE ITEM PRICE alone - So FVFs on a $9.99 item were .19 cents plus the .10 cent listing fee for a Grand total of .29 cents (not long after on it would become .42 cents total fees including the .13 cent PayPal fee at 1.3%)

Today that same $9.99 item could easily see fees upwards of $2.50 to $4 (25% to 40% of the items price) and even over, and thats not even counting Promoted listing fees if you're ok with the exploitation(in my opinion) that comes along with using them...

So yes... Some fees have been added and ALL fees have gone up...

View Best Answer in original post

luckythewinner · ‎01-31-2025

However, there are so many added fees

What specifically are the "many fees" that have been added?

aeparts1 · ‎01-31-2025

Start charging the actual shipping cost, plus a handling fee. Do not give your buyer your discounted shipping charge. You appear to be charging less than it actually costs you to ship an item.

You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious.

tobaccocardyahoo · ‎01-31-2025

I too am a senior citizen.

I am so old that I have seen at least 3 generations worth of collectibles which lost their value. Some so much that no one cares to buy them.

In general, the examples of highest merit within a group of collectibles have fared better than the trash.

Ebay has become the only place some of these collectibles will sell. It is not worth the effort to try to sell some of these items in the vintage section of Etsy with its lower fee structure, but if the fees are so unacceptable to you, try selling there.

This is not to say Ebay is the perfect venue. Many items are skunked by lowball sellers who acquired items for close to nothing and will accept any price for them. That's what happens in the collectibles business, Either you take your lumps and move on or attempt to live long enough for the item to return to favor.

I would rather pay an Ebay fee and make a sale than not make a sale because I was offering the item on Etsy.

lb23cavaliersmvp · ‎01-31-2025

I empathize but if a 10-15% selling fee is causing you to break even or lose money then doesn't it say that you are either buying item for too much or having to sell too low because the market for your items no longer exists? For instance Hummel's were once a saleable item but for the most part that has not been true for a decade. Without knowing your situation I'd say you need to find new places to buy for less and study the market to determine what still sells.

silverstatetreasureboxes · ‎01-31-2025

That infrared heater is pretty beat up and no mention of its condition. You will never be able to ship that at your low price and on auction to boot. Please sell this locally and save yourself a NAD.

Bump your shipping costs up, your losing money on all items, never lose money!

richard1rst · ‎01-31-2025

@antiquesnemethdi13 wrote:
Hello, I have been selling on Ebay since 2003 and have witnessed many buyer trends and in my selling. That is why I want to address the new Final Value Fees. Ebay has been a life line for me selling in my later life. My ancestors did not have this asset. However, we need to keep a grip on things with the new eBay policies especially the final value fees increasing when the new trend is for the younger generation and others to no longer have a desire to buy collectibles especially collectible that at one time where very expensive to buy originally. I feel these fees are actually over the top and excessive when one takes that into a fact. Also, I do enjoy the 250 free listing fees each month and other incentives iniated by eBay. However, there are so many added fees that this last year I sold at a loss or break even point on sales when we factor in the larger shipping fees for those we ship to at a distance but still want to keep competitive on our shipping cost offered to potential buyers. I feel we should be able to either adjust the shipping for mileage on an indiviual completed sale or restrict selling to those areas. If anyone has any suggestions, please respond.
Thank you, a senior citizen, Diane

You appear to be using "flat rate shipping" where everyone, regardless of where they are, pays the same. That is your mistake on this point. You should be using CALCULATED shipping where the shipping charge is indeed based on the mileage.

"Laissez-faire capitalism (AKA The Great Material Continuum) is the only social system based on the recognition of individual rights and, therefore, the only system that bans force from social relationships." ~ Ayn Rand

chariot_badges · ‎01-31-2025

@aeparts1 wrote:
Start charging the actual shipping cost, plus a handling fee. Do not give your buyer your discounted shipping charge. You appear to be charging less than it actually costs you to ship an item.

That actually results in a loss of revenue.

It is above the cost of postage .. but not of all of the cost of shipping.

Included in shipping is

Shipping supplies

Cost of fulfillment.

You should be paid for the time you spend wrapping, packing, driving to the post office.

Everybody's cost is different ... but figure out ALL of your costs, then mark that up at least 25%.

NOW yer making fair wages.

caldreamer · ‎01-31-2025

Before you list an item you should get exact "weight & measurements" of boxed item (ready to ship) this way you will never lose money on shipping. If that is not possible...just raise your "selling price" of the item to cover any loses on shipping.

Don't know what you are talking about "new" selling fees. Nothing has changed....EBAY charges selling fee on (purchase price + shipping + sales tax) plus 40 cent handling. Of course, if you "promoted" your items you would pay an additional fee when item sells.

itsjustasprain · ‎01-31-2025

@aeparts1 wrote:
Start charging the actual shipping cost, plus a handling fee. Do not give your buyer your discounted shipping charge. You appear to be charging less than it actually costs you to ship an item.

Definitely. I would have some real concerns about some of that framed art - the Shipping costs seem very low for packaging a very breakable object.

You should definitely figure out in advance what the size and weight of your packaged item is going to be. You do not have to seal the package but once you have weighed and measured it then you can use Calculated Shipping. Buyers far from you may see a higher price than those closer to you but you will not go underwater trying to ship the item to wherever it needs to go.

youn2240 · ‎01-31-2025

why do old people think their stuff is worth so much? I think that may be the main issue on this thread.

richard1rst · ‎01-31-2025

@youn2240 wrote:
why do old people think their stuff is worth so much? I think that may be the main issue on this thread.

It is a carryover from the old flea market life. Years before eBay (and therefore old people in general).

If I wanted $10 for something I would mark it 15 or maybe 17.50. Knowing full well that at a flea market someone would come along and offer maybe $5. I would then counter offer, they would re-counter offer and we would eventually settle on something close to $10.00. Objective achieved.

Ever heard of muscle memory? For some old people eBay is a flea market.

"Laissez-faire capitalism (AKA The Great Material Continuum) is the only social system based on the recognition of individual rights and, therefore, the only system that bans force from social relationships." ~ Ayn Rand