The Fee Machine

[brightwarrior74]

15% standard fee.

5-15% Ad Promotion (ad general fee)

1.65% International Buyer Fee (WHY ARE WE  PENALIZED FOR THIS???)

REALLY? I could go into details about how this has affected my revenue. If this global economic disaster wasn't enough? Now, we get gouged at every turn. SMH.

[slippinjimmy]

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@brightwarrior74 wrote:

Oh, oh...and I almost forgot...for our USA "Revenue Hike Initiative," we can also start charging the SELLER if an "International" buyer should happen to purchase a product. If the buyer's shipping address is outside of the United States, the Seller must pay an extra 1.65%. Pretty nifty, eh? I think my ideas are revolutionary. Yep.

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PayPal charged the same International fee since 2001, my own Merchant Credit Card Account started charging an International fee in 1978.

Increasing profit margins is the goal of virtually every business on the planet!

Q - Why do seller complain about eBay fees?

A - Because they want to increase their profit margins!

[brightwarrior74]

I edited my post. I was actually kicked off of ebay many eons ago for talking about them, so I had a rewind.

I guess I never noticed an international fee before. 

To answer you directly...

Ebay is a multibillion dollar company. Their profits are not big enough? I am one person and a small business. There is a huge difference between Ebay and myself. My motivation is survival. Theirs is a little different I suspect. LOL

[brightwarrior74]

Complaining about astronomical fees is expected, especially when this Ad Promotion nonsense is being used in such a shady way. I just paid 28% on a $175 item. Buyers don't want to spend squat right now. Have you seen some of the price drops from desperate sellers? Do you make tons on ebay or something? Some people can't compete. They bury you if you're a little guy that doesn't list regularly. 15% plus 13% ad rev. Are they proving the value or ROI on these "campaigns"???

[pls-consignments]

I have never had an issue with eBay fees, as long as I know ahead of time. eBay has every right to charge whatever fee they wish, which is expected. Its up to the sellers to decide whether they can still make a healthy profit.

[onlinecentral]

5-15% Ad Promotion (ad general fee)
Would a child pay 5-15% to get their weekly allowance sooner?
Would an employee pay 5-15% to get their biweekly payroll check sooner?
Should an eBay seller pay 5-15% in promotional fees for money they will eventually get anyway?

[simba6]

I never use any of the extra cost services.

[brightwarrior74]

So if sellers complain, people like you guys show up to shut it down? Wow. That's funny. 

For the "Ad Promotions" ~ did you ever notice the analytics section of ad campaigns? I used to get sales all the time, without needing special ad on campaigns. It's called "search." Now, whatever my ad rate %, on every single item the "suggested" ad rate is way higher! Then every item, they say it was sold because of that campaign! LOL! HUH? So no one can get natural sales anymore? How am I alone in this? The flat fee is 15%, then they want you to do 15% extra just to advertise? **bleep** am i already paying 15% for as a base??? It's like Amazon charging a monthly subscription, but that's just a cover fee. Now you actually have to pay extra for the good movies! I am 50,  sold on ebay in the early 2000s, and have seen the tactics evolve, but 30% to sell an item? I listed an item recently, it sold almost immediately and I still was charged 13% for advertising? They didn't even have time to do anything! Same with an item that was listed for months! There's no logic in it. It's shady! You can be a team player all you want, but they are not our friends! Believe what you want, but it's all about money and companies that are greedy will do anything to increase profits. I am just trying to survive and put food in my kids mouths. Not a corporate greed monger.

[ittybitnot · Accepted solution]

How am I alone in this? 

@brightwarrior74 

Actually, you are not alone.  So many people bought into the promoted listing program that eBay has a hard time displaying them all.  LOL...Thus the hundred or more products to lure buyers away below your listing when you place something for sale. 

If you don't think the stats on "promoted listings" are not manipulated or  run by a bot, then turn yours off.  According to many that decided not to "pay to play" anymore, you will experience a lull visibility and sales for  while, but if you wait it out then things will improve. That of course is just anecdotal information, and you can continue to 'feed the beast' all you like.  It is voluntary. 

[inhawaii]

You're complaining about a 1.65% fee?

On a $100 sale that's less than $2.

You would rather not have the sale?

[monroe67]

"The flat fee is 15%, then they want you to do 15% extra just to advertise? **bleep**"

**Bleep** indeed.  

Every time my selling ID starts to list an item, there are reminders popping up seemingly everywhere where eBay wants  me to pay extra to advertise. 

You know what I do?  I ignore them.  I skip right past those eBay advertisements. 
I do not pay eBay anything extra for the chance to improve my chances of selling my items.  

[bashort]

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@brightwarrior74 wrote:

15% standard fee.

5-15% Ad Promotion (ad general fee)

1.65% International Buyer Fee (WHY ARE WE  PENALIZED FOR THIS???)

REALLY? I could go into details about how this has affected my revenue. If this global economic disaster wasn't enough? Now, we get gouged at every turn. SMH.

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I hate to disappoint you but this fee has absolutely nothing to do with any current events and has been in place  for many years.

[pls-consignments]

My friend, I think you misunderstood. I'm talking about the standard fees, which are mandatory. Fees associated with Promoted Listings are "optional", and marketed directly to sellers. It appears that you have bought into the sales pitch that your items will somehow be less visible unless you add another 15% for visibility via PL. You should know that there are many successful sellers who don't use PL at all. 

[dezember32]

Yeah, I sold an item for the first time since 2021 and I was taken aback by the 15% fee too.  I feel like I need to get off my duff and do my own site.   

[mam98031]

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@brightwarrior74 wrote:

Complaining about astronomical fees is expected, especially when this Ad Promotion nonsense is being used in such a shady way. I just paid 28% on a $175 item. Buyers don't want to spend squat right now. Have you seen some of the price drops from desperate sellers? Do you make tons on ebay or something? Some people can't compete. They bury you if you're a little guy that doesn't list regularly. 15% plus 13% ad rev. Are they proving the value or ROI on these "campaigns"???

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What are you comparing them to?  That is a very important piece of information.  

Using Ad Promotions of one form or another is ALL OPTIONAL.  It is not required by any seller in any category.  Seller decide if it is something they want to use and the SELLER sets the ad rate they are WILLING to pay.  Some sellers use this tool and some don't.  It is an individual decision for each seller to make for themselves.

If you paid 28% FVF on something you sold then YOU decided you were willing to pay an additional Promotional fee for a sale on that listing.  You have every right to make that CHOICE for yourself as a seller.  Because you CHOSE to pay an additional 13% FVF on something is NOT Ebay's fault, it is YOURS.  YOU made the decision.

Sellers play with their pricing, both up and down ALL THE TIME.  It is just part of managing their little business.