eBay

annsmenagerie · ‎01-12-2025

I don't understand why people aren't leaving eBay in droves and moving to other selling platforms. The fees are extremely high and they calculate fees even on mailing charges that are coming out of my own pocket. I can't for the life of me figure out how they are calculating the fees using the percentages given cannot get to the fees they charged. And you absolutely can't get an answer through automation and no way to speak to a human. This seems to be ripe for consumer lawsuit.

tobaccocardyahoo · ‎01-12-2025

@annsmenagerie wrote:
I sale on another site where the percentage is based on cost of item sold only. I

Ebay started out that way, and sellers sold for a penny and charged huge shipping fees to avoid paying FVF.

Amazon works like Ebay for the same reason.

I have no clue which site is giving away their services, and only charging their fee on the item cost. I somehow doubt they get a lot of sales or it would be motivating some sellers to try them.

mr_lincoln · ‎01-12-2025

Hi @annsmenagerie

Comments in red:

@annsmenagerie wrote:
I don't understand why people aren't leaving eBay in droves and moving to other selling platforms.  Only eBay knows how many Sellers leave, how many new Sellers sign up or how many Buyers look elsewhere for their items as well as new Buyers coming to the site looking for something they can't find somewhere else.

The fees are extremely high and they calculate fees even on mailing charges that are coming out of my own pocket. Fees are fees and smart Sellers have fees figured in to their sale price based on acquisition cost and projected resell price to make their target margin ...

I can't for the life of me figure out how they are calculating the fees using the percentages given cannot get to the fees they charged. Here is a link to the eBay Help pages on eBay Selling fees:  Selling fees | eBay

And you absolutely can't get an answer through automation and no way to speak to a human. Not true, you can request a call back from e/bay and there are ways to get to the page that allows you to do that. You can also reach out to eBay on Facebook. To think eBay is the ONLY internet sales venue that is shifting to automated support is not realistic ... this is 2025 and more companies do the automated support ...

This seems to be ripe for consumer lawsuit.  If that ever happens Sellers will be advised accordingly and be compensated as the courts determine the outcome of the suit(s).

Regards,
Mr. Lincoln - Community Mentor

annsmenagerie · ‎01-12-2025

Thank you again for your help. Poshmark now allows sales of home items. It charges a percentage of the item only, and has set price negotiated with U.S. post office for shipping. Simpler process.

tobaccocardyahoo · ‎01-12-2025

Poshmark has seen its growth stall and costs rise. Only time will tell whether they are a survivor.

Their deal with USPS is neat but not relevant for many types of item.

One of my daughters sells on both Poshmark and Ebay. Sold a lot more on Ebay, but is getting more for certain brands of clothes which she lists on Poshmark.

They are nowhere near the revenue of Ebay. And I would have a hard time expecting some of the plates you have listed selling there. But I would think that they might be among the items that do not sell as well as they did 10 or 20 years ago, anywhere on the planet. I know I have some of their friends from back in the factories that I am trying to figure out what to do with.

bashort · ‎01-12-2025

@annsmenagerie wrote:
I don't understand why people aren't leaving eBay in droves and moving to other selling platforms. The fees are extremely high and they calculate fees even on mailing charges that are coming out of my own pocket. I can't for the life of me figure out how they are calculating the fees using the percentages given cannot get to the fees they charged. And you absolutely can't get an answer through automation and no way to speak to a human. This seems to be ripe for consumer lawsuit.

simple, in the categories I sell in a least no other venue even comes close to ebay.

ittybitnot · ‎01-12-2025

It is a place to sell that has buyers.

@simba6

The INTERNET is a place to sell that has buyers. Historically speaking, eBay sellers are notorious for putting up with every "new, improved, streamlined, you asked, we listened", pile of garbage thrown at them. eBay for decades was the "big dog on the block" and treated sellers like "NOISE" figuring there would be lots of 'new' sellers to take care of the numbers when some sellers just moved on.

Though eBay is still 'coasting' on their past laurels of the 'only game in town' or the 'only place that has buyers', many sellers KNOW BETTER now. Sellers of "quality" will move on, and no longer have to put up with the abusive setting eBay has created.

yuzuha · ‎01-12-2025

@chevymontecarlo88 wrote:
What other options (platforms) would you suggest are better (less fees) that have the same or better opportunities (buyers) for others to see their goods.?

It's the second part there that's the kicker. Sure, there are places that have lower fees, but they're almost all ghost towns in terms of buyers.

ittybitnot · ‎01-12-2025

but they're almost all ghost towns in terms of buyers.

@yuzuha

Actually, I think that statement falls under the category of "urban legend" or some such. I can assure you, that is not the case. My website, for example, is NO ghost town for buyers. I do not have to SPEND to promote to get sales, that is another "urban legend" as well. When a "commercial marketplace" (i.e. eBay, Etsy, Mercari, etc.) no longer fits with my business plan, then they are dispensed with forthwith.

Sold on eBay for 24 years, always 'saved my best' products for eBay. Found out that the same sold for MORE, more quickly, at a lesser cost to me someplace else. Lead a horse to water and all that....

Good luck to you!

Read, watch, listen, learn.

chienoir · ‎01-12-2025

Simple: eBay has a virtual monopoly on the marketplace for used and new goods.

If the day ever comes when eBay has a viable competitor, that might change.

"...you absolutely can't get an answer through automation and no way to speak to a human..."

Actually, you can now, as this has changed very recently. It seems eBay has finally learned that they can't run their entire corporation by AI, algorithms and smart phones.

Smart corporations adapt and survive; stupid and stubborn ones fail.

ittybitnot · ‎01-12-2025

Simple: eBay has a virtual monopoly on the marketplace for used and new goods.

@chienoir

I am sure that is what eBay would have you believe. Public facing data says differently.

reallynicestamps · ‎01-12-2025

@annsmenagerie

From the beginning, back in 1998 when I started selling here, I used 20% of selling price as the approximate fee.

Since then, listing fees have basically disappeared (no fee for pictures, for example) and selling fees have dropped as a percentage although they now cover more parts of the buyer's payment.
There are some optional fees, like Promoted Listings and Auction Reserve, but no one is required to use them and most sellers don't.

Are you paying out more than 20% of the selling price ?

Are you selling cheap items where the 30-40c service fee is noticeable?

Again from the beginning, I decided it was not worth my while to sell anything under $10. and that service fee was part of the reason.

@youn2240
ebay told me I am not allowed to leave.

You can leave.

If you close your account, it will take a few months because of the Money Back Guarantee. EBay wants to be sure any Claims can be paid from your Managed Payments account.

reallynicestamps · ‎01-12-2025

@annsmenagerie

I sale on another site where the percentage is based on cost of item sold only.

On that site do you reduce the price of your goods and increase the shipping? That was how many eBay sellers avoided fees- until eBay caught on and changed to policy to charge fees on the customer's entire payment instead.

Oh- "sale" is a noun. The verb you are looking for is "sell".