eBay Fees are too High

[ten_o_nine]

Well, didn't you read?

Yes, I did. Thank you.

[mam98031]

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@ebeths_eclectic_collectibles wrote:

What I am trying to say is that is that the higher shipping cost has the same fee percentage but the total fees cut more into your profit unless you offset with adequate handling fees. If the category fvf rate is 15% and shipping is $10 the fee on that is $1.5. If you ship with a more expensive option say $20 the fvf fee doubles. Unless you offset this it wii cut into your margins. The buyer may be paying for the shipping but your fees are higher

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You should offset it.  Your take all your costs, which includes product, shipping supplies, carrier costs and site fees.  Add that all together, then add in the profit margin you want to arrive at the price you need to sell your item at.  That method is as old as the hills.  Yes when costs go up for you, you pass that along to the buyer just like all the retailers do.

[colfaxstation]

I add a handling fee to all listings.  It includes estimated cost for ink, paper, tape, an average on FVF on taxes and insurance.  When people complain about shipping I roll out this list of costs.  I do this for a charity so by doing this I don't end up with time and dollars both donated.  I'm retired and can't afford more than I already donate to the museum.  I still get people that think shipping should be free, where their offer is less than the shipping cost.  Some people are never happy.

[inhawaii]

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@ten_o_nine wrote:

@inhawaii 

I am a little confused, you say,

Hey I totally agree with you!

Ebay fees are too high.  I wish they were lower. Who wouldn't? 

... and a tank of gas.

... and a loaf of bread.

... and a gallon of milk.

... and a box of Twinkie

But in earlier response you state,

"Ebay fees are too high ... but i'm going to sell here anyways."    *yawn*

Are you asking me to quit selling on eBay because I am complaining about high fees, is this really a helpful answer to eBay sellers?  "yawn"  Really?

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 I'm saying you can come here and complain about the fees all you like.

They are what they are.

You have to decide if you want to pay them and sell here -or- not pay  them and not sell here.

I think my local Safeway charges too much for a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk.

I don't go in and complain about it.

I either buy it  or I don't.

[casey-86]

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@richard1rst wrote:

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@casey-86 wrote:

The fees are too high. I just sold an item for $45 + $8.07 shipping. My fee rate was 15% for some reason... 15%!!! I swear it feels like the fee goes up every time I sell something. My order earning was $36.08. I was hoping to get at least $40 or close to it and was pretty surprised to see what it actually came out to be. It needs to be 10% across the board.

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In other words you were guessing at a selling price. If you wanted to net $40 you should have accurately calculated your total costs in which case you should have sold it for around $49.00

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The item I sold took a long time to sell and I had relisted it more times than I can remember. It was likely not going to sell for more than $45. What you said has absolutely nothing to do with the point I made and the point of the OP. It doesn't matter what I sold and for how much. The point is the fees are too much and I'm not the only person who thinks that. Its not that I wanted to net $40. Its that I was surprised (as I said) that the fees were as high as they were and feel like I should have earned at least or much closer to $40 than I did. Sellers shouldn't have to increase their prices, which can lead to less sales and longer times between sales, to make up for selling fees that shouldn't be this high to begin with. Do you get it now?

[casey-86]

Uh huh... and guess what? They're still too high. 15% is way too much especially when its for the total amount of the order.

[yuzuha]

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@casey-86 wrote:

Uh huh... and guess what? They're still too high. 15% is way too much especially when its for the total amount of the order.

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Hardly. If I take something to one of my local consignment shops, they charge 33-50% of the sale price AND the only exposure the item gets is to the people who physically walk into the store.

15% for global exposure (if you want to sell globally) is a steal.

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@ten_o_nine wrote:

@inhawaii 

Complaining about high fees doesn't mean you don't need the service; people complain about gas prices but still fill up their tank. Don't worry about getting approvals to your response from your network and try to give answers that help.

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An answer that helps?

There really are only 4 answers:

a.) raise prices

b.) finder 'lower priced' stuff to resell

c.) deal with it

d.) don't sell here

[richard1rst]

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@casey-86 wrote:

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The item I sold took a long time to sell and I had relisted it more times than I can remember. It was likely not going to sell for more than $45. What you said has absolutely nothing to do with the point I made and the point of the OP. It doesn't matter what I sold and for how much. The point is the fees are too much and I'm not the only person who thinks that. Its not that I wanted to net $40. Its that I was surprised (as I said) that the fees were as high as they were and feel like I should have earned at least or much closer to $40 than I did. Sellers shouldn't have to increase their prices, which can lead to less sales and longer times between sales, to make up for selling fees that shouldn't be this high to begin with. Do you get it now?

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That you disagree with my statement does not negate the validity of my statement.

First you said “I was hoping to get at least $40.00” then you said “ts not that I wanted to net $40.” Make up your mind. There is no point discussing a moving target.

Yes - EVERY expense MUST be covered by your sales to the point of raising your price in need be. BUT If you can not sell it for $49 to net the $40 you want then you should not have bought it in the first place. Be more selective in your purchases.

And compared to fees elsewhere eBay is still a bargain vis-a-vis the size of the audience. I’m only paying 11.99%. Maybe you need to do some additional research.

[isaiah53-57]

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@12345jamesstamps wrote:

So is gas and bread....

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Okay?

[mam98031]

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@casey-86 wrote:

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@richard1rst wrote:

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@casey-86 wrote:

The fees are too high. I just sold an item for $45 + $8.07 shipping. My fee rate was 15% for some reason... 15%!!! I swear it feels like the fee goes up every time I sell something. My order earning was $36.08. I was hoping to get at least $40 or close to it and was pretty surprised to see what it actually came out to be. It needs to be 10% across the board.

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In other words you were guessing at a selling price. If you wanted to net $40 you should have accurately calculated your total costs in which case you should have sold it for around $49.00

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The item I sold took a long time to sell and I had relisted it more times than I can remember. It was likely not going to sell for more than $45. What you said has absolutely nothing to do with the point I made and the point of the OP. It doesn't matter what I sold and for how much. The point is the fees are too much and I'm not the only person who thinks that. Its not that I wanted to net $40. Its that I was surprised (as I said) that the fees were as high as they were and feel like I should have earned at least or much closer to $40 than I did. Sellers shouldn't have to increase their prices, which can lead to less sales and longer times between sales, to make up for selling fees that shouldn't be this high to begin with. Do you get it now?

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I believe I asked this earlier.  You feel the fees are too high as compared to what?  Have you looked at the fees other sites charge?  You will find some that are cheaper and some that are higher.  But not all sites are created equal, so you have to look at that too.

[casey-86]

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@yuzuha wrote:

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@casey-86 wrote:

Uh huh... and guess what? They're still too high. 15% is way too much especially when its for the total amount of the order.

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Hardly. If I take something to one of my local consignment shops, they charge 33-50% of the sale price AND the only exposure the item gets is to the people who physically walk into the store.

15% for global exposure (if you want to sell globally) is a steal.

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Sounds like you need to find a better consignment shop. Your point is irrelevant to the conversation. If eBay charged 33-50% of an item sale here most people would leave. Sellers have to pack and ship items also. You don't do that at a consignment shop.

[mam98031]

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@casey-86 wrote:

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@yuzuha wrote:

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@casey-86 wrote:

Uh huh... and guess what? They're still too high. 15% is way too much especially when its for the total amount of the order.

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Hardly. If I take something to one of my local consignment shops, they charge 33-50% of the sale price AND the only exposure the item gets is to the people who physically walk into the store.

15% for global exposure (if you want to sell globally) is a steal.

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Sounds like you need to find a better consignment shop. Your point is irrelevant to the conversation. If eBay charged 33-50% of an item sale here most people would leave. Sellers have to pack and ship items also. You don't do that at a consignment shop.

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I think they were simply trying to highlight the differences in cost and reachability of buyers.  B&Ms are typically all local buyers only.  Ebay is worldwide.  Big difference.  

I don't think they were suggesting that Ebay raise their rates, but were simply trying to show how much more we get in visibility by posting here on the site verse put our stuff in an B&M.

[casey-86]

I am arguing for better fees for sellers. You are arguing for sellers just to include the fee in the price of the item. My concern is what is a fair fee for the seller? At what point does it become not worth a seller's time to sell something on eBay if the fees cut into the profit after all expenses are too much? I think there should be a flat fee across the board for everything and not based on category. eBay should incentivize people to sell more often here and fees are always a deterrent in that regard. If I remember, back in the day the fees here used to be much better. I was a lot more motivated to sell on eBay but nowadays I look at half my stuff I'd like to sell here and wonder if its even worth the time to list them.

[casey-86]

As compared to the entire time I have been on eBay. I'm not a very active seller and haven't sold that many things here but I do recall back in the day fees being less than what they are now. I don't see that as a good thing.

[mam98031]

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@casey-86 wrote:

As compared to the entire time I have been on eBay. I'm not a very active seller and haven't sold that many things here but I do recall back in the day fees being less than what they are now. I don't see that as a good thing.

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I do too.  And I'd bet that all long term sellers do.  But what has that to do with anything?  

I paid less for a gallon of milk pre 2022 when food prices went nuts.  

Most corporate employees earned less money years ago too.

Are you suggesting that Ebay has had no increases in costs over the years?  That if you only look at what they pay their employees, those rates are the today as they were years ago?  I'm unsure as to how far back you  are wanting to go.  But even for Ebay the prices from their vendors have most certainly increased like they have for everyone else.  Are you of the opinion that Ebay can operate today for the same money as they did years ago?