seller fees

[bic969]

was just wondering why ebay figures your seller fees on the total amount of the sale which includes the shipping? Shouldnt you be charged fees just based on the final selling price of the item?

[soh.maryl]

A seller's Final Value Fees are calculated on the item price, the shipping fee and the state sales tax (if applicable).

[dhbookds]

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@soh.maryl wrote:

A seller's Final Value Fees are calculated on the item price, the shipping fee and the state sales tax (if applicable).

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and  fees on shipping have been charged for years.

[soh.maryl]

Seems like you've addressed your reply to the wrong person here. 

[katzrul15]

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@bic969 wrote:

was just wondering why ebay figures your seller fees on the total amount of the sale which includes the shipping? Shouldnt you be charged fees just based on the final selling price of the item?

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Because years ago when they did not, Sellers would list the widget for .99 cents and shipping $20 to avoid fees.  It also hosed the buyer as a return would net you .99 cents for a $12 item, etc.

Fees are charged on the transaction as a whole, not just the widget price.

[Anonymous]

Every marketplace I know of charges fees on the total amount the buyer pays except some that exclude sales tax.

[Anonymous]

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@soh.maryl wrote:

Seems like you've addressed your reply to the wrong person here. 

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The way I read it, they addressed the OP by adding on to what you said. Why do people take 'in response to' so literally? Anybody can come along and reply to the end of the thread. It doesn't mean they're addressing the post they're replying to. Loosen up.

[inhawaii]

Because people used to sell a brand new playstation for 1 cent + $500 shipping to avoid paying fees on a $500 item. 

[rockmafia5]

They charge FVF on shipping because ebay prefers sellers to offer free shipping and to keep those with free shipping from paying higher fees than those with paid shipping.

[fab_finds4u]

So you think shipping is really free? It should be called "Shipping Included" because sellers build the shipping into the item cost.  No seller I know pays for shipping out of their pocket. Thus the higher item cost isn't saving fees. 

[pjcdn2005]

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@fab_finds4u wrote:

So you think shipping is really free? It should be called "Shipping Included" because sellers build the shipping into the item cost.  No seller I know pays for shipping out of their pocket. Thus the higher item cost isn't saving fees. 

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I don't see where they insinuate that shipping is free. Their point was that when there was no fvf on shipping, a seller that offered 'free shipping/shipping included'  paid more fees than a seller who kept their shipping cost separate from the item price.   eBay's  view was that buyers preferred to see the 'free shipping' scenario so wanted to encourage sellers to include the shipping cost in their item cost. One way of doing that was by leveling the playing field so that sellers paid the same fvf whether they had free shipping or  charged for it separately.