How many buyers are aware of the new Ebay Fees starting on 4th February?

[goodibags]

I'm a private seller and earlier this year received a notification about the introduction of new 'Buyer Protection' fees. I'm also an Ebay buyer (most feedback is for purchases) but have not received ANY warning of the new charges as one. Presumably, due to having been contacted as a seller?

There is NOTHING about Buyer Protection Fees on the Ebay Announcements page, nor in Ebay News. This seems odd given that there are SEVEN times as many buyers than sellers and the initial impact of the new fees will be on them. If they're completely unaware they'll be shocked and upset at the new charges they'll suddenly be asked to pay from next week.

I've listed most of this year's items to sell in January and added a warning about the imminent price hikes but while sales have been more steady than spectacular. Even for low value items that will almost double in price next week.

Are there any buyers out there who DO know about the new fees? And how did you find out?

[ettison991]

I have only realised there are extra fees today. I am gutted. I sell and buy privately and my items are usually low value and I try and put a reasonable price for customers. As a buyer I am sad as I buy a lot of second hand clothing under £10 on ebay as I recently felt ripped off by companies like Preworn and I have never used vinted because they charge a buyer protection fee!  I have a load of CDs to sell that I was going to put on ebay at £1 each but there will be no point now. I will probably start selling more locally on Facebook marketplace etc. As for clothing..it will be back to the charity shops for me as cheap clothing on ebay will be a thing of the past. 

[goodibags]

Yup, my buyers will be gutted too. Especially after I removed all my warnings about the imminent buyer fees last week when they didn't start when they were supposed to.

No communication AT ALL from Ebay. Why should we be surprised?

[cawthra65]

Yes,  just looked at all my listing's and couldn't understand why they had gone up in price.

Now I feel I have to reduce my  prices to be competitive .

[bonzo622]

I didn't know about this until I saw this post. I ignore most ebay emails and I only sell now and again. Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't these charges just another way to charge the seller a fee because they have made selling free, right?

[wappachicken]

Yes I would agree with that. Just means having to factor in these fees
instead of the old ones into the listing price. Would have caused a lot
less fuss if ebay marketed it as reintroducing seller fees rather than
calling it buyer fees. The buyer sees the price on the listing, how much of
that goes to the seller doesn't worry most buyers I don't think.

[geosacha007]

Had my first sale with a buyer fee today.  It is now active on books and on TV memorabilia plus bags and electronics from before today.  Not yet on clothes or collectables.   

I got the message my buyer has paid the total (my price plus the buyer fee) which then gets the buyer fee subtracted and I end up with what I was supposed to get.  Hopefully that is what happens when the payment gets to me. 

[suewoo666]

This has already had a negative effect on my items for sale.  The number of people looking and watching has reduced dramatically.  Also angry about the way i can only see the price i am putting as starting on auctions - not the price against my listings which potential buyers see.  If this negative impact continues i shall stop selling on eBay.  I have never had an issue selling as a private seller and have 100% feedback - my buyers don't need to be protected!!

[jumberella]

I am of the same opinion about this imposition of fees on buyers out of the control of the seller. I rang EBay to express my views. I asked what exactly s the ‘buyer protection’ . Buyers, and sellers, have says been protected. Retail law protects them. The fees are not transparent. In the Swedish equivalent the fees are listed separately from the item cost so the buyer can see what they are paying very clearly. Now listed items appear with random prices which don’t make sense. 

[ettison991]

I have tried to look up how any protection is offered as a buyer but there
is little or no info on this so in other words it is just yet another sly
admin fee. What I don't understand is why they are only targeting private
sellers, we don't make as much money as the business sellers and cannot
afford to have customers put off by extra charges.

[buffster1963]

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@ettison991 wrote:
I have tried to look up how any protection is offered as a buyer but there
is little or no info on this so in other words it is just yet another sly
admin fee. What I don't understand is why they are only targeting private
sellers, we don't make as much money as the business sellers and cannot
afford to have customers put off by extra charges.

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You are protected by  getting a refund if your item is lost or damaged in the post or being misdescribed,  not all sellers are willing to refund. This has always been for free but now you will be charged for it. There will also be a 24 hour hotline. 
If you buy from a business seller you are already protected by consumer laws. 

[suewoo666]

Exactly ! This needs to be investigated!



Sent from my Galaxy

[a45heaven]

What I don't understand is why they are only targeting private
sellers

Although only Private sales incur fees on those particular buyers, when a potential buyer scrolls though searched listings, ALL sellers look the same (without clicking into the specific listing) as such, ALL sellers are perceived as reaping the PBF, which i can see being a turn off before a check out is reached.

As PBF was not communicated to Buyers by ebay , it is down to the sellers to explain it to them, if anyone can express an honest answer.

[buffster1963]

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@suewoo666 wrote:
Exactly ! This needs to be investigated!



Sent from my Galaxy

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What does? 

[jow1995]

Sounds like a good case for Sherlock Holmes! 

[jumberella]

I have had two conversations with eBay about this. I wanted advice. I originally wanted to ask how buyers knew what the amount of the fee they were now paying as it is not visible or mentioned on the listing. It is visible to the seller on their listing, as was pointed out to me. I still cannot see mention of the fee in the listing the buyer sees and wondered if I should mention it myself in my listing. I also asked about the definition of the protection and I was told to look on the eBay help page. It doesn’t not give much detailed information. I was also told that this protection was not imposed by eBay but administration outside eBay which eBay were obliged to apply. I asked who this is and was told to consult Citizens Advice Bureau. I just wanted clarity. I felt I didn’t get it so I gave up. I have since read briefly about consumer law and apparently it seems private buyers and sellers do not have protection in the general sense of trading but business traders do but I’m not the expert. For Private Sellers EBay has mention of consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection do not apply on the listing page. EBay money back guarantee still applies to most purchases. So if I understand it correctly eBay are providing assurance for private buyers as they are expected to do and have been doing and they are charging for this. It is not clear how buyer protection has changed since the fee has been applied. I found my prices increased on my listings without an explanation given to the buyer. That was my main point. Swedish trading site Tradera, comparable to eBay, shows two prices in the listing - one with no fee and one with the fee clearly showing the cost. I’m no expert in law or trading just a private seller wanting clarification. I’m not arguing against the fee or it’s legality but feel it should be transparent to all. I hope this is helpful.
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[gazzer666]

I forgot to bid on an item for £3 before the change that was then relisted, Now £3.84 thanks to this new money grab. I don't see how it helps buyers or sellers if sellers don't get paid until buyer receives item. Seems like they are squashing out the genuine Mom & Pop sellers. What was about £0.99 is now more like £1.75. I tried to offer on a seller who has items listed in title as from £0.99 but shows £1.75 onm start price and you can't offer less than £1.75 
My husband has been horrifies at my many,many bargains over the years (and the not such bargains) but this has finally put me off buying  so one household member will be pleased. This will have a knock on effect as I will be ordering far less parcels & also pass loads of stuff on to a local charity for resale. 

[suewoo666]

Absolutely! I had 22 listings finish last night - normally 25% would have had watchers or buyers - none!! The number of views on other listing was more or less zero! Won't bother relisting - why waste the time. Off to the Charity shop!



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[jumberella]

Hi. I keep referring to my conversation with EBay and one of my points was what effect this fee will have on my sales by raising my prices without my involvement. My point was my sales might drop because of the fee & the answer was basically I’d have to prove this was the case it would be very difficult as many factors cause sales to decline or fail. I am still indignant that my prices have increased without my input. Another £6.72 on a jacket listed as £150 making it £156.72 for the buyer and no explanation of the fees for the buyer so they assume that is my listing price. The sale proceeds money being held for up to 8 days! The loss of interest on that money? It is very frustrating and the call centre has an answer for everything of course.
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[suewoo666]

When I spoke to eBay yhe call centre didn't know the answer - the agent admitted she was guessing!! 🤬


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[jumberella]

Not surprising. I was really enjoying eBay. Such a shame.
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