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?

[zoomingmouse]

On my buyer account I received an email 3rd Jan.

This is the email received:

Buy the things you love with more protection

Hi Xxxxxx,

We’re committed to making it easier for you to shop, and recently changed our fee structure, so it's free to sell for private sellers. This means they can bring you more of the items you love.

As part of this commitment, we’re launching Buyer Protection to give you even more confidence and security when shopping on eBay. From 4 Feb, a fee will be included in the item price when you buy from private sellers, but you’ll only ever pay what you see, so there are no surprises at checkout.

What’s great about Buyer Protection

We’ve added benefits to give you more peace of mind when shopping:

• 24/7 customer support: You can connect with a real person by phone at any time of day, or start a chat to get quick answers. • Seller paid after delivery: When buying from private sellers, funds will only be sent once your item has been delivered.

We’ve also got you covered with other great free services like eBay Money Back Guarantee and Authenticity Guarantee.

Learn more about Buyer Protection

How the Buyer Protection fee works

• The fee will be included in the item price from private sellers, so there are no surprises at checkout. • You’ll pay up to 4% of the item price, plus £0.75. For example, when you see an item for £20, the fee of £1.49 will already be part of the price. • The fee is lower on higher-priced items over £300, and there's a cap on the total amount you'll pay. • For items from business sellers, you’ll get the Buyer Protection benefits at no extra cost.

Learn more about the fee

We’re updating our User Agreement to reflect the Buyer Protection service. If you have any questions or concerns, just get in touch—we’re here to help.

Thanks for being part of the eBay community.

eBay Money Back Guarantee and Authenticity Guarantee only apply to eligible items and categories. Buyer Protection excludes Vehicles, Classified Ads and Property.

[ms.claire.valentine]

I am solely a buyer, and am only aware of the new incoming fee because i frequent these community boards.
I usually only buy things on Ebay that i cannot get from any other physical or online retailer, like discontinued Perfumes from peoples private collection, (so typically from genuine private sellers) or where Ebay still works out cheaper.

I will continue to buy as i always have, through various formats from before postage having a fee, to the current system, and beyond, looking at the total price i have to pay, and deciding if that is an acceptable price i'm willing to pay.

Of the perfumes i'm trying to source, the most expensive one i'm looking for my maximum total i'm willing to pay is £80 for an unused bottle, (less if theres been light usage) regardless what of that £80 is item price and what is postage, but obviously try my luck at getting them as cheaply as possible via auctions. I've lost a few auctions recently when it has gone even just a pound or two total over my limit.
I will not be increasing my maximum total i'm willing to pay, so if the buyer charge takes the total price over £80, i won't be hitting buy it now on that sellers item unless a seller offer is made that takes it £80 total or lower. I will be holding back on any auctions until i know how it works, and if the individually worked out buyer fee is added on to total after purchase like VAT, rather than reflected real time when bidding. If it is like VAT in auction format then if my calculation is correct then 76.83 will become my absolute maximum bid ammount now for free post auctions, with any postage cost items having the equivalent deducted from that 76.83 maximum.
It is a fee for buyer protection, BUT i don't feel as an honest buyer who has only ever used the MBG in genuine situations where an item has arrived damaged or mis described, that i should foot the cost of this kind of "insurance" against coming up against a dishonest seller or unlucky mishap in transit.
Is it a shame that genuine private sellers will get stung with less sales unless they reduce their item prices to absorb the fee, yes, absolutely. But it is the dishonest sellers who illegally deny their buyers their rights by not correctly registering as a business seller and masquerading as a private seller for their own gains who are the cause of this kind of "fee" being needed, not the buyers.

[goodibags]

Thanks for your message. It seems to confirm that most buyers are still in the dark about the big price rises. Only 4 days to go and then a big shock?

Like you are tend to buy more from private sellers, unless it's stationery like mailers for records (to service sales) or books for mum.

Goodness knows how auctions are will work with all the new fees added? Will a buyer be bidding an amount that already includes the fees? That seems more likely. Anything lese will mean a nasty surprise.

Then again, Ebay may want to see fewer auctions too, so maybe the buyer fees will help to be kill them off?

The 'protection' is less about buyer peace of mind and more about a 'protection racket'. The name is a Freudian slip. Far easier to call it a Buyer Fee.

[papso22]

If one member (as above), got the email on the 3rd January on their buying only account, why would all buyers not have got it?  Whether they read it is another thing entirely.

[goodibags]

Hmm, I was hoping you might be able to explain that. There are at least 2 buyers in this thread who have admitted they only found out by visiting the community and reading the messages on here. Of course, we haven't a clue what buyers who don't visit the forum know. As per my original comment there's nothing in Ebay Announcements nor in Ebay News bringing this to the attention of buyers.

Then again, why should Ebay forewarn ANYONE? Why not make it a big shock? It makes more sense to keep shtum and avoid an uptick in sales BEFORE the fees designed to bring in more revenue to Ebay. At least 75p per item sold. 1000 sales = £750. It's undeniably a massive change.

[a45heaven]

If one member (as above), got the email on the 3rd January on their buying only account, why would all buyers not have got it?

Really ??????

this is ebay remember.

As the seller is going to be the first point of contact for a buyer encountering  this Fee, what is the response we should make to them?

Im sure there could be quite a few negatives expressed by the sellers, and to be honest, i dont believe what ebay have offered as a reason, so i could not just repeat what ebay has said.

[ruby*ryan]

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@papso22 wrote:

If one member (as above), got the email on the 3rd January on their buying only account, why would all buyers not have got it?  Whether they read it is another thing entirely.

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I didn't get the email/message on this ID, which is buying only.

I have found in the past that messages/emails from eBay can be very hit and miss.

[clearingmyshelves2025]

I've a friend who gets the same Ebay emails as I do but sometimes there's a gap of a few days. 

[sandrinescreations]

I have added a mention about these new charges on the About section for my customers to read... it doesn't seems like Ebay sent emails to buyers about it. I am both buyer and seller, I only got an email as seller few weeks ago.

[jma2815]

I’ve never read a seller’s ‘about’ section. I didn’t know I had one until a few weeks ago and I’ve been selling for five years on this account and one previous one. 

[vintique*violet]

Of the perfumes i'm trying to source, the most expensive one i'm looking for my maximum total i'm willing to pay is £80 for an unused bottle, (less if theres been light usage)

Used perfumes are prohibited on eBay as is used cosmetics ... and yet there are 1000;s of sellers still listing them and selling them, even some business sellers.  

[runninginlane4]

Buyers will not be hit by unexpected additional fees when paying. The fees are included in the price. For example, if a private seller lists something at £10 then potential buyers will see a price of £11.15 when searching.

[jamay6969]

We knew it was coming!!!

!! I have been aware of these new charges for a few weeks now but instantly felt so awful for all the sellers of smaller items in particular! As a crafter I’ve often bought items costing 1.99 to add to my card making stash …now I will have to add a flat rate plus 4% ???

We should have smelled a rat as soon as EBay dropped sellers fees… I thought they would have to recoup this revenue somehow…now we know how!!

[tressygirl]

If you are selling items for under £10 you may have missed this announcement which will help a little no need to add expensive tracking for those items.

We’ve also heard your feedback and understand that shipping costs are particularly top of mind for low price items. When you’re selling a single item for £10 or less, and it’s sent untracked, funds will now be available 24 hours after you receive positive buyer feedback. This will be live by the end of February.

I do realise few buyers do leave feedback, but still it's a saving,  not having to add a tracking cost to a low value item, so making the item priced unreasonably,  for buyers to buy.

@jamay6969 

[goodibags]

How does any of that help the BUYERS? When will Ebay spare a thought for them?

[wappachicken]

The way I read it is that buyers don't see an inflated price but see the actual price the seller has listed . I think the " buyer fees " are then taken out of the sellers price so the seller pays the fee. It is a way of reintroducing seller fees without them saying so.

[tressygirl]

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@goodibags wrote:

How does any of that help the BUYERS? When will Ebay spare a thought for them?

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I'm not claiming at all,   this coming fee is in any way ideal.  You ask how does it help buyers?  Only for the fact a seller may now not need to add a tracking postage cost ,  so the item is not inflated by that option,  not needed now,  for low value items.

Ideal for all?    No, but it's gonna be here,  on all items soon.

[tressygirl]

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@wappachicken wrote:

The way I read it is that buyers don't see an inflated price but see the actual price the seller has listed . I think the " buyer fees " are then taken out of the sellers price so the seller pays the fee. It is a way of reintroducing seller fees without them saying so.

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Nope,  buyers will see the total they need to pay on the seller's listing,  which will be the price for the seller's item plus a Buyer Protection fee.  It will be one price there to pay.

Then,  when they go to eBay checkout they'll see the breakdown.  They'll see they are paying xx amount to the seller ,  and a £**  Buyer Fee.

Will they know hat this ' Buyer Fee ' is ?  In my humble opinion few will,   so no doubt sellers will be inundated with questions from their buyers,  as to why they have paid this.

A see a C & P answer sellers will have at the ready !  🤔

@wappachicken 

[a45heaven]

In these times i have so much sympathy for the quorum of Mentors - remember they are simple sellers  who for some reason see themselves as 'Samaritans' in assisting deserving and less deserving members - when ebay staff reluctantly grant members a poultry one hour a week on these boards.

Then,  when they go to eBay checkout they'll see the breakdown.  They'll see they are paying xx amount to the seller ,  and a £**  Buyer Fee.

This has me concerned - do i have faith that ebay will develop a system that can isolate funds due to Sellers  from the total including a levy from buyers directly to ebay?

Recent 'P****'* Up In A Brewery' schemes  from ebay weighs heavily on the negative to  this ability.

Also when scrolling through listings, a buyer / browser can not identify  which purchase amount will include a 'Buyer Protection' Levy, grouping Private and Business sellers together, unless a further click is made on each listing.

What ever the perceptions of buying an item with 'Buyer Protection' , i can not see anything positive from being grouped with the Private Sellers with this addition. Although i have doubts that Buyer Protection is merely a name for a levy by ebay.

Will they know hat this ' Buyer Fee ' is ?  In my humble opinion few will,   so no doubt sellers will be inundated with questions from their buyers,  as to why they have paid this.

Ive asked this question many times since this folly was announced. I value my buyers and offer them what ever responses they request - (within the guidelines from ebay or not) unlike ebay in their treatment of their customers. 

As yet my answer to why this fee is being claimed , sadly can not be extended beyond ' greed of ebay' (again). I ,unlike the Mentors, will not perform ebays work for them.

[wappachicken]

Exactly. They dont see a price that then goes up on checkout.