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?

[goodibags]

There's nothing wrong with a shopping frenzy. I'd have thought Ebay would have been all in favour of one?

Which is why staying silent about their new buyer fees doesn't make a lot of sense.

After 4th February will be another story. But there's still all the time between now and then.

[a45heaven]

It's probably a minority who read the discussion boards, or follow them regularly or in detail.

Including ebay officials.

[pinkblob88]

Yes, I know the 75p + 4% applies to ALL private sellers. But I do not buy from private sellers who should be registered as business sellers and I buy so infrequently from actual private sellers that I couldn't give a metaphorical toss about the fees. 

If you do not want potential buyers to be hit with the new fees, you can change your account status to business. 

[jonat_broad]

Right - but given that ebay removed the previously existing seller fees for private sellers last year - I assume all the prices dropped when they did that. Right?

[goodibags]

That's true. The seller fees were 30p plus a variable fee, between about 3% (with a promotion) and 12%.

They will be far higher now, particularly on low value items. If you buy 100 items in a year you've already paid £75 more after these changes come in and not to the seller. Luckily I have no plans to do that.

@pinkblob88 Maybe stick to the topic under discussion? I'm a private buyer too, regardless of my account status for selling, so changing my account will make ZERO difference when I buy from another seller. Please bear in mind that the vast majority of ebay buyers are individuals, NOT businesses!

[jma2815]

They mostly went up in my area of interest, high end second hand clothing - to new prices, stains, tears and all. 

I wonder what the psychology of that is? 

[pinkblob88]

You will be shocked when you realise I have stuck to the topic. 

These fees were mentioned in a post dated the 1st October 2024. It only taken you nearly 4 months to find out. Perhaps you ought to have woken up earlier. 

If you do not want your buyers to pay the fees, become a business seller.

If you do not want to pay the fees, buy from business sellers.

You can also shut your account and sell elsewhere.

As you are disgruntled with the fees for buyers, I have given you three simple ways to avoid them as a buyer and a seller. An alternative is for eBay to revert to private sellers paying listing fees.

Next you'll be complaining about eBay's plans to hold onto payment for two days after confirmed delivery before releasing funds to the seller. 

[goodibags]

No, I am asking how many buyers are aware of the new Ebay fees starting on 4th February? That's literally the title of this thread. Go and have a look.

I have been aware of the fees all this time but I am talking about buyers NOT sellers. Even if I did remove every single item I have up for sale HOW will doing that possibly that help ME when buying from OTHER private sellers? Obviously, I'm not buying from myself. That would be silly.

To be absolutely clear, there are going to be very many disgruntled and downright angry buyers once the secret new fees abruptly come in. But then you won't need me to tell you that.

Please make sure to read the thread before commenting.

[jow1995]

You have sold 17k of items on a private account, well done, that is certainly a lot of unwanted items. Surprised there is more to be sold!

[sml192]

Many buyers that are not already aware of the new fees probably won't even notice come 4th February as the fees will be included in the listing price.  They will be able to see the breakdown at checkout if they choose buy I doubt many will bother reading it. 

[a45heaven]

Many buyers that are not already aware of the new fees probably won't even notice come 4th February as the fees will be included in the listing price.  They will be able to see the breakdown at checkout if they choose buy I doubt many will bother reading it. 

Really?

And what happens when the buyer finds out that they have been overcharged for the item?

INAD (I take it the wrong price is an error),

or ,if they cant be bothered with that , then simply slap their angst as a feedback statement to enhance the Sellers reputation for something they had no part in.

Please dont say the newly recruited CS will remove that  feedback - or are ebay going to pay Sellers for their time contacting CS?

[jma2815]

A lot of buyers won’t notice it. Of those who do see it at checkout I think a fair number who are used to shopping on eBay will message asking for a price reduction to ‘cover’ it, even if the seller has already taken it into account and Best Offer is turned off. 

On Vinted and Depop I’m told there is a culture of making and accepting very low offers so maybe that’s why it just works for them? On eBay I think it will be a bit more of a difficult situation. 

[a45heaven]

A lot of buyers won’t notice it.

REALLY ??????

Of those who do see it at checkout I think a fair number who are used to shopping on eBay will message asking for a price reduction to ‘cover’ it, even if the seller has already taken it into account and Best Offer is turned off. 

Does that work on auctions? - are ebay making a category for the 'reason for refund'

- why should Sellers be making concessions to Buyers because ebay have quietly taken a fee from the Buyer?

[jma2815]

Yes, REALLY.  I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t believe it. 

I’m not going to answer your question re auctions because I don’t and never have done auctions, buying or selling. 

And why should sellers make concessions? I didn’t say they should, I said the buyers would ask for them/make lower offers. You seem unecessarily angry about my assertions. 

Most will see the price they’re being charged on the listing and think that’s fine and not look at the breakdown at checkout. If they have no prior knowledge that the system has changed a lot won’t notice. Many will notice but think nothing of it because they’re used to Vinted and/or Depop, especially if they’re at the younger end of the market. 

I don’t think the people who frequent this forum and are outraged by this change (and I include myself in that) are representative of the majority of eBay users. 

[pinkblob88]

You asked the question "How many buyers are aware of the new Ebay Fees starting on 4th February?" and I answered with "I am a buyer and have known about the fees for several weeks." I fail to see how my answer does not answer your question. 

You found out about the fees in an email you received earlier this month. As stated in your original post. 

 How is anyone meant to tell you the actual number of buyers that know of these "secret new fees"? No one has yet answered your question. But things are about to change...

(Insert your own drum roll and feel the excitement building up for news that will blow your socks off!)

...7,213,689 is the number of buyers.

At last you have your answer and can go to bed tonight without a care in the world. 

Buyers will not be angry nor disgruntled; they will either be prepared to pay the fees or won't buy. And that's ultimately what your posts boil down to - a fear that your items will not sell come the 4th of Feb. As for you buying from private sellers, you will just have to pay the fees. 

Make sure to read the responses correctly.

[goodibags]

Your reply fail did NOT answer the question. How many buyers know about the imminent fees? Ok, there's you and me, so that's 2 people. Quite a few in the community will know, so we're probably up to 50 users or so.  But that still leaves a few million more. What about them?

I asked from the point of view of a buyer as I buy more than sell on Ebay. Instead of patronising other users perhaps it'd help if you thought of us as prospective customers instead? Obviously we'll have a choice whether or not to buy after the 4th Feb but there are many items, especially low values ones, that will simply disappear as they'll no longer be worth the effort to list. Some sellers may take the hint and stop listing too?

Thanks for your concern (?) but I've already listed most of my sales for the year so will have fewer items to add next month. I may cancel some but more likely will wait and see. But the less time I'm spending on Ebay the less time I'm likely to be browsing and buying. And I may be less inclined to look for stuff knowing there are punitive new fees, as these will take some getting used to.

[helle.kjaer]

As a seller (and until recently, buyer) I too received the rather confusing and misleading email from Ebay regarding their newly-to-be-imposed charges, and initially assumed it was an A.I fake, the English used being so vague.   It states something along the lines of 'the buyer will pay only the listed price' so I naturally assumed that the SELLER would now be charged this £0.75 plus 4% which, given the tedious 'not-received' attempts by some buyers on here, would make Ebay an even bigger waste of time and money than it is now.  This seemed to be confirmed and reinforced by initial opinions by 'regulars' on this forum who feel the need to give their expert opinion on everything. 

However, 'Money Saving Expert' then explained three weeks ago on their own forum, that it was to be the BUYERS who would suffer these additional Ebay service charges.  This change, together with the imminent delivery choice restrictions will reduce the private seller market substantially, especially for genuine or obsessive collectors (such as me!) trying to clear out their own personal collections. 

As a former regular Ebay UK buyer, I have in recent months, shopped more on Aliexpress.com, particularly for their reliable free delivery of cheaper (even with U.K VAT added) day-to-day household goods and motor accessories that I need, which I would have previously purchased on here, and shall now use their facilities more as a result of these expensive changes.

[vintique*violet]

a fear that your items will not sell come the 4th of Feb. As for you buying from private sellers, you will just have to pay the fees. 

Chance would be a fine thing, months have gone by  with zero to minimum views - no watchers etc  which amounts to zero sales,  never mind come Feb with the  BPF   and  I  have already stopped purchasing from eBay ( since last year) as I will not pay any more stealth tax and it appears so are many others making the same decision, judging by the comments. 

Hopefully bricks and mortar shops will benefit and  local businesses "pockets",  and not global online marketplaces. 

[crafty_cat_lover]

But there are still many of us who will continue to buy and sell on this site.

I find that if your items are what someone is after and are priced right they will sell, if they are not what people want then there won't be any views.

As for buying I much prefer to be able to buy online and have it delivered to my door. I don't buy clothes online ( I prefer to be able to feel the quality of fabric used) so have never used Vinted but I gather the buyer fee hasn't detered people from using that site so why will Ebay be any different.

[vintique*violet]

Sure many will - that is their prerogative if they want to adhere to the " rules" eBay are imposing. 

I have to disagree with " if items is what someone is after"... I have purchased many items which were not what I initially intended just by browsing... if they are not visible as is happening for many of us, then people cannot even be tempted to buy!  As for priced to sell... many private sellers do just that. 

I agree - fabric to me is important too... Have only purchased online for clothes from reputable stores or I know the brand if purchasing on eBay... I have never used Vinted, but their "policy" was in force first and people accepted that when they signed up.. ebay have moved the goal posts too many times now and they already have MBG etc so I am not paying a " stealth tax"  just for a buyers 24/7 customer service chat which I probably would never need or use. 

Have a look what happened to other sites such as Poshmark when they did similar... 

@crafty_cat_lover 

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