"Buyer protection fee"? I don't think so. What a scam!

[soulhunter123777]

Was just about to purchase an item when I noticed a ~£3 "buyer protection fee".

What an absolute scam. As a buyer, I absolutely refuse to pay eBay for the privilege of bare minimum customer service. Foisting hidden fees and extra charges onto buyers is NOT remotely acceptable.

In this website's footer there's a link called "Selling Fees". When will eBay add an equivalent link for "Buying Fees"?

What a ridiculous situation.

[lynbrom]

'So the seller pays a fee and now also the buyer'

Nope - that's not what I said. But to continue the dialogue is meaningless.

Ebay will do as they wish and there's nothing anyone on the forum can do about it.

[jckl1957]

Post 80

You wrote:  

lynbrom

Engager

  

‎07-08-2025 5:40 PM

The BPF is another bit of greed thought up by a new whizkid. So the seller pays a fee and now also the buyer. Just maybe the seller numbers are going down along with buyers - so hey guys we've got to keep the profits up even though we all know that policy leads to a downward spiral.  

[rhs900]

Yup, just seen it for the first time myself tonight. I stopped selling stuff on ebay years ago due to the charges, tried a couple of motorcycles earlier this year and the charges are totally crazy high.

Just agreed to buy something tonight and the enforced protection fee is just a step too far - will walk away from the purchase as it is simply just another charge which is not required.

I am just sick of constantly being charged and pushed for subscriptions on everything I do  - the world has gone mad and the American digital companies are the worst for it = 1000% pure greed on thier part!!

[magnus100]

Now looking at Vinted but arguably they started with the 'buyer protection
fees'. On the other hand, they don't seem to make any other charges for
sellers.

[rhs900]

I don't use vinted, not interested in the relationship to any other selling
site - ebay are just totally greedy - I will be closing my account .

[jonatjonatjonat]

How else do eBay charge private sellers?

[dsm330]

I paid buyer protection. Ebay international shipping gave my parcel to Evri who subsequently lost my parcel saying they ‘delivered’ it on 2 separate occasions despite me being home both times -  then saying they left it in an “insecure location” Ebay is refusing to refund my money despite ‘buyer protection’ Been with ebay for 17 years. The only people ebay protects is themselves - I have been well and truly scammed out of £75 and ebay are washing their hands of refunding me despite their fraudulant claims of buyer protection. Absolute scandal.

[spyabargain]

Yeah i been on the *bleep*ty end of the stick through ebay a few times.

[papso22]

---

@dsm330 wrote:

I paid buyer protection. Ebay international shipping gave my parcel to Evri who subsequently lost my parcel saying they ‘delivered’ it on 2 separate occasions despite me being home both times -  then saying they left it in an “insecure location” Ebay is refusing to refund my money despite ‘buyer protection’ Been with ebay for 17 years. The only people ebay protects is themselves - I have been well and truly scammed out of £75 and ebay are washing their hands of refunding me despite their fraudulant claims of buyer protection. Absolute scandal.

---

You obviously haven't read what ebay says the buyer protection fee covers.  It does not cover issues with delivery which remain a big problem when tracking shows delivery but the buyer didn't get it.

Has evri confirmed in writing that they lost your parcel?

[dsm330]

Thanks for replying. Evri have confirmed that on the second delivery notification they left it in “an unsecure location” ie the street outside my house - a busy main road with people walking past every minute. So either they lied for a second time or it got lifted.

[dsm330]

Ebay are completely washing their hands of any responsibility even though I paid them a fortune for postage. By ‘delivered’ Evri mean we left it outside your house in plain view of the hundreds of people that go past your house and couldn’t have taken a second yo knock on your door even though your were in. Like most people I wouldn’t consider dumping my parcel on the street “delivered” but to ebay that’s their get out of refunding card.

[lynbrom]

Ebay cannot 'wash their hands of it' as a contract exists between you and them. Depending upon the value of the item really determines how far you wish to pursue this. But if Ebay I assume insisted you used Evri then it is Ebay that have the legal contract with them. You have a legal contract with Ebay and not Evri. 

Hope that makes sense 

[dsm330]

It’s £75 - a lot for me but maybe not for someone else. I’ve more or less said the same as you’re saying to ebay - that it was their responsibility to deliver my parcel safely and securely and my contract was with them not Evri. The stock ebay answer is always - Evri have marked as delivered. The only thing I have in my favour is that Evri emailed saying it was left in an “unsecure location” - their own admission! How to make ebay listen, take notice and act accordingly to that information is beyond me…….£75 is peanuts to them but a lot to me.

[lynbrom]

It wasn't delivered though was it unless the buyer gave specific permission for it to be left in a certain area which I assume he/she did not. It's not really relevant whether £75 is a lot to you or not, it's more of a point of eBay simply brushing you off and a point of principle. Only you can decide what to do next but I'd drop a 14 day or else note to their UK Registered Office. Whether you then go to small claims court can only be your decision as it will cost extra although as it's a relatively small amount (for eBay) then I can't see them bothering to defend so you will get your £75 plus court costs back.

The above is purely a personal view and should not be read as professional advice. The final decision is firmly down to yourself.

[spyabargain]

It got lifted, I've had royal mail twice and amazon twice just leave parcels on my doorstep i.e. the busy street, for things ranging from £15 to £300. Its not acceptable,  but each time the sender has complained or me with amazon and all got reimbursed. Ebay would be worst though as the sender will only get back what they can prove value was. Don't know how Ebay covers buyer though, scummy if they don't in that situation.