Reserve fees

[alanw2235]

Firstly I'll admit this is my own fault for not checking properly, but recently I listed a guitar for sale then added a reserve fee without checking the price.  I though it would be fairly small.  As it turns out it was approx £34.  The guitar didn't sell, I re-listed but I wanted to drop the Reserve maybe to give it a better chance of selling so I reduced it without checking.  Ive been charged another £34.  Is this right and does it seem fair, especially s I've reduced the second time to try and increase the chance of selling.  

[corred · Accepted solution]

@alanw2235 

Reserves are charged every time you list, the fee is charged as a reserve HUGELY reduces the chances of the item selling on eBay & thus of eBay receiving a fee for the sale

• Only basic listings are free
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• A reserve is charged at 4% of the reserve set.....sale or no sale & was shown before you clicked "list with displayed fees"
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• The minimum reserve you can set is £50
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• Reserves are an expensive waste of money as they deter buyers
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• Simply start your item at the minimum amount you would be willing to accept.....it cannot sell for less than the start price....the listing would then have cost you nothing if it did not sell

[alanw2235 · Accepted solution]

As o said it’s entirely my fault but to charge you the second time when you have actually reduced the reserve strikes me as unfair. There are many alternatives to eBay. I’ll be using them more often in the future.

[corred · Accepted solution]

@alanw2235

If you were charged £34 twice you did not reduce the reserve....you reduced the Buy Now price......they are not the same.....indeed it could prove interesting as based on the £34 the reserve is £850 still.....

As far as eBay are concerned you advertised it twice....therefore the fees are payable for each advert.....

There are very few alternatives to eBay where you can list as an auction with the same global audience.....

You have been caught this time......but not as badly as some who have believed newspaper hype & listed common 50p coins with £1000 reserves several times & been charged £100's

The simple rule is ALWAYS read the fees before clicking to List With Displayed Fees......they are the advertising not selling fees

The absolute cheapest option is No Reserve = No Fee

[alanw2235 · Accepted solution]

I re-listed inc the reserve thinking that I'd only be charged the once. Then I reduced the reserve to give it a better chance, then I just removed it. As I said it was a stupid mistake on my part but I'm still not impressed. I like eBay for the reasons you give, and I had a minor issue recently where a buyer backed out of buying a bike as it was the wrong size, Nd eBay were fine about it and cancelled the fees. I just think this particular issue is a bit unfair but hey, live and learn.

[corred · Accepted solution]

@alanw2235

The difference there was that the bike was selling fees.....they can be refunded if a buyer does not pay.......but listing upgrades are advertising fees and are charged when you place the advert.....that is why those fees are shown when you place the advert.....to allow you to change your mind before clicking to "List with displayed fees"

Most eBay users learn some lessons the hard way...I know I used a reserve once when I started with eBay 20 years ago & like you found out the expensive way that they are a bad idea........when it hits you in the pocket you certainly learn not to use them again