Buyer Protection Fees UK 2025 + consumer rights

[tulipsorange12]

This appalling decision by eBay to charge buyers for sales from private sellers at a flat rate of 75p and 4% of the sale price means they are actually charging more than the fees that private sellers were paying -  a cynical greed driven motive.  They think people are stupid. Under UK consumer law is it legal to charge an insurance fee for buyer protection? And is it legal to charge that only for sales from private sellers. What do consumer watchdogs make of these plans. How do we complain to eBay? 

[sml192]

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@parsley2003 wrote:

Ebay will add their protection money on to our price but the seller won't see the breakdown. My problem is 1 sell say 10 individual postcards at £2 each to  one person whereas i always combine postage Ebay will be adding nearly £10 on as every single item will have that 75p plus 4% added not just to the total order. It's a nightmare nobody is going to pay that, they should have made it less for items under £5 

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Although the buyer protection fees will be built into the listing price buyers will be able to see the breakdown at checkout. 

Those selling low value items will be the hardest hit by the new buyer protection fees.  It would appear that Ebay are looking to reduce the number of low value listings as they are no longer economically viable.  I hope you can still find a way to make your sales work though. 

[sml192]

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@vintique*violet wrote:

@tulipsorange12 wrote:

That is not really what I am asking. UK consumer laws give people 'free' protection anyway for online purchases.  So, is eBay decision to charge for buyer protection from only private sellers in accordance with UK consumer rights? Whether you think it is reasonable to charge for buyer protection (which many disagree with) is a different issue.

There is no protection under UK consumer laws when purchasing from private sellers, so yes eBay charging for buyer protection only when buying from a private seller is in accordance with UK consumer rights. 

Incorrect - UK consumer Laws do apply, however private sellers do not have to draw your attention to defects BUT they cannot be misrepresented.... which is why accurate descriptions are encouraged for items listed  ( and A.I. Rubbish) ..it comes  under the consumers Rights Act.  

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Both the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 apply primarily to agreements/contracts between a "Trader" and a "Consumer" which are defined as follows:

"Trader” means a person acting for purposes relating to that person's trade, business, craft or profession, whether acting personally or through another person acting in the trader's name or on the trader's behalf.

“Consumer” means an individual acting for purposes that are wholly or mainly outside that individual's trade, business, craft or profession.

There is very little protection when purchasing from another "Consumer" (private seller) apart the expectation that goods should be as described and, as you correctly state, not misrepresented.  There is, however, no statutory or automatic right to a return.

EBay's Money Back Guarantee provides buyers with additional rights when buying from a private seller which is why private seller listings state the following:

Registered as a private seller

Thereby, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. eBay Money Back Guarantee still applies to most purchases.

So eBay will not, therefore, be charging for something that is already covered by consumer rights. 

That said calling it a 'Buyer Protection' fee is, in my opinion, misleading as it doesn't really provide any additional protection to the existing Money Back Guarantee.

@tulipsorange12 

[wizzywizzy100]

I do not understand why Evay have chosen to do this. I only sell items I no longer want ie bits of Craft stuff or some clothes which are only a few pound. I always charge postsge as cant afoord to see with free postage oherwise i woulld be out of pocket. With the cost of postage increasing and now ebay adding a fee to my items I am concerned that nobody will buy anything. As it is I have noticed a lot less viewings let alone any sales. 

[northernantiques]

I think private buyers who are clearly running a business , may have more to worry about than ebay charging consumers a buyers premium.   This in my opinion is an effort by Ebay to get private buyers who are trading but pretending not to be , to register as a business.  Reporting everyone to HMRC for being over the seller threshold for a private buyer will be a real pain for Ebay, who have to submit these figures by the end of this month.  The insurance premium is also something that Vinted do.   Not aiming this at you by the way, I am just saying.

[paxton-33]

For an item at auction the final cost of the item is unknown until it is actually sold to the highest bidder. The buyer must decide on how high he or she is prepared to pay - 0.79p and -4% to arrive at the maximum bid they are prepared to enter. I am covered by buyer protection by ebay until Feb 2025 - after that I will be charged extra for the privilege of the seller doing their job. Not an enticiment for me to buy from private sellers or indeed to use ebay at all.

[lucy_farmer]

I *imagine* the ebay system for bidders will be something like the following....

Currently, when you are placing a bid, you bid what you want, *or* tick one of the boxes marked 'bid £5" or 'bid £7' or 'bid £8' (or whatever, depending on the item and what it's starting price is)

I reckon the new BPF bidding system will give bidders an idea of the final cost by using those boxes with the final price next to it (perhaps in brackets or a different font)

So the box that currently says 'bid £5' would say something like  ' bid £5. (total price inc. bpf = £5.99) '

And would calculate the rise every time you put a new bid on.

Pretty sure ebay wouldn't leave buyers with a nasty shock after bidding on something..... nasty shocks are usually reserved for the sellers 😈

[geosacha007]

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@parsley2003 wrote:

Was just saying i sell individual postcards and if i sell 10 single ones to one person Ebay is going to add almost £10 on to that

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I think if any buyer buys more than one item we will have to cancel all the sales and relist as one lot.  I have found over the years that asking buyers to contact you for multi purchases before they buy almost never works.

[parsley2003]

The buyer will see minimum price (just the one, not our price and Ebay add ons separately) so there won't be additional added fees later. For auctions the 4% will be applied for the sale price. I am putting on all new listings not that i'm doing many, in the title and the description my price and saying any extra is an Ebay add on. They are a massive company and have lawyers looking at everything they want to do so are being careful to keep to the law even if morally it is wrong.

I have warned people in my shop not that they ever read it and said that i am looking for ways to deal with this, many will not know what is going on. They are advertising sell for free but not "buying for extra".

Have put all my listings on 20% off but even that they are cutting off on 20/1 not 3/2. Rarely do this but it is the last chance to get rid of years old listings that have been going round and round.

After that not sure what to do will see how it goes

[parsley2003]

Simple just add something extra. The 24/7 real person to call. They clearly say that there is already buyer protection but this is an extra (costing a lot) (that nobody needs)

[parsley2003]

Yes it will and also be added to any current listings from 4/2. Any new listings i do will clearly state my price and any extra will be for Ebay, the buyer will only see the total but Vinted do show them separately. Interesting Vinted add 75p to a £1 item and 90p to a £4 Item, also punishing sellers of low value items

[parsley2003]

I hope so because i read that only the seller sees the breakdown before completing the listing

[parsley2003]

I do buy as well as sell and being deaf doesn't give me anything extra 

[parsley2003]

No chance i have always refunded. I did 2 days ago some one had a broken pin on a brooch when she tried it on sent me a photo and i refunded in full immediately. What upsets me is those that open a case before contacting first i would never do that without speaking to the seller first. But yes there will be people who try to get out of it

[sml192]

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@parsley2003 wrote:

I hope so because i read that only the seller sees the breakdown before completing the listing

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It's mentioned at the very bottom of the Buying FAQs:

Where can I see how much the Buyer Protection fee is?

Where applicable, the Buyer Protection fee will always be included in the item price. At checkout, you will see the fee amount underneath the item’s name.

Click on Buyer Protection to see what protection is included and a detailed breakdown of the price.

[papso22]

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@tulipsorange12 wrote:

Thank you. Essentially eBay are charging people  a fee for buying from a private seller, and calling this buyer protection when there is already buyer protection for  all purchases made on eBay. So are they misleading eBay users about the buyer protection fee?  If so, what do consumer bodies / FCA make of this. It's early days but some investigation into this would be great.

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Just to be clear in case someone later hasn't covered this.

EBay’s buyer protection, old or new, is a voluntary programme they choose to apply. 

Currently it helps buyers from business accounts to get their money back more easily than if they went straight to the business to use their statutory rights.

Buyers from genuine private sellers have very little in the way of consumer rights, EBay gives them the equivalent of 'not as described ' rights as if they had bought from a business seller, and helps with the process for change of mind returns, if the seller accepts those.  So they get something the law does not require.

Ebay did not have to give buyers from private sellers any protection at all.  It chose to do that for free, and now it chooses to charge them.  

They will not be charging buyers who buy from business accounts, so they still have a free, easy and convenient way of dealing with issues that are covered by online consumer law. 

The buyers who should be annoyed are those that will have to pay the fee when buying from businesses that trade illegally from private ebay accounts.   They are paying for something that if the seller was correctly registered  would be free.

[vintique*violet]

@tulipsorange12 wrote:

Thank you. Essentially eBay are charging people  a fee for buying from a private seller, and calling this buyer protection when there is already buyer protection for  all purchases made on eBay. So are they misleading eBay users about the buyer protection fee?  If so, what do consumer bodies / FCA make of this. It's early days but some investigation into this would be great.

Just to be clear in case someone later hasn't covered this.

EBay’s buyer protection, old or new, is a voluntary programme they choose to apply.

BPF is not a voluntary option... it will be added to every listing a private seller makes as per eBay.. where does it say it is voluntary in their FAQ? Have we missed that important note of choice? 

Currently it helps buyers from business accounts to get their money back more easily than if they went straight to the business to use their statutory rights.

Businesses already have buyer protection because it is already included in the fees they pay to eBay.  Correct me if I am wrong but it is the MBG . Genuine Business sellers have to offer a return and more " rules" due to consumer laws, but genuine good private sellers already look after their customers.

Buyers from genuine private sellers have very little in the way of consumer rights, EBay gives them the equivalent of 'not as described ' rights as if they had bought from a business seller, and helps with the process for change of mind returns, if the seller accepts those.  So they get something the law does not require.

All buyers are covered by the Consumers Law Act irrespective of what eBay say. The " not as described"  is already covered and has been for years , the BPF does not add anything  to" protect" other than the 24/7 customer service.  It is pushing private sellers to take the " risk"  moreso with unscrupulous buyers, instead of eBay. 

Ebay did not have to give buyers from private sellers any protection at all.  It chose to do that for free, and now it chooses to charge them.  

Are you saying that the MBG - (money back guarantee  a protection which  has existed for years   as  part of eBay " advertising and marketing" to attract customers is now the BPF ?

Where did you find that information ?  No where does it say that the BPF is the new MBG.

BPF stands alone and does not offer any " protection" for any buyer purchases as stated in their FAQ's, as  it refers back to the MBG!  

eBay choosing to offer a MBG for their customers has been part of their " reassurance" programme to encourage and attract sales in a " safe" marketplace.   What you  are implying here is  that this FREE service ( MBG) is now to be paid for under the BPF  " disguise?" 

Are you now saying that eBay have removed  their original " choice" and are now " choosing" to charge buyers? 

CHOICE being the operative word here, as at no point are they offering  buyers and sellers their choice!

You do realise that eBay have to abide by certain rules and regulations, legalities, etc etc etc to be able to trade as an online  marketplace when dealing with customers? 

They will not be charging buyers who buy from business accounts, so they still have a free, easy and convenient way of dealing with issues that are covered by online consumer law. 

Business sellers already have this covered through the extortionate fees they pay to eBay. 

There are no " free, easy and convenient"  ways - Businesses have to abide  by consumer laws , if they did not they would not have a business.  

Now for private BUSINESS sellers that is a different story! ...

As you have stated below... and that is the bone of contention and lies solely with eBay to make good... they could have done so years back but have done nothing to address it... this move of the BPF and holding funds of private sellers will not make the situation go away.  

The buyers who should be annoyed are those that will have to pay the fee when buying from businesses that trade illegally from private ebay accounts.   They are paying for something that if the seller was correctly registered  would be free.

How many Buyers do you think check if purchasing from  legitimate business and  private sellers ?

Price and service counts!

[booksbikesstuff]

I use tracked 48 for most items, which means insurance is already provided, so the buyer really doesn't need eBay insurance on top. This has priced me out of some listings already.

[svincec]

Look up En*bleep*tification on wkip'
Sums up business meanderings and corporate neglect of who's providing/expoloited for the revenue.
Sad but seems to have impirical (maybe empirical) evidence.
Sadder for somthing that was built on bringing people together and helping the environment with recycling.

[hoxton-square-press]

Would the last eBay buyer leaving the site please turn off the lights!

[steel_dragon87]

Question: 

Regarding this buyers fee that has now been foisted upon listings, does it retroactively apply to auction listings that were active with bids before the fees came into force?

If they do apply to current active auctions, that makes it incredibly unfair on potential buyers who have placed a bid for an expected amount days prior to then be hit with an additional fee on top if they win that auction.