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? 

[georgie-dad]

Yes so true but for a low value stamp sale of £1.65, the PF was 78p so the actual cost of the stamp in  2013 was 60p if I was to refund the PF back to the buyer I would make a profit of 27p, then to take in the time to organise the scans and sale page which I make up my sales on Dream Weaver it would not be worth the effort, I am selling to help other collectors achieve their own collections, it's not a business, many years ago I had an accident and was off work for a very long time, my son suggested to me to sell my surplus stamp stocks onto ebay as a recovery tool, which it has done, and I have made many contacts and friends which I am still in touch with today, and I enjoy helping other collectors with my sales, I don't charge a lot in fact if my time was costed I would be out of pocket. Many private sellers are in the same boat, and have their reasons why they sell on ebay, but it is the buyers who are being hit also. Buyers already had ebay protection on purchases.

[georgie-dad]

Just open another point of view, how many sellers put up their postage costs as year on year the RM increases their prices, maybe the sellers who did not reduce the item cost after fees were removed, absorbed the RM rises in that item price. Packaging another factor to consider. Energy costs (Electric) while on ebay I use my computer a lot on ebay, computer paper/labels, printer ink, all incidental costs. Taking your sold items to either a pickup point or post office/Box in a car if you live in a rural area. These are hidden costs a seller has.

[*devils.advocate*]

“Free to Sell” was, what, only about 5 months ago?

There’s been no increase in RM prices during that period - those have still to apply soon.

Anyways, all these overheads are a constant no matter which site someone decides to sell on - these have to be incorporated in the price a seller decides to charge.

So, no, there was no real reason for a seller not to reduce their prices - after all, they would have been seen to be more competitive than before and still end up with the same amount of money in their pocket.

[hrithkomol]

That's not true! Some degree of consumer protection applies to both in-store and distance selling, such as the goods sold must be as described and fit for purpose, etc. Otherwise both private and business sellers are obliged to take the goods back at their own expense. An additional protection for business sellers is the right to return the goods within a certain period for any reason or simply for a change of mind.

[hrithkomol]

 What we can do is buy as less as possible from private sellers, if possible stop buying altogether at least for time being and start social media campaigns and contact the Trading Standard and/or CAB. In addition an online camping can also be considered at Change Org [change.org/start-a-petition] to be discussed in parliament.

[edwardian-dreams]

 Vinted created this fee and they say consumer to consumer sales are not protected by the consumer protection law of 2015 iirc 

[sml192]

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@edwardian-dreams wrote:

 Vinted created this fee and they say consumer to consumer sales are not protected by the consumer protection law of 2015 iirc 

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Yes, that is correct.  The Consumer Rights Act is primarily concerned with business to consumer sales.  Buyers have very few statutory rights when purchasing from private sellers other than the general expectation that the goods should be as described and not misrepresented. 

[papso22]

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@hrithkomol wrote:

That's not true! Some degree of consumer protection applies to both in-store and distance selling, such as the goods sold must be as described and fit for purpose, etc. Otherwise both private and business sellers are obliged to take the goods back at their own expense. An additional protection for business sellers is the right to return the goods within a certain period for any reason or simply for a change of mind.

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You are giving buyers from private sellers far more rights than  they actually have.  Yes goods should be as described but the law does not then say what needs to happen if they are not.  Distance selling laws, which do say that, do not apply to these types of sales, they only apply to sales by businesses to private individuals. 

[kath3735_wxmjn]

have you done any of those things?  I notice a few people on here saying we should etc but very few who say I have done this or that (i do not count moaning to e bay CS as they are pretty useless with real problems and have no say in policy anyway)

[kath3735_wxmjn]

It still is a problem but i put out all the large non enticing things first and only put my smaller better items out when i have actually finished unloading the car.   I also very politely tell people to get the heck out of my car if they try rumaging through, if i upset a possible customer too bad, they have no manners so i will be abrupt with them.  I put the boxes out to the back and i also have had to ask people not to take the lids off and start throwing stuff around as they delve for that secret gem!   I wish...    Although i must say most people are lovely and i have some very good chats with them.  (worst ones are the dealers for doing the rummaging)

[booksbikesstuff]

How will the 'Simple Delivery' affect things? I'm not clear on the effects.

Thanks!

[booksbikesstuff]

Sellers don't make money from postage. I use Royal Mail as I've had very bad experiences with Evri and also like to track items.

[*devils.advocate*]

It’ll all depend on the final version of Simple Delivery.

Given eBay’s (diabolical) track record of being involved in postal matters, it’ll likely only be a simple method for the buyer.

Have a read - it'll be worth it.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/posting-items/setting-postage-options/simple-delivery?id=5575&st...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/posting-items/setting-postage-options/simple-delivery?id=5575&st...

Whether the final version will end up like this, we’ll have to wait and see but it could well be that.

There will be problems for some sellers - but maybe not for others - it'll be down to individual preference, individual necessity and, hopefully, adaptability of the system (what am I saying! - sorry, lost it for a moment)

And from a buying perspective, it’ll depend very much on what level of rip-off charge eBay apply to postage cost.

I’m sure it’ll be fun for all!

Have a good day everyone.

[booksbikesstuff]

Thanks! Very helpful. I see what you mean - a lot of seller checking in that list. I'd prefer to continue with choosing my own labels. I hope they don't take away that choice!

[detekc_57]

spot on my page is filled with pointless ads they dont protect the buyer i had a danegrous electrical appliance that had NO CPC and was barely held together , it had NO sfaety markings what so veerr and the seller is STILL allowed to do business and they charge people for it !!!!!!!

all my sales have dropped off because the starting price is now much higher it seems im supposed to take the loss

without buyers and sellers e bay is cooked

there are other sites and im going there instead

i suggest everyuopne leaves and hit them where it hurts

[forestfeline62]

ebay either put a hold on sellers funds or if there aren't enough money in funds then ebay will put the charge on your  bank card . 

[forestfeline62]

I took this up with ebay and they told me there is no protection for sellers .Seems buyers can do what they want because the bpf   . The bots just close cases and you can't challenge it . So much for ebays returns policies on how things should be sent back ie original packaging ,sent back in the condition the buyer received it in . With clothing especially new they can wear an item ,wash it then say it doesn't fit sent it back screwed up in  a small bag  and damaged from wash and get a full refund ,no help for sellers .

[desmie101]

I stopped selling on ebay for a number of reasons, one being that buyers could scam. I had someone buy some miniature items for a collectors dolls house, they said they thought they were for a full sized house, so wanted me to pay the returns postage. I said no it clearly stated on the listings they were tiny miniature items of 1:12th scale, I even showed photographs of the items next to a ruler and £1 coin. When I said I wouldn't pay for the returns postage as it was her mistake, the seller claimed the items were damaged to get a refund that way. I just refunded the scammer and I was left without the items, out of pocket for the postage etc. 

[papso22]

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@forestfeline62 wrote:

I took this up with ebay and they told me there is no protection for sellers .Seems buyers can do what they want because the bpf   . The bots just close cases and you can't challenge it . So much for ebays returns policies on how things should be sent back ie original packaging ,sent back in the condition the buyer received it in . With clothing especially new they can wear an item ,wash it then say it doesn't fit sent it back screwed up in  a small bag  and damaged from wash and get a full refund ,no help for sellers .

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Sellers have no more, and no less, protection than they did before the BPF came in.

[yorkscollectables]

If anybody claims that eBay visitor numbers and sales have NOT fallen dramatically since eBay began surcharging Buyers with this ridiculous Buyer Protection Fee, they are deluded.

Latest website traffic data confirms a massive decline in visitor numbers.