Ebay's new Buyers' protection fee from the 4th Feb

[rsbrickshop]

I'm a private seller. Items I sell are between £2.90 - £10. Is It just me or will ebay's new Buyers' protection fee from the 4th Feb make it near impossible to sell competitively. A few months ago Ebay got rid of Sellers' fees for private sellers, which was a welcome move. But this new change and getting rid of multi-buy discount for private sellers will make it worse than it was with the original fees.

[goodibags]

You're more than welcome to start an auction at 1p, which would appear as 75p to the first bidder.

You'd have to pretty confident of attracting more than one bidder, of course. 

[wolfs-head1]

This is nothing more then a 'protection racket' by eBay, making people pay for what they're already getting for free under the eBay guarantee scheme. And like a 'racket' you don't get a choice. Clearly just a way of clawing back some of the fees they're losing out on from the abolishing of seller fees. What are the odds on them dropping it again when the number of private sellers falls off because it's no longer worthwhile?

[wolfs-head1]

Agreed, this is nothing more then a 'protection racket' by eBay, making people pay for what they're already getting for free under the eBay guarantee scheme. And like a 'racket' you don't get a choice. Clearly just a way of clawing back some of the fees they're losing out on from the abolishing of seller fees. What are the odds on them dropping it or changing it again when the number of private sellers drops off because it's no longer worthwhile? Or is that what they want, to be a 'business seller only' hub?

[toptap1]

Wait for a while, and seller fees will be reintroduced at 'only' 5%. Then they'll gradually ramp up, just like last time.

In addition to the buyers fee, obviously.

[the_book_seekers]

What may kill it is a sustained drop in buyers. 

[plasfit]

Makes perfect sense that if private sellers pull back then their viewing of other items for sale follows. Likewise low value item buyers for a bit of fun with the odd fiver or less buy won't bother with private buys unless a niche item they want. They pushed small business sellers into a corner years ago making growth restrictively expensive. The drop in viewings will affect impulse buys and traffic will go elsewhere. Dictating how sellers send, buyers paying for what is already included and then becoming an interest free loanee is going to cost them traffic and buyers

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[ceres_plantery]

Yes, I saw that as well. This is what I posted in another label

4 FEB has kicked in and for a £4.50 item, there is an increase of about 85p. 

It's incumbent on ebay to provide a  Marked as Delivered instead of forcing sellers to use their dedicated system. 

Ebay: Please provide buyer with MARKED AS DELIVERED  instead of forcing us to pay more for postage please and beating us up both ends.

I think ebay is silly to slap it on below £5. Live and let live..

[griffiths1000]

Hopefully ebay is monitoring this thread and the fact sellers are not happy with their latest fee.

I have already run into a snag a number of times as a seller and a buyer with "best offers". Buyers will often message asking about what offer would be acceptable. You give them a figure they whack it into the best offer click proceed.....and suddenly it is not the figure agreed. Very confusing for buyer & seller. Can't see this system working for long. With selling fees, even if we don't like them, at least everyone knows where they stand. The price on the label is what it costs.

[ceres_plantery]

I have noticed people taking a photo of the listing and put down SEND OFFER. I never entertain such flippancy. I might change at a certain date if they don’t sell. I don’t want to encourage these people. I look around at prices and I don’t go for auction either. It is what it is.

[jasonsdad]

There are a number of Pro-Mentors whose job is to help us along.  This is an unpaid role on behalf of a Multi-Billion Dollar company.  They are only allowed to advise within the stated company parameters.  Perhaps attended training and updating courses to ensure full compliance and awareness.     There are several other also who don't identify as Pro-Mentors,  there are always 2 or more sides to any discussion,  changes are not always welcome. 

     By confiscating sellers funds for 14 days I supopose it was to be expected for a mild backlash.  

         I heard on this thread that EBay really don't want/need the private sellers.  I think their  comprehensive advertising strategy of trying to encourage more people to sign up and sell items perhaps didn't read the same edict.

[toptap1]

Why would anybody put themselves forward to work unpaid for a multi billion dollar company?

[jasonsdad]

It may all be down to a sense of worth or a feeling of passing down greater knowledge. We are not all the same, I suspect many of us might have asked the question WIIFM ?

[ianjameslizzy]

I agree with you. I sell little things for a few pounds  as well and this will just hike the price to be not that attractive 

[toptap1]

There are dozens of worthy causes and organisations that could do with a boost.

A helping hand, sharing expertise etc.

They aren't multi billion dollar companies though.

[uk-specials]

Sorry this is nonense. You've sold 11,000 items. You are buying up bulk collecitons of postcards and selling them individually. That's a business.

[uk-specials]

So just upgrade your account to a business account? None of these problems on there.

[uk-specials]

You're literally running a business on a private seller account though. This is a measure intended to curb that type of behaviour. Switch to a business seller account and every issues you've described goes away.

[Anonymous]

Oh dear me. Talk about making a simple thing complicated.

[wolfs-head1]

You're confusing me with someone else, I neither buy nor sell postcards!

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[wolfs-head1]

No I'm not, I sell personal items I no longer want or need. I am not running a business and for most of the year I don't sell at all.