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

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.

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

I purchased a joblot of cassettes one hour ago. There was no buyer protection fee. The seller is sending it Parcelforce48, so maybe doesn't need any extra buyer protection? 🙄

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

It is interesting. I’m going to have to invoke the MGB tonight, for the first time in five years of happy buying and selling. Perhaps the rise in such problems contributed to the new fee being spun as ‘Buyer Protection’? 

I thought as an experienced buyer and collector something like this couldn’t happen to me but I bought a very expensive ‘very good condition’ item, photos looked fine, that when it arrived had been mutilated to indicate ‘not for resale’ with the designer’s labels badly cut out and replaced with some old, dirty ones from a completely different garment. 

 

Opened a return, only to get ‘oh it was like that when I got it, its not my fault’, and stated they were refusing the ‘not as described’ case, (by message, am I right that there’s no way for a seller to actually close an INAD case?) and not to contact them again. 

 

I can escalate later this evening., so we’ll see. 

I’m a bit nervous about it if I’m honest. 

 

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

Were the purchases from a private or business seller as the BPF is only on sales from private sellers accounts. 

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

Yes , and there are numerous posts about it.. the BPF is not a "protection" whatsoever. 

Its a " stealth tax!"... 

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

In case people want to be competitive with business sellers on ebay, here is a little math for you to apply to your items that way your buyers dont over pay unfortunately the seller would take the hit on this 😞 just like trumps tarrifs....  Price of item: (£31.50) then - £0.75 + 4% = £33.48

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

Haha my math is off lol

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

Won't let me edit it...

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

Yep!

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

So as my latest posts prove my math is not so good.. lol

 

Now the guy was asking £31.50 for his item if I do the calculations like this: £31.50 + 4% + £0.75 I end up with £33.51 ?? I can't get my head around why the total price for the guys item is £33.48 (3p) less am I doing the calculations am I wrong?

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

I noticed those small differences as well. Either another rounding method (?), or issues. Or the actual percentage is short of 4%. Ebay maths.

 

Ebay played this 'smartly', by not letting buyers know they pay any fee on top of what is buyer asking. It's in fact good for sellers, where overall it is a hidden ripoff. Holding money is not that big issue if you post tracked, although I know very rarely it happens when postperson failed to do final scan and no delivery stamp comes up, so sellers will have to wait two weeks I guess.

If the SD will be optional, or at least you can buy directly from Royal Mail, then it's also fine. Although I seen there is an overcharge on Tracked48 by 30p (unless it matches anticipated April price hike by RM), but you very much benefit on Medium parcel, which is either an error, or it's a cracking deal.

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

I've just run £31.5 + 4% +75p on a calculator and it came out at £33.51. No idea where the 3p difference comes from.

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

If I add on the 4% first, then add 75p I make it £33.51.
If I add on the 75p first, then add 4% I end up with £33.54.
However I slice it, I can't get to £33.48.

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

Its one unholy mess.  Its not going to work. A sort of part copy of Vinted. You have to make this simple to retain buyers and sellers. 

There is no way they are holding on to my money for up to two weeks. They have no mandate to do it. Suggest an expensive legal case is needed. It stinks.

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

I send everything RM tracked and swallow the extra cost.

I also don't use an RM account, I prefer to support my local post office.

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

Here's another plot twist:
I sold two items today, listed separately and the buyer paid postage for both.
Normally, I bundle the items together, and refund any postage overpayment to the buyer.
I guess that this means that Ebay will have to refund the buyer 4% of any refund that I issue.
How's that gonna work?

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

Totally agree. The whole scenario has left me not wishing to buy nor sell here. If I feel aggrieved paying for something I already get included then why shouldn't others feel the same.

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

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

jimthing
Conversationalist

 

(this was a dupe: deleted)                

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

Private seller...

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

I wouldn’t worry 

I’ve had similar , albeit fraudulent, claims from buyers and when I’ve spoken to eBay their stance is that because they are not in a position to be able to inspect any items it is their policy to find in favour of buyers and have them returned to the seller. 

They think it’s best that the seller and buyer are returned to their original position. 
if you sent pictures and referred to the item description in your INAD claim, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. 
ebay will find in your favour. It has been a problem for some sellers, me included at times, that they always side with buyers without fail. Occasionally it’s really not fair. 
As the seller seems to be a bit of an a**e, it could be that you have to go back to eBay to force the refund but you’ll be fine. Don’t worry 

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