eBay always seems to struggle when it comes to putting concise and accurate explanations in writing.
Just for info, the new BPF rates apply to auctions listed by private sellers on or after 17 July 2025; the BPF on any auctions listed prior to that date will have the previous rate on the date of listing (4%+75p) applied. What I cannot find anywhere is any information relating to the rate of BPF which will apply to auctions first listed prior to 17 July 2025 which subsequently relist after that date.
I assume the BPF applied at the time of first listing will apply to a relisted auction, in which case private sellers with auctions listed prior to 17 July 2025 will be at a disadvantage to sellers listing after that date, but eBay coding being the standard that it is it really is anyone's guess as to which BPF rate will be applied. It might even be random, just to add a little tension into the listing process... : )
The thing is that by introducing a new percentage calculation and flat-rate for BPF which applies to listings made after a specific date private sellers don't even have a level playing field amongst themselves, let alone between private and business sellers.
It's a bit odd that when BPF was first introduced it was added to every applicable listing regardless of the listing date but the new rate only applies after a specific cut-off date. Probably the best thing for private sellers to do would be to end any listing which includes the BPF at the previous rate and create a new listing which would include the new BPF rate (I assume relisting would still apply the BPF rate which was applicable at the time of the original listing was made).
Frankly eBay have made such a horlicks of BPF that they've had to make fairly major changes after less than 6 months. Give it another 6 months and they'll probably change it again...
