Free to Sell

[bf0602]

I have received an email from eBay saying it is now free to sell.

Does this literally mean I pay nothing when I sell an item, no listing fee, no transaction or final value selling fee?

[**peaseblossom**]

That is correct, excluding vehicles.   Up to 300 items a month for private sellers.   You only pay a fee if you use a listing extra such as a reserve, or there's a 3% fee if sending the item outside the UK.

[bf0602]

Thanks, for clarifying.

That's incredible. How will they make any money, or does the majority of their income come from business sellers?

The fee calculator doesn't seem to reflect these changes, as it still shows a fee of £39.75 for an item sold for £300.

The calculator was updated at the end of September 2024!

[bf0602]

Here's the link to the calculator if you want to see what I mean: https://www.ebayfeescalculator.com/uk-ebay-calculator/

[*vyolla*]

You can use the 'send us a message link' at the bottom of the calculator to let them know that their calculator needs updating, it was last updated 30th September, or wait a couple of days for it to update.

A bit of a moot point though, isn't it, if there is no fee?

What do you need to calculate?

[bf0602]

I used the calculator for confirmation that selling is now completely free, as I couldn't believe what I was reading.

As the calculator was updated just 4 days ago, I assumed it had been updated to reflect these changes, but clearly not.

[sml192]

The new fee structure was introduced from 1st October so that fee calculator needs updating again.   Note that fee calculator is not provided by eBay themselves so isn't guaranteed to be accurate.

With the new fee structure you can list 300 new items per month for free and then 35p per listing for each additional.  Auto relists are also free and don't count towards the 300 allowance.

There are no longer any Final Value Fees charged for any category other than 'Motors'.

However, there are still fees for any listing upgrade and also for international visibility/sales. 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/fees-credits-invoices/fees-private-sellers?id=4822&st=3&pos=1&qu...

[bf0602]

Thank you for the replies.

This is a massive incentive to sell more.

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

"This is a massive incentive to sell more".

I would have said "this is a massive incentive to LIST more".

To sell more Ebay would have to encourage members to be saying that the change was a massive incentive to buy more and add a link on where they go to get the extra cash they would need to do so.

[bf0602]

Agreed, I should have worded that better.

[bf0602]

As a follow-up to my original question, how are eBay earning income from this if they are not charging any fees?

[*vyolla*]

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@bf0602 wrote:

As a follow-up to my original question, how are eBay earning income from this if they are not charging any fees?

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They're planning on introducing a buyers fee early next year, same as Vinted and Depop do.

[bf0602]

I see, thanks for clarifying.

[*vyolla*]

You're very welcome.

[pillarboxred]

They are ripping money out of business sellers. Promoted is a cheat. I had an item, a picture of a place, the buyer is a collector in that place with a small, private museum about it and he just searches on the place name and scrolls down. The name of the place was in the Title, the Item Specifics and the Description. The buyer found it with his one word Search. There were no other bidders but I was charged £19 for Promotion. Some joke.

[pillarboxred]

I think it is free to list but all the other charges apply so you are saving 36p per listing.

[sml192]

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@pillarboxred wrote:

I think it is free to list but all the other charges apply so you are saving 36p per listing.

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Also applies to final value fees now. 

Free to list (up to 300 new listings per month plus auto relists) and no final value fees.  There are still fees for listing upgrades, promoted listings, and international sales. 

[vintique*violet]

How do they make money? 

More advertising banners revenue. 

By encouraging you to pay for promotions , upgrades and the like, if you want your listings viewed as at present it is minimum , many not at all. No views, no sales? 

True business sellers still pay for business fees as they are business traders. 

The " free to sell" is for private sellers only and yet it appears that many businesses are masquerading in the private, to gain which has caused contention. 

I wouldn't be too excited ...yet, and wish you luck 😉