How will the new buyer protection fees affect auction listings?

[ereiam-jh]

I knew eBay's generosity  wouldn't last for long. I don't much care about the fees; I just wish they'd make up their minds and stop changing things around.

How will the new fees affect auction listings? Will auction listings be exempt ( I doubt it,) or will buyers need to pay more than what they bid? If so, I can foresee a lot of bidders refusing to pay when they they realise they need to pay more than they thought.

[suelel1968]

It's a good question. 

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/paying-items/buyer-protection?id=5594

Scroll down to FAQ's

How is this fee calculated for Auctions when the final selling price isn't known yet?

When you enter a starting bid, we add the Buyer Protection fee so you can see what the buyer's minimum bid amount will be. As the Buyer Protection fee is variable, the fee amount that the buyer actually pays is calculated as part of the final auction selling price.

By including the fee in the buyer's bid price, we're making it simple and transparent so buyers always know what they'll pay and sellers know how much they'll receive.

[ereiam-jh]

That's as clear as mud.

[suelel1968]

So much for the buyer not seeing the fee. 

[myriad*seller]

How can the buyer both see the fee before they bid AND the fee be variable based on the final sale price?? 

It can't be both at the same time!! 

Sellers will get the blame if eBay add a variable fee on at the end!! 

[crg_music]

Its probably a legal requirement particularly with an auction as you dont get to review it at checkout like with a buy it now

[millcottage]

Guess it will be like at a local auction where you might bid and win something for £100 and then get invoice for £100 + auction commission rate (inc VAT) = What you pay to get goods.

Ebay will have to make this buyer surcharge very clear during bidding.

[asleepingdragon]

It's pathetic.  Just bring back the old fees if you're feeling a bit short of cash eBay, because everyone can see through this "good news" is just fees by the back door.

[wgwillia]

Hi Looks like Ebay is going to shoot them self's in the foot with the new fees, they must have a death wish happy new year all.

[ereiam-jh]

Right. They must have known all along that they were planning on re-implementing the fee to buyers.

It's annoying because they've made such a song and dance about removing selling fees. It's repeatedly been advertised on TV over the past few weeks.

I'd have preferred them to have just made the changes all at the same time instead of doing it bit by bit, forcing us to repeatedly amend our prices. I don't know who they think they're fooling.

[wgwillia]

the way it's going they will be no one to fool every one will jump ship

[hettsville]

Looks like eBay is copying their big rival beginning with V again.

On their site you see the item price and underneath that you see the price including the "buyer protection fee".

[asleepingdragon]

I've never used Vinted.  I spend too much on eBay to go anywhere else...😬

[ncmetrobus]

I have been a frequent buyer on eBay but in the collectables field.  For the sort of items I buy quite often the price maximum is around £8.  As a private seller in the past (and considering maybe being one again) I know that these changes would mean that I would have to raise the starting price considerably to make sure it was worth my while selling, or in practice not sell because the whole system is simply too cumbersome and expensive.  As a buyer I have not needed this protection and have bought from many private sellers without any problems at all, therefore I end up paying (where else can the money possibly come from?) a lot of money for a service I neither need nor want.

It would seem eBay doesn't care about much of the collectables market and the loss of all the private sellers will mean many stop looking, to the detriment of business sellers.

I think ultimately the problem is that eBay is in reality multiple businesses with different market places and needs to accept that and structure accordingly.  The 'one-size-fits-all' approach just doesn't work (and note how the "Vehicles" category is always singled out as an exception in recognition of this).

Fortunately for me I really need to cut down expenditure on eBay.  This change will make it painless for me as there will be much less for me to buy.

[johnwash1]

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@asleepingdragon wrote:

I've never used Vinted.  I spend too much on eBay to go anywhere else...😬

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I predict the dragon may soon wake up and go for a walk!   🙂

[polkio90]

I think we will see more 'buy it now' items than auction items as the new fees can be calculated before the selling price of items is applied. This will, ultimately, stop ebay from being an auction based site to being just another online shop. Could be the end of ebay. 

[gt_preloved]

From the FAQ, it should be pretty straight forward.

If you list an Auction with a starting price of £5, then the listing will appear with a starting price of £5.95

(£5 + 4% (20p) + 75p).

If someone comes along and gets the winning bid of £5.95 - they will pay £5.95 as they're expecting and you will get £5 as you're expecting.

If someone comes along and bids £11.15 on your item and wins; they will pay £11.15 as they're expecting and you will get £10. (£10 + 4% (40p) + 75p = £11.15).

The proof will be in the pudding when this goes live, but I suspect that in the above scenario - when you look at your own auction you will see the £10 'bid' whereas the bidder will actually see the £11.15 bid. In this regard, it's a bit like the old model whereby sellers were charged a % fee of the final sale price, but at least with the new model (in theory) - you know exactly (in advance) how much you'll be getting and not have to work the calculations yourself.

[hobbit66]

As long as the winning bidder can clearly see the buyers protection fee at checkout !

[gt_preloved]

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@hobbit66 wrote:

As long as the winning bidder can clearly see the buyers protection fee at checkout !

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I doubt they will? ..and why would they need to see it / care?