eBay

rebecca**81 · ‎02-03-2025

I dare say there will be dozens if not hundreds of posts similar to this but I’m adding mine so eBay (if monitoring this board) can see they’ve alienated another customer.

The new payment rules are shocking. Having to wait for payment until after delivery is an absolute farce. It penalises sellers for potential carrier issues which is grossly unfair. Then when they see confirmation that an item is delivered, they then wait two further days to pay up! I assume this is so they can hold on to our money and earn interest on it for two extra days. It is utterly disgraceful.

With regards to the new, compulsory, buyer

protection fees: OMG. They’ve realised that scrapping fees for private sellers was a mistake so now they are back tracking and charging buyers instead. The problem with this is that sellers are going to end up footing this fee anyway! If I’m listing an item I choose the price based on other listings, where possible pricing mine slightly cheaper to hopefully get a quick sale. But if there is a business seller selling for slightly more than me, they will get the sale because the buyer fees aren’t added! Hence for me to get the sale I have to price below the next best price MINUS the protection fee. So I’m essentially paying this fee myself!

These new rules are incredibly unfair and off putting. I’m a drop in eBay’s ocean with only 3K sales under my belt but if all small private sellers protest, surely they’ll need to change?

Just as soon as I figure out my way around another platform - probably Vinted - I’ll be ending all listings in protest.

SHAME ON YOU EBAY.

*devils.advocate* · ‎02-03-2025

All these threads with crocodile tears from private sellers.

They previously managed to incorporate 13.22% + 30p fees into their price.

Then they were given “free fees”.

I didn’t really see any changes to (reduction in) prices at that point - as these sellers probably rubbed their hands with glee at the extra money they could make at the expense of their buyers.

“If it sold at £x before, it’ll still sell at £x and stuff the buyer” mentality.

Now these sellers shout loud at this “extra” fee.

If they had reduced their prices by the amount of the previous fee level, they would still have received the same money and this new fee wouldn’t be a problem.

As a buyer, I’ll pay the new 4% + 75p but not both sets of fees.

I now rarely buy from private sellers now because of this “double fee” and the abhorrent abundance of pseudo-business chancers.

I can see why private sellers will find it difficult to sell anything - through no fault of buyers.

*vyolla* · ‎02-03-2025

@rebecca**81 wrote:

With regards to the new, compulsory, buyer

protection fees: OMG. They’ve realised that scrapping fees for private sellers was a mistake so now they are back tracking and charging buyers instead.

I don;'t think that anyone is overjoyed wit these changes, but there's no backtracking - eBay did announce about the same time they scrapped fees for private sellers that there'd be a buyer fee, same as Vinted and Depop's business models, coming in this Feb,

rebecca**81 · ‎02-03-2025

Gosh what an interesting take on it.

You’re right, I did rub my hands with glee - but not with regards to getting more money from buyers - rather that ebay were finally playing fair versus other platforms.

And paying 13.22% plus 30p? I was never stupid enough to do that. I only ever put listings live when there was a 70% or 80% fee reduction offer on.

The point is, why change the model and try to disguise their money grabbing as ‘buyer protection’? I’d much rather they simply went back to charging seller fees. At least then we could decide what price the buyer will see without a ridiculous odd number added on.

I dare say this is coming from the same corner as those buyers who want something for nothing. Listing something for £10 and having a buyer make an offer of £5. I mean talk about offensive. If I make an offer it’s always maximum 10% less than the selling price. That’s what I call fair.

Responses like this, to a post aimed at eBay, reminds me how toxic any and every single communication on this type of forum is. I hang my head in regret at my decision to publicly vent my frustration at the eBay giant. I should have known some smart Alec would take issue.
Dear oh dear. You don’t need to fight causes that are not your own, you know.

*devils.advocate* · ‎02-03-2025

….. Listing something for £10 …..

If sellers listed an item at £10 previously, and had reduced their price according to previous fees, they would be making the same money now and buyers would actually be paying less in fees.

If sellers can complain, why can’t buyers at sellers' inaction?

….. 70% or 80% fee reduction offer …..

Whilst some sellers received, not everyone did - and latterly, according to many posters on this Board, not many sellers did receive the offers because there were so many members of the “February Club” as they called themselves.

So, to have received such an offer, a seller was lucky.

….. I should have known some smart Alec would take issue …..

Just being factual - and, as usual on this Board now, posters must agree with the OP, or else.

effing_wif_figs · ‎03-03-2025

There's always bootlicks sadly. Always with their hypotheticals on how others think and act based on nothing.

I'll be making the move to Vinted starting tomorrow.

*devils.advocate* · ‎03-03-2025

Aw, bless.

How can a buyer - someone who has no allegiance whatsoever with any person, shop or site - be a bootlicker?

Anyways, enjoy Vinted and have a good day.

tommystrezures · ‎03-03-2025

@*vyolla* wrote:

I don;'t think that anyone is overjoyed wit these changes, but there's no backtracking - eBay did announce about the same time they scrapped fees for private sellers that there'd be a buyer fee, same as Vinted and Depop's business models, coming in this Feb,

Delcampe and others have had the same for some time now, a buyers premium. Although on the forementioned website their BP was/is 8%.

suelel1968 · ‎03-03-2025

Hi rebbeca**81,

Don't remove your listings until you have tried Vin ted. You will find that it is the same buyer fee situation as EBay and postage is added on as well. There is no relisting to boost views in a months time. Customers just seem to trawl new listings. If you want to relist you just have to start again, photos and all. You are unlikely to get the prices that you can get on ebay and customers are very willing to ask for low offers. And yes, you still have to wait for your money.

It has it's good points, it is a different customer base, but alot of sellers are selling stuff that you would consider only fit for the dogs bed and as the customer pays for returns in every instance, many customers are lost. It's not a case of the grass is greener..... We just have to suck it up until the next change or offer or whatever.