So called Buyer Protection fees

[luscuk1]

A would be customer contacted me asking if I would accept a lower offer on one of my 'Buy It Now' vinyl albums. Strangely this was just above the price I'd set it at. When I looked online 'all' 10 of my items had been increased by 8%. I'd only heard of  this Buyer Protection fee today, but that says the fee is 4%. What's going on, since when can eBay set my selling prices?

[papso22]

You need to factor in the 75p fixed fee which goes on after the 4%.

[missdollydaydream]

since when can eBay set my selling prices?

In a nutshell, since you agreed to their terms and conditions by continuing to use their platform.

[effing_wif_figs]

This is a worry of mine. I have posted about it here before with most repliers missing my point. 

I find lots of buyers either forgo the best offer option or exhaust it with offers below the threshold so most of my offers come through messages. 

eBay just haven't taken into account how many sales are made this way and by keeping the new fees secret from sellers, it just causes confusion ane potentially loses sales that they would earn on.

[tressygirl]

You ask  ' what's going on ?' 

This is :

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

@luscuk1 

[mirfieldsteve]

According to ebay everybody knows that ebay have added the fee.

As a buyer I didn't, they have obviously hidden it in those general emails without highlighting buying fees n those email.

Last year they got rid of seller fees and have now reintroduced them as Buyer fees without informing the buyers and stating this in the listing. 

Maybe they should take a lead from vinted at least they declare that it is buyer protection fees.

[tommystrezures]

There is no secret fee, as a buyer they should know that there is a 4% premium + 75p on each sale. (for items under £300) As a seller I would advise politely in a message if an offer is being made that they need to consider this fee to the offer price you make via message.

There has been enough information on this, and some useful threads appearing where BP has been added already, across the roll out.

[tressygirl]

There was an email and eBay message sent to all members on the 3trd January 2025 explaining their new Buyer Protection policy.

Perhaps yours went to spam?  Or an eBay message accidentally deleted.

It's been in eBay News >>  Announcements  too.

@mirfieldsteve 

[papso22]

And it's in the new User Agreement. 

[pb_supplies]

Also as it is hidden by adding it to the price of our items people soon forget and that's if they even look at ebay messages, it should be added at checkout so they know the true price of our items. Really is a ridiculous putting private sellers at a disadvantage, plus it can cause us to make mistakes when updating listings etc. 

[papso22]

Surely the true price of your item to a buyer is what they have to pay to get it?

Buyers from business accounts don't pay the fee and businesses are those that generally sell multiples of brand new items.