Upcoming ‘Buyer Protection Fees’

[lady4838]

I’m a member for 14 years - I have today complained fiercely to EBay with regards to 4% + 75p charge on each item purchased as we all know this is a Back Door way of recovering the Seller Fees which were scrapped recently - Buyers already have adequate protection - as to payment 2 days after delivery - we’re at the mercy of Royal Mail to scan all  items when collected (not guaranteed) 😡

 Fellow  members I urge you to let your disproval known - SHAME ON YOU Ebay😡😡

[fireofthephoenix]

I don't really buy into the idea that businesses are paying extra for the protection against private sellers. The system existing for business sellers automatically benefits buyers from private sellers because it would cost ebay more to run a two-tier system than run everyone through the one that exists.

My experience, as a buyer myself and helping less savvy family out when they encounter a bad seller, with the way the eBay protection system works is that if a seller doesn't resolve the issue on first contact through the messaging system, a dispute can be opened which sends an automated alert to the seller requiring them to resolve it in a specified time.  If the seller doesn't, the system automatically refunds the buyer from the sellers account.

I don't know what recourse the seller has (if any) in this because I've never had a dispute and dealt with the only two issues I had as a seller (one was lost item and the other was I mistakenly sent the Euro pressing rather than UK pressing of a record) through the messaging system.

All experience through the buyer side says the system defaults to 'side with the buyer'  in a dispute because most bad sellers who get to the point of a dispute, tend to ignore the disputes anyway.

This is all automated so there is little or no cost outside of the system existing. Each dispute wouldn't increase the cost to any noticeable level. 

eBay staff do not appear to be being placed in roles to arbitrate every open case. This is all automatic and with the expansion of AI into these types of moderation systems, will likely be resolved by bots based on specified criteria rather than a human looking at it.

[timfy2017]

Where do you think eBay UK is getting the money to guarantee the private sales? not from private sellers because private sellers aren't paying any fees are you that naive to think that eBay aren't covers private order guarantees and scams 

[paulthewoodman92]

Private sellers have only had zero fees for 6 months . EBay planned to change their charging system from before that , it's obvious.  If you think business sellers are funding private sellers selling , you're mistaken .EBay knew all along what they would do , its not business sellers v private , its EBay trying to emulate Vinted , and failing all their customers , business , private and buyers. Sent from my Galaxy

[bob.builder]

Thanks for the useful link. I hadn't seen that. The part about having a parcel collected is contradictory. Under the section 'posting and tracking your items' it states 'collection is available for items sent through simple deliveries with royal mail label only. You can book a collection on royal mail site'.

But under 'can i arrange for my item to be collected' It states 'collection is not currently available for simple delivery. If you would like your item collected, you should opt out of simple delivery when creating your listing'

Which is correct?

[fireofthephoenix]

It is from the seller not a magic pot of money that ebay have to refund buyers. If a business seller gets a dispute then the business sellers account is deducted. If a private seller gets a dispute then the private sellers account is deducted.

When eBay first launched in the UK, I had a reasonably-sized business account (deleted in mid 2000's) for a few years until I got a new (more demanding) job and had to gave it up so I understand about being a business seller.

If I had a dispute back then, I'd pay for it as a business seller. If I have a dispute today, I'd pay it as a private seller.

The business seller protections are all marketing rubbish. It makes businesses jump through hoops but the buyer usually gets their money back with either type of seller.

Its the illusion of protection rather than a two-tier system.

[troopster2525-per]

actually its being made mandatory this march, they are just introducing it feb where we can opt out but march its fully mandatory.

besides if it was not going to be mandatory why would ebay automatically be changing ALL current lisitings to the new simple delivery?

[papso22]

---

@cessna152towser wrote:

One of the good things with eBay was the £0.99 Auction start price facility.  As a seller I liked this as it attracted viewers who only then saw the added postage costs.   Likewise as a buyer I would be enticed to view and perhaps submit an offer.    Adding 75 pence plus 4% will mean the minimum auction start price will now double to £1.99 which will be less conducive to viewing by potential buyers.

---

The dearth of buyers over the last few years has led to members being advised (by other members)  not to accept Ebay's suggested 99p start.

This is because the days of bidding wars have gone for most items.

Nowadays you should start an auction at the lowest you would accept for an item.

[fireofthephoenix]

I'd rather not let eBay decide my postage. I have more knowledge of the postage industry than most people to say the least and I absolutely know better than whatever system they would force on me.

This is why I only use RM. They are not perfect but are usually the most professional service.  I wouldn't trust my items to a shady courier, yes I consider Evri, Yodel etc as shady based on personal experience of damaged and missing items, door-stepping and generally very poor service.

Postage costs also require some subtlety because weights and sizes can vary a little here and there so an item may border a weight range and each item needs to be assessed even if it is of the same kind.

The solution is have better sellers than enforce a dumb system on everyone

[troopster2525-per]

i also add a bit extra to postage charges because its not just the cost to send its the cost of envelopes and other packaging items need to post each item. otherwise that cost will then have to be added to the items price of i can no longer add it to the postage charge

[dala8593]

I also speak from experience and echo everything said
There are too many sellers giving horrendous service, I received an Offer for a dvd I was after when I looked at both neutral and negative feedback I quickly paid more and went elsewhere
As a private seller I go to great lengths to give good service and meat customer expectations or exceed them
EBay should impose a charge on those that blatantly don’t , that way standards would improve quickly or eBay would do very nicely quickly 😏
Of course you will may get the odd
no ones perfect it how it’s resolved that’s important both as a buyer and a seller
Sent from my iPhone

[kempseykate]

---

@myriad*seller wrote:

---

@reb282000 wrote:

As a buyer I have also complained to eBay, why should I pay more for buyer protection we already have.  Like many others I knew this was coming the moment they announced fee free selling for private sellers.  

In eBay’s response they kindly pointed out buyers protection for items bought from business sellers is already included in the price,  so I went back to them and explained that I mostly buy from private sellers, if I want cheap Chinese rubbish I can buy it directly from Temu.  

My only hope is that this backfires on them and they have to backtrack, the responses here give me hope that a lot of people will vote with their feet and go elsewhere. I’ll be watching what happens after 4th Feb with interest.

---

Basically they are removing the free standard buyer protection from private sellers and charging buyers for it

Buyers are losing the free protection they currently have when buying from private sellers and now have to pay for it 

Sales from business sellers are unaffected and still have standard buyer protection

---

Not so.

The MBG still stands for anyone buying from a business OR private seller.

The new so called 'Buyer Protection Fee' does nothing other than give the buyer 24/7 ability to chat to a CS human or start a chat.

Ebay cannot charge for something that is a legal right.

[fireofthephoenix]

This is the thing that bugs me about eBay postage, its all about postage price to them and not materials. Adding fees to postage cost is also a big scam and never should have happened. Add price to postage to cover fee, get accused of ripping off the buyer with postage. It happened one to me many years ago.

I tend to go free post for most things because the higher value items, I can easily absorb £3.39 into the cost  for tracked and lower priced ones, adding postage makes them un-competitive.

For more expensive / larger items, I use boxes that cost about £1 each but I do recycle high quality boxes that I receive from amazon or other stores.

My record mailers for example are the highest quality and cost about £3 each with stiffeners before postage costs but on a £70, £80, £100+ record, its nothing to absorb into the cost for the protection of the item. The issue comes with the lower cost items.

I'm lucky in the sense that I can off-set my existing set of materials (envelopes, tape, bubble wrap etc) against previous high value sales to part subsidise the postage of lower value ones but if I was to consider the real cost of posting these cheaper items long term, it would not be feasibly possible to justify.

For my DVD's, I'm selling as close to market rate that will still allow me to cover postage costs just to clear what I have which means most DVD's are £1.99 with £1.90 (sometimes £1.55 - minor weight differences in cases are important) postage cost deducted from my profit.

When you allow a restricted system for postage pricing, you only make it worse because size and weight errors creep in. I knew a few stories about people buying from ebay using the existing system and getting surcharged because ebay got it wrong in their size/weight expectiations

If you want to post things, its always best to learn the postage systems and their requirements so a better training section would be better than a bad system that affects people who already know what they are doing

A pip (pricing in proportion) board, kitchen scales and tape measure make a world of difference. Anything too heavy for kitchen scales will be going small/medium parcel anyway because of weight so size is more important than weight at that point.

[jckl1957]

Simple Delivery has already been introduced several weeks ago, and is available for eligible listings.

Can you let me know where you have got the information that it is definitely being forced upon sellers in March?

A lot of people are saying it will be made mandatory in the first quarter of the year but I have not seen anything which substantiates this apart from 'this is what the CEO said' but no quote and no source.

[troopster2525-per]

the items i was going to sell are only worth about 3 quid each and so was to post 2nd class standard and charge £1.80 but the new fees added to that 3 quid and then 2.80 for tracked delivery have no chance and can not really absorb it as i would me making nothing at all.

i have tried to figure a way but there is non for me unfortunately 

[lucy_farmer]

Try reading valueaddedresource's posts.

He appears to know what he is talking about, business-wise, and I'm inclined to believe him

(But yes, most of the rest of us are a bit of a bunch of headless-chickens, because we're worried by so many changes all happening at the same time, which will make us change comfortable routines or give up completely 🙁)

[papso22]

---

@kempseykate wrote:

---

@myriad*seller wrote:

---

@reb282000 wrote:

As a buyer I have also complained to eBay, why should I pay more for buyer protection we already have.  Like many others I knew this was coming the moment they announced fee free selling for private sellers.  

In eBay’s response they kindly pointed out buyers protection for items bought from business sellers is already included in the price,  so I went back to them and explained that I mostly buy from private sellers, if I want cheap Chinese rubbish I can buy it directly from Temu.  

My only hope is that this backfires on them and they have to backtrack, the responses here give me hope that a lot of people will vote with their feet and go elsewhere. I’ll be watching what happens after 4th Feb with interest.

---

Basically they are removing the free standard buyer protection from private sellers and charging buyers for it

Buyers are losing the free protection they currently have when buying from private sellers and now have to pay for it 

Sales from business sellers are unaffected and still have standard buyer protection

---

Not so.

The MBG still stands for anyone buying from a business OR private seller.

The new so called 'Buyer Protection Fee' does nothing other than give the buyer 24/7 ability to chat to a CS human or start a chat.

Ebay cannot charge for something that is a legal right.

---

The MBG is not a legal right, buyers of things from private sellers have very few legal rights under consumer law.

They can't charge buyers who buy from business accounts, as they do have legal rights, and they won't be, but they can charge buyers from private accounts as they are providing something to them that is not required by law. 

I am expecting a two tier protection programme, the MBG style one for purchases from business accounts and something different for private accounts, but that is just speculation on my part.

[fireofthephoenix]

this is the issue i spoke about a few pages back. with the new fees, the items will be too expensive and I couldn't absorb it so it I'd remove the items and give them to a charity shop etc because I've already covered the initial costs of the discs and then some from previous disc sales and its better to walk away with a profit than continue at a loss

I would still send 2C because its been a reliable service for me but then again, i'm not in need of my ebay funds to cover postage costs but the fees make the items unsellable at the new price

the only solution is if you could batch a group of items for a higher price and only pay 1 postage fee

[stimpson_jc]

---

@buffster1963 wrote:

Probably not a good idea to out yourself as a business in that email. These fees are just for private sellers. The only notice ebay may take of your email is to force you to change your account to business. 

---

Not true. Everyone can make £1000 trading on top of everything else if they want to make a new product like birthday cards... Selling Funko Pops on the other hand is a real crime and just creates landfill.

And half the ones you're selling are new unopened!

Why is it there's always strange hypocrite about shaming everyone else for the thing they do themselves???

[stimpson_jc]

---

@myriad*seller wrote:

---

@davidp9609 wrote:

I have sent the following email to ebay, I doubt it will have any affect, but feel free to copy, adapt and paste and send it if it helps you. Sadly this is the end of the road for me once the 4th of February arrives I will end selling on ebay. As a disabled person who is only able to work from home this is devastating as it served as a purpose to get up in the morning. 

Subject: Urgent: Unacceptable "Paid After Delivery" Policy for Private Sellers

Dear eBay Support,

I am writing to express my deep frustration and strong objection to the upcoming "paid after delivery" policy for private sellers, effective 4th February. This change is unworkable for my business and effectively forces me off your platform, leaving me with £1,000 worth of stock and no viable means to sell it.

I currently sell greeting cards at £2.95 with £0.99 postage, totaling £3.94. Under your new policy, the following costs would apply:

• Buyer Protection fee: £0.75 + 4% of the total (£3.94 x 4% = £0.16) = £0.91
• Tracked postage: £2.70
• Manufacturing cost: £0.70

This brings my total expenses to £4.31, exceeding the sale price. If I attempt to adjust my pricing to £5.70 to cover these costs, buyers will simply go elsewhere, as similar greeting cards are available in retail stores for £3.00.

Your policy to pay sellers only after delivery is also fundamentally unethical. As a business, I am expected to provide goods before receiving payment, assuming all the financial risk in the transaction. No credible business operates this way. My local supermarket, for instance, would never allow me to take similar goods home without paying for them upfront. This policy undermines the basic principles of fairness and trust in commerce, leaving sellers vulnerable to potential fraud, disputes, and loss.

Requiring tracked delivery further exacerbates the problem. The cost of tracking for low-value items like mine is prohibitively high and significantly reduces profitability. Without proof of delivery, I have no protection against fraudulent claims, creating an untenable situation for sellers.

The "paid after delivery" policy also creates significant cash flow problems, particularly for small sellers who rely on prompt payments to sustain their operations. eBay is placing all the financial burden on sellers while prioritizing buyer convenience and eBay’s profits.

I respectfully request that this matter be escalated to a senior manager, as this policy has severe implications for small sellers. I urge you to reconsider or amend the policy for low-cost items. Practical solutions could include:

1. Allowing upfront payments for items below a certain value.
2. Exempting private sellers from the tracked delivery requirement for low-cost goods.
3. Providing alternative measures to confirm delivery without the added expense of tracking.

If eBay cannot support small businesses like mine, you leave me no choice but to abandon your platform. Your policy does not reflect a marketplace that values its sellers, and it risks driving countless small businesses away.

I look forward to a prompt response and a resolution to this issue. I trust that a senior manager will address my concerns with the seriousness they deserve.

Sincerely

---

You are, by your own admission a SMALL BUSINESS

So you are illegally trading on a private seller account

You must register as a business seller to trade legally

The new fees do not apply to Business sellers!

---

Everyone's allowed to have a 'business' that makes £1000 (if you're just refering to it as that). It's called trading allowance, you don't need to upgrade to a business account.

[stimpson_jc]

---

@bonniekelsie123 wrote:

When you send second class you still get a tracking number which should be marked as delivered. There is no tracking through the system though. This works most of the time. When it is not updated as delivered, then It is going to be very difficult now unless the buyer informs eBay it is delivered or leaves feedback.

---

I remember when Royal Mail started putting QR codes on stamps they said you could track your letter with an app and it'll now stop people reusing unfranked stamps. Now it all seems to be nonsense because I've heard some people reuse the new stamps.

Also if something's lost in the post it should prove RM lost it and it's not the fault of the seller so things should actually be going in the opposite direction where the seller is not penalised, and instead completely covered as all the delivery companies now provide a QR or code.