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 can easily cover the postage without any problem and any refunds etc because this isn't my job. I have other income.

eBay was a declutter of my own (and family) unwanted things at first (and still is for some items) then I ran an experiment with a couple of boxes of wholesale DVD's to see if it was a viable (high volume, low margin) sales venture.

If it was I'd switch to a business account and carry on but it isn't so I won't be continuing with that although I've made a small profit and covered my costs but that's not my point. 

At this point, I could pull all of my listings offline, donate them and walk away having made a little profit on volumes already sold and be happy so this really isn't about me. 

My point is that some items have such a low profit margin per item already with private sellers or even smaller business sellers competing with the big names who are taking a loss on many items by pricing below actual postage cost. Do people actually know how much 2nd class post or tracked48 costs?

I make a small profit on the item I sell overall but absorbing the new fees to make a sale would remove that

Adding extra fees will only send buyers to the larger sellers unless the smaller ones absorb the prices which isn't always feasible.

The issue with delayed payment is say person A desperately needs money for X reason. They sell an item they own. They still have to find the postage cost and hope RM or whatever shady courier they use doesn't lose, destroy or mis-deliver the item

[dala8593]

I’ve also complained to eBay over the new changes, I have old stsmps and other small things not worth sending tracked when I put this question to the eBay I’m told I’ll have to wait over 14 days for payment 

on bigger value stuff I prefer to send my way and not be forced into using their post system 

not happy at all and have scrapped most of my listings 

Dave 

[papso22]

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@stimpson_jc wrote:

of course a private seller can have 232 items -they're allowed to have as many as ebay let them

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That was not the point I was making.

[japroc-34]

Personally I don't mind extra fees as I do not sell often and it's not my job or anything (and they are smaller than old seller fees), but that "money after confirmed delivery" or 14 days is BS (just like "high value transactions" being held for 30 days)

[trevdbowler]

It's been super since mid-Oct being able to sell on Ebay with absolutely no seller fees at all (as a private seller).  I've been very busy. I've mastered the art of  'variation' listings. Some have done well. 

I was convinced this honeymoon period would be short-lived, and so it appears. 
Just been reading about 'Buyer protection', which is all about extra fees being charge to the buyer - 4% of the payment PLUS 75p per 'item' , which I assume means each listed item and not total payment.  I guess the 4% will also apply to the postage element .   This is a killer.

So... if we want to sell something for £2, buyer pays £3.25 so they won't buy it - wicked.  And if we mail without tracking (as we do for all small items), if no feedback received then we may not get paid at all.
How will Ebay know item has been received ?    I think I read that if seller will be paid after 14 days of the sale.     

[game_raid]

From the help page.

Why does it take 14 days to receive funds for untracked items?

We've learned through historical data that most packages are delivered within this timeframe, so it allows enough time for the buyer to receive their item.

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

[trevdbowler]

Me too.  2nd class post, no tracking, most buyers are honest, but less than 50% leave feedback.  I think Ebay pay sellers 14 days after payment ?  Or is that only for tracked ?     Pushing us to become business sellers.  

[msmollycampbell]

Another point I just realised and remembered is I am part of the global shipping program and this new system of getting our money will make it even longer ,I think I need to deactivate this and should imagine everyone shipping abroad will be deactivating this also. I don't sell much with this program but it's not worth it now.

[game_raid]

eBay needs sellers to ship quicker, this is what buyers want, they don't want to buy, wait 3 days handling time and then another 3-4 days for delivery it affects conversions on the site, some may not agree but it's a reality this is also another reason they are bringing in sellers need to use tracked delivery to get paid quicker to increase shipping speeds, a seller will be forced to act if they want to get paid instead of making a buyer wait because they can't be bothered to go the post office, I think we have all experienced a lazy seller who just can't be bothered to send your item out in a timely manner.

Of course this is not viable for any seller to send tracked on a £1-2 item so sellers will have to wait 14 days to be paid on these low value sales sadly.

[har_234653]

This is their typical devious rhetoric speak.

What this essentially means is that the seller will end up paying the fees.
Why?

Well because the market exists beyond the ebay platform, therefore all items sellers on ebay list will become 4% +75p more expensive than elsewhere.
If you wish to sell to an ebay buyer, then you must lower your selling price retrospectively.

See how it works. You the seller then are effectively covering the ebay 'buyer' fee with your loss.

Open your eyes people. Time to leave. If all sellers united and left, where would they be...

[game_raid]

You will be paid once the item has been delivered to the GSP centre, it has technically been delivered as you shipped to the address on the order page.

[fireofthephoenix]

I agree on that. I've never had a dishonest buyer and RM do show delivered for 'most' 2C items but I am missing quite a bit of feedback because people tend to forget or leave feedback months later which typically doesn't bother me if it's not linked to payments

I treat every listing and customer as I would in a business because of my background. Good descriptions, photos, high standard of packaging, reply to messages, offer discounts where possible and give postage refunds if international is cheaper than i expected.

I have even accepted cancellations if I have not already purchased postage even though I'm not obliged to

I think a fee on sellers with poor feedback or customer service would protect buyers more because it would force bad sellers to clean up their customer service but this seems like a cash grap

[papso22]

What I am getting from this thread is that private accounts did not reduce their prices when ebay removed selling fees for them.  Instead they pocketed the 'fee element'.

Had they reduced their prices, these new  buyer fees would not have the impact that is being complained about as prices would not need to go up so much.  Buyers would be paying much the same as they were when private accounts paid selling fees.

[jckl1957]

You won't be forced into using Simple Delivery. Follow the link and read the FAQs.  You will be able to opt out when you create your listings.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sellercentre/postage/simple-delivery

[vintique*violet]

Buyer Protection Fee is just another selling fee in disguise... (imo) 

eBay quids in, whatever way you look at it... 

Read between the words they use... it is to confuse and divide the honest " accounts"... whilst they continue to allow BUSINESESS masquerading in the PRIVATE to make hay!  

Remember nothing is ever free particularly in the corporate world. 

[fireofthephoenix]

Postage speed is important. I say 3 days to cover myself in case anything goes wrong but I do post out next working day. If an order comes through before 11 PM or just after, it usually goes to my RM account in time for me to buy postage and arrange a next working day collection.

I don't mess around with the eBay postage system when I already know the RM system very well and can go straight to source. Plus they bring the labels.

This is true regardless of the postage method. Tracked48 for small packet or above and 2C for large letter because at small packet or above, tracked is only a few pennies more but at large letter, it is about £1 which isn't feasible on cheaper items

[burniebanter]

Is there an email address to register a complaint?

[johnbradburn]

I am very sure Ebay can tell from the many - many comments today that the majority are more than upset with these backdoor fees .

[fireofthephoenix]

I did reduce my prices to reflect the saving. DVD's dropped by £1 overnight.  For the first time, I was able to more-or-less match large sellers and still make a small profit instead of missing out on sales because I wasn't selling at a loss

With fees, you cannot compete against loss-leaders

[vintique*violet]

You won't be forced into using Simple Delivery. Follow the link and read the FAQs.  You will be able to opt out when you create your listings.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sellercentre/postage/simple-delivery

" For Now?"