eBay

leighbayuk · ‎26-05-2025

I've noticed that when you first create a new private seller Buy It Now listing, the price is initially shown with no added BPF. Then after a couple of minutes the price jumps up by 20% (VAT added?). Then after a couple more minutes it settles back to the original price + BPF.

So for example an item with a price of £40, will initially be listed at £40, then increase to £48, then finally settle at £42.32. I have seen this on several occasions. That is some janky website coding.

sml192 · ‎26-05-2025

Yes, it does seem to take a few minutes for the BPF to be applied which does include VAT. No idea why you are initially seeing VAT added to the item price though.

jjambadger27 · ‎27-05-2025

The coding of the eBay website is atrocious, considering the many "anomalies" of it.

leighbayuk · ‎28-05-2025

@sml192 wrote:
Yes, it does seem to take a few minutes for the BPF to be applied which does include VAT. No idea why you are initially seeing VAT added to the item price though.

The sequence is weird, but I've witnessed it multiple times by refreshing the listing during the first few minutes. First no fees, then the whole price jumps up buy 20%, then it settles on the expected price with BPF.

The cynic in me wonders if this is some sort of manipulation of search or ads. I also frequently see promoted items on both eBay and Google ads without the BPF. This is then added and shown after you click the ad. Also non UK items shown in GBP and appearing cheaper, even though they don't include shipping because they do not ship to the UK.

eBay seem to have confused themselves and no longer know what the price should be.