Can someone explain how eBay fees work?

AmazingGracePlayer · #1 08-19-2008, 06:21 PM

Since mid May, I've sold about, give or take, $500-$600 worth of stuff on eBay. Ranging from PSP bundles, iPods, to Louis Vuitton bags and Ralph Lauren polos. The outrageous thing is I was charged about a total of $100 in fees. (about 25-35 dollars per month). I really do not want to use eBay anymore... Can anyone explain what fees eBay charges other than listing fees?

bongomania · #2 08-19-2008, 06:25 PM

They take a percentage of your selling price; they charge you for any extra features such as bold titles or fancy picture displays; and Paypal takes another 3.5% or so. I round it off and generally assume I'm paying them about 10% of whatever I get as a top bid.

i_got_a_mohawk · #3 08-19-2008, 06:27 PM

Never try and sell something at a real auction if you think that is bad.

AmazingGracePlayer · #4 08-19-2008, 06:35 PM

I thought Paypal didn't charge fees when it's an eBay auction? I knew that Paypal charged when you just go to Paypal and transfer to an email address.

tplyons · #5 08-19-2008, 06:36 PM

Wrong.

You have three fees.

Listing fees, based on your starting bid, and other features.
Final value fees, percentage based on your closing bid.
Paypal fees, if Paypal is used, $0.30 + 2.9% of your transaction.

It gets pretty expensive, this is why I no longer use eBay for most things, unless I can't move them anywhere else.

AmazingGracePlayer · #6 08-19-2008, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

Final value fees, percentage based on your closing bid.

What is this percentage? 15% or so?

SteveC · #7 08-19-2008, 06:42 PM

I don't use eBay and I try not to use PayPal unless I have to. If you can wait a couple days, the PayPal check thing is cheaper.

tplyons · #8 08-19-2008, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmazingGracePlayer

What is this percentage? 15% or so?

8.75% of the initial $25.00, plus 3.50% of the initial $25.00 - $1,000.00 plus 1.50% of the remaining closing value balance ($1,000.01 - closing value)

Info on all the eBay fees is here: http://pages.ebay.com/sell/update08/basic/index.html

AmazingGracePlayer · #9 08-19-2008, 06:49 PM

But the numbers just don't add up... It always seems that the monthly charge is way more than all the numbers added together....

RWP · #10 08-19-2008, 06:52 PM

Ebay is expensive but IMHO it's worth it. However, $100 in charges on $600 worth of sales sounds way to high. I would check over the charges, maybe they made a mistake.

tplyons · #11 08-19-2008, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmazingGracePlayer

But the numbers just don't add up... It always seems that the monthly charge is way more than all the numbers added together....

Do the math, I'm pretty sure that it's right, between the listing fees (additional $0.15 per photo beyond the first one, $0.50 for subtitles, $1.00 for bold, $0.40 for 10 day auctions, etc.) and double your fees if it's listed in two categories, and the final value fees can really add up quick.

I think eBay would have lawsuits if they were cheating this many customers.

tplyons · #12 08-19-2008, 06:55 PM

And reserve fees are $2.00 or 1% of the reserve price.

Features add up quick, man.

AmazingGracePlayer · #13 08-19-2008, 06:58 PM

I know the tricky listing fees, that's why I always start my auctions at 99 cents with no reserve and no buy it now price, so the starting fee can be as low as possible. Also, I don't add extra pictures, I just upload the pictures onto photobucket or imageshack and link it under item description. I also don't use those subtitles, bold, highlights or stuff. So most of the fee must have come from the end price and Paypal fees.

tplyons · #14 08-19-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmazingGracePlayer

I know the tricky listing fees, that's why I always start my auctions at 99 cents with no reserve and no buy it now price, so the starting fee can be as low as possible. Also, I don't add extra pictures, I just upload the pictures onto photobucket or imageshack and link it under item description. I also don't use those subtitles, bold, highlights or stuff. So most of the fee must have come from the end price and Paypal fees.

All I can tell you then is to bust out the calculator and double check EVERYTHING.

I was amazed how quickly fees added up too, but they were never wrong.

Chunk-O-Funk · #15 08-19-2008, 07:12 PM

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/fees.html

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/we...y-fees-outside

selfblessed · #16 08-20-2008, 01:03 AM

Yeah ebay is the final resting place for most of my get rid of items too.
The only other alternatives seem to be TB classifieds and craigslist.
But craigslist is full of scam artist sending bogus emails, flakes, and people who waste your time by low balling the crap out of you. But there are also lovely people like the young woman who purchased a midi controller off of me and gave me an extra 5 bucks. Even after I offered to break one of the twenties and give back the 5 dollars. She said it was all good.