ALL CHANGE
Huge change to eBay fees starts TODAY for millions of users
The online marketplace is looking to step up protections for shoppers
MILLIONS of online sellers and buyers will see a huge change from today as eBay introduces new fees.
The change will see eBay add an additional charge to the price of all UK purchases from private sellers.
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The change is part of eBay's push to add additional buyer protection measures and it means both buyers and sellers will see differences from today.
As the new measures are introduced the burden of paying for them will shift from sellers to shoppers.
This means anyone purchasing an item from a private seller will be charged a fee of 75p, plus up to 4% of the item price.
So, if an item had been sold for £10, an additional £1.15 would be added to the price.
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Items priced at more than £300 will be subject to a lower percentage fee and there will be a cap on the total amount charged.
While shoppers won't be thrilled to be facing an extra fee on purchases there are benefits.
And, they've been reassured they don't need to worry about a nasty surprise at the checkout as the additional fee will be added to prices at the point they're listed.
The online marketplace has said its new protection measures will give buyers more "confidence and security", when making purchases.
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It will cover the expense of handling disputes between buyers and sellers and to aid in this will add a 24/7 customer support service to its website.
As well as this buyers will continue to be able to claim back money paid for items that do not arrive, are damaged or faulty, or do not match the given description through its Money Back Guarantee.
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Shoppers can also request that an eBay expert verify the authenticity of an item for free and carry out a multi-point inspection at no extra cost.
Purchases from businesses made on eBay will also be subject to these protections, but at no extra cost.
The change brings eBay in line with rivals included Vinted and Depop.
Vinted introduced a buyer protection fee in 2016, coinciding with the removal of seller fees, while Depop introduced a buyer fee of up to 5% of the purchase price, plus a fixed amount of up to £1 per item last year.
For sellers the change means payments for items will not be released until after delivery.
EBay has said funds will now arrive in accounts two days after the item is received.
The news comes after eBay removed “regulatory operating fees” for private UK sellers last October, just six months after introducing them.
When first announced the benefits of the change were questioned.
Helen Dewdney, consumer expert at The Complaining Cow, said in introducing the fees eBay would lose the one thing that set it apart from rivals.
She said: "Buyers not paying fees was the one thing that made eBay better than Vinted for buyers, so this may not reap the rewards eBay is hoping for in the long term."
Meanwhile, a disgruntled user said: "These changes are rubbish for everyone. Surely they will impact sales adversely."
Another commented: "Is It just me or will eBay's new buyers' protection fee from the 4th Feb make it near impossible to sell competitively."
What other changes is eBay making?
EBay has also announced that sellers will also be required to organise their postage through the website from some point in 2025.
The change, expected to be brought in by the end of April, will require the use of eBay’s “simple delivery managed shipping” system.
This means sellers must confirm a parcel size and eBay will arrange the shipping at what it calls "competitive rates".
The system is currently available for pre-owned clothing listings for private sellers in the UK.
But it is understood eBay is expanding this across all listings and will soon make its use compulsory.
This change will also meet the marketplace's aim of increasing protections as sellers are fully covered for any loss or damage to their items during transit under managed shipping.
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This year has also seen online marketplace sellers see a big change in tax requirements.
but, despite the changes many are continuing to offset the cost-of-living crisis through their marketplace side hustles.
Top tips for selling on eBay
NEW to eBay? It's head of secondhand, Emma Grant, reveals how to optimise your listings:
- Use key words - eBay automatically filters listing titles for key words, so it's crucial to use the terminology people search for - especially brand and product names.
- Choose the right category for your product - It might sound obvious but it’s important to always choose the most specific category to sell in.
- Pictures are important - Most users will not bid on items they cannot see. For best results, take photos in natural light against a neutral background and be honest about any scratches or damage to the item.
- Be as detailed as possible - Be honest about the condition of the product and be sure to note any wear and tear.
- Look at past sold items- eBay has a function that allows you to search for the item you want to sell and then filter the results by sold items. Here, you can view the price the item has sold for and get insight into how others have listed it.
- Selling Sundays - Get the timing right. The busiest time for buyers is Sunday evenings, so schedule your listings to end around that time. Opt for seven-day auctions to ensure the max number of bids. The longer your item is listed, the more chance of people seeing it, so unless it's time-sensitive, pick seven days. December is the busiest month on eBay.
- Be realistic with pricing - Try searching for similar items on eBay, to make sure you’re going for the right price and always ask yourself "would I pay this price for this item?"
- Donate to charity - When listing your item, consider donating a percentage of the sale to a cause of your choice – from 10% to 100% - you can donate the funds raised from your item straight from the platform.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Plus, you can join our Facebook group to share your tips and stories
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