4 ms·

I thought you were inflating numbers to make a point here. Now, I'm shocked -- I just did a fee calculation for a $500 sale with $15 shipping cost: eBay fee: $

I thought you were inflating numbers to make a point here. Now, I'm shocked -- I just did a fee calculation for a $500 sale with $15 shipping cost: eBay fee: $51.5 PayPal fee: $15.24 Total: $66.74 That is too much IMO. I don't sell anything on eBay, but I didn't know it was that high.

Nursie 9y ago
Yeah I was shocked the first time. And the second. I try not to use it but for technology stuff it's about the only game in town. For more household-type items I prefer gumtree.
- jazoom 9y ago
  Which, unfortunately, is owned by eBay.
  - Nursie 9y ago
    It is, but crucially I can list stuff for free, and get the cash in person - they get nothing from me :)
astura 9y ago
PayPal fees are 2.9% plus $.30 which is industry standard for accepting a credit card, exactly the same as Stripe. eBay takes 10% of the sale price, which is what is too high. You have to pay eBay fees on shipping now too because for years people would list their products as "$.50 with $30 shipping" to skirt eBay fees. To really understand how it got this way, you have to understand the history of eBay. eBay started out as basically, similar to Craigslist, you'd post auction items and once the auction was won, everything was done off eBay. You'd email (actual email!) your shipping address and inquiries. Payment was arranged privately between buyer and seller, usually done in physical money orders or personal checks sent through snail mail. You could do wire transfer, I guess, but I always paid with money orders. Sometimes for items under $10 I'd even send cash. PayPal came along and filled that niche of people who wanted to pay by card and accept credit card. PayPal was just another method of payment that sellers could choose to accept. Eventually eBay became a "platform," more like a store, where you'd handle all payments/customer service through eBay. eBay then bought PayPal and made PayPal the only accepted method of payment. Recently PayPal was spun off again as it's own company.
oldcynic 9y ago
They only got so high when Paypal was required as the default to sell on eBay. Before that fees were lower - half or even less. Add in the succession of anti-seller changes and eBay has become a rather toxic place for sellers. eg Refunds given to buyers who claim they were sent an empty box or broken item resulting in seller being out fees and the item. Even with proof of sending, delivery and weight. Or the pay via Paypal, collect item, scam. Many cases in the media over the last year or two. Little wonder there's not the activity of a few years ago.

Nursie 9y ago

Yeah I was shocked the first time. And the second. I try not to use it but for technology stuff it's about the only game in town. For more household-type items I prefer gumtree.

jazoom 9y ago
Which, unfortunately, is owned by eBay.
- Nursie 9y ago
  It is, but crucially I can list stuff for free, and get the cash in person - they get nothing from me :)

astura 9y ago

PayPal fees are 2.9% plus $.30 which is industry standard for accepting a credit card, exactly the same as Stripe. eBay takes 10% of the sale price, which is what is too high. You have to pay eBay fees on shipping now too because for years people would list their products as "$.50 with $30 shipping" to skirt eBay fees. To really understand how it got this way, you have to understand the history of eBay. eBay started out as basically, similar to Craigslist, you'd post auction items and once the auction was won, everything was done off eBay. You'd email (actual email!) your shipping address and inquiries. Payment was arranged privately between buyer and seller, usually done in physical money orders or personal checks sent through snail mail. You could do wire transfer, I guess, but I always paid with money orders. Sometimes for items under $10 I'd even send cash. PayPal came along and filled that niche of people who wanted to pay by card and accept credit card. PayPal was just another method of payment that sellers could choose to accept. Eventually eBay became a "platform," more like a store, where you'd handle all payments/customer service through eBay. eBay then bought PayPal and made PayPal the only accepted method of payment. Recently PayPal was spun off again as it's own company.

oldcynic 9y ago

They only got so high when Paypal was required as the default to sell on eBay. Before that fees were lower - half or even less. Add in the succession of anti-seller changes and eBay has become a rather toxic place for sellers. eg Refunds given to buyers who claim they were sent an empty box or broken item resulting in seller being out fees and the item. Even with proof of sending, delivery and weight. Or the pay via Paypal, collect item, scam. Many cases in the media over the last year or two. Little wonder there's not the activity of a few years ago.