SELLERS using eBay in the UK will be hit with another fee in April, The Sun has learned.
The second-hand shopping website will start charging sellers a “regulatory operating fee” of 0.35% of their total sale amount, including postage, from April 8 this year.
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The platform’s latest levy will take the total amount sellers have to pay in fees to more than 13% of their earnings, plus a fixed 30p charge.
The site is introducing the fee “to address the rising costs associated with the increasing number and complexity of regulations” impacting its marketplace, it said in an email to sellers, seen by The Sun.
This includes new consumer and environmental protection regulations, as well as increased taxes and new customs measures, it explained.
The latest fee will affect anyone listing items on eBay in the UK as well as in Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Switzerland.
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It is understood the fee will be levied on the total amount of the sale, which includes the item price, postage costs, as well as any taxes and additional fees, and it will be subject to VAT – making the final charge slightly higher.
So, according to an example given by eBay, if you sell an item for £15 plus £5 shipping, you’ll be charged 0.35% on the whole £20, with 0.07% VAT added, taking the final charge to 0.42%.
This would mean a seller would now pay £2.65 in fees on a sale of £20 including postage, plus a 30p charge.
If the postage was £5, this means the seller would actually only earn £12.05 from a £20 sale.
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There is currently expected to be no cap on the new regulatory fee.
Reacting to the latest fee, one seller said: “It’s hardly worth selling on eBay anymore; people only want to pay a pittance, the fees are up and there are loads of scammers out there.”
Another told The Sun: “eBay used to be about selling things really cheaply, it was supposed to be fun listing an item for 25p and watching people bid.
“Unfortunately it’s literally impossible to do that now as the fees alone are so high. It’s kind of defeated the point of the platform.”
“This is just an excuse to rip us off because they know we’re desperate,” a third seller said.
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A spokesperson for eBay said: “We are introducing a new regulatory operating fee to address the rising costs associated with the increasing number of national and regional regulations.
“These costs can range from fees in the case of environmental obligations in various jurisdictions, through to hiring teams of specialists with the right knowledge and skills to help our marketplace be compliant with the increased scope of regulations.”
What other charges do eBay sellers have to pay?
It’s free to list up to 1,000 items on eBay each month, after which you have to pay a 35p charge per listing. However, sellers now have to pay a raft of fees if their item sells.
When the platform first launched in 1995, there were no seller fees at all.
After a couple of years, it began charging a small one-off fee, before it introduced a “final value fee” of 0.5% of the sale price in 1999.
Over time, the fees have gradually crept up and started eating into sellers’ earnings, as the cost of operating has increased with new regulations being introduced.
Fast-forward to 2024 and the platform now charges sellers a final value fee of 12.8% on the total sale price, which includes postage costs, plus a fixed 30p charge per item sold.
The final sale fee is reduced to 3% for earnings on a single item over £5,000.
Ebay’s new regulatory fee will take its basic seller charges to 13.15% plus 30p.
Depop is similarly expensive, charging a 10% fee on the total transaction amount, including shipping costs, plus a “standard transaction fee” of 2.9% plus 30p.
This means on a £20 sale including £5 postage costs you would take home £12.12.
Vinted, on the other hand, doesn’t charge users anything to list or sell their items, making it essentially free for sellers.
Instead, it charges buyers a “Buyer Protection fee” of 3-7% plus 30p-80p.
If you’re reselling items online, remember that you’ll need to file a tax return if you make £1,000 or more a year in sales.
What can I do if I have a dispute on eBay?
If you have an issue with a buyer or seller on eBay, raise a dispute through the platform.
It’s a good idea to keep a record of any conversations you have with the other party as you can use it as evidence during the dispute.
Also keep a record of when you posted or received the item and the condition the item was in at the time.
If you’re a seller, take a photo of the postage receipt to prove the item was shipped on a certain date and keep note of the tracking information.
Make sure your item description is always 100% accurate, too. If in doubt, it’s better to say an item is in “good” rather than “excellent” condition.
If you’ve bought something that doesn’t arrive as described, keep a record of the original description and take photos of how the item looks now.
It’s best to take photos as soon as possible so you can’t be accused of damaging the item yourself.
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You can escalate a case to eBay’s customer support if you’re not happy with the outcome of a dispute.
Contact Citizens Advice if you’re struggling to get anywhere as they may be able to help you figure out your rights.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.
