Final Selling Fees on eBay Is Way Too Much

Hi All,

I have just sold few things ( Old XB1 games + Old XB1 Console) on ebay through Auction. I didn't get that much price i would like to have it but that's the part of process (Auction style)
But once all sold and payments done , the final payment from Ebay was 13% less which includes all ebay listing/selling/paypal fees.

if that is right, i am done with ebay then. I will not sell anything on it. might buy something occasionally.

is it correct or something wrong with calculation on ebay side ? Have you guys faced similar situation with ebay?

Should i contact ebay or suck it up and learnt the lesson on selling things on ebay. Should have used Gumtree ?

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Comments

  • +46

    Thats ebay for you, use scumtree

    • +10

      But that is full of Scums hanging on the Branches of Tree.

      • +38

        No, 99% of people in gumtree are legit. The ones who get shafted and then proceed to tell anyone who will listen that it is full of thieves and robbers are the ones who think that meeting in a dark alley for top doller seems like a good idea.

        dont be greedy, and dont be gullible, and you will have no problems as a buyer or seller on gumtree

        • +5

          So far in my experience the sellers were the ones who were greedy. Offering 3000 for a car advertised for 7500 for example.
          Or wanting to still haggle on a brand new being sold for less than %30 of new price. I do call that greedy and trying to rip the other party off.
          There is a limit, and often Gumtree people cross a line in my opinion and experience.
          But this is MY personal opinion and experience. Others are certain to have made different experiences.

        • +1

          @Lysander: yes plenty of lowballers have a crack and it can be annoying but you dont have to respond. Typ ein text body "firm price, cash only" and you get rid of most

        • @pointless comment:

          I have but they are persistent.

        • +10

          @Lysander: well im out of ideas…maybe type "lowballers will be humored, then punished"

        • +1

          @pointless comment:

          I am now asking them if they are on drugs and whether I should call for help. So far that worked. And I tell them that their behaviour is very "un-Australian".

        • +3

          @Lysander:
          Sounds like you need to be more firm.
          As pointless said just dont reply… People are always going to lowball and you need to understand you dont need to get the last word in… Just let it go

        • +1

          True to an extent. Selling fast moving items like phones, apple products and other electronics is a exercise in frustration dealing with fake interests and no shows even with meeting time set.

        • +1

          @Lysander:

          Quite often sellers overprice their items though, sometimes wanting more than the cost of new for second hand items.

          As for offerring 30% off brand new, it can be fair in some circumstances. It is a second hand item, just in as new condition. But you generally lose the benefits that come with buying new, including warranty and the ability to return if needed.

        • +9

          @Lysander: Don't you mean the buyers are greedy?

        • @ronnknee:

          Yes, they are. Wanting to buy something for nothing and then selling it for huge profit. What happened to fairness?
          I am all for making profit but is 30% not enough? Does it have to be 70%-80% or even more?
          This attitude is going to harm the economy medium to long term in my opinion.

          Most things I rather give to charity or throw them away instead of giving them cheap to scumballs like that.

        • @AlanHB:

          I humbly disagree. I think there is a limit. Often you can still get warranty for item anyway as it attaches to item, not buyer, and can be identified through serial number.
          Also, for some items, like a hammer for example, warranty is really irrelevant.
          And after all, the reason one is getting a price reduction is precisely because of the reasons you mentioned above. It just has to be reasonable.

          I get the feeling that for some people their attitude is to get the item for free and get paid $500 to take it away. That would be their preferred choice. And most of those people would not even feel guilty about it.

          Even if you give things away free, the same people contact you. They gather everything up from ebay to sell it on or sell it in their shops.
          When you stipulate that the person taking it needs to sign a statement that it cannot be sold on for one year, the number of people wanting those freebies drops off significantly.
          Hence for freebies I use other sites now, not so populated by these low-life people.

        • +1

          @Lysander:

          What's wrong with them reselling your item? If you really want to get rid of it… do you really care whether they profit from you, or whether it just gets dumped somewhere else? It's not like you're a charity giving out things to the poor, if you sell your item too cheaply then of course some people may jump on it and profit from you..

        • @PhilipJWitow:

          It's a matter or principle. If I give things away that could otherwise be sold I want them to go to the needy, the people who actually need that item rather than to a person who gathers up all freebies to make a profit. I do dislike greed I am afraid to say. Things have to be fair.

        • @Lysander:

          Be more persistant

        • @Lysander: Exactly, I am with you 100%. So sadly mate we live in such a imperfect world where as long as you have done things right and find peace with what you do, you would need to let the rest in Gods hands.

        • @Lysander: Ye the moral is you are not supposed to turn a huge profit on the swap sites where they are more intended for ..say neighbours. But greed creeps on minds.

        • @melfes:

          Thanks for your support. I just give it to charity so something must be paid for the items, even by the creeps. And the charity rofits.

        • +16

          I wouldn't waste my time on gumtree. There are more bottom-feeders than decent people on there, both from a seller and buyer angle. My last experience was a person who drove 15km to buy my son's bike that I had advertised for $15, which was a great deal as it was in good condition. This person checked out the bike with the same scrutiny that someone would check out a used car.

          So after he's finished doing his 300 point inspection, he says to me that he can only offer me $10 because it doesn't have training wheels. I said they rusted and I removed them, and that the bike was not advertised with training wheels as clearly depicted in the photos. He stood firm, and at that point I decided was going to punish him for being such a scumbag. So I said to him "what good is a bike for $10 that your son can't ride without training wheels?" He then decides to leave, and shamelessly walks back to the house after already getting in his car and offers me $15, saying that he promised his son he would bring home a bike.

          I refused to sell it to him and gave it to the next in line, as I was selling so cheap that I had plenty of interest. I would much rather sell something cheap and quick to someone who is in need, however this person sought to take advantage of that generosity.This is very typical behaviour of most people I've dealt with on scumtree.

        • @Lysander: > Yes, they are. Wanting to buy something for nothing and then selling it for huge profit. What happened to fairness?
          I am all for making profit but is 30% not enough? Does it have to be 70%-80% or even more?

          Now don't you mean the sellers are greedy?

          Why do you say buyers are greedy and then give examples of how sellers are greedy, and then vice versa lol?

        • +3

          @lemmstar: hot tip - always reiterate, and therefore inherently agrree upon, the price before they arrive - that way neither party is disappointed and youll avoid situations like this one. If listed as negotiable, knock $5 off before you arrange to meet. as the one who posted the ad inthe first place, it is up to the seller to screen and weed out undesirable buyers.

          Only you can be held accountable for whoever turns up - not gumtree, the state of society or the universe itself. You.

          Heres a few more points: only give out your address after youve reiterated /agreed upon price. That way they wont turn up after the obligatory "is it still available?" SMS. It also gives you a chance to tell the dude who SMS'd you at 3am "f&@ken ay bro iz duh ipad/iphone/kids bike stil avaylubill? I want it an sh&t, yo" that the item is already gone, when it is indeed not, and ensures that they wont rock up without invitation.

          After reiterating the price and ascertaining that they are likely to be semi decent human beings through the previous dialogue, then tell the buyer to SMS you when they arrive so you can lock up your dogs. Now, you may not have dogs, but this simple act will ensure images of a duo of armoured rottwielers with mounted lasers patrolling your property 24/7 are conjured up - another safeguard against criminal masterminds who may want to steal your ipad/iphone/$15 kids bike etc

        • +1

          @lemmstar: That's pretty low of him. Good on ya for standing firm. Personally, I would hate to have an argument with someone outside my house over a few dollars. Not worth the conflict. There's a lot of scum bags out there that I would prefer not to know where I live.

        • @lemmstar:

          I agree. Exactly what I would have done in that situation and what I am doing now. They don't want. It goes to charity but I won't sell it to them.

        • -2

          @ronnknee:

          Buyers are greedy as they are lowballing. That buyer then turns into a seller who is greedy. It is the same person who is greedy, just in a different capacity.

        • @lemmstar:

          I had a similar issue with some shelving. Worth $200 new, selling for $50. The guy comes and say's oh they're smaller than I thought (I gave measurements) and offers $40. I figured if he has that little self respect he can just take them.

          I did sell the ladder racks from my ute within 2 hours of listing and for a good price.

          It's also been good to avoid tip runs, I listed old furniture for free a few times etc. All the times I list items for free, people expect me to hold them for them when they can't get there for days and act as though they've 'called dibs' lol.

        • @Lysander: I understand. As a buyer I quite like Gumtree, if I get a reasonable price. I understand that some people may be different however.

        • +9

          My fav was the offer I got for my bike I had advertised for $7500 ( was happy to take $6500).

          Him: Hey mate how about 2K for the bike
          Me: No
          Him: Hahaha ok mate whats your best price
          Me: $6500
          Him: I can go to $3500 mate
          Didn't bother replying
          Next day I get a message from him again

          Him: I can do $6000 and collect today.

          I really wanted $6500, but for a quick sale I said yes

          We meet:

          Him: Hey mate I know I said $6k, but I could only get together $3000. I figured we could make a deal today to get some cash in your hands quick hey??

          I just rode off. Idiots.

        • @Spotty82:

          That's exactly the experience I am having right now. Exactly that. So sick of it. Except mine is with a ute.

        • @Spotty82: this just proves you can do everything right, but that is still doesn't matter in some cases. Unlike me, you actually confirmed the price prior to meeting and it should never have went down this way.

          I always thought of most serious bike riders who spend upwards of thousands on a unit to be fairly well educated and generally well to do. This is the type of behaviour you usually see from someone buying an old commodore or beat up rexy / skyline.

        • +2

          @Spotty82:
          LOL had a similar one with someone buying my old phone last time for $300

          After haggling, we agreed to meet to sell.

          Him: Hey how about if you exchange the phone for mine instead?

          After a no-no, he agreed and said he needed to go to ATM to get the money. I went with him.

          Then he handed me $250 cash, put them in my hand
          Him (with a big smile): "Come on, make it $250, okay? I had to drive all the way to the city, caught in traffic jam, etc"

          :| crook. I did stay firm and got annoyed - mostly not because of the bargain, but at his integrity. I got a bit angry and told him a firm No, to get more cash in the ATM coz we agreed on it or we cancel the whole thing.

          So he went back to ATM and gave me the rest of the cash. Crook

        • @Spotty82: lol. As you rode away did you give him the old one finger salute?

        • +2

          Since we're on Gumtree stories my worse one was when I was 17 and incredibly naive. Selling my Guitar Hero game with guitar. Advertised for $100.

          Lady rocks up, I show her it works and she pays me the $100 and trusting her I popped it in my pocket. Little did I know she gave me a printed $50 wrapped in a genuine $50 note. Run to the door and she is gone.

          As I had her number I called and told her she gave me a fake note, and she kept going on about how it came out of a ATM and it wasn't her fault. Her husband even had the gall to say I was mistaken and it was probably one of those old school notes. Scum refused to come back and do the right thing.

          Suffice to say after that experience I've always been super wary of fake notes.

        • @lemmstar:Mate. What you were dealing with was a true ozbarginer!
          1. Scrutises every deal
          2. Wants best price regardless whether item is $10 or $1000
          3. Tries to get price down further by using coupons etc to buy something that they already know is the lowest price out there.
          4. Finally but not least, buying it because its cheap and not because they need the item. (Eneloops etc).
          Have i got a point?

        • @lunar_wolf:

          Police. Plain and simple. The $50 would have bought them some free time away from home.

        • @love2buy:

          No, you don't.

          In my opinion, true bargain hunters want the best price but are not greedy and want to rip fellow human beings off,especially when then price is already very good.

          The people who still try to haggle and try to rip people off are not bargain hunters but greedscum.

          Your choice who you want to be.

          What lemmstar was dealing with was greedscum.

          The steps you described are those of a bargain hunter.

        • @knk:

          I am about to list something for free. I bet what you describe will happen within a hour of listing again.

        • +2

          @Lysander:

          That was actually my thought as well. I went to the police with my fake $50 note, naivety still in check.

          The police actually scoffed at it only being $50, and I got the feeling they thought I was wasting their time. Got a police report written up and passed on the lady's details. Left with the promise of a call, which I did not actually receive. Too busy dealing with 'real' crime maybe?

          The whole incident left me pretty deflated at the time, but believe I'm better for it in the long run.

      • +3

        … That was just terrible.

  • Yep I never use feebly absolute rip off for selling.

  • Here's a radical idea for you: don't sell on feebay.

  • +4

    find a facebook buy and sell page specific to your items

    • -2

      I don't have Facebook

      • +57

        Nobody cares

      • Why not?

      • +4

        What's Facebook?

        • a place that if you are not careful, people might steal your identity

        • @edgar28: facebook? what are you guys talking about? I know google +

    • I subscribed to a page,and this guy would post an ad for his used dvd collection constantly every day. I told him to lower the price as he wasn't getting any offers. Next thing I know i'm being verbally abused bogan style by a girl and another guy who i assume were his friends.

      At that point i blocked them and realised it's kind of creepy to respond in a local suburb buy n swap page with my full name visible.

      • +5

        That's why you never use your real name.. John.

  • +1

    so.. i have to pay all those selling fees as my item is already marked sold on auction. What a ripoff. Lesson learnt :(

    • +1

      If the buyer had any issues and returns the items you sold (prob not likely for this, but as an example on other items), I'm pretty sure you get reimbursed for all the fees and stuff on the item. But that is if there is a refund.

      • +1

        The 30c fixed component of the PayPal fee is not returned to the seller when they give a refund.

        • Depending on what you're selling, 30c can either be a lot, or in this case, not very much.

      • But almost all buyer will choose a reason to make you pay the return postage and eBay will on their side. So the result of a return is that you loss the postage sent the item to buyer plus you loss again on paying the return postage and maybe also plus a negative feedback because you are reluctant to pay return postage.

    • +3

      Next time, look at what fees you're going to pay and work out how much you need to sell it for to make your desired profit.

  • +2

    Gumtree is owned by Ebay right? I've noticed over the years it's becoming more and more monetized…

    • +5

      Yes, it's also why Gumtree has such a crappy user interface and has no seller tools, HTML-rich descriptions or supports any high resolution photos. Gumtree has to be inferior to ebay so that they don't kill eBay's traffic.

    • I've also noticed that after the Ebay takeover, I get way less replies for the items on Gumtree.

      • +3

        What is this like Ashley Madison? Only 1 in 50 replies get through to the sellers.

        • Lol, not sure about that but if you don't sell on Gumtree, you have a chance of going to ebay. My items would get like 80 views but two or three replies.

        • +1

          @shadako:
          Thats normal, depending on the item. Maybe people just curious as to what it is

        • @shadako: I think the less common items sell really well on gumtree. I listed some rc plane stuff and beekeeping gear and got about 20 messages within 24 hours

  • +5

    You should of been aware of the seller fees before posting your auctions it's all in their T&Cs and FAQ pages.

    The fees vary quite a bit depending on how your auction is setup (titles, duration, auction, but it now, etc) and if it's not cost effective don't use eBay.

    • so means ..more items in the title and longer the auction time . fees will be higher ?

    • +6

      Have course he should of been aware!

      • I see what you did there.

        • -1

          Not many people would of gotten it.

  • +2
  • Are you an ozbargainer or not? I complained once and they refunded me.

    • wow really. did they refund all or how much. did you contact them /sent email or how ?

    • They refunded you all of the associated fees?

      • +1

        His brother

  • Depending on the item gumtree is an easier bet. I've bought and sold a few things on there. There are a few scammers/jerks who are trying to make a quick buck (eg offering you $300 for a phone worth $600) but on the whole if you're careful you should be fine.
    I wanted to sell my phone a few years ago and went with gumtree when I realised my target price of $600 would have to be ~$660 on ebay for me to net the same cash in hand.

    • +9

      For me I prefer ebay. All the time wasters, lowballers, people who stop responding etc. I just list for the price plus fees on ebay. I find I actually sell quicker on ebay. The only thing I sell on gumtree first is high demand stuff like iPhones or macbooks otherwise you just get lowballers.

      • Then you must be using Buy Now option rather then Auction Style. i did auction and the price i am getting its not what i like and plus now i have to pay more then %10 fees. All loose no gain.

        • Yeah I always buy it now. Have not done auction in years back when fees were like 5%. Also far auction be careful what time of the day/week the auciton ends as this can effect your final price.

        • @mark96:

          Yep im the same. Only use Buy it now and factor in ebays fees to my price for the most part so i get something close to what i want. As for gumtree, use it but find 80% of inquiries are Tyre kickers/non genuine. Used to really annoy me but now i don't care anymore. Don't care to chase up buyers anymore. If they are genuine they will follow through.

      • I usually put an auction price at the price I'm happy with to sell. If I get more, I'll be happy. If not, still happy

  • +3

    This is why they can afford to give people 10% cashback through the ebay partner network.

    This makes me believe that cashrewards and others receive at least 5% of your potential cashback.

    • +2

      Good Idea to start cashback reward company/website :)

    • I doubt it, contact TA and find out.

  • +1

    I normally factor %15 for the basturds.

  • +3

    Unfortunately ebay is not what it used to be (in so many ways). Higher fees and lower quality service.

    Can't even rely on stability of the website! It was down AGAIN for a lot of people, for a good part of the afternoon.

  • The damn site is down again!

    • I'm finding if I use www.ebay.com.au instead of ebay.com.au it's loading .. strange

      • Crazy!
        The darn thing is up and down like……well………..!!!!!

  • Hi, pretty sure the fees are in line with Ebay's standard pricing. Ten percent is your final value fee and then three percent is taken out when your money goes to Paypal. I've had an account since 2003 and it has gone downhill since then.

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