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eBay

If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

What do I need to know about selling on eBay?

7 replies

urwildquoter24 · 07/05/2024 17:51

Hi all, I'm going to start selling some things on eBay soon...any advice?

All ideas are welcome.

OP posts:
toomanydicksonthedancefloor1 · 07/05/2024 17:54

The fees are extortionate!

MJCadman · 07/05/2024 17:58

I've had an account 18 years. Sick of eBay siding with buyers and giving them refunds when there are no reason too. It's getting worse!!

tommika · 07/05/2024 18:33

Be aware that eBay charge fees on the total of the sale plus postage charged. I tend to list items as ‘free postage’ and therefore take into account the cost of postage and subsequent fees onto what I am willing to sell for, but at times will list postage separately ….

On the assumption that it’s the total up front that potential buyers look at, then if I need to ‘compete’ against other sellers for a lower value item I’ll charge for the postage allowing the item price to be lower

Use a fees calculator to estimate the fees - taking into account the cost of postage including packing the items - you will sometimes find that once packaged that the size/weight tips over to the next Royal Mail category
Also ensure that postage would have the appropriate compensation level
Take a photo of the package, and a photo of the proof of postage. I use the ‘buy postage’ option on eBay which lets you print a label or get a QR code - this automatically inserts the tracking reference, but if you buy at the counter then add the tracking info to eBay
(I’ve only had a handful of packages go missing and the photos help when submitting a claim if necessary - I don’t think that I’ve ever lost out on a missing or ‘missing’ package, but have had a couple of cases where eBay / Vinted have dealt with them compensating the buyer and leaving me with my money - I have had a couple of cases where I’ve been messaged about ‘missing’ packages but then not been pursued, so either they were found or were chancing i

https://www.ebayfeescalculator.com/uk-ebay-calculator

If you sell second hand clothing then they now have zero fees

If you sell enough items your seller ranking goes up and ultimately you get offered fee discounts
Recently there was a zero fee promotion on everything, but this was probably a one off
Once you’re established there may be 80% fee discounts which get offered fortnightly
This makes a big difference

Note that international sales incur extra fees, so on occasion.
It’s up to you if you offer that - When I offer international I use ‘eBay global’ which means I pay for UK postage to their depot and eBay charge extra to the buyer for forwarding (which can be a lot). You may get messaged by a buyer to quote for direct international sales - I decline most and refer to the global option, but I have done a couple of times as that secured a sale but do so warily based on the location, their feedback etc

You can list things on an auction or buy now basis.
If ‘buy now’ it will list for up to a month, then automatically relist - if you have been offered a fee discount then that is only valid for the original listing, not relists. (A workaround is to cancel the relist then choose ‘sell a similar item’ - by that time I’m changing the asking price)
You can enable offers, but don’t have to accept them, you can set a minimum below which offers will be automatically be rejected

If an auction the default is 7 days. Start a realistic minimum opening price as you may only get one bid

UK eBay Fee Calculator | Updated on 18 Dec 2023

Free tool to calculate your total profit after eBay fees when selling on eBay UK. eBay Managed payments, Promoted Listing fees.

https://www.ebayfeescalculator.com/uk-ebay-calculator/

tommika · 07/05/2024 18:45

For a new seller, for suitable categories Vinted works out best, with the lower fee.
If a postage option other than Royal Mail is used then it’s down to Vinted to liase with the carrier for missing / delayed packages
Always click for the postage option details to check the size/weight limits of small/medium/large in each category
With Royal Mail on Vinted you are given the postage and buy it yourself - again ensure the small/medium/large and weight limits are suitable as Royal Mail have many weight prices so you can find yourself caught out by a slightly heavier package - and you are responsible for dealing with Royal Mail if there is a loss or delay

With eBay you are responsible for dealing with the carrier

If you’re trying to raise extra income then make sure you have enough spare money to cover postage as there will be a delay on payout for new eBay sellers and for all Vinted sellers
On Vinted if you only offer the pre-print labels then you can post it without needing cash up front

You can offer local collection on eBay - if you are able/willing to deal with buyers ensuring timing coordination etc - I can’t be bothered with that, and I’m often out or away. But a friend has a shop in town so I offer the option for local collection there with most items

sanogo · 07/05/2024 18:47

I only buy on eBay

Selling isn't worth it

BuckFadger · 14/05/2024 18:43

Wait for the 80% off selling fee offers.

Based on what I have read on here do not bother selling clothes as there seem to be frequent disputes. Or at least do not state anything about the condition. Make it clear that the condition is for a buyer to determine based on the photos.

BuckFadger · 14/05/2024 18:45

sanogo · 07/05/2024 18:47

I only buy on eBay

Selling isn't worth it

I find selling to be very much worth it. I go with fixed prices and never commit to the items condition.

Buying on Ebay and then finding out that the selling is shipping with Evri however. 😭

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