A warning on eBay

[Kebo]

I've been using eBay since 1999 but I was not aware of this new change until yesterday. Apparently it's been in effect for several months now.

eBay started a new "free insertion" policy where every first 5 auction-style listings you put up have free insertions, and this refreshes itself every 30 days. Sounds generous, right? However, you must pay an 8.75% final value fee on anything that sells with a free insertion or $20, whichever is less. What's the normal price after those first 5 auctions? The normal is paying the insertion fee, 8.75% on the first $25, and 3.5% on everything over that. So let's suppose you put up an auction that starts at 99 cents and sells for $100. In the 'generous' free insertion fee scenario, you pay 0 cents on the insertion fee, and $8.75 on the final value free. On the one with the great, horrible burden of an insertion free, you pay 15 cents on the insertion, $4.81 on the final value fee, for a total of $4.96. Basically something they portray as a service to you, giving you free insertion fees, is a way to charge you more money on pretty much anything over $25-30. There is no way to opt out of this free insertion fee.

And what's worse? Starting April 1st, all auctions will be going to 8.75%. Effectively we'll start paying double in final value fees on anything in high value.

Until then, the best way to get around this is to list 5 auctions you either know won't sell, or will sell below $25. If they don't sell, you got the free insertion, if they do, you didn't pay extra on this new hidden final value fee. In 3 weeks it won't even matter, but I figure people should be aware of this if they aren't already, especially if you plan on selling something valuable on eBay soon.

And since we're on the subject, does anyone know another good auction style site that's popular? I don't see how I can sell anything high in value on eBay again after the change to 8.75%.

[yomomma1]

On april 1st the changes being made will only really affect ebay sellers with a non-premium store. But yeah, its bullshit. I haven't found a better site other than ebay yet.

[Breetai]

Internet forums like this one.

[alexis524]

gamegavel.com, is gaining popularity for gamers as an alternative to eGay.

[winds]

Yeah that's ridiculous. I won't be using ebay to sell anymore, not that I used it much for selling purposes anyway. This probably also means that we'll start to see buy it now and reserve prices go up to compensate. These prices will be passed to the buyer eventually.
Gamegavel (formerly known as chasethechuckwagon.com) and forums like this all the way!

[Ziggy]

Internet forums like this one.

Yeah, but I've been wanting to sell a guitar amplifier. Can't really sell it here.

I've been hesitant to sell on eBay ever since the new feedback system started. It can be too damaging for such an opinionated system. "How fast did the seller ship the item?" Well even though I could ship the DAY OF payment, some d-bag might not realize the way the postal system works and gives me 2 stars just because he's a dumbass.

[dedalusdedalus]

Wait, everything's now a flat 8.75% commission fee? That's madness.

[jmanx81]

Thats just one more reason I posted my stuff here. eBay is a rip off now. Thanks for the posting. Ill stay away from there even more now.

[Dakinggamer87]

I try to sell on forums and Craigslist if possible due to increase in eBay fees especially over last few years.

[Ivo]

Those fees are really harsh. Seems like they are trying to leverage their large market share into "forcing" sellers to pay a hefty premium in order to get access to the large enfranchised "audience" of buyers. Unfortunately it may not even bite them back Lots of people simply don't know of the alternatives, and even if they know about them many don't even use them. To ebay is now a verb, after all...

Ivo.