SELLERS on eBay will pocket more cash thanks to a shake up in fees by the platform.
Charges are changing from today, April 8, meaning those wishing to flog their second-hand fashion won’t be charged anything.
All charges including listing and final value fees will no longer apply to pre-owned fashion.
eBay’s controversial new regulatory operating fee, set to come into action today, also won’t be added to these items.
Pre-owned fashion includes items you have worn once, old favourites or brand new items with tags on that you have just never got around to wearing or returning.
Existing individual fashion listings will benefit from free selling, even if they were listed before April 8.
Shoppers looking to buy second-hand clothes already benefit from zero buyer fees.
Kirsty Keoghan, general manager of global fashion for eBay, told The Sun: “If you sell a dress and list it for £20, you’ll get that full £20 into your account.
“We’re excited to tackle the nation’s overflowing wardrobes, help people earn more money and keep clothes out of landfill.”
It’s important to note though, this change is just for second-hand fashion and not for selling other items like electronics or toys.
eBay is also set to bring in AI-generated item descriptions for all UK sellers.
The second-hand site said the tool can suggest attention-grabbing item descriptions at the “touch of a button”, cutting down listing time significantly.
What 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, which comes into effect today, 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 typically 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.
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.
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