When Did e-Bay becoem so difficult

[79XS11F]

When did it become so difficult to sell stuff on e-bay? S*i*, they must think we all live at the post office. They won't let you list anything unless you know the weight and package size up front. Are we suppose to package, weight and measure everything in advance. What a PITA ...
Rob

[CatatonicBug]

Ebay has been doing a lot of re-structuring lately, and mostly for the buyer's benefit. That is one of the items, I guess. As a buyer, I always want to know how much the shipping cost is going to be BEFORE I bid on anything, as some people really jack up the prices on that stuff. This allows them to use automatic calculators to tell the seller what they will be paying for any item. Nice for the buyer, but I imagine it sucks for the seller...

[79XS11F]

It just makes it a real PITA to get stuff listed. But your right about some sellers jacking up the shipping cost when they don't get what they want for their items. e-Bay appears to have become a place more suited for e-bay business's as compared to individuals selling stuff.
Rob

[CatatonicBug]

I have noticed that more and more of the items being sold are from ebay "stores". That must be more profitable for e-bay. Craigslist has really taken off as a way for individuals to sell their stuff, so maybe e-bay has restructured to focus on the businesses.

[79XS11F]

I would have to agree. I have sold a few items on e-Bay in the past and about every 3 months or so since then I get mail from them inviting me to a "selling" or "how to be sucessfull on e-Bay" seminar somewhere in my area.
Rob

[latexeses]

Don't they get about eight% of the sale or something there about?

[CatatonicBug]

Don't they get about eight% of the sale or something there about?

I've only sold a few items, but for me it's always been a set price based on how you list it. You pay for the listing fee, and if you want to set the reserve, there is a fee dependng on how high you set it. You also can pay for optional listing services that are supposed to help get your item noticed. There is no percentage fee though.

[crazy steve]

I've only sold a few items, but for me it's always been a set price based on how you list it. You pay for the listing fee, and if you want to set the reserve, there is a fee dependng on how high you set it. You also can pay for optional listing services that are supposed to help get your item noticed. There is no percentage fee though.

I've bought/sold a lot of stuff on Ebay, and Rob is right; it's gotten much harder for the 'average joe' to use. It's definitely been slanted more towards the pro seller. As far as the fees, yes, you pay a listing fee (based on initial value), any additional goodies (reserve, more pics, etc), AND you pay a fee on the 'final value' (what it actually sold for). This is a sliding scale precentage. If you add in Paypal fees (usually 3%), the costs can get up to about 8% by the time you're all done.

And yes, the 'shipping requirements' have gotten stupid. I HATE Ebays calculators as I've had a lot of trouble with them being inaccurate, sometimes by a LOT.

Best bet? Use PO 'flate-rate' boxes wherever possible, and if those don't work, mark the item as 'no shipping' then note your shipping arrangements in the text. Me, I always charged actual costs plus $1 (for tape, going to the PO, etc) and never had a single problem or complaint.

The bummer for me lately is they 'upgraded' the site, and it runs sooooo sloooow on my old Windows-ME 'puter. But it's still the best place to sell small items and get wide exposure.

'78E original owner

[Geezer]

On the other hand priority mail flat rate boxes have been a godsend to eBay sellers like me. I won't list anything on eBay if I can't put it in one flat rate box or another. With 3 sizes, it gives you some options.

Geezer

[latexeses]

I got my assumption from the last set on the Fee scale.. They put the screws to you if the sale is $25.00 or below...


eBay picture hosting fees

Feature Fee

First picture
Free

Each additional picture
$0.15

Picture Pack (1-6 pictures)
$0.75

Picture Pack (7-12 pictures)
$1.00




Reserve price fees

Reserve price
Fee

$0.01 - $199.99 $2.00

$200.00 and up 1% of reserve price (up to $50)




Example of a final value fee calculation for an auction listing:
You sell an item for $60.00

For the first $25.00 you pay 8.75%, which is $2.19

For the remaining $35.00 you pay 3.50%, which is $1.23

For this item the final value fee is $3.42 ($2.19 + $1.23)

[Ivan]

Man, I usually try and remember to slip the extra 3% in for guys that take paypal, sinc I don't think its fair they take the gouge, and I don't mind. I had no idea that ebay takes that much. Now I feel guilty for buying stuff on there.

What's really stupid is that eBay doesn't handle anything but electrons. Charging for pictures? Most of the stuff I have been seeing is linked to a photobucket account or similar, especially if they are an established seller. wow.

Sometimes, when the clouds part and the sun starts shining, you realize you are standing an a pile of ****

[CatatonicBug]

Sometimes, when the clouds part and the sun starts shining, you realize you are standing an a pile of ****

That's why you gotta just keep lookin' up!

[3Phase]

That's why you gotta just keep lookin' up!

And whatever you do, if you're warm and happy don't start singing!


Regards,

Scott

[XJOK2PLAY]

With E-Bay, it's really a 2-edged sword... and a guy can get cut easily if not careful...

All their fees and percentages is why I don't have an ebay account. I've always thought they charge too much. (Seller loses too much...) Now with the extra hassels about knowing upfront stuff the average guy might not know about weight, etc... just makes me more determined not to have one.
Yeah, your advertising to the world... great exposure... but @ a pretty steep cost.

But the flipside... I've scored a lot of parts for the XJ from there that I couldn't have any other place... (because a friend of mine has an acct, is used to the way they do things, and is willing to help me out.)

But I do agree... Craigslist is a pretty cool concept... and I've scored some real deals there... and a whole lot faster & easier...

Maybe Ebay may one day have to take a few lessons from it's competition??

EBay is a great concept, no doubt - but I feel it's grown so big they don't care how hard they have made it on the "average Joe" seller... it's all about the Roosevelt's baby...

[Trainzz]

my take

My other passion is model trains in HO scale. Like most of us, when I got started I wore evilbay out. But as I gain some equilibrium, I went back to using local vendors and small shops. I may pay more, but my soul remains intact.

I purchased my three bike from craigslist, and made a new friend in the process.

I may still use e-bay for something really hard to find, but only as a last resort.