Can You Spell Ripoff

"You asked, we listened. We're reducing Insertion Fees and adjusting Final Value Fees to lower your up-front cost to sell on eBay. You wanted free Gallery, now you've got it--plus more feature discounts..."  And, so begins EBAYS notice regarding their February 20 fee adjustments.

Regular Auctions

Crouched in EBAY's new lower fees, way down in the fine print and details, you will discover that for average sellers of  lower priced items (under $25.00) - the news is indeed bleak.   I start most of my items for $9.97, and the listing fee used to be 40 cents, now it drops to 35 cents to help lower my up front costs, plus I receive free gallery (35 cents under the old system).  On the surface that's a pretty good deal - I pay a nickel less, and get 40 cents more in value.  So far so good.  Now let's look at the down side.  Final value fees for items selling for under $24.99 have jumped from 5 % to 8.75 %.  That's a 3.75 % increase.  Again, looking at my auctions - They sell for an average of  $13.00.  An extra 3.75 % of that comes to 49 cents per item sold.  EBAY giveth, and EBAY taketh away.  I saved a nickel in up front costs, an have to pay an extra 49 cents on the back end for it. Even granting the 35 cents they saved me on gallery (which I rarely use), my actual cost per auction went up nine cents.

Store Auctions

Store items are no different.  Store listing fees dropped two cents - to three cents per item, for those under $24.99. And, again sellers receive free gallery pictures on all store listings (a savings of only a penny this time).   My store auctions sell for an average of $14.00 using Best Offer.  So my final value fees have increased 28 cents, to save me three cents up front.  Once again, not a stellar deal.

"To lower your up-front cost to sell on eBay"

Now - I have no problem with EBAY raising their fees.  Just the way they are doing it.  Don't lie to me, about "saving me money up front."  Be honest, and tell everybody the truth.  Prices are going up.

Powerseller Discounts Based on New Feedback Rankings

Powersellers can earn up to  15 % discount on final value fees if they do good on their star feedback ratings.  Ranking above 4.6 gets you a 5 % discount on final value fees.  Ranking above 4.8 gets you a 15 % discount on final value fees. Not too shabby.  Except, we cano longer give buyers negative feedback, but for those who feel shipping is unfair, or too high - even if you stated it five times in your auction listing.  They can still ding you, or give you a negative.