It’s fun and exciting being an eBay seller, and it can be profitable to your brand and other retailers around the world. eBay is still ranked as one the most important online marketplaces, with a 35% audience reach for its app.
However fun and exciting it can be for an eBay seller, it’s vital to understand the costs of eBay’s business.
You could lose 15% of your revenue with eBay and PayPal fees, so you should consider this when pricing your items to see how you can maximise your profit across your product range.
Let’s dive in to find out more.
eBay Fee Types
Your eBay seller fees will vary depending on the type of account, the account’s ranking, and the status of the eBay market. So, it’s essential to have a complete understanding of everything to know what to expect. The types of eBay fees include:
1. Final Value Fee
The final value fee is the most common type of eBay fee among eBay sellers. This fee is acquired from the subtotal amount that your customer pays. Do you have to pay VAT on ebay fees?
2. Insertion Fee
An insertion fee is a listing fee that you pay to move up your listing for a week.
3. Listing Upgrade Fee
A listing upgrade fee is an optional fee that upgrades your listing to a “buy now” status and adds a bold caption, more pictures, or sponsoring.
The upgrade listing options can be very appealing, but they can accumulate quickly over a short period.
Ensure that you understand the cost of upgrade listings to avoid losing your profit margin.
4. PayPal Fee
A PayPal fee is not precisely an eBay fee, but it’s the amount charged when you, as an eBay seller, actively use PayPal for your transactions.
Ensure to combine your PayPal and eBay fees when calculating your profit margin.
How Refunds Affect Paid Fees
As an eBay seller, eBay will offer assistance with refunds but beware because eBay assists buyers too. A buyer can request refunds if you may not have opted not to accept refunds.
There is also a money-back guarantee to both the seller and the buyer. This money-back guarantee protects you as a seller if the ordered item was damaged, faulty, didn’t arrive, or didn’t match the listing. Buyer protection and eBay customer guarantee are also available on eBay sites.
In case of fees for return shipping, you can decide to cover the expenses or have the buyer cover the costs associated with return shipping, but this can deter buyers from returning the item.
Avoiding Excess Fees
To avoid excess fees as an eBay seller, you need to understand the causes of the increase in the fees.
It’s attractive to boost your listing but that comes with additional costs, so it’s essential to look for different ways to boost listings that may not come with additional charges.
Some of the ways to avoid additional fees include:
1. Understand eBay’s SEO
eBay’s SEO is organic, so you don’t need to pay extra fees to get higher listings. Setting up an item for sale is way cheaper than re-listing, and you won’t incur additional costs. Some helpful options to help your listings sell include:
• Embrace competitive pricing.
• Run sales on eBay promotion manager.
• Offer free shipping regularly.
• Write descriptive listing titles using popular search terms.
• Select the correct eBay category.
• Use as many item specifics available as possible.
• Use a fixed “buy it now” price. It will make you a top seller.
2. Be a PayPal merchant.
When you register your business with PayPal, you become a PayPal merchant, which can reduce your fees when you sell over £2,000 worth of items in a month. With a PayPal business account, you can:
• Accept credit or debit card and bank payments at a minimal fee.
• Operate under your business or company’s name.
• Have multiple users and manage them, giving individual permissions to each employee.
• Create reports and financial statements.
• Accept payments from customers who don’t have PayPal accounts.
3. Avoid Listing Enhancements
Boosting listings might seem like a good investment, but you don’t need it to sell.
For example, listing in two categories will increase your insertion fees, but you typically don’t need a second category if your first category matches the item you are selling.
4. Establish Unique Stores for Different Countries
Having unique stores in different countries will reduce costs and minimize confusion when selling to overseas buyers.
You can pay for an eBay store subscription that allows you to post across the entire global network on eBay.
Understanding eBay Business Costs with Your Ecommerce Accountant
Selling on eBay is exciting and profitable for your business.
But it’s essential to understand the way around hidden upgrade listing costs, account seller fees, use of SEO to secure your profit margin.
Also, when you know how eBay works, you protect both yourself and the buyer and ensure profitable eBay selling business and customer satisfaction.
Looking for an online eBay accountant you can trust? We at Your Ecommerce Accountant work with eBay sellers every day; whether you are a private label or own a business, we know and understand what you need.
Feel free to check our fixed monthly fees and book a free 30-minute phone consultation today with no obligation to sign up!
