A Guide to eBay Seller Fees

eBay is a top-rated online marketplace platform that boasts billions of products for sale as well as millions of buyers and sellers. Navigating this shopping site can be challenging. We have a complete guide to eBay seller fees that will help every reseller create a sale strategy as well as boost profit. If you want to open an online shop and use the marketplace platform to your advantage, first learn everything about eBay selling fees.

What Are eBay Seller Fees?

Just like it costs money to sell on Etsy and Depop, it costs money to sell second-hand and new products on eBay. Understanding eBay fees for selling is the first step to making a profit. Every successful online reseller needs to calculate how much money will be spent on charges and if it's worth it to start an online business.

The site charges two main types of charges. The first is a listing fee (also called an insertion fee) and the second is a final value fee which is calculated when the sellers sell an item. These are basic charges every user has to pay. However, for a monthly subscription, a seller can run a shop. The benefits and expenses for shops vary on the type of seller's subscription.

A Monthly Subscription Charge

Sellers don't need to have a store subscription to use the platform for reselling as a business. However, a store will help you manage orders, reach the right customer base and build a successful e-commerce business. There are many benefits when choosing a store subscription since you will provide the buyers with an opportunity to browse your products through a customizable storefront.

The platform offers three packages: Basic, Featured, and Anchor. Sellers should choose a package based on how they plan to start and expand their business as well as on the volume they sell. Here is a list of basic store eBay fees.

• Basic - £90 (It is most convenient if you are starting a business with no money since you will have reduced eBay seller store fees and tools that will help you grow),
• Featured - £245 (There are more free listings, and the platform offers packaging supplies as well as free international listings),
• Anchor - £1,275 (A reseller who wants to start an online shop with confidence and unlimited fixed price listings, as well as additional benefits, should open an anchor store)

Listing Fee - What Can You Expect When You Add a New Item?

A listing fee or an insertion fee is charged every time you relist an item on the platform or create a new one, regardless of whether it gets sold or not. The cost is calculated based on the category it is listed under.

E-commerce owners get an appropriate number of free listings per month. However, if the private seller lists more listings than what is offered, the general price for additional ones is 35p. Bear in mind that for certain categories, such as heavy equipment, food trucks, trailers, and musical instruments, the insertion charge can be different. Always check under what category you are reselling and if there are additional charges.  

eBay's business account fees are lower since users are paying a monthly subscription. Those who have a Basic subscription have to pay 10p, those with Featured 5p and sellers with Anchor stores don't have to pay an insertion charge.

eBay Final Value Fee - Selling an Item Brings About Another Charge

Every time you make a sale on the platform, a final value fee is charged. It is calculated as a percentage of the entire sale amount, including handling charges, shipping, and a fixed charge of 30p per order. However, sales tax is excluded. The percentage also depends on the categories of the items.

Mostly, 10% is calculated along with the fixed charge of 30p, shipping and handling charges. But, there are always categories that are an exception. Here is a list of categories that don't require 10% of the sale:

• Books, comics, and magazines - 9.9%
• Crafts - 12.9%
• Event tickets - 12.9%
• Electronic Smoking, Parts & Accessories - 12.9%
• Pet Supplies - 12.9%
• Vehicle Parts & Accessories - 8.9%
• Clothes, Shoes & Accessories - 11.9%
• Jewelry & Watches - 12.9% for the portion of the entire amount of the sale up to £450

Fees for Upgrading Listings

Certain additional features, like adding a subtitle, come at an additional price. You can pay for these features if you want your product to stand out and attract more buyers. They are needed if you want to succeed in e-commerce. They are not offered as part of the allocation of free listing. In our list of upgrades, you can see the price of each feature:

• Reserve Price - 4% of the reserve price whether the item gets sold or not
• Buy it now price - 50p
• Subtitle - £2
• Gallery Plus - £2.50
• Scheduler - 10p
• International Site Visibility - 25p for every fixed price listing

Attempt to Reduce eBay Store Fees if You Want to Succeed

As seen from our eBay store seller fees guide, the amount can get really high in a short period of time. There are ways how you can reduce your overall charges and end up making an incredible profit. 

The first step is to use the benefit of zero insertion charges. Since there are different stores to choose from and each one provides a reseller with an appropriate number of zero-insertion fee listings per month. 

The second step is to take advantage of Fast N' Free shipping. This option will enable you to reduce the final value charge since you won't have to spend money on shipping costs.

Finally, the best way you can reduce the charges is by becoming a top-rated reseller. You can immediately benefit from a 10% discount on final value charges. However, in order to become one, you have to have at least 100 transactions over the past year.

Here is a video with more tips on how you can reduce charges on one of the UK's best marketplaces.

An Additional Tip - Use a Cross-posting Software to Sell Listings and Increase Profit

Navigating the charges and attempting to keep the shop afloat on just one platform will be incredibly difficult. Some items won't be seen by potential customers, and you cannot keep track of every sale 24/7. But, with a cross-posting app, increasing profit can be achieved. Offer your items on multiple online selling platforms simultaneously with online selling tools. It will be easier to track and control every product you want to sell.

The best software for selling online is Zipsale, for sure. It is a convenient software to sell both on eBay and Depop. The sales will go faster, your inventory management will be better, and amending item details will be more simple. Cross-listing software is necessary for any e-commerce owner who wants to expand their business. In this way, charges won't be an issue since the profit could cover any cost, and selling online will be worth it.

Handle Every Fee Like a Pro and Become a Top-Rated Seller

You won't have to worry or wonder how much are eBay seller fees because our in-depth guide provides you with all the important information. Charges are different for all sellers and are primarily calculated based on categories of products. Taking the time and learning what needs to be paid for and what can be deducted will save you time, money, and effort. Don't hesitate to try and reduce your final value and insertion charges.

Also, making a profit and having fewer difficulties with charges is possible with Zipsale. Our selling software will enable you to reach new buyers and sell three times faster. Sign up and discover how useful a crossposting tool can be.