eBay is gearing up to roll out a raft of new changes for its millions of users next year, which includes introducing a new fee for buyers and delaying payments to sellers. The online marketplace plans to implement the new buyer’s fee in the coming year, though the exact date remains unconfirmed.
This additional charge will be incurred by buyers on top of the item’s purchase price. We’ve reached out to eBay to clarify whether the buyer fee will be a set amount or a percentage of the sale price, and we’ll update our readers as soon as we receive a response.
Similar buyer fees have been adopted by Vinted and Depop in recent times. In a significant shift, eBay will also change the payment timeline for private sellers, withholding their funds until the buyer has verified receipt of the item. This policy is set to take effect from February 4, 2025.
Moreover, private sellers will soon be required to process their postage payments directly through eBay. They must specify their parcel size using eBay’s “simple delivery managed shipping” service, which is currently in use for private sellers listing pre-loved clothing, reports the Mirror.
The extension of this service to additional listing categories is expected early in 2025, with precise dates yet to be announced. According to The Sun, eBay will initially allow private sellers the option to “opt out” of its shipping method before it becomes mandatory.
eBay has made a game-changing move by scrapping all selling fees in October, allowing sellers to pocket more of their earnings from sales on the platform. This exemption from final value fees, regulatory operating fees, and insertion fees applies to nearly all listings, with the sole exception being motor sales, where fees for cars, motorcycles, and vehicle listings will still apply.
Earlier this year, eBay had already eliminated selling fees for fashion items. Following the successful removal of selling fees on its German site last year, which led to an increase in both sellers and buyers, eBay is optimistic about the positive impact this change will have in the UK.
The company’s research indicates that half of British households could benefit financially, as they possess unused items worth between £50 and £300, while almost 25% might have items valued over £500 stashed away. Additionally, eBay has introduced the “eBay balance” feature, offering sellers the flexibility to use their earnings to shop on eBay, boost their listings, buy delivery labels, or withdraw the funds as they see fit.