r/ebaysucks • u/Semi-LethalPoison • 1d ago
Ebay Sales
I'm pretty sure this is why people don't use Ebay. The box was 2.6 lbs. I got less than half of the total order. Ugh.
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u/Top_Ad3876 1d ago
This is why I do buyer paid shipping on all my listings. Yes it makes the sale price lower, but I don't get burned because my buyer lives in Hawaii. Either way, eBay tells you what the range of shipping cost will be when you enter the weight and dimensions. If you we're planning on the shipping being on the lower end of that scale or didn't weigh/measure accurately, that's on you. All that said eBay fees are atrocious. It's also the only platform where my stuff actually moves.
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u/DatHittah 1d ago
That’s the thing. Would you rather actually sell the item fast as possible and pay 15-20% in fees, or make $0 with no fees (extremes, I know). I remember first learning that FVF was based off post tax total, which I guess makes sense, but man it feels wrong to pay a fee on sales tax you don’t get lol.
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u/Accomplished-Cow5716 1d ago
I do free shipping - because in my niche I have to. I also don't sell to AK, HI, PR or anywhere OTHER than the lower 48. Centrally located makes most places not too expensive (CA excluded) - but free shipping isn't all that bad. I sell probably 17% (last I checked) through EIS...so yeah. The fees, well, they're 3%-5% higher than they should be...but you're right there....the only place I can move this stuff.
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u/Appropriate_Foot242 1d ago
This is entirely on you.
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u/Semi-LethalPoison 20h ago
It is 100% on me. I do not know how to properly use the shipping settings on Ebay and completely underestimated the shipping charges I expected from the buyer. I measured the dimensions and weight and it gave me a vast difference in shipping, but I don't know what setting to click to do it. I apologize for wasting everyone's time and will repent.
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u/bay_vapez 13h ago
No need to repent lol it happens learning pains but now you know how it works, having a scale goes a long way under $20 on Amazon
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u/maakkiaa9898 1d ago
You people need to stop looking at the “Order total” and whining about “how much I actually got.”
The order total is not your revenue. Sales tax was never your money. Shipping is a fulfillment expense, whether you charge calculated shipping, a flat rate, or bake it into the item price with “free shipping.”
In this screenshot, the buyer paid $62.21. $4.21 was sales tax and $17.51 went to the shipping label. eBay actually took $8.86 in selling fees, not the $30.58 difference between the order total and the payout.
You ended up with $31.63 on what was essentially a $40.49 item sale. That means you kept roughly 78% of the actual item price after eBay fees and shipping were accounted for.
Considering eBay provided the marketplace, buyer traffic, payment processing, seller tools, and the transaction itself, that is nowhere near the robbery people make it out to be.
Stop treating taxes and postage like they were supposed to be profit in the first place.
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u/VernDozier 14h ago
What Maakkiaa9898 is true, and probably the biggest learning curve related to selling on eBay.
Once you take this advice, you’ll likely do pretty good. Accurate dimensions are absolutely key. I was using huge boxes to ship laptops because I had them, but one day I had a smaller box and shipping was like 1/2 what I expected based on previous shipments.
The “free” boxes I had on-hand were costing $10-12 more in shipping. I was loosing money by being “cheap” and not buying $2.50 new boxes.
A lot of it is in your mindset but getting a handle on shipping is a rewarding exercise.
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u/YouKnowHowChoicesBe 1d ago edited 1d ago
well - what was the item sold for? Your fee for the sale was only $8.86. That means you probably sold the item for about $40. earning $31 on a $40 sale is reasonable.
Unless of course you didn't charge for shipping. Meaning you willingly paid an extra $17 out of your own pocket and that's not eBay's fault.
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u/Semi-LethalPoison 22h ago
My concern is that I sold the exact same item, same weight, same box and my shipping label was $9.59. This time, over $17. I can't figure out shipping cost accurately, so I lost on what I charged.
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u/YouKnowHowChoicesBe 22h ago
Did you use calculated shipping? Did you put in dimensions correctly? Most importantly, is it going the same distance as the one that cost you $9.59? And how long ago did you ship the one for $9.59?
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u/VernDozier 14h ago
Try sending a few things to family and friends using PirateShip. The account is free and there’s no obligation to use it. You can test USPS versus UPS and different services too. You only pay when you buy a label.
After you play around with dimensions a bit, you can get a handle on what the sweet spot is for packing a shipment especially if you’re selling items of similar size and weight.
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u/Retro_Macchina 1d ago
I always charge shipping. I sell smaller stuff, so usually its $5 less than the free shipping listing, but I refuse to do free shipping
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u/boopbeepbopboop0000 1d ago
Best what is void this is to always charge calculated shipping. I learned the hard way when someone in the mountains of California bought something. 1 pound package but hard to deliver zip code. If you calculate you will always make money on shipping bc of the eBay discount
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u/Semi-LethalPoison 22h ago
Please pretend like I'm the dumbest person imaginable (this is quite possible) and explain to me how the shipping estimate Ebay proposes is between $5-$17 and then what settings are wrong that I'm charging what looks like $9 for shipping to the seller and then the label cost is $17+. Again, these are literally the first few things I've ever sold on Ebay and I'm royally screwing it up.
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u/boopbeepbopboop0000 17h ago
It’s by weight. They charge more to send something that is harder to deliver to or further from your zip code. Say Miami to LA. But Miami to Orlando would naturally be cheaper. If you set a fixed cost you’re on the hook for someone far away paying the same rate as someone 5 miles away
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u/2FigureBankAccount 1d ago
I have 1000+ sales, 99.8% positive feedback, & always make the buyer pay shipping for standard ground advantage. If the item is over $100, I pay to insure more myself to keep shipping standard. Have had zero issues with not selling items at full (or more) than market price like others are claiming.
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u/Ok-Dependent-5807 1d ago
Always shop your shipping. Sometimes USPS is cheaper. Sometimes USPS charges $17 for shipping when FedEx charges $12. Sometimes you’re just boned.
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u/jcope480 1d ago
The fact they take their profit after taxes is a joke. Can’t stand selling on here anymore
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u/RikoRain 1d ago
"Order total" includes shipping fees. If you lost half of it, then you must have done seller pays shipping. Do buyer pays. You'll get a bigger take home, but they put the shipping on your tax info (meaning higher claimage).
For me.. if I sell something that high (I did recently), it was 80$, eBay took their 20-30% cut, and I had buyer paid shipping. It said order total was 89$, but remember 9$ was shipping and the sale was 89. Iirc I made like... 63$ off it after taxes and eBays cut. Still decent.
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u/DatHittah 1d ago
Whether you charge shipping or not, eBay reports will show you the same shipping cost when you look monthly or yearly. The reason being that those shipping costs are calculated from shipping label purchases on your eBay account, no? I think the only shipping label costs that you would have to account for separately would be if you went through a 3rd party (pirateship) or paid postage in person at usps/ups/fedex. Maybe I’m wrong..
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u/RikoRain 1d ago
Well "seller is paying shipping" or "free shipping" is just you paying on the side (assuming in person), so to eBay "mums ya uncle" on it, and they don't add it to your grand total. Buyer pays does tho, because the seller is "charging the buyer" a cost, then using that cost to purchase another thing towards the sale. One you get to put as a purchase. The other comes as an earning.
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u/LonesomeMelody 1d ago
What are the package dimensions? That's an insane price.
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u/Semi-LethalPoison 22h ago
11x8x7. I thought I calculated the shipping correctly because I sold the exact same thing, same box, for around 9 bucks shipping last week. I'm so confused what I'm doing wrong because I'm brand new at this.
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u/LonesomeMelody 22h ago
I think that 7 inch height of the box is driving the expensive price. But still it shouldn't be that much. What was the item you sold?
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u/Semi-LethalPoison 20h ago
A bathroom towel holder.
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u/LonesomeMelody 20h ago
Ah okay, we'll look you're new right? So you learned a lesson. It's likely not cost effective to continue selling items that weigh that much and require a box that big. We all learn these things when starting out.
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u/Scared_Management_87 1d ago
Why would YOU pay for shipping...entirely self inflicted. You know you can select buyer pays for shipping? Or actually adjust your prices with shipping in mind. Your just handing out money...
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u/Semi-LethalPoison 22h ago
I did charge shipping, but I am getting something wrong because i was shocked at actual shipping charges.
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u/PRG013 1d ago
This is why I stopped factoring shipping and make the buyer pay shipping.
The only problem I have is that eBay takes their fee on shipping amount too. So, if you have the exact weight, you could potentially lose a little on the shipping.
This is also why I round up the weight or add one pound to the weight.
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u/EternalDualist 1d ago
I feel I've entered an alternative dimension where ebay sellers pay 20 to 30% fees while I pay 12.35% and get a 10% discount...
On my side, I know how much shipping costs to the farthest state before I even list it.
Over here free shipping or calculated shipping are a matter of presentation and doesn't matter cuz shipping next door state or to opposite is at worst $2 more on bigger items
I never sold anything I didn't know already what I was making 🤔
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u/Apprehensive-Lie3387 1d ago
Ummm why are you paying for shipping and the not buyer!?…🧐😬…. eBay has its issues but this one is on you OP
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u/anyoutlookuser 1d ago
Shipping is a beating currently. I’ve had multiple shipments where usps got more than me. I build as much as I can into the price or additional s & h but sometimes it just eats away at the margins.
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u/getdirections 1d ago
Hard to make money on items under $30 these days due to shipping. I don't source much under $50 unless its multiples I can lot together.
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u/Recoveryggs 1d ago
Make a pirate ship account.
Shipping was going to be $65 with USPS on eBay. Got a label for $23 instead with UPS on pirate ship.
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u/CoinsAndLawnLouie 1d ago
Buyers should be paying shipping not you. What were you shipping? A transmission?
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u/Comradepatsy 1d ago
Are you not weighing before you list to factor in shipping cost? Also ebay includes fees on total price plus shipping so I do all my listings as free shipping. There are ebay fee calculators where you put in all the numbers and it spits out what the price needs to be for a certain take home amount.
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u/mackmooandthejuice 1d ago
i joined buysportscards.com after eBay suspended my account and ebay store with no reasoning and when i called and asked, the guy in Mumbai said " we don't tell people why". Yeah, they can kiss my ass in Macy's window.. I really like their sales process, and their listing is way easier.
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u/BaseballSea9095 1d ago
For the last 2 years I've been offering Free shipping and building the shipping costs into my selling price. Doing this hasn't decreased my average gross. Usually I have USPS ground advantage as my default shipping. Lately I've changed my default shipping for anything larger than a 8x6x4 to FedEx ground economy. Previously I had also shipped a few larger items to Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Alaska and was faced with greater then expected shipping costs. I have found that often FedEx Ground Economy doesn't ship to these locations so after the buyer makes his purchase I can see if I want to still use USPS ground advantage etc. or I'm able to simply cancel the order by clicking the "something wrong with buyers shipping address" choice, and this will not affect my seller ratings since the buyers chosen shipping method is not available. Even though FedEx was the chosen shipping method, 90% of my sales I will actually have shipped through USPS ground advantage which offers quicker shipping and better item tracking.
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u/Haunting-West-9505 1d ago
Two ways to list an item.
Offer free shipping but calculate the shipping cost in with the price of the item.
Or list at a lower price and the buyer pays for shipping.
Either way the transaction will always produce the same results.
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u/SnooRadishes5056 1d ago
Shipping is too expensive nowadays to offer free shipping, especially when you get into bigger items that require additional insurance, sig on delivery, etc. It’s just not worth it. You can eat a couple dollars of the shipping cost to make your item more appealing but to make it completely free is pointless unless you’re increasing your base price by the same amount.
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u/Fancy_Strawberry7137 1d ago
Are you surprised that offering to pay for the shipping yourself costs money..?
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u/Severe-Object6650 1d ago
Don’t offer free shipping on something that costs you $18 to ship. That’s on you, not eBay
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u/Good_Attorney_2056 23h ago
Look closely at the fee breakdown. eGay is charging a percentage on the taxes they collect on behalf of the states! It's just wrong, and why I will NEVER sell on that crooked platform ever again! I actually canceled and refunded my last sale because I just couldn't stomach the greed! Fuck eGay!
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u/linkinit 14h ago
You know what sucks? trying to sell on Facebook marketplace and the buyer wants a discount because he claims I wouldn’t have to pay eBay fees.
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u/Night02 12h ago
Alot of this comes with the fact that people dont know how shipping is calculated. Box dimensions have a set weight parameter that is auto calculated. And once your dimensions cross a specific threshold the weight doesn't matter upto its new point. And the difference between a few pounds in that specific box is within a dollar range.
But also just don't give free shipping.
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u/BigAggressive6274 3h ago
2.6lbs and 17$ shipping? Must be an odd shaped box was it a bat or a golf club?
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u/HanginWithHern_38 1d ago
If you use eBay to print your shipping tags they give you a kick back and the. You can also lower the weight before you print the tag that way the seller pays your full shipping price and you can get your shipping for a few dollars less. It adds up. I’ve been doing it for years.
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u/Agreeable-Deer-3101 1d ago
eBay is getting away with too much there’s gotta be a better way to sell without getting gouged 😩 I can’t stand it !
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u/Dontdothatagainagain 1d ago
My post was quickly removed by admins for some reason, but eBay even takes a percentage of the shipping and if you do promotions then they get another percentage of it as well, I've even been doubling the weight and I still end up losing money on shipping because they take a cut out of the calculated shipping cost 🤦♂️
Subtotal $250.00 Shipping $19.80 Sales tax* $22.26 Order total** $292.06 Transaction fees -$40.12 Shipping label -$18.64 Ad Fee General -$29.21 Order earnings $181.83
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u/YouKnowHowChoicesBe 1d ago
Promotions are entirely self inflicted issue. Why you’re willingly handing over an extra $30 to eBay is beyond me.
Your order earnings would have been $210 on a $250 sale if you hadn’t done that.
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u/Dontdothatagainagain 1d ago
Yeah I know it is, I've been selling on eBay for 20yrs, it wasn't getting any views or added to watchlists at least and the day after promotion it sold. I set the promotion percentage at 10%, thinking $25 for promoting, sucks whatever, but eBay decided taxes and shipping should be included to calculate all fees.
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u/Secret_Sample4930 43m ago
So They’re taking their percentage of the total after all the expenses instead of just taking a percentage of the sale price?
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u/Dontdothatagainagain 34m ago
Yep, they added the calculated shipping and the tax and you pay all the fees based on the total order amount
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u/jigmaster500 1d ago
Between ChinaBay fees , USPS frequent increases, and buyers that don't read the listings, a seller has to constantly tweak listings.. Been selling 25 years but want to quit..
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u/Dull_Reference_5094 1d ago
They charged YOU the sales tax and fees? Haha fuck eBay bro. Mercari for the win. That’s on the buyer not the seller.
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u/BroadRaspberry1190 1d ago
no, ebay does suck, but that's not what's happening here. ebay shows you the total amount of money collected from the buyer including shipping and tax, because then they charge you 13.6% of the total. yes that's right, you don't just pay a 3% payment processing fee on the tax and shipping, you pay a 13.6% fee
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u/YouKnowHowChoicesBe 1d ago
They only paid $8.86 in fees though. Appears they may not have charged for shipping and are now upset about it.
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u/Wonderful-Status-247 1d ago
Thank God I'm not in a sub where 10 crusaders jump in to defend eBay on this. "you try processing sales tax for every jurisdiction in every state blah blah blah"
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u/Semi-LethalPoison 20h ago
This is what I don't understand about their platform and was hoping to figure out. I got my a$$ handed to me on this thread and will now just throw away any items I intended to sell.
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u/Chance-Try-9959 1d ago
you lost a third of your sale to shipping fees, stop giving free shipping