# I still can't get over how much eBay charges

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-still-cant-get-over-how-much-ebay-charges/558278>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 25, 2010, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-still-cant-get-over-how-much-ebay-charges/558278 "2010-10-25T13:46:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-still-cant-get-over-how-much-ebay-charges/558278/1 "2010-10-25T13:46:34Z")

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I’m a domestic seller: that is, I sell off old items when I replace them. I don’t know why I’m complaining, because I do know what I’m letting myself in for, but I’m still amazed by how much eBay charges on sales. I’ve just sold an item for £455. eBay charges £40 and Paypal £16; £56 in total. 12%!

I suppose I should be grateful that I have a means of recuperating _something_, but it still seems like a lot money.

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-still-cant-get-over-how-much-ebay-charges/558278/2 "2010-10-25T15:03:09Z")

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Wow. How’d you get off so cheap?

I’ve given up on eBay as the last time we sold anything, between the listing fees and the final sale fees and the PayPal fees and the buyer used a credit card fees, it was over 20%.

And then, the thing has to be packed and shipped. Even if you put a fifteen pound item into a $5.95 flat rate box, the buyer will still cry like a wounded kitten if you charge $6.00 for postage.

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**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-still-cant-get-over-how-much-ebay-charges/558278/3 "2010-10-25T15:26:43Z")

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I’m an occasional seller. The fees are high and somewhat complicated at times, although they’ve gotten better at explaining them. It really demotivates you from selling cheaper items because the fees and shipping eat all the profits.

I sold a car through eBay recently and owed hundreds of dollars in fees (not unexpected.) What was unexpected was when they decided to take the money out of my debit card, it wasn’t even 30 days from the auction close.

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**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-still-cant-get-over-how-much-ebay-charges/558278/4 "2010-10-25T15:33:39Z")

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> [@gotpasswords](#):
>
> Wow. How’d you get off so cheap?
> 
> I’ve given up on eBay as the last time we sold anything, between the listing fees and the final sale fees and the PayPal fees and the buyer used a credit card fees, it was over 20%.
> 
> And then, the thing has to be packed and shipped. Even if you put a fifteen pound item into a $5.95 flat rate box, the buyer will still cry like a wounded kitten if you charge $6.00 for postage.

20% - that’s a lot.

But, as I said, how else can I dispose of my stuff?

Actually, I charged £20 for postage (well, next day pre 1.000pm insured delivery). No-one seemed to mind.