EBAY is making a raft of huge payment changes next year that will affect millions of its users, The Sun has learned – but furious customers are threatening to quit the platform if they go ahead.
The online marketplace is introducing changes for both buyers and sellers in what it says will create a “more seamless and secure buying and selling experience”.
But experts have warned the changes could see users flocking to rival platforms as eBay will be giving up advantages it had over its competitors.
The changes include:
- Introducing a fee for buyers on UK transactions from private sellers, which will give buyers extra protections. No confirmed date but will happen some time in 2025
- From February 4 2025, delaying when private sellers receive payment until the item is confirmed to have been delivered – more details on this below
- Forcing private sellers to pay for their postage through eBay on eligible items. No confirmed date but will happen in early 2025
The plans follow eBay eliminating its “regulatory operating fees” for private UK sellers in October this year, just six months after introducing them in April.
It is understood eBay the shift away towards buyer fees with added protections comes as evidence shows that people in the UK are more motivated to use the platform when it’s free to sell, even if they have to pay a buyer fee instead.
Introducing a buyer fee would bring eBay in line with competitors like Vinted and Depop, which have both ditched seller fees in favour of a buyer fee over the past few years.
But consumer expert Scott Dixon, of blog The Complaints Resolver, said: “Buyers and sellers with invariably factor in these additional charges and changes, which may deter them from using eBay and see them trading on other platforms which offer more competitive terms and conditions”.
Introducing a buyer fee
Ebay has confirmed to The Sun this week that it will introduce a buyer-facing fee sometime in 2025, although it has not yet planned an exact date.
It is understood the so-called “Buyer Protection” fee will increase the support on offer for buyers so they can get extra peace of mind when shopping on the platform.
They will also continue to be protected by eBay’s Money Back Guarantee and Authenticity Guarantee.
Helen Dewdney, consumer expert at The Complaining Cow, said the change is simply following competitors like Vinted and Depop, which have also moved towards buyer fees recently – but in doing so, eBay will lose the one thing that set it apart from rivals.
“Buyers not paying fees was the one thing that made eBay better than Vinted for buyers, so this may not reap the rewards eBay is hoping for in the long term,” she said.
“And, as the number of buyers reduces and the amount they will pay reduces, this will reduce the amount the seller receives. Ultimately, sellers will lose in the way they lost paying selling fees.”
Ebay seller noitsnotme was furious by the change, complaining: “If they introduce a buyer fee then I doubt I’ll buy on there at all unless it’s an absolute last resort.”
And avid eBay seller Louise Maskery said: If they introduce a buyer fee, I will probably stop buying on there too. What the heck are they playing at? This is disastrous.”
Delaying private seller payments until proof of delivery
Another major change eBay is making from early 2025 is to delay paying sellers until their item is “deemed to have been delivered”.
In fresh terms and conditions sent to sellers last week, eBay said that “proceeds from the sales of private or non-professional sellers will become available for disbursement after the item is deemed delivered to its shipping destination”.
Essentially, sellers will not get paid until their buyer confirms they have received the item.
Mr Dixon said this is positive news for users as it will “protect sellers and buyers from any perceived wrongdoing” and should “minimise disputes”.
“I see this as an additional safeguard and protection for both parties,” he explained.
But Ms Dewdney said it could cause issues for sellers if buyers don’t properly follow the instructions to confirm an item is delivered.
“Not being paid until the item is delivered will frustrate sellers, as many buyers will forget to process that they have received the item, and eBay has not been clear about how it will deal with this issue,” she said.
Ebay user Ms Maskery said: “I won’t sell on there if they’re going to hold the money up until it’s been delivered.
“I’ve spoken to someone recently who had proof of delivery from Royal Mail and eBay still upheld the buyer’s claim that they hadn’t received the item, so I don’t trust that this is fair on sellers.”
Making sellers pay for postage through eBay
Sellers will have to start buying their postage through eBay sometime next year under plans by the platform.
Private sellers will have to use eBay’s “managed shipping” by the end of the first quarter of next year.
This means sellers must confirm a parcel size and then eBay then arranges the shipping, at what it says are “competitive rates”.
Managed shipping is currently available for pre-owned clothing listings for private sellers in the UK, but it is understood eBay is expanding this across all listings on an “opt out” basis over the next few months before mandating the program in early 2025 – meaning it will be compulsory.
Sellers are fully protected for any loss or damage to their items during transit under managed shipping.
Seller misterthrifty said the change would hugely impact their costs as they are currently able to post for very cheap.
They said: “If I am forced to use eBay postage options, then this will have a big impact on my costs.
“I started selling on eBay about 15 years ago partly because I had a lot of stamps to use up, so I could send parcels for little cost.
“I can buy postage a lot cheaper than Post Office prices, keeping down my postage expense. I will seriously be thinking about giving up on eBay over the next few months.”
Ebay declined to add further comment when approached by The Sun.
How does eBay compare to rival platforms?
Ebay is following some major competitors in moving towards a buyer fee instead of charging sellers.
Vinted introduced a buyer protection fee in 2016, coinciding with the removal of seller fees. For orders under £500, this is a fixed fee of between 30p and 80p, plus between 3% and 8% of the sale price. Over £500 it is a flat fee of 3%.
Meanwhile, Depop introduced a buyer fee from April 15 2024 of up to 5% of the purchase price, plus a fixed amount of up to £1 per item. This excludes tax and postage costs.
Vinted currently also offers a managed shipping option for sellers, which allows them to choose which carriers they would like to offer to deliver their items.
Buyers can then choose which carrier they want to use and must pay that fixed postage cost.
Depop sellers can either use Depop Shipping, which is provided by carrier Evri, or they can select “other” and pick their own delivery provider.
In terms of holding onto funds, Depop sellers are paid within 10 working days, but many sellers have reported being paid almost immediately.
Meanwhile, Vinted sellers are paid within two working days of a “completed order”. This is when a buyer either confirms “everything is OK”, or two days after the buyer gets their order but does not report any issues.
Do you need to pay tax on items sold on Vinted?
QUICK facts on tax from the team at Vinted...
- The only time that an item might be taxable is if it sells for more than £6,000 and there is profit (sells for more than you paid for it). Even then, you can use your capital gains tax-free allowance of £3,000 to offset it.
- Generally, only business sellers trading for profit (buying goods with the purpose of selling for more than they paid for them) might need to pay tax. Business sellers who trade for profit can use a tax-free allowance of £1,000, which has been in place since 2017.
- More information here: vinted.co.uk/no-changes-to-taxes
