FEE UPDATES FOR GREATER SELLING SUCCESS
As one of the world’s largest marketplaces, eBay is always looking for ways to keep shoppers coming back. We want to make it easy for them to find and buy the items they’re looking for. To improve the visibility of sought-after merchandise—and help sellers increase their sales—eBay is updating fees and amending some listing features to encourage sellers to use the most effective listing format and durations.
We’re bringing the excitement back to auctions
Auction selling is a premium format that’s ideal for exclusive items, such as antiques, collectibles, limited items, or true one-of-a-kind merchandise. It’s a place where the market determines the price. With this update, we’re offering sellers unlimited insertion fee credits for listings that sell in auction (see details below). This will encourage sellers to list items that are more likely to sell in auctions, are more attractively priced, and listed long enough to drive buyer interest and engagement.
What to expect
Starting in May, eBay sellers will receive unlimited insertion fee credits for auction-style listings that end in a sale (exclusions apply†), and we will introduce adjustments to the monthly allotments of free listings*—zero insertion fees—for both eBay Stores subscribers and sellers without an eBay Store. Additional changes include adjustments to listing duration feature fees, listing insertion fees and additional category specific changes.
These changes are intended to improve the overall marketplace, and will offer most sellers the opportunity to pay the same or less in fees by reviewing their current listing strategy and making adjustments to achieve greater selling success.
Highlights
Starting May 1:
Unlimited insertion fee credits for auction-style listings that end in a sale. As an incentive for using the auction-style format successfully, sellers will be credited for the insertion fee on auction-style listings when that item sells (See details).
Listing duration and feature fee updates
The 10-day duration on auction-style listings will no longer have an added feature fee. Sellers can maximize visibility and enjoy our longest auction-style duration.
Sellers who choose 1- or 3-day auction-style listing durations will be charged a $1 special duration feature fee per listing. Charging this fee will help discourage the use of shorter durations where they are least successful.
The feature fee for Reserve Price will increase to the greater of $3, or 2% of the reserve price (minimum price that must be met for your item to sell), with a cap of $100. Consider using fixed price with a Best Offer option if you know the market value of your item, but may be willing to accept a lower price.
Adjustments to monthly allotment and insertion fees. To complement the unlimited insertion fee credits on auction-style listings that end in a sale†, we’re adjusting the monthly allotments of free listings*—zero insertion fees—for all sellers.
All media category items listed in the fixed price format will now have the same insertion fee as other category listings.
For sellers with an eBay Stores subscription, the monthly allotments of free listings* will now be dedicated to fixed price listings, and, for listings in Collectibles categories, sellers will receive 100 additional free auction-style listings* per month.
eBay Stores
Subscription Level
Basic
Premium
Anchor
Fixed price monthly listing allotment
150
500
2,500
Auction-style monthly listing allotment for Collectibles only
100
100
100
Insertion fee after monthly allotment (Exclusions apply†)
Auction-style (credited to you for successful listings)
$0.25
$0.15
$0.10
Fixed price
$0.20
$0.10
$0.05
For sellers without an eBay Stores subscription, it’s still free to list.
Sellers without a subscription will receive 20 free listings* per month, which can be used to create auction-style or fixed price listings.
For listings in the Collectibles categories, sellers will receive an additional 20 free auction-style listings* per month.
Sellers will be credited for the insertion fee on auction-style listings when that item sells†.
Final value fee cap introduced for listings in heavy equipment for eBay Stores subscribers: eBay Stores subscribers who sell in the Heavy Equipment, Concession Trailers & Carts, Imaging & Aesthetics Equipment, and Commercial Printing Presses categories will benefit from a final value fee cap of $250, where previously there was not a cap at all.
Take Action
Review the summary of fee and feature changes that take effect on May 1.
Review your listing practices.
If you’re using 1– or 3–day for auction–style—consider using longer durations such as 7– or 10–day durations, to avoid paying a feature fee and to keep your item on the site longer for buyers.
To increase the likelihood of selling your item in auctions, use auction-style listings for premium or limited items with high buyer demand and use fixed price listings when you can list your item at a set price so that buyers can purchase it right away.
Determine if an eBay Stores subscription will save you more in fees, especially with consideration to reduced final value fees. Subscriptions start as low as $15.95 a month. Learn more.
Best Practices
Take full advantage of your monthly allotment—list more!
Consider the listing format. Generally, fixed price is best for items that have a clear market value or you know the price wanted, while auction is best for items whose value may fluctuate, when price is unknown, or when there is intense buyer demand for a limited item.
Revisit your listings often to consider changes—especially to the price, title and photos—that will increase the likelihood of a sale. Search sold listings on eBay to find recent market values.
Choose longer durations, as the longer a listing appears on the site, the more opportunities it has to be found by buyers: 7– or 10–day for auction–style—now with no feature fee—and Good ’Til Cancelled for fixed price listings.
Load up on pictures! Up to 12 pictures are FREE on most listings, and adding beautiful, high quality pictures go a long way to help sell your items. Be sure to optimize for mobile buyers by uploading your pictures using eBay picture services instead of putting them in your description with HTML.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is eBay making this change?
We want all eBay sellers to succeed by creating high-quality listings that turn the millions of eBay browsers into buyers, and keep them coming back for more. These updates are designed to incent sellers to create winning listings in the most appropriate format: fixed price when you know an item’s value, and auction-style when you are unsure of the value of your item. We hope sellers will also enjoy increased buyer engagement, increased conversion, and most sellers will experience no change in fees, while some will have the opportunity to pay less in fees by reviewing their current listing strategy and making adjustments.
How does this change benefit me?
Most sellers will experience no change in fees and can benefit from these updates by continuing to follow best practices with their listing strategies. Some will have the opportunity to pay less in fees by reviewing their current listing strategy and making adjustments. These adjustments will help sellers create sales-winning listings in the most appropriate format. By making these adjustments, sellers can improve item visibility and reduce clutter on the site—as well as potentially increase buyer engagement and conversion.
Are my overall fees going to change?
We don’t expect the overall fees to change significantly for most sellers. Some sellers may see an increase in fees, which can be reduced by adjusting their listing format, listing duration and improving the quality of their listings. Most sellers will see their fees stay the same or decrease.
Why is eBay changing the free monthly listing allotments? As a result, how should I change my listing strategy?
These changes are intended to improve the overall marketplace by making it easier for shoppers to find and buy the items they’re looking for—and help sellers increase their sales. Review your current listing strategy as most sellers have the opportunity to pay the same or less in fees.
If you are listing more than 20 items per month, you will likely benefit by subscribing to an eBay Store. With an eBay Store you’ll receive: more free listings* (150 for Basic Stores subscribers with another 100 auction style listings in collectibles), discounts on your final value fees, powerful marketing tools, and more. Subscriptions start as low as $15.95 a month.
Start by re-evaluating your listing strategies and following best practices:
Use fixed price listing formats more often, especially for items that have a clear market value and when you know the price you want for your item so that buyers can purchase it right away. Use auction-style listings for premium items—when the value may fluctuate, when price is unknown, or when there is intense buyer demand for a limited item. As an incentive for using the auction-style format successfully, sellers will be credited for the insertion fee on auction-style listings when that item sells†.
Choose a longer duration for your listings. Consider 7- or 10-day for most auction–style listings—now with no feature fee, as the longer a listing appears on the site, the more opportunities it has to be found by buyers. Use 1- or 3-day auction durations for time-sensitive items only, such as event tickets.
Modify your listings—the price, title, description, and photos—to increase the likelihood of a sale. Search sold listings on eBay to find recent market values. Use lots of pictures—you get up to 12 pictures free on most listings.
Will there be any change to Motors Vehicles and Real Estate fees?
There are no changes to Motors Vehicles or Real Estate fees at this time.
What changes ca