As of April 1st eBay will increase their commission to a whopping 10% coming from 8,41%. That is an increase of almost 19%.
I do not mind that things get more expensive and I most definitely do not mind people making money, but you should always get value for your money. And eBay most definitely does not give value for money anymore.
What's wrong?
- Website layout
eBay still looks like an old 90's website. There has not been any real effort in pulling the site in to the 10's. Ever heard of an old thing called web 2.0? It's been around a few years.... - Website navigation
Ever tried to find anything really quick or change a setting in your profile? It is all hidden in layers and layers of pages, hidden away far beneath the earth. And question is if it even exists... like hobbits... - 404's
A lot of pages do not exist. For instance when you did not sell an item you get an email. Most of the links in those emails go nowhere.. ok somewhere.. 404. And a big company like eBay does not have a system in place that logs 404's? Then how can it call itself a tech company with a straight face? - App
Yes, there is an app for that too. But this also is barely functioning and looks like it was made by my 4 year old daughter. - Cost
If you sell something for say $10. You pay $1 to eBay and when you use PayPal and people pay you in another currency you will have to pay about $0.60-$0.70 to PayPal.
Ok, I know a lot of people are used to bigger commissions in their countries (yes, you my American friends). But the service should be in line with the cost.
Why should you care?
With this increase in cost, it will be ever more difficult for small time sellers (like me) to make some money. Eventually they too will need to increase their prices. As a consumer it looks like you do not need to pay anything for eBay, but in the end you do! So an increase in price for sellers will end up being an increase in prices for consumers.
What's next?
eBay is good in buying up the competition. Like Marktplaats here in Holland. It was a totally free platform for people to sell their goods until eBay bought it. You can still sell stuff there (yes also partially for free), but big time sellers now got the premium spots. You can have those premium spots too but at a price.
Is there really no startup out there that has the capability to build a better user experience/website? And let's say at a flat 5% commission? Build it and they will come!!
If you think the sellers deserve the money more than eBay then try to buy from them direct. And if you trust them, pay them through PayPal as "friend". That way the money goes to the seller and not eBay or PayPal.
PS do this only when you trust those people, if not... don't!
Contact me!
Got any questions? Comments? Rants? Contact me and I will answer! Maybe I will Blog about it. Let me know.
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