eBay introduces new Vinted-style buyer protection fee

Ecommerce giant, eBay first announced that it was removing selling fees for private (C2C) sellers last October.

eBay is a popular choice for side hustlers because it’s a quick and easy way to start a business and connect with buyers worldwide with little upfront cost.

At the time, we predicted that eBay would follow in the footsteps of platforms like Vinted and Depop by introducing a buyer fee. Our crystal ball was right.

Earlier this week, the platform confirmed it will roll out a new ‘buyer protection fee’ to private sellers from February 4th.

What is a buyer protection fee?

A buyer protection fee is a charge that applies to transactions to cover the cost of buyer protection services. This fee helps ensure that if a buyer doesn’t receive an item as described, the item is damaged or ends up lost in transit, they can get a refund or a resolution. 

If you’re running an eBay side hustle, this can help create safer and more trusted transactions. Buyers are given peace of mind, knowing they can be reimbursed if something goes wrong, in turn reducing the risk of disputes, chargebacks or negative customer feedback.

The fee is typically a small percentage of the total purchase price and is meant to cover the administrative costs of handling disputes and claims. For eBay specifically, buyers will pay up to 4% of the item price, plus 75p, if they purchase items from a private seller.

The fee is lower for items priced over £300, and there’s also a cap on the total amount that buyers will have to pay.

What else has changed?

Aside from the new buyer protection fee, eBay has also upped its customer service efforts for sellers with 24/7 support, allowing them to connect with a representative via the phone or through a live chat.

The platform has also implemented improved seller protections, including in the case of fraudulent returns and offering postage credits for false buyer claims.

Additionally, sellers now have access to 1:1 support with Seller Clinics for personalised business advice.

How expensive is eBay to sell on?

This new policy is similar to other resale platforms, such as Vinted and Depop, which have already introduced buyer protection fees. But how does it affect eBay’s overall selling costs?

Here’s what we found when comparing eBay’s prices to the likes of Amazon, Vinted, Depop and Etsy.

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