eBay UK is eliminating selling fees for private sellers across all categories except motors to compete with platforms like Depop and Vinted.
- Private sellers will benefit as final value and regulatory fees are removed, enhancing their selling experience.
- The change follows a similar decision in April for clothing, which resulted in a significant increase in listings and helped reduce landfill.
- eBay enhances the platform with simplified, time-efficient listing and AI-generated descriptions to attract more sellers.
- New features include eBay Local for in-person collection and eBay Balance for flexible use of earnings.
eBay UK has made a strategic move to eliminate selling fees for private sellers across all categories except motors, in a bid to better compete with rapidly growing online marketplaces such as Depop and Vinted. By removing final value fees and regulatory operating fees, private sellers are expected to face a more streamlined and cost-effective experience when using the platform. This initiative is a continuation of eBay UK’s efforts, initially started in April when it removed selling fees for clothing, a decision that resulted in a double-digit increase in clothing listings, significantly reducing items going to landfill.
The transformation comes as eBay seeks to enhance its marketplace experience further, focusing on providing simplicity and security for sellers. The implementation of simplified selling allows users to list items within minutes, complete with advice on optimal pricing and shipping options. In addition, eBay has introduced AI-generated descriptions and photo-enhancement tools designed to make the process faster and more efficient.
Continuing its innovative approach, eBay is rolling out a new delivery feature that offers sellers a tracked and fully-covered delivery, prepaid by the buyer. This new system ensures that sellers have a seamless experience, minimising potential delivery issues and enhancing buyer confidence. Meanwhile, eBay Local is another fresh feature, enabling customers to find items located nearby that are available for in-person collection, catering to those preferring a direct purchase approach.
From mid-October, eBay UK will introduce eBay Balance, a feature that empowers sellers by allowing them to use their sales earnings flexibly. Sellers will have the option to shop on the platform, promote their listings, purchase delivery labels, or withdraw available funds. This added flexibility is anticipated to strengthen seller engagement and versatility in managing finances within the ecosystem.
Kirsty Keoghan, eBay UK’s General Manager, emphasised that by removing selling fees, the marketplace is aligning more closely with customer demands. According to Keoghan, creating a simplified and streamlined experience for sellers is integral to providing buyers with greater access to a diverse inventory, enhancing overall user satisfaction.
These strategic changes underline eBay UK’s commitment to evolving its platform to meet both seller needs and market demands.
