We’re in 2024 and the market is getting saturated not only for online resellers but also for marketplaces, especially in the UK.
There was a time when eBay used to rule the UK e-commerce industry but the good old days are now gone.
Now, eBay is facing fierce competition from other big rivals like Amazon, Etsy, and Poshmark. Even comparatively small players like Vinted and Depop are posing a threat to eBay in the UK by scraping the selling fees.
As a reaction, eBay announced that from 8 April 2024, the fees for selling pre-owned clothing will be waived for UK sellers.
Ebay not only dropped selling fees for second-hand clothing but also for clothing items that are brand new and have never been worn, moreover, still have tags on them.
It’s also important to know that existing pre-owned clothing listings that were listed before April 8 will also get the benefit of the fee waiver.
Moreover, the fee waiver scheme is only applicable to clothing and apparel listings and won’t be applied to any fashion accessories, including handbags, watches, and jewelry.
Remember that eBay not only waived the 12.8% selling fee of the total amount of the sale but also dropped the 30p per order final value fee.
In addition, sellers who are selling pre-loved clothing items won’t be charged the 0.42% regulatory operating fee.
Why eBay Drops Fees?
As we discussed earlier, eBay drops fees for selling pre-owned clothing items because other marketplaces like Vinted and Depop have also done so. But that’s not the only reason.
According to Kirsty Keoghan who is the GM Global Fashion of eBay:
“With the average shopper hoarding over £400 worth of unworn clothes, it’s about time we get the nation selling. Together, let’s tackle the nation’s overflowing wardrobes, help people earn extra cash and keep clothes out of landfill.”
So, eBay drops fees for selling pre-owned clothes in the UK because they want to encourage people to sell their unused clothes and reduce waste.
Many people have lots of clothes they don’t wear, and by making it free to sell these items, eBay hopes to motivate more people to sell and earn extra money while keeping clothes out of landfills.
Since 1995, eBay has been a big place for people to buy and sell used stuff. Now, they’re making it even easier for folks to sell pre-loved clothes without charging them fees. They’re really pushing for buying secondhand things to be the first choice for people.
eBay has been doing some cool stuff to help the environment too, like their Circular Fashion Fund and team up with Love Island.
Last year, just by selling used clothes, eBay stopped over 1.6 million kilograms of trash from ending up in landfills. That’s like stopping 4 million shirts from being thrown away!
Good News for Online Resellers
This eBay decision is like a golden opportunity for resellers selling second-hand clothes.
If you want to resell pre-loved clothing items, normally, you’d have to pay fees to list them on eBay. But now, eBay is saying “Hey, no fees for you!” That’s awesome news for online resellers because it means they can put more money in their pockets.
Think about it this way. If you don’t have to spend money on fees, you can either keep the prices lower for your buyers or make more profit for yourself.
It’s like making more sales without having to sacrifice your profits. Plus, eBay is letting you list unworn clothes with tags still on them for free too. That’s an additional reason to celebrate!
This move by eBay is also great for buyers. With more sellers able to list their items for free, there will likely be a bigger variety of clothes to choose from. And since sellers won’t have to cover those listing fees, they might be more willing to negotiate prices or offer discounts.
So, it’s a win-win situation for those looking to buy or sell pre-loved clothing on eBay!
