If you sell on eBay.com then you’ll want to check your seller dashboard today, as eBay are now charging 4% fines for sellers with very high service metrics. Sellers who have a high number of returns for Item not as described will pay an additional 4% of the final value fee as a fine and there are no category fee caps.
“Starting October 1, 2018, if you have very high rates of “item not as described” returns you may be subject to additional 4% final value fee in affected categories based on the Service Metrics policy. Maximum fee caps do not apply to the additional 4% final value fees. See our selling fees article for more information on how final value fees are calculated.”
– eBay
The good news is that the 4% fines will only apply in categories where eBay judge you to have very high service metrics. In all other categories that you sell in you’ll still pay the same fees and the fines also on’t impact your overall seller rating – even if you get the fines you can retain Top Rated Seller status if you qualify.
As an example, if you sell in a category where the final value fees are normally 8% and you’re subject to the 4% fine in that category then you’ll be paying 12% final value fees – an increase of 50% to your eBay invoice.
As a reminder, don’t forget that the fines starting on the 1st of October aren’t the only penalty that eBay will impose. From the 1st of November, sellers on eBay.com who have very high service metrics for “item not received” requests may also be subject to extended delivery estimates in affected categories.
