Selling baseball cards on eBay can be a lucrative hobby or side business, but it’s important for sellers to understand the various fees they will incur. eBay charges several types of fees on transactions to list items, sell items, and process payments. When listing large volumes of baseball cards, these fees can really add up. With the right strategies, sellers can maximize their profits after fees.
The main fees eBay charges for baseball card sales are the listing fee, final value fee, payment processing fee, and any applicable extra charges. Let’s break down each one in more detail:
Listing Fee: This fee is charged any time you create a new listing for an item on eBay, regardless of whether the item sells or not. For most baseball cards, the listing fee is $0.35 per listing. You can offer multiple cards in a single listing to save on this fee.
Final Value Fee: This fee is a percentage of the final sale price, including shipping costs. For baseball cards, the final value fee is generally 10% of the sale amount. So on a $10 sale, the final value fee would be $1. This fee only applies if the item actually sells.
Payment Processing Fee: In addition to the final value fee, eBay charges a payment processing fee to cover the costs of accepting payments through eBay’s system. This fee is generally 2.9% + $0.30 of the total sale amount. So on a $10 sale, the payment processing fee would be $0.59 (2.9% of $10 is $0.29, plus $0.30).
Extra Charges: In some cases, eBay may charge additional fees on top of the standard listing and final value fees. For example, there is a fee for relisting an unsold item or exceeding your monthly listing limit. Sellers should be aware of any potential extra charges that could impact their bottom line.
To reduce fees, sellers have some options. They can offer combined shipping discounts, offer multiple cards in a single listing, run promotions to boost sales velocity, and achieve eBay’s Top Rated Seller status for a 5% discount on final value fees. Sellers should also price items competitively to sell quickly and avoid fees from unsold listings.
For higher volume baseball card sellers, it may make sense to use a flat monthly fee service like eBay Store subscription or managed payment accounts. eBay Store costs $24.95/month but includes unlimited listings and other perks. Managed payments charge a slightly higher 2.9% + $0.30 fee but consolidate all payments through one account.
In addition to fees, sellers should also account for other costs like supplies, shipping materials and postage, inventory storage, and time spent photographing, listing, packing, and shipping items. After factoring in all applicable fees and costs, sellers need to ensure their profit margins are high enough to make selling baseball cards worthwhile as either a side business or full-time venture.
With the right strategies, it is possible for baseball card sellers to earn substantial profits even after eBay fees. The key is optimizing listings for high sell-through rates, bundling cards when possible to reduce per-item fees, and leveraging programs like Top Rated Seller status for discounts. Sellers also need to price competitively within the current baseball card market. By understanding all applicable eBay fees upfront and accounting for them accurately in business plans and financial projections, baseball card sellers can maximize their earnings over time.
