Thread: Seller's handling fees.

I had no idea sellers could add handling fees on ebay. Is this ebay usa or somewhere else?

Always good to check feedback on the seller

This is ebay.com

Originally Posted by jimmyfingers

I had no idea sellers could add handling fees on ebay. Is this ebay usa or somewhere else?

Always good to check feedback on the seller

Was there a "shipping" fee listed in the original listing?
If you click on see all details on the shipping amount
or "Shipping and Payments" there is a tab
"shipping and handling"... Also there is a change log
for each auction . If something changed between
your bit and the close of the auction....

I'm not disbelieving anyone specifically, however, I have a hard time believing that it's an allowable practice for a seller to tack on completely undisclosed fees after an auction ends and then force a buyer to pay said fees or be dinged as a buyer for not doing so. I'm not clear if that's what's being described here, but if true, why would anyone want to buy on Ebay if the actual price would potentially be unknown and the buyer penalized for not paying?

Chris L

I cannot find the original Ebay invoice or my correspondance sent to the seller as this happened just before Xmas I was able for find two of his responces to my complaint of him adding his handling fee after the auction ended. The shipping was listed in the auction and was borederline unreasonable there was no mention of any handling fee in the auction. I had the cost of shipping already factored it into my max bid. Here are his responces after I refused to pay and told him to make a second chance offer to the next bidder.


I 'm not sure of you're meaning...?
I have re-invoiced you for just your calulated shipping rates which were in the eBay ad....
Once your payment has cleared I will get the item to the post office ASAP & on its way to you safely insured.
Sorry for the confusion & happy holidays....
Thank you



I did not understand your one message.
Are you having problems paying for the item you bid on & won...?
Payment is due within 5 days after the auction close.
I sent you a new invoice & I took off our handling fee to lower your shipping cost and yet no word from you?
To be fair to you I will wait until 11:23 tomorrow to hear back from you.
Your follow through as a ebay buyer is in question...?
Thank you very much

It's a violation of eBay rules to "require the buyer to pay an amount beyond the final price and a reasonable shipping fee." eBay considers this a form of seller fee avoidance, and is listed here under "Offering or requiring additional purchases":

"You can’t offer or require the buyer to:

• Make an additional purchase
• Pay an amount beyond the final price and a reasonable shipping fee
• Sign up for a service with the purchase
• Take any unrelated action (such as pay for a hotel room) as a condition for receiving the item or its benefit (such as free or discounted airfare)"

There's always wiggle room for interpretation of "a reasonable shipping fee," but the seller's "handling" is baked into the very concept of selling on eBay: if the seller doesn't want to get off their behind, pack something, and take it to the post office to ship it, then they probably shouldn't be using eBay to sell it. The local Classifieds, Thrifty Nickel, Yard Sale, or Flea Market table might be an option for them.

If the seller wants to ensure their valuable time and effort is equitably rewarded by the final eBay selling price, they should simply set a reserve. Otherwise, it's a straight-up auction - you list it, folks bid, and you sell it for the highest bid you get. The allure of eBay to sellers is that they get access to a worldwide customer base to buy what they're selling.

In my experience, I think it still works like this: money = work

Heck, if there's no rules, I'll sell a CD and charge a $1000 "handling fee" to the buyer

I gots bills to pay

If it is against Ebay policy why does Ebay allow the seller to add handling fee's to the Ebay invoice? There is a box specificaly for handling and the seller can input whatever amount they wish.