EBay had already removed such fees for fashion earlier this year amid increasing competition from rival sites such as Depop and Vinted. EBay said the change had already led to a double-digit increase in listings for popular items such as jeans, shirts, and dresses.
The auction site has now removed fees for private sellers across all categories, except motor (car, motorcycle and vehicle listings). This means that private sellers will no longer pay final value fees or regulatory operating fees when they sell on eBay.
However, buyers are set to face a charge from early next year. Details of the charge are not yet known.
EBay has also added new features including simplified listings and eBay balances, which it said will make selling easier and safer.
With ‘Simplified Selling’, sellers can list items across categories within minutes using guidance about the best pricing and shipping options, alongside AI-generated descriptions and photo-enhancing tools.
‘Simple Delivery’ offers sellers a tracked and fully covered delivery at competitive rates, prepaid by the buyer.
EBay ‘Local’ lets shoppers find nearby items available for in-person collection, while being protected by eBay’s Money Back Guarantee. Sellers’ listings will have increased visibility with local buyers, along with an easy and secure payment process.
Starting from mid-October, ‘eBay Balance’ gives sellers the flexibility to use their earnings to shop on eBay, promote their listings, purchase delivery labels or withdraw available funds.
Kirsty Keoghan, general manager of eBay UK, said: “EBay is constantly improving the marketplace experience in order to deliver on what our customers want. Removing selling fees across categories is designed to give buyers access to greater breadth and depth of inventory, while creating a simplified and streamlined experience for sellers.”
According to eBay, with an estimated 294 million unused items in homes across the nation, there is an estimated resale potential of more than £9bn to be unlocked.
Half of households value their unused items at between £50 and £300, with nearly a quarter (24%) of UK households sitting on items worth more than £500. EBay research found the most commonly unused items in UK homes include adult clothing (44%), DVDs and/or CDs (33%) and technology items (27%).
According to eBay, the majority (56%) of people sell items they no longer use to make money, with almost half (47%) finding it more sustainable than throwing them away.
Related: EBay’s Amex ban takes effect today
