eBay cuts sellers fees

Online auction behemoth eBay is planning to cut fees for sellers offering goods at fixed prices.

The firm's bid to regain position from rivals such as Amazon will see the charges for sellers using the 'Buy It Now' marketplace reduced.

eBay estimates some 178,000 people in Britain make a primary or secondary living from selling on the site, but the move is in part aimed at encouraging more firms to trade through the site.

The Buy It Now facility now accounts for 43 per cent of total sales on eBay in the last quarter – up from 39 per cent in 2007.

The firm claims most sellers will see fees fall because of the changes.

Clare Gilmartin, UK director of marketplaces for eBay, said: “Today’s improvements will remove barriers for sellers, so they can make the most of this opportunity and offer even more goods for sale on eBay.co.uk.

“That means even greater choice for buyers, and in turn, greater success for sellers.”

Under the changes, sellers will not be charged to list items separately, but will charge around 15p to list any number of the same types of fixed-price items.

It should allow larger stores to list their entire catalogues more cheaply as well as aiding smaller traders.

Items will also be listed for 30 days instead of seven.

Ebay now oversees sales of £30 billion worth of goods a year internationally, with an estimated two-thirds of UK internet shoppers visiting the site each month.

Further details of the price changes are available at http://pages.ebay.co.uk/pricechange08/.