eBay buyers will face new charges this week as the platform overhauls its fee structure. Starting Tuesday, February 4, 2025, a mandatory 'buyer protection fee' will apply to all purchases from private sellers.  

The fee includes a flat 75p charge per item, applied once per listing for multiple-item purchases. Additionally, buyers will pay 4% on the item price up to £300 and 2% on any portion between £300 and £4,000.  

For example, a £20 item will come with a 75p flat fee plus an 80p variable fee, totaling £1.55 extra before postage.  

Purchasing two £5 items in the same listing would result in a 75p flat fee and a 40p variable fee (4% of £5 x 2).  

Fees are capped at £86.75, with no extra charges beyond £4,000.

Business seller listings will be exempt from eBay's new buyer protection fee, as they already pay selling fees.

The fee also won’t apply to private sellers outside the UK or to listings for vehicles, classified ads, and property.

This change follows eBay’s recent removal of private selling fees to compete with platforms like Vinted and Depop, which also charge mandatory buyer fees instead of seller fees.

For comparison, Vinted charges 30–80p for orders under £500 or 3% for items over £500, while Depop charges up to 4% plus a fixed fee of up to £1.

Under eBay’s updated rules, private sellers no longer pay final value or regulatory fees, saving the usual 13.22%. However, free listings are now capped at 300 per month instead of 1,000, with a 35p charge per listing beyond that.

Additionally, eBay's buyer protection changes mean payments will be held until delivery is confirmed, reducing fraud concerns. Buyers will also have access to 24/7 customer support.

An eBay spokesperson stated: “The buyer fee helps fund protection services, ensuring a safe and trusted experience when purchasing from private sellers.”

However, many users are frustrated, especially those selling low-cost items.

One X user complained: “Extortionate fees—87p on a £2.99 item! Buyers pay more, sellers lose out. Everyone gets ripped off.”

Another added: “Selling a £1 baseball card? The buyer pays nearly the same in ‘protection’ fees. Ridiculous!”