The Greatest Ebay Sting.

So you set up your account, you list a few things and think - Hey this works and the prices aren't bad either!. It's all the Ebay sweetner to get you in.

You open a shop - to avoid the big listing fees andit's all rosey - So whats the problem now? Whats gone wrong?

It's a combination of thingscombined. Ebay are always striving for initiatives to take that little bit more from your profit and boost theirs - after all they are Gods and can do what they like - or sothey think. If you add all the little charges up they come to a whopping 10 to 15 percent of the total price sometimes - and a lot more on the cheaper bread and butter items.

They purchased Paypal and overnight doubled their takings (then they increased prices and made so many regulations that it's tighter than amillitary convention in Iraq, IN THEIR FAVOUR not yours (note the subtle you can claim up to $500 (doesn't mean you are covered by the way - just means if they can get it back you get it back and if they can't you're stuffed)- you try and recover money after a loss - I have and failed.Then Ebay add little things - then charge for each one eventually - the gallery picture, a little pink hi light, buy it now etc etc. If I were to rent a shop to you for say 50.00 a week with the advantage ofa high street postion and pleanty of advertising space then overnight say right I'm bricking up your windows and doubling your rent the law would be on my ass quicker than aCow pie downDesperate Dan's throat.

One things for sure - so many people around the world rely on Ebay , Ebay should look after them as they are Ebay, they make it what it is. The sooner Ebay is regulated to protect sellersfrom overnight hikes and ridiculous fees the better.Ebay has gone down hill and the spiral needs to stop before it's too late. Sellers in the categories I like have abandoned it , they don't try and sell quality items as the fees and prices mean they give away their goods - 3 Years ago and more Ebay was on the winning streak. Now it's losing the heads and God like figures that control Ebayshould re-evaluate whats gone wrong and bring back the old winning formaula.

BELOW IS A TABLE OF WHAT THE NEW PRICING MEANS TO SELLERS WITH SHOPS - THE CATEGORIES ARE

PRICE (WHAT ITEM SELLS FOR)

OLD SHOP (ORIGINAL EBAY TAKE)

NEW SHOP (WHAT EBAY NOW TAKES)

LISTED (WHAT EBAYTAKES FOR A LISTED NON SHOP AUCTION ITEM)

Currency is not an issue - the amount is the same regardless of currency.

PRICE SHOP NEW SHOP LISTED

2.50 0.17 0.245 0.13

5.00 0 34 0.49 0.2625

7.50 0.51 0.735 0.3925

10.00 0.675 0.90 0.525

20.001.35 1.500.785

30.00 2.025 2.10 1.575

40.00 2.402.70 1.895

50.00 2.775 3.30 2.22

75.00 3.15 4.30 3.03

100.00 3.525 5.30 3.845

200.00 5.025 9.307.1125

500.00 9.52 21.30 16.8625

1000.00 18.025 31.30 27.11

2500.00 44.275 61.30 53.3125

5000.00 88.025111.30 97.0625

Hope this makes the new prices clearer than Ebay Have. Thanks for looking.