eBay and Etsy 'Shipping Tax' Takes Effect October 2nd

by: GetAGrip

Smart sellers have already raised shipping costs to the buyer. Its a no brainer.

by: Rexford

USPS, eBay, Etsy...........PIGS AT THE TROUGH!!!

by: terry55

Only thing we can do, raise shipping price until we just don't sell anything anymore. Ebay's just standing there with a stupid look on their face, they need to get their lobbyist on the job but then again why would they.  

by: The End

You're telling me Etsy and Ebay DON'T need government oversight ?
You're NUTZ !

by: billly

A "Holiday Shipping Tax" that literally commences almost 3 months until "the holidays", unless you consider Columbus Day and No Bra Day holidays.

by: toyspast

Since when was a one-pound Priority package to zone 9 $16.39? Sounds more like a three-pound package. One pound is somewhere around $9.  

by: Stone Cutter

And all this, as many economists believe the consumer will slow down spending this Fall.

As the Federal Reserve continues to increase interest rates, it’s been said that every interest rate increase takes a good 4 months to be felt by the consumer. Once interest rates increase on credit cards, I’m afraid Retail will begin to really suffer.

All I can do is try to be the best jewelry artist I can be, on Etsy. I’ve raised my prices by 15% in the past 6 months and sales are still good, however, it now takes longer to sell pieces.

by: Zigmund

Not enough that sales are very much down for my shop on Etsy, and my wife's shop on Rubylane( for handmade jewelry. Looks like shops from China are dominate Etsy. I haven't had a sale in the last two weeks almost, while usually I sell 2-3 posters a week. Rubylane is having their Red Tag Sale of 50% and this is the second time my wife hasn't sold a thing. The previous sale was about 5 months ago. Regarding more taxable fees....I'm sure Etsy soon will come up with a new fee, something "renewable energy" crap, or "clean air" or "new age" fee/tax...or mothf...r tax..

by: Zigmund

...and yes, I am happy to raise prices on my posters, regardless they sell or don't. We need to show the buyers, that HandMade items are have value, vs mass produced from china.

by: Lightning

@toyspast
It is correct at $16.39 for 1 lb. Priority to Zone 9.  That's because Zone 9 is the U.S. Territories.  We all ship there, right? ;)

Zone 8, coast to coast, is $9.68.  Rates obtained from PirateShip.

by: Cbaker

Those calling for “government” oversight need to be careful what they wish for.  Someone obviously isn’t watching what the “government” is doing.  Check your tax bill this year and be ready to be audited by the 87,000 new IRS agents being hired…and armed.  The USPS was given permission by “the government” raise rates so those rates are being passed on to us..nothing we can do but pass them on….and vote.  

by: JohnGermaine

I am no longer interested in online selling.  I didn't mind the fees when I started, I know that a brick and mortar is way more expensive.  But the EXTRACTION from us has become insane.  Your company is so lame that it now has to extract money from every corner to turn a profit???  Or is it your company has to extract money at every corner so the CEO can make a FAT BONUS.  Either way, I am done!  No more evilBay and no more Etsy.  Enough is enough.  I moved across the country and so shut down last December 15th as I packed it all up.  I got to my new location late March and started unpacking and putting everything back together with a plan to get rolling again.  Previous to my shut down, I saw that from my selling that I was getting home with 1/2 of what I was grossing.  I can tell that now it will be worse and I am NOT going to be working my buns off for either evilBay or Etsy and the Post Office.  I'm done.  I'm going to yardsale and Nextdoor off what I have left.  I'm going to look and see if they do BooKoo here as well.  Tired of feeling ripped off by the corporations.

by: pace306

The "Original Sin", one that we are ALL still paying for (one beloved and defended by a few here as well) is allowing sites to charge FVF on shipping.

Somehow, its our fault that eBays original business plan didnt take pricing on items and shipping costs into account. Years later after eBay realized that the dope that came up with the business plan, didnt take shipping into account - instituted a VIG on shipping.

While it may be true that from an accounting point of view, shipping is part of the total sale - but in actuality eBay has nothing to do with shipping (and makes money off it as well)(we covered this last week for those playing along) and so FVF on shipping is just a rip off (usual eBay tactic)

Had sellers stopped it then, it wouldnt matter (subject here today).

by: The End

Cbaker :
We don't have a choice.
When corporate gets full of itself and rips off the people without limits, government watchdogs become the thing.
When Government rips off the People, WE intervene.
That's how it needs to function.

by: The End

Cbaker : Oh We're watching the Government O.K.
I dare you to publicly display your U.S. Flag UPSIDEDOWN as it should be Right Now.
DO IT !

by: eastwestphoto

eBay seriously NEVER does enough about their SCAM international buyers.! Lousy thieves claim INAD lies and get to keep the item & their money back. This is why so many Professionals have left eBay! Its eBay Fault and stupidity, because Pro sellers are also Pro Buyers. This is what happens when 23 year old are running a robot company, Self Destruction, eBay's Board of directors are so lazy and dumb.  

by: NYSteve

@Billly- when exactly is 'no Bra day'  this year?

by: Stone Cutter

@Cbaker
Do you really believe that 87,000 new tax auditors will have any interest in an Ebay or Etsy seller? What a waste of auditor wages that would be! Stated by the government...these new auditors will be going after wealthy individuals and businesses who are cheating on their taxes. It is said that for every $1 dollar paid for auditors, $5 dollars will be collected.

And haven’t you been listening? USPS has been in “the hole” for many years due to a payout of expensive pension and benefit plans for their employees and its not like healthcare has gotten any cheaper. We can all debate if employees should receive those benefits, however, this shortfall is why USPS needs to increase rates.

Government Oversight keeps businesses “in-check”, which is how it should be.  

by: CBW

The fee affects me zero. I've always considered the discount shipping through EBAY as paying that fee and never refund shipping based on that difference.

If you are shipping without the EBAY discount, then you will feel the fee costs.

by: Whatever

Paying more? I guess I don't care but it would require selling something on ebay - I leave 65 standing listings - buyer pay freight and if someone wanders by great.

Meanwhile I've gone back to the "old fashion way" garage sales which are great for me - flea markets and trunk shows.