For many years, eBay has grown revenue faster than GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume), much of it due to revenue from advertising and payment-processing fees. But in the fourth quarter of 2024, GMV grew higher than the company’s revenue, year-over-year.
In Q4, eBay revenue was $2.6 billion, up 1% on an as-reported and FX-Neutral basis, while GMV was $19.3 billion, up 4% on an as-reported basis and up 3% on an FX-Neutral basis.
For the full year 2024, eBay revenue grew 2% to $10.3 billion, and it grew GMV to $74.7 billion – up 2% on an as-reported basis and up 1% on an FX-Neutral basis.
eBay CEO Jamie Iannone was quoted in today’s press release as follows:
“eBay achieved three consecutive quarters of GMV growth to end 2024, and we took significant steps toward our vision of reinventing the future of ecommerce for enthusiasts. I’m proud of how the team has innovated for our buyers and sellers, which has driven significant value for shareholders.”
eBay Chief Financial Officer Steve Priest was quoted as follows:
“eBay delivered strong results in the fourth quarter, as we met or exceeded expectations across our key financial metrics. We created a solid foundation to build upon in 2025, and our outlook reflects our confidence in eBay’s ability to drive sustainable, long-term growth.”
eBay also published some business highlights, including the following of particular interest to sellers:
“eBay made a significant investment in the U.K. market to improve the customer experience for consumer-to-consumer (C2C) sellers, including introducing a simplified listing flow on mobile, launching eBay Balance and Managed Shipping, and revamping local pickup and discovery capabilities. eBay also eliminated final value fees and regulatory operating fees for U.K. C2C sellers across all categories, excluding motor vehicles.
“eBay expanded its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered magical bulk listing tool from Sports Trading Cards to all categories in the U.S., making it faster and easier for sellers to create detailed, eye-catching listings and get more inventory in front of buyers.
“eBay’s total advertising offerings generated $445 million of revenue in the fourth quarter, representing 2.3% of GMV. The company’s first-party advertising products delivered $434 million of revenue in the fourth quarter, up 18% on an as-reported basis and up 16% on an FX-Neutral basis.”
The full press release is published on the eBay Inc. website.
magical innovations
Some times the REAL truth slips out (saying the quiet part outloud) “which has driven significant value for shareholders”.
“In Q4, eBay revenue was $2.6 billion, up 1% on an as-reported and FX-Neutral basis”, well yes – its called CHRISTMAS/HANUKA and so OF COURSE in Q4 sales went up (geniuses).
Well it went up a WHOLE %1 … how much book cooking did it take to stretch the numbers to make it to that %1 ?
“we took significant steps toward our vision of reinventing the future of ecommerce” – HOW EXACTLY???? eBay isnt any better NOW then it was before. Have your sales INCREASED? (a question for most sellers) and Id have to answer for them and say NO. Has eBay treated you better in 2025? Again Id have to say NO. CS isnt any better, the TOS is still slanted against sellers and eBay still says we are NOISE.
” I’m proud of how the team has innovated for our buyers and sellers” – NO, no you havent. Trying to sell us advertising or pay per click ISNT an innovation.
Useless people … what a shame.
“eBay isnt any better NOW then it was before. Have your sales INCREASED? (a question for most sellers) and Id have to answer for them and say NO.”
OR maybe eBay is held hostage by Sellers who sell products nobody wants anymore. And you don’t have the data on ecommercebytes for “most sellers”…just a few sellers.
eBay is making good money in “luxury” and auto parts. Somehow, you choose to not believe that.
I realize a big part of this increase is higher promoted advertising? How much of the increase was aided by higher shipping rates? Since eBay automatically gets more every time the carriers raise rates.
I am also concerned that eBay continues to spend massively on a non productive activity – stock buybacks. The funds going toward that would be better spent on advertising to attract more buyers.
Yep, USPS had 4 rate increase’s last year, UPS and Fedex also had increases. I’m surprised ebay didn’t earn more then 1%, seems they lost money
Good for eBay. They did much better than Etsy because eBay promotes shops with higher price points.
Also, retail data for Q4 was hit-&-miss for many retailers. Some did well, some did not. The reality…Since Covid, the consumer continues to spend heavy on experiences, rather than products they don’t need.
“OR maybe eBay is held hostage by Sellers who sell products nobody wants anymore. And you don’t have the data on ecommercebytes for “most sellers”…just a few sellers. ”
OR Autobay, Pokemonbay, Sneakerbay could actually work on SELLING (LETTING SELLERS SELL) items – that is their mission statement isnt it?
“At eBay, we create pathways to connect millions of sellers and buyers.” DOesnt say Luxury or car parts anywhere.
The point HERE was that eBay increased its GMV – much of it due to revenue from advertising and payment-processing fees – AND NOT DUE TO SELLING ITEMS aka FVF.
eBay “promotes” whom it wants when it wants, yet lies and says “We connect people and build communities to create economic opportunity for all. At eBay, we create pathways to connect millions of sellers and buyers in more than 190 markets around the world.”
Funny, it doesnt mention being in the banking business or the advertising business …..
I dont know where you source goods from – but industry standard (even for lux goods) is Keystone – aka %50. How much can any seller give away? You already give up %13 or so just for the FVF, never mind the kick up on Postage and the small slice percentages you loose when eBay holds your funds for a day or so before releasing them to you.
Maybe concentrate on making sales, and not doing ANYTHING else??? (eBay’s tagline is “Buy it. Sell it. Love it.”. This tagline reflects eBay’s role as an online marketplace)