August 13, 2008

What century are we in?

Because I thought I should be able to figure out ebay with little to no thought at all.

I was wrong.

I wrestled my way through the listing process. Checked my email regularly. PRAYED that my item would go for more than 99cents. and waited.

7 days later it sold (for more than 99 cents!!) and I had to wrestle with paypal. I guessed my way through the process. Seemed to work fine.

Until I realized that I am supposed to pay ebay a portion of my profit.

Now, I was totally aware of that from the get go. I just didn't know HOW to do it. A few months (weeks?) after my item sold I noticed an ebay fee taken from my bank account. I have no idea how much they were supposed to take so I don't know if the amount missing was with additional fines or not. (shame on me for not knowing the correct numbers!)

SO, my computer savvy, 21st century friends, I ask you

How does ebay work?



I mean, fast forward through the listing stuff, I can get that part (kinda) My main question to you is How do they get their money?

I need help.

Thank you. :)

2 comments:

Jen said...

They get their money because people pay to list on their site. I think they withdrawl fees on a monthly basis. They probably got used your paypal account to get to your checking (I believe that's how it works). You might have noticed dollar/cents amounts near various options when you were posting. You can put up a "no frills" add or sup it up with all kinds of backgrounds and galleries and stuff. The fancier, the higher the fee. I also find ebay confusing. Unless I'm selling something big, it usually doesn't seem worth it - after paying ebay fees, paypal fees and hauling myself and the kids to the post office to mail the thing. Last time I sold something I think I made $1.50.

Foxy5 said...

Thanks Jen!

So they just take the money that is theirs and I don't have to pay them after my item is sold?