1. The 2025 Fee Reality
eBay fees are confusing. Here is the simplified breakdown for 2025:
- Standard Categories: 13.25% + $0.30 per order.
- Sneakers (>$150): 8% (If sold in Men's/Women's Athletic Shoes).
- Books/Movies: 14.95% + $0.30.
- Clothing: 13.25% (Standard).
Pro Tip: eBay charges fees on the Tax and Shipping too, not just the item price. Always account for this in our Profit Calculator.
2. Hacking "Cassini" (The Algorithm)
eBay's search engine is called Cassini. It hates stale stores. Here is how to wake it up:
- List Daily: Listing 5 items every day is better than listing 35 items on Sunday. It proves you are active.
- Fill Specifics: Never skip "Sleeve Length" or "Material." Buyers filter by these. If yours is blank, you are invisible.
- End & Sell Similar: If an item hasn't sold in 60 days, end the listing and use "Sell Similar." It treats it as a brand new item.
3. Promoted Listings Strategy
In 2025, visibility is pay-to-play. But don't overpay.
The Strategy: Use "Promoted Listings Standard" at the suggested rate cap of 2.1% - 3%. Do not use the Dynamic Rate (often 12%+) unless you have massive margins.