Selling on eBay: Fees and Pitfalls

eBay can reach a lot of buyers, but selling coins, bullion, jewelry or watches there comes with fees, costs and risks. Here is a general look from our side of the counter.

How it works

You photograph and list the item, choose auction or fixed price, wait for it to sell, then pack, insure and ship it. eBay collects payment and pays you out after the sale, minus its fees.

What the fees look like

• Coins and paper money: a final value fee of roughly 13% of the total sale on most items.
• Bullion: roughly 13.5% on most sales, with a lower rate on very large sales.
• Jewelry: around 15% on most sales, lower on the part of a high-priced sale.
• Watches: around 15% on the first part of the sale, with lower rates on higher-priced watches.
• Per-order fee: a small flat fee on each order, well under a dollar.
• The fee is figured on the total amount of the sale, which can include shipping and sales tax.

Other costs

• Shipping and insurance. Valuable items need tracked, insured, signature-confirmed shipping, and that adds up.
• Promoted listings. Paying to promote a listing adds another percentage on top of the final value fee.
• Packing supplies and your time.

Common pitfalls

• Scams. Fake payment messages, requests to deal off eBay, and buyers asking you to ship to a different address.
• “Item not as described” returns. Under the eBay Money Back Guarantee, buyers can open a case. A buyer can claim the item is different, and you may get back something other than what you sent.
• Chargebacks. eBay describes some seller protections, but they have conditions. A buyer can dispute the payment with their bank after the sale.
• Shipping loss or damage. Packages go missing, and insurance claims take time.
• Payment holds. See eBay’s page on payment holds. New or occasional sellers can have funds held for a period.
• Counterfeit claims. Coins, bullion and watches attract authenticity disputes, even on genuine items.
• Time. Photos, listing, questions, packing and returns take hours.

Related pages: Gold coins · Silver coins · Selling gold · Watches

These guides are general information, not financial or professional advice. They are a baseline reflecting our opinion, and Apex Gold Silver Coins is not liable for any errors or for decisions made based on this information. Prices and values change; bring your items in for a current offer.