eBay remains the largest and most versatile resale marketplace with 130+ million active buyers worldwide. For thrift flippers, it's essential for hard goods, collectibles, electronics, and anything too niche for fashion-focused platforms. The trade-off: more complexity in fees, shipping, and seller metrics than simpler platforms like Poshmark.
This guide covers everything you need to succeed on eBay in 2025, from current fees to the Cassini search algorithm. For a side-by-side comparison with other platforms, see our platform comparison guide.
2025 Fee Structure
eBay's fees are more complex than flat-rate competitors but reward high-volume sellers who understand the system.
Final Value Fees (FVF)
The standard final value fee for non-store subscribers is 13.25% on the total amount of the sale. This includes item price, shipping paid by buyer, and sales tax. There's also a fixed $0.30 per order fee regardless of sale price.
For a $50 item with $10 shipping, you pay 13.25% of $60 = $7.95, plus $0.30 = $8.25 total fees.
Category-Specific Fees
eBay uses variable pricing to compete with vertical marketplaces:
| Category | Fee Structure |
|---|---|
| Sneakers ($150+) | 0% if authenticated (vs. StockX/GOAT) |
| Trading Cards ($7,500+) | 7% on portion above $7,500 |
| Heavy Equipment | 3% up to $15K, 0.5% above |
| High-Value Items ($7,500+) | 2.35% on portion above threshold |
Shipping Options
Unlike Poshmark's single-carrier system, eBay offers maximum flexibility—which means more decisions for sellers.
eBay International Shipping (EIS)
The EIS program is the gold standard for global resale. Ship your item to a domestic US hub, and eBay handles everything international: customs forms, postage, import duties. If the item is lost between the US hub and international buyer, eBay covers the refund—you keep your earnings.
Enable EIS for any item with international appeal. Vintage electronics, BOLO brands with global recognition, and collectibles perform especially well internationally.
Carrier Options
eBay passes through negotiated commercial rates for USPS, UPS, and FedEx. You can choose:
Calculated Shipping: Buyer pays exact cost based on their location and package dimensions. Best for heavy or variable-size items where you'd otherwise overcharge or undercharge.
Free Shipping: You build shipping costs into item price. Algorithm-favored for search visibility. Best for consistent-size items where you can predict costs.
Flat Rate: Set price regardless of destination. Useful for items with predictable dimensions shipping within a specific zone.
The Cassini Algorithm
Cassini is eBay's search engine. Understanding it determines whether your listings get seen or buried.
Title Construction
Your title is the most important SEO factor. Use this formula:
Brand + Gender + Model/Style + Size + Material + Key Features + Condition Indicators
Example: "Patagonia Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover Men's Large Blue Aztec Print Vintage"
This title hits: brand recognition, demographic targeting, specific model, size, color pattern, and vintage designation. Every word does work.
What Tanks Your Rankings
Keyword stuffing: Adding "NOT North Face" to a Patagonia listing violates policy and flags your account. Never include brands that don't apply to your item.
Generic titles: "Nice Jacket Men's Coat Blue" tells Cassini nothing. Be specific.
Poor seller metrics: eBay tracks "Item Not As Described" (INAD) returns. If your INAD rate exceeds category average, you get a 6% additional fee penalty. Many sellers ignore their Service Metrics dashboard until this hits.
Item Specifics Matter
Fill out every item specific eBay offers—brand, size, color, material, style. These populate filters that buyers use to narrow searches. Missing specifics mean you don't appear in filtered results, period.
Promoted Listings
eBay's advertising system lets you pay for placement. Two options exist:
Standard Promoted Listings
You set an ad rate (percentage of sale price). If someone clicks your promoted listing and buys within 30 days, you pay the ad fee on top of final value fees. Typical rates: 2-8% depending on category competition.
Use this for items sitting over 30 days. Start at 2%, increase if no movement.
Promoted Listings Advanced
Cost-per-click model with keyword targeting. You bid on search terms and pay per click regardless of sale. Better for experienced sellers with budget to test—beginners should stick with Standard.
Common Seller Mistakes
Over-Relying on Auctions
In 2025, "Buy It Now" (Fixed Price) dominates transaction volume. Auctions are generally ineffective for common goods and result in lower final prices than fixed listings. Reserve auctions for genuinely rare items where true price discovery is needed—an original Marantz 2270 receiver, not a standard mall-brand shirt.
Ignoring Service Metrics
Check your Service Metrics dashboard monthly. If INAD rate creeps up, improve your photography and descriptions. That 6% penalty for below-average metrics destroys margins.
Not Using Item Specifics
Leaving item specifics blank means you're invisible to filtered searches. Spend the extra 30 seconds per listing. It compounds.
Best Categories for Thrift Flippers
eBay's strength is breadth. Use it for what other platforms can't sell:
Vintage electronics: Receivers, cameras, Walkmans. eBay has the collector audience. Check our BOLO list for specific models.
Hard goods: Tools, kitchenware, sporting equipment. Poshmark can't handle these; eBay can.
Collectibles: Trading cards, vintage toys, memorabilia. eBay's authentication programs build buyer trust for high-value items.
Clothing that won't sell on Poshmark: Men's clothing, workwear brands, vintage pieces that appeal to eBay's older demographic.
Poshmark Seller Guide 2025
Fashion-focused selling with simpler fees. The other essential platform for clothing flippers.