Again, I think it all revolves around the types of items that are being sold..
Actually, if you look at the last 5 or 6 items I sold last week, that weren't put up on FL day, you'll see that I had 100% sell through on my attic stuff, and all brought what I thought were decent prices, more than my starting amounts for most (which I always start at what I'll be happy to get..no $1 items for me..unless it's somethign I really just want to recylce, rather than put in the trash LOL). It's really just about what you sell, and if you have sales. eBay is only expensive if you don't sell your items...and I've had those weeks too.
Lots of people on this list sell stuff that isn't the same, and although I bet they don't want to pay eBay any more than they have to, I bet they also didn't mind what they did have to pay and the extra .05 - .10 won't matter to them...especially if the shipping has an additional .10 added in. If you put up a lot of very low priced items.. it will hit you more than the "average" joe that has a mix of high and low priced items if an item doesn't sell. For you, the nickle may really matter...so I guess you'll need to try to get up as much as possible before the increase. I'm certainly not suggesting anyone pad their shipping with an extra $5-6 bucks to make up the nickle..I plan on just passing along my new expenses, just like Penny's or Sears would do. I have never had anyone complain about my shipping prices.
My eBay/Paypal/Vendio bills were also very high last month..but so were my sales..both my usual items and the stuff from my house cleaning. When people seek me out, by the way, (my old clients), they don't even go through eBay..they buy direct, thanks to my invite to do so on the card I send in each and every package, so I don't think that my old clients play into it. For Feb and March I traditionally do the attic cleaning, so we'll see how the sales go this year compared to last year. Feb - March were pretty good last year. I will have some lower priced stuff going up also, but I'll stop if the sales don't out-perform the fees.
I guess the moral of the story is, you have to do what works for you..and as in everything, expenses go up. If we were brick and motar stores, the rent may have gone up over the new year..and just like death and taxes, eBay fees have again gone up. Since they are the only players on the block, our choices are limited..pay or get out of the game : ( And who knows..you may find that real treasure (like the frog or vase), which will further convince us, eBay is the place to sell, even if they up the fees. Don't be discouraged by the higher prices everyone..as long as you are still clearing an amount you are happy with, eBay is still worth it IMO. When I stop being happy, then I stop listing.
