Getting your surplus goods is the first step. The second one is selling them, but not just everywhere. Choosing the right platform to sell them can significantly impact your profits and business growth, so proper research is key to finding the best alternative.
Two of the best marketplaces in 2025 are eBay and Amazon, each with unique advantages and challenges. But what’s better when you are selling surplus goods?
Understanding their fee structures, fulfillment options, and customer reach is what helps decide where to list your surplus goods for maximum profit. Coastal Surplus Solutions supports you by helping you navigate these options and source the products for resale.
With years of experience, we are able to guide you through decision-making and be your sole sourcing partner. This will hasten your project and bring the best surplus goods for it.
To understand where to sell, we have to start with the basics.
Understand the Fee Structures
eBay and Amazon fees are completely different. While they work on an established system and structure, percentages and actual commissions vary.
- eBay Fees Overview
The structure is quite simple compared to other platforms. In fact, it is even more cost-effective than selling in your own store when it comes to logistics.
In its case, the higher-priced items you sell, the more you benefit from the system. This encourages bulk buyers to aim for high-ticket products when using the platform.
The fees that everyone should keep in mind include:
- Final value fees around 10 to 12% for most categories—always check for yours.
- Payment processing fees apply.
- Optional listing upgrade fees, but not usually required.
- There is no mandatory monthly subscription for casual sellers.
This structure is based on a low-fee alternative that allows sellers to avoid fixed monthly costs. Percentage-based fees when selling surplus goods are what you need to consider, as they make a big difference.
Additionally, eBay works with insertion fees, which start at $0.35 per listing. According to WebBee Global, eBay also has additional fees for international sellers or listing upgrades.
- Amazon Fees Overview
How different is it compared to eBay? It is more complex as it follows a fee structure that varies per product category, fulfillment method, and the seller’s plan.
The key fees include:
- Referral fees are around 15% of the sale price, give or take, depending on the product category.
- There is a fixed closing fee of $0.99 per item for individual sellers.
- You do require a monthly subscription fee of $39.99, but mostly for professional sellers, and after a specific number of sold products or earnings made.
Eva Commerce’s research shows that Amazon has its own Fulfillment by Amazon program (FBA). As a result, it comes with additional fees for storage, packing, and shipping costs.
The key element in Amazon’s fees is: they are higher, but include value-added services.
You can consider Amazon as a support platform that handles heavy work and logistics if you can’t. This means that fulfillment is all on Amazon’s hands if needed, but it will cost.
Meanwhile, eBay sellers need to handle fulfillment and shipping on their own. Lower costs, but more time invested.
Which Platform Is Best for Your Surplus Goods?
It will always vary.
Choose eBay when:
- Your products are high-priced surplus goods or very niche items. This way, you benefit from the lower fees and can make more profits with the margins and structure.
- There is no space for monthly subscription fees, which is mostly for small businesses.
- Vintage, unique, and used surplus goods sell better on eBay’s auction system.
- You want more control over your listings and promotions.
Or choose Amazon when:
- You have fast-moving surplus goods. This means they are often new and high-volume products that sell fast, and you won’t keep them in inventory.
- You are aiming for hassle-free fulfillment by leveraging your shipping with Amazon’s FBA.
- Amazon offers better advertising and promotional tools, which you could benefit from.
- You have no problems with a more complex fee structure as you learn how to benefit from it, depending on your surplus goods
How Coastal Surplus Solutions Helps Maximize Your Profits
Whether you are an eBay or Amazon seller, we handle the nuances of how this can be overwhelming.
From sourcing your surplus goods to helping you choose the right platform; we offer full support with logistics and shipping.
Partnering with us means you get a trusted ally to help you succeed in this competitive market.
Contact our professionals today and start your reselling business with us.
