If you sell sports cards online, the sale price is only part of the story. Between marketplace fees, payment processing, shipping, and sales tax, your “$100 sale” can turn into very different take-home amounts depending on where the order comes from.
Below is a real-world example comparing the same $100 card sold on eBay versus sold on my own website (Stripe checkout).
Example 1: eBay sale (vertical breakdown)
| Item price | $100.00 |
| Sales tax rate | 10.2% |
| Sales tax collected | $10.20 |
| Shipping collected | $4.25 |
| Buyer paid (gross) | $114.85 |
| Listing fee (example) | $0.40 |
| Total fees | $15.21 |
| Fees % | 13.25% |
| Net to seller | $84.79 |
| Net as % of buyer paid | 73.8% |
Example 2: Website sale (Stripe) (vertical breakdown)
| Item price | $100.00 |
| Sales tax rate | 0.0% |
| Sales tax collected | $0.00 |
| Shipping collected | $4.25 |
| Buyer paid (gross) | $104.25 |
| Payment fees | $2.90 |
| Fees % | 2.9% |
| Net to seller | $97.10 |
| Net as % of buyer paid | 93.1% |
Quick comparison
| Channel | Buyer paid (gross) | Total fees | Net to seller | Net % of buyer paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eBay | $114.85 | $15.21 | $84.79 | 73.8% |
| Website (Stripe) | $104.25 | $2.90 | $97.10 | 93.1% |
Key takeaways
- My website nets $12.31 more on this example sale ($97.10 vs. $84.79).
- The net percentage is dramatically different: 93.1% on my site vs. 73.8% on eBay.
- This example does not include eBay Promoted Listings. Promoted fees can add roughly 10–15% more in costs, which can really eat into profits.
Taxes (Texas note)
I’m based in Texas, and my setup only charges sales tax on orders shipped/delivered to Texas addresses. For orders shipped out of state, I typically don’t collect Texas sales tax.
Important: Sales tax rules can get nuanced (especially if you sell on marketplaces, or as your volume grows), so when in doubt, confirm your specific situation with the Texas Comptroller or a tax professional.
Why I still sell on eBay
Even with the fees, eBay’s biggest advantage is simple: eyeballs. It’s hard to beat the built-in traffic when you’re trying to move inventory fast or reach buyers you’d never reach on your own.
Why I’m building my website anyway
Once the site is set up and your process is dialed in, the game becomes driving traffic (Google Shopping has been working well for me so far), improving the mobile experience, and steadily optimizing product pages and checkout.
I’ll share a follow-up post soon on my Google Shopping setup (including what I spend per day and what I’ve learned). Longer term, I may test Performance Max, but right now I’m focused on building consistent traffic and tightening the funnel.
And if you haven’t seen it yet, check out my previous post where I break down the pros and cons of using Kronocard as part of a sports card business.