Selling on eBay vs Amazon: Which Is Better for Australians?

For Australian businesses deciding between selling on eBay vs Amazon, the decision affects far more than where products appear online. Each platform sets different expectations around fees, shipping responsibilities, stock handling, and the day-to-day work required to keep orders moving.

Australia Post delivered almost 103 million parcels in November and December 2024, a 3.1% year-on-year increase. For sellers, this growth translates into higher delivery demand, tighter carrier capacity, and greater pressure on fulfilment systems.

This article breaks down the practical differences between eBay and Amazon for Australian sellers, from fees and fulfilment to shipping responsibilities and the realities of managing orders, including where logistics providers such as Couriers & Freight fit in.

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Summary: Selling on eBay vs Amazon for Australians

• Fees: eBay charges listing and final value fees that scale with item price. Amazon applies referral fees, plus fulfilment and storage fees when using FBA.
• Competition: Amazon offers high buyer traffic but intense, algorithm-driven competition. eBay provides more control over listings and pricing through auctions and fixed-price formats.
• Fulfilment: eBay sellers manage packaging, shipping, and returns themselves. Amazon offers Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) or Fulfilment by Merchant (FBM).
• Shipping responsibilities: eBay sellers choose carriers and manage deliveries. Amazon FBA requires inbound freight preparation, labelling, and delivery to fulfilment centres.
• Startup difficulty: eBay is generally faster for casual sellers to launch. Amazon requires more upfront setup, including ABN checks, GST compliance, and inventory planning.
• Logistics support: Third-party logistics providers can assist with inbound Amazon shipments and seller-managed delivery across Australia.

eBay vs Amazon: Fees, Costs & Seller Requirements

Seller Fees

eBay sellers pay a listing fee per item and a final value fee, typically ranging from 10% to 12%, depending on the category. These fees are usually calculated on the item price and, for domestic transactions, often include GST. Optional charges may apply for promoted listings or international shipping labels.

For casual sellers listing a small number of items, fees tend to remain modest. Costs rise as sales volume increases, but eBay does not charge ongoing storage fees. This can make the platform more accessible for sellers who hold stock locally or sell irregularly.

Amazon uses a different pricing model. Sellers pay referral fees, generally between 6% and 15%, depending on the product category. These fees are charged exclusive of GST. Sellers using Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) also incur fulfilment fees based on item size and weight, along with monthly storage fees that increase as inventory volume and storage duration grow. For larger or slower-moving products, these costs can escalate quickly.

Sellers who choose Fulfilment by Merchant (FBM) avoid FBA fees but take on responsibility for shipping, returns, and customer service. At scale, Amazon can be cost-effective, but only when inventory turnover is carefully managed.

Seller Requirements

Australian sellers on both platforms must supply an Australian Business Number (ABN) and comply with GST collection rules when turnover exceeds the GST registration threshold. Amazon typically enforces stricter onboarding checks, particularly for brand owners and FBA sellers, to support brand protection standards and buyer guarantees, while eBay allows faster account setup for individual sellers.

Performance standards also differ. eBay tracks metrics such as late shipment rates and buyer feedback. Amazon monitors order defect rates, cancellations, and on-time dispatch. These benchmarks directly affect account health and visibility.

When sellers manage outbound deliveries on eBay or send inventory into Amazon fulfilment centres, shipping accuracy becomes critical. Many sellers rely on logistics providers to meet carrier, tracking, and delivery requirements without risking performance penalties.

Shipping & Fulfilment: How Responsibilities Differ on Each Platform

Shipping & Fulfilment on eBay

eBay operates on a seller-managed delivery model. Sellers choose carriers, pack items, purchase labels, and organise pickups or drop-offs. They are also responsible for returns and for meeting the delivery timeframes shown on their listings.

This flexibility suits many Australian sellers, particularly those shipping domestically or selling irregular volumes. A seller delivering within a metro area may rely on standard parcel services. Regional or interstate orders, however, often involve longer transit times, higher costs, or freight-based delivery.

As order volumes increase, managing multiple carriers and delivery schedules can add operational pressure. For sellers shipping bulky items or higher volumes, using a freight partner such as Couriers & Freight allows access to multiple carriers and tracking across metro and regional routes, without changing how listings are managed on eBay.

Shipping & Fulfilment on Amazon

Amazon supports both Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) and Fulfilment by Merchant (FBM). FBA requires sellers to prepare inbound shipments according to Amazon’s rules, including carton limits, labelling standards, pallet specifications, and booked delivery windows.

These requirements are strict. Non-compliant shipments can be delayed, refused at the warehouse, or held until issues are resolved, which may postpone products going live. Once inventory is received, Amazon manages storage, delivery, and customer returns, reducing day-to-day handling but shifting cost control and inbound compliance onto the seller.

Sellers using FBM retain responsibility for shipping and service levels, similar to eBay. For those sending bulk inventory into fulfilment centres, logistics providers can assist with compliant pallet or carton deliveries to help meet Amazon’s inbound requirements.

Who Should Choose eBay vs Amazon? A Practical Decision Guide

For many Australian sellers, the choice between eBay and Amazon comes down to how much control they want over pricing, fulfilment, and day-to-day operations.

Product and Volume Considerations

Sellers with small, irregular, or seasonal sales often lean towards eBay, where listings can go live quickly without committing stock to a central warehouse. Amazon tends to suit private-label or branded products that benefit from consistent stock levels and higher buyer traffic. Bulky or heavy items are generally easier to manage on eBay, where sellers can organise direct freight delivery, while Amazon FBA may restrict oversized products or increase fulfilment costs.

Operational Preferences

Hands-on sellers who prefer to manage packing, shipping, and returns themselves often favour eBay’s flexibility. Sellers focused on automation and scale may prefer Amazon FBA, which reduces manual handling once inventory is received. For those shipping pallets or cartons into fulfilment centres, inbound freight compliance becomes a key consideration, often requiring structured delivery planning.

Rather than a one-size-fits-all answer, the better platform depends on how products move, how often they sell, and how much operational control the seller wants to retain.

Pros and Cons of Selling on eBay vs Amazon

Pros of Selling on eBay

1. Greater control over listings, pricing, and delivery rules through auctions and fixed-price formats.
2. No ongoing storage fees, which suits sellers holding stock locally or selling irregular volumes.
3. Well suited to used, unique, or low-volume items that don’t require automated fulfilment.
4. Faster onboarding for individual sellers and small businesses, with fewer upfront requirements.
5. Flexibility to organise direct freight delivery for bulky or heavy items.

Cons of Selling on eBay

1. Sellers are responsible for all fulfilment, including packing, shipping, and returns.
2. Scaling order volumes increases manual workload and delivery coordination.
3. Lower built-in buyer traffic compared to Amazon, particularly for commodity products.

Pros of Selling on Amazon

1. High buyer traffic and access to Prime customers across Australia.
2. Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) can handle storage, delivery, and returns once inventory is received.
3. Efficient scaling for standardised, repeatable products with consistent demand.

Cons of Selling on Amazon

1. More complex fee structure, including referral, fulfilment, and storage fees that can escalate over time.
2. Strict inbound logistics and seller performance requirements, particularly for FBA shipments.
3. Visibility heavily influenced by algorithms and Buy Box eligibility, reducing direct control.
4. Cash flow timing can be restrictive due to scheduled disbursements and account reserves.

How Couriers & Freight Supports Marketplace Sellers in Australia

As marketplace sellers grow, logistics often become more complex. This is particularly true for businesses managing bulky products, higher order volumes, or inbound deliveries to fulfilment centres.

Couriers & Freight supports Australian marketplace sellers in practical scenarios, including:

1. Amazon FBA Inbound Freight: Managing pallet or carton deliveries to fulfilment centres in line with Amazon’s labelling, size, and booking requirements.
2. Seller-managed Delivery for eBay: Providing domestic parcel and freight delivery across Australia, with access to multiple carriers depending on item size and destination.
3. Bulky or Heavy Goods: Handling items that exceed standard parcel limits and are unsuitable for traditional courier networks.

To plan inbound FBA deliveries or domestic freight movements, sellers can learn more about shipping to Amazon FBA or request a quote based on their shipment requirements.

Book Freight to Amazon Fulfilment Centres

Send palletised or carton freight to Amazon FBA warehouses across Australia with Couriers & Freight.

Get a Quote Now