Facebook Marketplace is to start charging some sellers a 2% fee for using its buy-and-sell service from January, according to reports.
The charge will apply to sellers who choose to post items directly to buyers via the platform.
Facebook started rolling out a new delivery service with Hermes last month - this is currently free to use.
It gives sellers the option to post items to buyers instead of having to arrange a face-to-face collection.
But from January 2022, using the delivery option will incur a 2% fee for sellers, according to MoneySavingExpert.
The 2% charge is based on the total cost of the item, as set by the seller, plus the delivery charge as calculated by Hermes.
Sellers can avoid being stung if they offer items for collection only, which will remain fee-free.
The delivery option on Facebook can currently be used on items worth between £1 and £500.
Sellers must first input information such as the weight and size of the product they’re selling so Hermes can calculate how much it will cost to send.
They then have to package up the item and take their parcel to a Hermes drop-off point so it can be sent to the buyer.
When listing their item, sellers can decide whether they pay the delivery costs or if the seller is responsible.
Sellers must also have a Stripe account, or link up an existing Stripe account, to offer delivery - but buyers don’t need to have this set up.
Instead, they will simply enter their debit or credit card details on the Facebook website.
The upcoming 2% charge will apply to all those selling items in England, Scotland and Wales, as long as they fall in the following categories:
Babies and kids
Bags and luggage, books, movies and music (physical items only - no digital sales)
Clothing and shoes
Electronics and computers
Health and beauty
Jewellery and accessories
Mobile phones
Sports and outdoors
Toys and games
Furniture sales aren’t eligible for the delivery service.
This will be the first time Facebook has charged any sort of fee for using its Marketplace buy-and-sell platform - but it'll still be cheaper than some other sites.
For example, Depop charges a 10% and eBay takes 12.8% plus a fixed charge of 30p per order and 35p to list an item.
Schpock and Vinted remain free for sellers to use.
Chris Newlands, news and investigations editor at MoneySavingExpert.com, said: "These are pretty seismic changes to Facebook's massively popular online buying and selling hub, which has become a firm favourite for many.
"The new delivery option should mean a whole host of new buyers will now become available to sellers, which, in short, should make selling items much quicker and easier.
“It comes with a cost, however, and sellers will have to be mindful of how the new 2% charge eats into profits.
"But there is still the option to sell for collection only, free of fees, if they prefer - alternatively it's worth comparing Facebook's fees with those of other selling platforms and specialist groups.
"At first glance, however, the 2% fee still looks cheap compared to elsewhere."
