Lhoop vs eBay for kids' and baby things
eBay made private selling free in Australia in May 2026, so the fee argument is over. The differences that are left are the ones that matter: how the money is protected, and whether the platform understands kids' stuff.
Credit where it's due
eBay is Australia's most established marketplace, with national reach, mature buyer protection and deep shipping integration. Since May 2026, private sellers under $25,000 a year pay no selling fees; buyers instead pay a protection fee that's folded into the displayed price (tiered, roughly 4 to 8 per cent plus 30 cents, depending on the item price). For higher-value one-offs with a national audience, it's a serious option.
The differences that are left
Protection mechanics
eBay's Money Back Guarantee works by paying the seller and clawing the money back if a claim succeeds, a process with forms, waiting periods and case deadlines. Lhoop is escrow: the buyer's money never reaches the seller until the buyer confirms the item arrived as described. Same goal, very different experience when something's wrong. New eBay sellers also routinely have funds held until after delivery, and payouts go through their schedule; on Lhoop, the moment your buyer confirms, your payout (price plus postage reimbursement) is on its way.
Category fit
eBay is a generalist. Baby gear, kids' clothing and toys live in three different category trees, condition on most baby equipment is just New or Used, and there's no parent-shaped experience tying it together. Lhoop is only kids' and baby: age-based sizing, six condition grades on every listing, bundles from one closet with combined shipping, and moderation that watches for recalled and unsafe items as its whole job, not a sideline.
Selling effort
An eBay listing done properly is a small research project. On Lhoop you photograph the item and the listing drafts itself: brand, size, condition, a fair price, yours to adjust. Most sellers publish in under a minute.
Side by side
| eBay AU | Lhoop | |
|---|---|---|
| Seller fees | $0 for private sellers under $25k/yr (since May 2026) | $0, always |
| Buyer fees | Tiered protection fee folded into the displayed price (about 8% on a $30 toy) | 7.0% service fee, shown plainly at checkout |
| Protection model | Money Back Guarantee: pay seller, claw back on claims | Escrow: released only when the buyer confirms receipt |
| Kids-specific | Generalist; three separate category trees | Only kids and baby; sizing, grading, bundles |
| Listing effort | Manual; item specifics, photos, pricing research | Photos in, drafted listing out, under a minute |
| Shipping | eBay-purchased labels mandatory for most $20+ orders | Australia Post satchels, postage reimbursed in your payout, or local pickup |
| Audience | Huge and national |
The bottom line
If you're auctioning a rare collectable to the whole country, use eBay. If you're a parent turning over a cupboard of outgrown kids' stuff and you'd like the listing done in a minute, the money held until it arrives, and a buyer who was looking for exactly what you're selling, that's the job Lhoop was built for. You can sell baby gear in Australia here in a minute flat.
References
eBay's free private-seller selling and its Buyer Protection fee apply from 12 May 2026 per eBay Australia's announcement; check eBay for current terms.
Related reading
Purpose-built beats general-purpose
List free, keep the full price, get paid when it lands.
Start selling on Lhoop