A simple way to resolve the "private" business seller problem

[vonchief]

A correctly registered business can obviously not compete with those using private accounts to avoid eBay fees.

With eBay seemingly taking no action on these "private" business sellers, genuine business sellers feel they have no option but to open a private account and also avoid eBay fees.
I am certain this is not what genuine business sellers want to do.
eBay would not last very long either if all business sellers did this.

Surely if eBay removed the item condition of "new" for private accounts, this would go a long way to resolving the problem.
Simply grey out "new" for private sellers when they list an item.
They could still use "new other" if they have new, unused & unwanted items.

Anyone who is selling new items is a business.
If they want to list new items on eBay, the only option should be to open a business account.

[game_raid]

The reason Amazon do this is because they want to see a valid supply chain from a manufacturer or distributor so if a buyer claims the item is inauthentic the seller can provide the correct invoices to prove where it has come from. They protect their brand at all costs, it doesn't matter if you sell £100 a month or £1m they want to see invoices.

The item is classed as used even if it has never been opened even if it's an unwanted gift, purchase or something they bought 12 months ago and never used, of course many sellers can get away with this on there but a lot do get caught and often lose their accounts because they can't supply an invoice.

They simply don't accept the item is new because it has passed through multiple hands, it's basically second hand according to their policies.

This is why it will never work on eBay because there isn't this level of checks, amazon also periodically request invoices from sellers, eBay do not so removing the new condition wouldn't be a good route to take for them unless they change their policies which won't happen, because as it states on every listing : Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.

This isn't on amazon because they take responsibility for the listing because there is multiple sellers per listing on most things and expect all sellers to be following their policies those that don't get removed and the listing stays unless it's an IP complaint or the item falls under brand protection where only one person is allowed to sell that item but this is a totally different ball game.

The only way to stop the problem is as I mentioned before, each private seller has a yearly sales cap, once that has been breached they revert to the standard fees, the lucrativity of being a business on a private account has to be removed and let the genuine private sellers enjoy fee free selling. 

[moldosgifts]

I've been selling on amazon for 14 years never been asked for an invoice once.

They do this to get details of supplier for top selling goods so then they can interrupt your supply chain by getting it themselves to sell at a massively cheaper price than you can.

They claim it's for the other but it's an easy way of getting stock that is the problem with Amazon is Amazon are also your competition.

[kempseykate]

---

@bravergrace wrote:

---

@kempseykate wrote:

---

@sweetcharity.2013 wrote:

Maybe another option for ebay in resolving the problem of ‘private’ business sellers is to consider removing the multi-quantity option in non-business listings. I see no reason that a genuine private seller should have multiples to list on a regular basis.

---

Exactly that. It should have been the first move. I have sometimes had a couple of items that were the same (bro-in-law and hubby had similar interests), but I have never used the multiple option, I just sell one, then new listing, new photos for the next one.

---

Yes, but what would you do with 23 identical vintage cups and saucers?  

This is something I've got - because a relative gave me her tea-service when she realised it matched mine.

Do I list them as a set of 23 cups-and-saucers?  

Or a set of 4 plus 1 odd one,  

Or a set of 6 plus 1 odd one, and replenish as they sell?

Yes, of course there are things which beggar belief for a "private" seller to possible multiple quantities, but with other things, like crockery, furniture, bridesmaid's dresses, chimney-pots or outdoor plant-pots, it's quite reasonable for a private household to accumulate several - or a few dozen - identical items, and selling them singly or as a job lot isn't ideal.

---

I wouldn't sell the cups and saucers as multiples on a single listing.  I have had similar - but I like to show the actual item you are getting. So one cup might have a blemish on, another may have a hairline crack, etc. If I didn't want to put 23 in one lot, I would make up a couple of sets, and put them on separate listings - at least that way I would note any condition issues.

The bridesmaid dresses would, presumably, be different sizes, and most likely different conditions, so they would be a no-no for a multiple quantity listing anyway (which are the listings I am talking about). They could possibly go a multiple choice listing, with the different size options, but again, they are unlikely to be in identical condition. Plants pots and chimney pots definitely wouldn't be in the same condition, so again 2 or 3 separate listings.

[555njp]

I sometimes sell refurbished garden equipment. Same problem, each item will be very slightly different condition wise so I always list each individually with unique photos of the actual item for sale.
It means I have to make slight changes to the descriptions and price, otherwise eBay think I’m spamming by listing duplicates, which I’m not. 

It’s far better for the customer too. I’ve seen multi-listings for refurbished laptops as an example. Same generic photos, and a description saying “may have minor cosmetic wear that does not effect function and some accessories may be missing” etc. which makes buying one like Russian roulette.

You could get a near perfect unmarked one with all accessories, or you could get one that’s scratched, dented with bits missing! Usually identifiable via sellers feedback.

[insidethe93]

And, you'd wonder, if the seller sold in a deliberate order, such as the order of worst condition first. Several advantages to the seller that way.

[insidethe93]

If you're interested in selling multiples even large multiples like 23 of an item, Chinasearch, or a similar UK firm, might buy from you.

I've used them since 2015, mainly to buy (for others mostly) and occasionally to sell.

A house clearance firm I employed a few years ago had no problem with the numerous multiple items as they knew who to sell to [may've included auctioneers]. I wouldn't have had any idea, for instance, how to sell umpteen prayerbooks or numerous crockery sets accumulated since 1901. I chose the option whereby the house clearance firm sold if poss, otherwise donated. I was amazed at how much money they made for my relative, all without any selling effort on my part.

Mentioned in another thread there are agents who'll handle all selling on e-bay for you, for a fee of course. I found some names/firms by googling. I've never used one so don't know what they're like.

[santlache_sales]

Now multiply your sister several thousand times, businesses operating as Private sellers, and this is a problem created by eBay alone that has totally screwed up the platform.

But what makes it worse is that they know this, yet eBay are scrambling around thinking of ways they can now fix it but they haven't got a clue. The genie is already out of the box creating havoc.

Meanwhile business sellers sales continue to drop through the floor.

Thanks eBay.

[santlache_sales]

I would disagree on the 'collectors' side of your argument, primarily from what I have seen within the market and at Fairs and precisely what my mate has also seen. Many dealers are now listing as private sellers, and with no fees can significantly drop the sale price of all their items.

I had a look the other day and right away encountered someone with over 100 items for sale, significant sales and yet listed a Private seller.

The site was already flooded with people 'having a go', listing absolute junk as a BIN with an impossible price that would sit there for 25 years and not sell. This free listings will just multiply such people 50 fold.

[charlton-coins]

A question for the community or ebay i would like to no how a private seller can have 2000 listings and 22,000 transactions to date or 156 variation listings with multiply items on each listing and 33,000 transactions to date and still be a private seller, just asking as no one at ebay seems to care

[blackcatbooksuk]

I saw a seller in my category a few weeks ago that had over 16,000 listings and was registered as "Private". How are Ebay not picking this kind of thing up?

[blackcatbooksuk]

What I find really baffling is that this cannot be good for Ebays own profits. These "Private" sellers are taking sales away from business sellers who are generating the profits for Ebay. How are they going to make up that difference I wonder.

Its unfair competition. Competition is good if it is fair competition and everyone is playing by the same set of rules. But currently there are lots of rule breakers that are making this an unfair contest, and the referees (Ebay) seem to be in the dressing room with a fag on ignoring it.

[charlton-coins]

Thats the worst i have heard about thought the ones i had seen were bad ! The ones i have seen are sellers in the category for a business account that i have with a friend with low value items where we have over 1000 listings, but cant compete with these people now as they have the advantage of no fees and its going to kill us

[theelench]

But what items!?

I haven't looked at Victorian silver coins for years and after wading through a couple of pages of results for "victoria silver shilling" came to your coin.  I viewed it because here was a seller who (exceptionally) put a grading on their ad.  Most of the rest were rubbish coins being sold by amateurs or worse (IMO).

But isn't that what coins on ebay has always been like?

Isn't that why you have enjoyed the success you've had?  You have, for at least a decade, stood out from the crowd and because of that, you've been able to make a viable business out of the minority of discerning buyers/sellers.  As they've gone, so have your sales?

I'm inclined to think that there have always been chancers and amateurs selling over-priced rubbish but when ebay was buzzing and the market growing, there were enough buyers willing to pay reputable business sellers and private sellers with a few decent coins the higher prices they deserved.  Getting them back (IMO) would make the shift away from "cheap as chips" rubbish that has taken over, easier.  If it can be done.

[moldosgifts]

---

@blackcatbooksuk wrote:

I saw a seller in my category a few weeks ago that had over 16,000 listings and was registered as "Private". How are Ebay not picking this kind of thing up?

Because they are to focused on goods actually sold and the value of such, rather than the intent of the goods offered.

So they can have 16000 listing of low value that don't sell and eBay don't care about them.

I've seen on the boards ridiculous value in sales before ebay call you a business .

When in reality it should be £0 and your listings that show if your a business or not.

[santlache_sales]

Thank you for your kind comments.

No it hasn't always been like this, I was an early arrival on eBay before many others started although I have seen many of the UK top dealers leave and they have been for a while now. It used to be a steady income here, but now it's all over the place and sales have fallen off a cliff with Private sellers now undercutting.

Around 10 years ago the front page of eBay Coins used to be chock full of very nice high ticket items from some of the UK top coin dealers, they have all disappeared now with eBay constantly hiking their fees, and this free listings for Private sellers I feel is the nail in the coffin for others like me.

I have told eBay numerous times lately that I am the sort of person you want and need on this platform, a business seller with an exemplary selling and track record for over 20 years, yet you are driving me and others like me away.

I'm afraid with eBay totally ignoring the plight of business sellers, it's getting to a point now with sales falling through the floor that if you can't beat them (private sellers), joining them is becoming the only option left to us......or shut it all down and leave.

[the_book_seekers]

I've been on ebay for 21 years and have made a number of business seller friends. At the start of the year there were 7 of us still trading.  Today I find myself as the last person standing  and that's only because I am not dependent on ebay income. It's been one of the toughest ever years on ebay and fee free selling was the final straw. 

[vintique*violet]

Same goes for business sellers who sell NEW clothing with no tags, labels removed ,  blanked out, make up stain etc...or shoes, tried on in shop,  ex display, marked  etc etc ...  And what about  NEW cosmetics - opened top, pump activated, leaking, damaged label, demonstration, etc etc ... Many registered businesses offer those items and list as NEW until you read the actual listing...they are in a USED condition, not new and could not pass as new!  eBay allow this and yet used cosmetics are prohibited, and private sellers ( according to some on here) should be " banned" from selling NEW items, even though an item is clearly new in a packet, unused, untouched as an unwanted gift... 

Please can someone explain this logic? 

[the_book_seekers]

Many registered businesses offer those items and list as NEW until you read the actual listing...they are in a USED condition, not new and could not pass as new!  eBay allow this and yet used cosmetics are prohibited - It's a case of reporting these listings and hoping ebay removes them.  It's a thankless task as ebay is not good at policing its own site. 

private sellers ( according to some on here) should be " banned" from selling NEW items, even though an item is clearly new in a packet, unused, untouched as an unwanted gift... 

Please can someone explain this logic? 

Some take the view that anything a private seller has in new condition should be classed as second hand as one of the easiest ways to spot businesses registered on private accounts is the number of brand new items some times in multiple quantities. We're not talking about half a dozen or so unwanted gifts, but hundreds sometimes thousands of items. As with anything to do with business sellers operating on private accounts anything suggested to deal with the issue is going impinge on genuine private sellers.

[santlache_sales]

Agreed, it has rather rapidly become unsustainable on here, primarily since they gave Private sellers free listings, although it wasn't that great before as eBay have slowly but surely screwed the platform up over the years.

Since early December I have listed new stock worth thousands, yet barely any of it has sold or even had many views, that is what we are reduced to on here now. We may as well give up with the so-called 'Featured Shop', paying eBay good money and getting nothing whatsoever back now.

Mine is going down next month to basic shop and I'll be removing many items from the platform (I've already removed 40), and if eBay don't sort their act out pretty rapidly that shop will be gone too.

[bravergrace]

A few weeks ago, eBay were playing with the idea of not charging sellers commission, and charging buyers instead.

They did remove sellers' commission for used "apparel listed in the Apparel Category" a few weeks back.  Given that we don't have an apparel category in the UK, and the word means something FAR more limited in America than it does over here, this wasn't quite the generous offer it originally appeared.

But here's the crucial thing: this removal of sellers' commission in this category, which was supposed to herald the complete removal of seller commission, to be replaced with buyer commission, finishes tonight, and eBay don't seem to have announced whether it's been a success.

I'm listing some used "apparel" today, but if it sells tomorrow, I have no idea whether eBay is going to charge me 0% fees, 20% fees or some other percentage.  Setting prices is going to be really fun.

Presumably either the idea will be buried at midnight in deathly silence, or expanded with a big fanfare.