Buying From Private Sellers Who Are Businesses.

[goingfishinguk]

Hope everyone is well.  I  know there is a lot of chat about private sellers who are clearly businesses.  My questions are:

1) Since you know they are breaking the 'rules' would you still buy something from them?

2) Would you be happy to pay the extra 75p plus 4% for something you have had for 'free' previously?

3) Would you be 'fair' in leaving a non-positive feedback stating you are unhappy that they are clearly a business acting as a private seller?

[bravergrace]

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@moldosgifts wrote:

Ill post an example is this a private or business 

£2.20

Condition:

NewNew

Quantity:

4 available

This person commented on these boards today

I don't want to put much more up as this would identify them 

They have 200 such listings.

If private i would expect to see 1 item possibly preowned

Not multiples of the same item

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I understand what you're saying, but clearly there ARE circumstances where someone may legitimately own - and offer for sale - privately, a batch of identical brand-new items.  Depending, of course, what the items are.

For instance, people may receive repeated unwanted Christmas gifts ("I always buy him 3 dozen pairs of Winnie the Pooh socks in size 2, I've done it since he was 8 years old".)

Or they may acquire unwanted stuff as "buy 2, get 2 free" offers - for instance, paperback books for private use, you've already read 2 of them, but you take them anyway because they're free.

Or they may buy things dirt-cheap in a closing-down sale at their local shop, and then realise they have no use for them.  By this means, I have occasionally acquired, for 10p each,  a couple of dozen bits of electronic equipment for a few pence each, several boxes of wedding invitation cards a surprising array of bottle openers, pocket torches, and six shelving units.  Most of which I've used or given away - but the leftovers?  Are they private or business?

Such things may have an in-between status.  In small quantities, they aren't quite business stock  as they were bought for private use or with no particular use in mind, "because they were a bargain", but in larger quantities, it's hard to kid yourself that you really expected to give them all to family members.

[555njp]

I think a lot of people are delusional regarding doing a bit of buying/selling as a hobby.

I also believe many genuinely think that because it’s only part-time, going to car boots, charity shops and Black Friday type sales, then selling online are not doing anything illegal, just making a few quid (often literally!) on the side.

There are too many tutorials on how to make a few quid on YouTube which are fine, but very few tell the viewer they will need to register as a trader and may, depending on circumstances be liable for both tax and NI contributions.

People have a view that as it’s my money I can invest it and sell on as I like. It’s not a business because I don’t earn enough, already have a full time job, don’t have premises, don’t employ anyone, blah blah blah….

I sometimes watch a programme called ‘ The bidding room’ where people bring in antiques etc. to sell. I’ve noticed more and more sellers returning and stating “it’s a part time hobby, we go to car boots, buy a few things cheap and sell them on”. It’s never challenged or pointed out to the viewer that if you plan to do the same, then technically you are trading…..

[moldosgifts]

Your looking for the very rare sellers who fit your argument,

I'm looking for the seller, hobbyist who repeatedly does this with the intention of making/adding to their income, and are clearly doing so,  this person in the example makes things to sell.

They have a about me that clearly states this

So stop looking for the one selling 3 pairs of sock on a couple of listing but the one selling 3 pairs of socks across 100's of listings.

Then come back to me

[santlache_sales]

You aren't really asking the right people here on the business seller page.

It's the Private punters you should be asking these questions, and their bottom line I suspect is the cheapest price, be it from a business or a private seller they wouldn't really care.

[555njp]

Yeah, I think that’s often the case. Especially if shopping for a specific, new item. Buyers will likely check Amazon, eBay etc. then go with whoever offers the product cheapest.

More complex if buying refurbished or used though as condition then becomes a factor.