Changing from Private account to business account

[brodie3355]

What are the day to day advantages to of a business account over a personal account? Is it worth changing? I've been selling on eBay with a private account for over 20 years. Are my reviews transferred? Will more people see my listings? I'm not anywhere near the VAT threshold and i already declare my eBay income to HMRC

[jonatjonatjonat]

There are no real advantages other than you don't get the Buyer Protection Fee or have to use Simple Delivery.

But more importantly, its about actually legally trading.

Business sellers are required to follow all government regulations, including registering as a business on eBay, and providing contact information and a return policy. An eBay seller must register as a business if, for example, they sell items they have bought to resell, they make items in order to sell them, or if they buy items for their business.

So basically, if you are selling items that you specifically bought to resell, or if you make or grow items to sell, you would be deemed a business and have to register as a business seller to follow government regulations (the main requirements there being allowing returns and presenting business contact information).

[edwardian-dreams]

So if you offer returns and print your address in listings this  is not enough to  comply with the law?

you have to pay listing fees? To do so?

are listing fees still a thing? just curious 

[jonatjonatjonat]

How will you list your full business details on your listing? ebay will very quickly interpret that as trying to sell off site. So no - you wouldn't be able to fully comply remaining on a Private Account.

You do pay listing fees yes - 30p each listing. Shop subscriptions are available that offer a number of free listings.

Its all here anyway.

[edwardian-dreams]

Ok thanks 

I didn’t know it was not allowed to offer your private details 

in the case that someone might want to buy off you elsewhere for some reason 

but that’s not not complying with uk law that’s complying with eBay rules ???

and thanks re the 30p fee

I remember years ago we all paid that 

[jonatjonatjonat]

but that’s not not complying with uk law that’s complying with eBay rules ???

What do you mean?

If you mean its not UK law to show your business details - it is

[4_bathrooms]

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@jonatjonatjonat wrote:

So basically, if you are selling items that you specifically bought to resell, or if you make or grow items to sell, you would be deemed a business and have to register as a business seller to follow government regulations (the main requirements there being allowing returns and presenting business contact information).

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I disagree those are the main requirements (but they are still legal requirements). Those requirements stem from the Consumer Contracts Regulations and Consumer Rights Act; offences committed under the CCRs or the CRA can be treated as civil offences or criminal offences.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act makes it a specific criminal offence for a trader to masquerade as a consumer (a consumer being a private seller or a private buyer who is not acting in the course of their business). As all private account listings state "Registered as a private seller" any trader selling via a private account is automatically committing a criminal offence.

[edwardian-dreams]

I just meant if you show your details which is complying with uk law , right? ebay don’t let you do that because they’re scared that  might lead to off site selling 

so it’s not  YOU not complying  with uk law it’s eBay potentially stopping you from doing so 

anyway don’t worry about it I’m just being picky 

will probably be a lawyer in  an after life only they don’t exist damn

🙄

[4_bathrooms]

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@jonatjonatjonat wrote:

If you mean its not UK law to show your business details - it is

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I hate to be picky but that regulation only applies to registered companies; it does not apply to sole traders nor ordinary partnerships.

Schedule 2 of the Consumer Contracts Regulations details what information must be made available by any trader before a consumer is bound by a distance selling contract.

[jonatjonatjonat]

Won’t dispute any of this, know you know your stuff, thanks for the correct links I was grasping for