February Sales Dead 2025 - Ebay Sales Completely Dead

[theglo-68]

Any thoughts as why would suddenly ebay sales would do ZERO since start of February.

We have been closely monitoring our sales and since start of January 2025 sales are down. But they have now completely died as soon as February started.

[snagwagon]

I seen your other comment about  business sellers who are posing as private and claiming it’s illegal? 

are you sure of this? As I’m not so sure it’s classed as illegal myself, I think it’s just going against eBay’s own policy, which I also think would benefits them a lot to enforce, it would effectively allow them to create lower fees as there will be a mass amount of business’ and also eliminate the fees for genuine private sellers. It would make for a much fairer market and bring buyers back to eBay. 

The reason I say it’s not illegal is due to the fact that you can still register as self employed, under a private eBay account, and as long as you as a seller are declaring earnings and offering the standard 14-day return period and are not imposing on business - consumer rights, then I’m not sure HMRC will be that bothered that your running a private account through eBay and dodging their fees. 

however, I’m well aware that most DO NOT offer these returns, which then makes it illegal, so it’s a very grey area. Most are breaching consumer rights, and it’s hard to verify this when buyers on eBay accept that private sellers don’t need to give refunds for any old reason other than ‘item not as described’. These buyers aren’t looking on whether these sellers are business’ and aren’t aware there rights should be enforced. 

This is the only thing that makes sense to me, otherwise I can’t see how eBay’s been getting away with allowing this for so long and people are still getting away with it today. So I can’t only assume that some are doing this half legally 

[snagwagon]

just read some more replies and noticed you actually did touch up on that subject of being able to still pay tax under a private account, ignore me 😂

[therenewalworkshopltd]

I suggest that you go and look at consumer law.

In a nutshell, you cannot comply with the law when using a private account.

It has been explained so many times on these forums.

The simplest and most obvious problem, is that you cannot display your contact details on a private account.

This is required by law.  That is just one of many reasons.

In this regard, Ebay is not breaking the law.  Though I would argue that it's complicit in assisting people do so.  Particularly so, if it's proven that their agents have been giving out the advice to open a private account.

But it is not Ebay's responsibility to ensure that sellers are complying with the law.

It is however the SELLERS responsibility to do so.

[therenewalworkshopltd]

Oh, and to add another very obvious reason.

If you are pretending to be a private seller, but are in fact a business.

You can actually be prosecuted for this, as you misrepresenting what you are actually doing.

Just do a google search for "misrepresentation business law"  You will have your eyes opened as to the risks you are taking.

[snagwagon]

As stated in my response, I was not 100% sure of this. I choose to go the legit route from the get go, I didn’t feel the need to research every aspect of something I’m already doing honestly and legit, 

Now what you explained would make it illegal, however that’s just because I can’t possibly make the fact I’m a business very clear through eBay’s platform. It’s not the fact I HAVE to be registered on a business (from what I can see or read), 

but it’s rather the limitations of eBay has on private accounts that make it impossible to clearly abide by those laws, such as you said, contact details, making it clear I’m a business etc. 

So I know I was wrong in my initial reply. 

however, claiming eBay is doing enough and it’s now on sellers is not entirely true (this I know for sure). 

while it IS the sellers fault for misrepresentation or any other breaches associated with a private account, eBay still has a duty to make sure people are compliant with the law while using their platform.  And it’s pretty obvious to me that they were never doing enough to enforce it. It’s funny how all community members can see mass amounts of private sellers doing this, and they have been for years, yet you claim all they need to do is give you a nudge that your not compliant. 

this isn’t true, eBay has and always has a duty to make sure they are compliant and its pretty obvious that they aren’t doing this enough. I can pull out hundreds doing this in a matter of 24 hours. 

now if you have a look at the new DMCC Act 2024 which came into affect this year on 6th April 2024, you will find information around this. And how eBay will now have to do more to ensure sellers are compliant. 

las stated, they always had this responsibility but it was harder to enforce and enforcement would need to be taken to civil courts etc… 

now they actually have the power, since this new Act, to fine Business’ up to 10% of their annual turnover (I think that’s the amount) or £300,000, whichever is higher, if eBay does not do something about these business sellers impersonating private accounts. 

so I do agree with you overall, sellers are at fault for the most part for doing this, eBay was self regulating, but enforcement is weak as hell. So all in all, both eBay and sellers are at fault here, it’s mainly the sellers but eBay still has that duty, it’s their platform, and ‘assisting them’ in doing so, knowing they are doing so, puts eBay at the wrong end of the law. 

it’s all about loopholes, eBay got away with it, and we will see the future of eBay very soon start to fizzle these sellers out of the platform. 

[therenewalworkshopltd]

Sorry, I never looked at your account and assumed you were a private seller.

It's exactly kind of response that is being fielded regularly..... 

As to being registered as a business on Ebay, you do actually have to be registered as a business, if you are indeed a business.  That's in the T&C's that you agree to when you sign up initially.

And just to make it clear, NO, I most certainly don't think that Ebay is doing anywhere near enough to stop this from happening.  They do need to sort it out, or the platform itself is going to end up dying.

With the introduction of the BPF, it will collect some money for them, but by not ensuring that business's are actually registered as a s business, means that Ebay is still losing out on fees.  Irrespective of any laws being broken etc.

I hope that the new legislation will help, but I've not had a chance to look at that yet and frankly, it's not at the top of my to do list!  🙂

On an entirely different note.  Had a quick look at your listings.

You might want to look at changing those watercolour pencils you have listed.

As it stands, you have multiple listings for different colours.  It's far better for you, if you use a variation listing.  Yes, initially, you will probably better sales with the individual listings due to visibility, but as time goes on, you will do far better with a variation listing, as all the sales will combine.  You also need to get some photo's sorted out of the actual colours, rather than the generic pencils you are using.  And of course, it's also cheaper.  Not criticising, but trying to help.

You can virtually guarantee that you will get a customer expecting a pack of the pencils shown in the picture!  They don't read.....

[snagwagon]

I appreciate the help, I have only just started with eBay and was private at the time of listing as I was not sure I was going to keep going, I’m waiting for the time they are about to renew before I put them into a variation listing, especially after finding out I get charged to renew my listings haha. 

I actually just found it after gaining interest in eBay’s responsibilities from your comment, and it’s refreshing to know it may actually be an end for most of these sellers, allowing for a fair market. 

on the other hand I can’t see why eBay wouldn’t do more to transition these without enforcement as the fees would be higher for them as mentioned. 

have a great day,

Josh 

[pinkrabbitprinces82]

Hardly any now want to buy from private sellers on ebay since they  introduced a stupid buyers fee that is not adding any more protection than you already had, of course only those who have been with ebay a long time would know how it was before. i sure don't want to buy and be charged a buyers fee as it has always been free since ebay opened in the 90's.

I saw one item I really wanted on here last week, it was £5 but was going to be charged an extra 90p buyers fee on top for a cheap 90p item! plus the postage. there's a cost of living crisis so ebay make it so the buyers pays more? is completely backwards if you ask me.

it was on bbc radio over a month ago this new change and that they also think what many of us know already that ebay seem to be trying to drive out the private seller when we were the ones that started them off and it was mainly for private selling, no business.

[aymanseller]

The combination of SD , BP and NINO have put Ebay to rest. Everything happened at once so no one known which changed effected Ebay sales to a point that no one wants to buy even a pencil now. Something that would sell in 24hours now will not sell for 24 days. You list something for £50 ebay show it for £57 + postage. Then SD will lock your sale.

[therenewalworkshopltd]

Oh for goodness sake, why can nobody understand how the fee works?

There is no increase in fees.  All that has happened is HOW you pay the fee.

You paid fees before the change and you pay them after the change.

The only difference being that prior, it was included in the total price.
The actual buyer does not see any difference at all.  They see a price and nothing more.

At the end of the day, even if you drop the price your selling at (which anyone with common sense will do), you will not lose out!  The cost to sell before the change (ignoring the free fee madness), was higher than what is being charge with the BPF.

[aymanseller]

Oh no, you don’t say it that way because ebay are saying free to sell. So the price is set by the seller not the buyer.  Thats not free when the buyer still paying a uplift to the price stated. 

[pinkrabbitprinces82]

I could say  the same thing back why arn't you understanding. i have been on ebay for over 18 years and it's always been the seller who pays the fee, they are the one making the money after all, but buyers paying a fee it's absolutely disgsuting! sorry but adding nearly £1 to cheap £5 item or less is outrageous!

[snagwagon]

I have to agree with therealworkshop, 

I’ve only recently came back to eBay, when I was selling years ago I was still paying a fee as a seller. 

since I’ve been back it’s changed to the buyer paying (you’re correct there) 

but what happens then is the sellers need to reduce their prices to suit as buyers won’t pay that 4%, so really, it’s still the sellers who suck up the fee. 

buyers mentality on this they still seem to think they are paying that fee, what is being sold as a £5 item was £6 before the seller fee. 

either the private (business) sellers have to drop their prices and suck up the 4% or they keep their prices the same and get close to matching business seller prices. 

I see this as a fairer way to fight against this private (business) sellers. 

i don’t think they are going the right way about it, but as soon as I jumped on eBay and realised this when I was private, all my items would be reduced by 4% to account for the buyer fee. 

This 4% loss for me is still better than the fee I was charged back years ago. 

of course they claim it as a buyer fee, assumably so they can say ‘free to sell’ when in reality it’s not. 

you said your not buying due to this fee, sellers know this so they adjust to suit, but huyers mentality is still there 

[therenewalworkshopltd]

No, your not getting it here.

Irrespective of how a fee is charged, the buyer always pays the fee.

Can you not see that?

So I sell an item as a business, I will INCLUDE the fees charged by Ebay.  The buyer pays me and Ebay charges  me.

If I sell an item a a private seller, I exclude those fees charged by Ebay.  But any seller with an ounce of sense, reduces their prices to allow for the fees that are added on to the sale price.  And who pays those fees?  The buyer of course, as they do whenever there any fees included.

As long as it is done with sense, the price that is actually paid by the buyer should be the same.

With the private seller, actually ending up with more money in their pocket, as the fees are actually less!

That £5 item has always had fees included.

The same £5 item, should still be sold at £5, just that BPF is not been calculated by sellers correctly.

ie. they should reduce the price to allow for it.

It's the lazy ones that want to make more money from the buyer, that are still selling at £5, PLUS the BPF.

[mattmg1969]

Hi,
I agree about the protection fee, what is it actually for apart from going to eBay profits. 
You post an item to a buyer, if you buy a stamp and it’s damaged or doesn’t arrive then they reimburse them from the sellers account. Bearing in mind that the items value has been frozen just in case this event happens. 
If you send the item tracked and it goes missing or is damaged in transit, we still reimburse the seller and them “we” claim the money back from the shipper. 
Where in this process do eBay spend their “protection cover” money? 
This is charging the buyer risk on risk costs which in most financial contracts is not allowed. 
Maybe the Office of Fair Trading should take a look at EBay’s pricing framework. If it’s not illegal it’s certainly not ethical. 

Sent from Sky Yahoo Mail for iPhone

[therenewalworkshopltd]

Do please explain to me, why it is not ethical or is illegal for Ebay to charge the fee?

Especially when you consider that the model it is based upon, is Vintxxd, who have been using that for quite some time.  Yet nobody seems to think that is unfair.

The buyer protection fee, is Ebay's fees!  It's as simple as that.

Or do you really think that it should be entirely free for anyone to sell on Ebay?  If that was the case, who would pay their staff?

[aymanseller]

 Bravo! Excellent response and the last line is the best statement. Hope EbaY banning team are reading this. 

[aymanseller]

Who pays the Utube staff? Oh please its not some £2 fee that pays the staff. Your money on Hold pays enough interest to pay them.

[therenewalworkshopltd]

Seriously?

Never mind the fact that it is an entirely different business model.

YouTube is paid for by the advertisers.

Ebay however, though it does generate income from advertising, is mainly based upon it's fee structure!

As to money on hold, what planet are you on?  I suggest that you go look at their accounts and see where the money comes from!

[wgwillia]

It's all to do with simple Delivery sellers don't want it Ebay have kill the golden goose the lays the golden egg what a bunch of clowns.