HELP! Obvious business seller operating on a private account!

[cocooncards]

I hate having to do this but there is a business seller operating on a private account in my category (I'm posting this on a throwaway just FYI). He's already made like a grand in a day (NO FEES!). I tried to report but the old system is gone and the new one doesn't appear to have "fee avoidance" (or similar) as an option, as far as I can tell. 

I was under the impression that all the new rules (simple delivery, BFP, selling limits etc.) were supposed to stop PRECISELY THIS from occurring!

[cobwebcottage]

Firstly - best of luck trying to get Ebay to take action. It's been tried and failed so many times, we now give up reporting them. 

Second - there are 100's if not 1000's of incorrectly registered sellers in each category which affects every business seller. Not just the fees but in sales too.

Third - you cannot name and shame another seller on the boards so your links will be removed as soon as they are spotted by the Mods. 

[cocooncards]

Thank you for responding. I'm beyond annoyed at this seller. I know he isn't the only one and it's a scourge across eBay but I'm currently in the process of launching my own business (on a BUSINESS account) with all the costs and hoops to jump through that it entails. Then this guy (a repeat offender I'll add) reappears after a hiatus with one of the most obvious businesses I've ever seen! How can I compete against someone paying NO FEES? Am I really powerless? Will eBay just sit on their hands and let this chancer get away with it? Will none of the changes that have made private selling impossible/unappealing stop him? What about HMRC?

(I did not know that I wasn't allowed to "name and shame", I apologise. I'll let the mods do their thing I guess). 

[cobwebcottage]

You have no way of knowing if they are registered with HMRC and pay their taxes.

They are breaking Consumer Law by not registering correctly but they and Ebay don't seem to care about that.

Just concentrate on building up your business as best you can. Offer great customer service and give your buyers a professional experience. A lot of buyers now are quite savvy about the difference between BS and PS ( most who won't offer returns)  and at least you will not have the BPF on your listings or have to suffer SD. 

[cocooncards]

I do find it laughable that I'm being advised to just bite my tongue here considering how many threads get derailed by posters accusing others of being "private sellers".  It's like the go-to argument around here. But I should just get over it?

(This isn't an attack btw, I know you're only trying to help).

[cobwebcottage · Accepted solution]

Oh trust me, I'm on your side and so are quite a few others but you are told to bite your tongue or have it chopped off.

Years of trying to obtain fairness is now suppressed and not encouraged. 

[cocooncards]

Well thank you for taking the time to reply anyway, I appreciate it 😊

I just wish there was something I could do about him. I HATE seeing cheaters win! (Not to mention, there is an existing (legitimate) business in my category run by the NICEST guy and it's going under as we speak).

Make it make sense...

[therenewalworkshopltd]

It really is a losing battle I'm afraid.

You wouldn't believe the number of sellers that I have reported.  Sometimes it works, but more often than not it doesn't and they keep coming back.

It really is unfair on those of us who do things by the book.

However, one thing to note, it's not NO FEEs for private sellers.
Though they may not pay fees directly, they are having them added onto their listings with the BPF.

It's not as much as we will pay generally, but they are at least paying some.

Added to that, they also have their money held for a couple of weeks or so.

So it's not all their way now.

[cocooncards]

Well that's something I suppose... But I know for a fact that this guy will use his ill-gotten proceeds to buy up a TON of stock (from private sellers and via auction) and take a decent chunk of the market in my category. It just makes me feel like an utter MUG for doing things legitimately (Shop fees, FVF, HMRC registration etc.).

Sorry for whining 🙁

[edwardian-dreams]

How do you know he personally  is eating into your sales to pick them and not any or all other non registered business operators ..is it a product only you and they do ?

If eBay aren’t doing anything about these types of accounts why lose sleep over it and vent at him and not eBay who obviously have vested interest

then again there’s those who says eBay want no private sellers 

🤷🏼‍♀️

I know it must stick in the graw  when you’re doing everything proper and others seemingly bypass the system Scot free 

id think oh yeah? So you think so especially if they’re really milking it 

[cocooncards]

I'm not sure I understand the last part of your reply...

As for eating into my sales, YES! And not just mine but other sellers in the vintage Yu-Gi-Oh! market. I know a lot about this guy as we were previously on speaking terms. I know that he's sold things off-site before, buys to sell, makes to sell etc. He really thinks he's hot sh*t and untouchable to boot! There's more I could say but I don't wanna cross a line. I've been told off already for "naming and shaming" (I mean, what else can one do?).

Maybe I shouldn't lose SLEEP over it, but considering how tough things are economically AND on eBay in 2025 (especially after all the changes to private selling and the knock-on effect to businesses) it's MONEY I (and others) are losing to these chancers/cheaters. Makes the various fees that much harder to swallow...

[billtev]

Personally I think that ebay are only moving newer private sellers over to business as they reach the new limits.  Some of the long term ones with 100s of listings, that we can see from their listings  are abviously business sellers but sitll being allowed to operate as private.  I sell in the second hand market toys, dolls, etc and there are hundreds that I could pick out on a daily basis that are obviously NOT private sellers.   

[fribblecollectables]

I try not to let the incorrectly registered sellers wind me up too much—except for one, and he’s family!

Every time we see each other it’s the same smug grin and, “Way-hey, still subsidising my eBay fees for me, are you? Cheers for that!”

He doesn’t even sell in my category, so it’s not competition—it’s just the attitude. I’ve no idea whether he declares anything properly, but knowing him, any tax return would be... creatively written, let’s say.

So yes, I get the frustration. You work hard to do it properly, jump through the hoops, and still watch people flout the rules like it’s a badge of honour. 

[vintage-emporium-jedburgh]

Spend the time improving your business

rather than banging your head against ebays wall

or your competitors will

[notimpressedatall]

However, one thing to note, it's not NO FEEs for private sellers.
Though they may not pay fees directly, they are having them added onto their listings with the BPF.

It's not as much as we will pay generally, but they are at least paying some.

kat@ebay  can you verify that information please? This member claims that private sellers pay some fees on their sales. That would make eBay's 'FREE TO SELL' offer for private sellers basically false advertisement?

I believe that Buyer Protection Fee is paid by buyers, not related to sellers directly or indirectly.

[therenewalworkshopltd]

No, the buyers pay the fee directly.  But as I said, those fees are added to the listing, which in turn means that the price needs to be reduced to allow for this!

Therefore, it's free to sell.

But as any seller knows, whether the fees are deducted pre or post the sale price, it really doesn't matter.  Fees are being paid.

[honeymonster007]

PVT sellers dont pay any fees.  Although some might adjust their prices to take into account the bpf and make the price look more rounded.

[moldosgifts]

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@honeymonster007 wrote:

PVT sellers dont pay any fees.  Although some might adjust their prices to take into account the bpf and make the price look more rounded.

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Private seller don't pay fees unless it an upgrade or promotion, business sellers pay over the top fees. On everything.

[darth_baggins]

Just report it. Every week on the weekly chat we're told that eBay take this seriously, how they understand where we're coming from and that all reports are acted on.

So it must be true, right?

[mrzakiopcuk]

I have sent in my application to register my business today. The only thing I dislike about eBay business fees is that it’s a lot. I’ve not personally registered yet I am soon when I’ve received my confirmation from HMRC. What perks do you get being a business seller over a private?