If you were EBay what would you have done to sort out the private/business problem

[spence0175]

Firstly can we all stop arguing amongst ourselves. This is EBay’s mess not ours. People are fed up and angry but we should not take it out on each other.

So many things could have been better thought through before implementation.

So they are coming down hard on private sellers.  If you make things hard for private sellers it will just drive them away

But they could have had better incentives to encourage people to becoming a business. Lower the shop fees especially the basic shop. 
Same fees for all across the board.

Limit private to used only. 
Cheaper promoted prices for those who want to use promoted

When it’s not expensive to have a shop or be a business surely it’s a way of attracting more to becoming properly registered.

Anyone else and please no arguing….

[jreg-fuchsias]

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@therenewalworkshopltd wrote:

The one thing that I really don't like, is the holding private sellers money for a couple of weeks.

No other site that I'm aware of does this.  So seems a little unfair.

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I suspect its costing too much for ebay to refund the mess left behind by serial scammers.  A sledgehammer to crack a nut, because eBays 'sophisticated' systems to identify thieves work so well.

There is one particular individual in the collectibles area that builds up a sales account , presumably getting ebays restrictions on sales levels and proceeds withdrawals removed over a few months, and then goes all in selling  a large batch of desirable items under market value, which of course sell very quickly, but they don't send out.  I'm assuming they're able to get the money withdrawn and the bank account closed before the eBay cases come rolling in.

Then they open a new account with a different name and tiny address variation and start again.

They build up their account by buying items and claiming non receipt - as it seems that Royal Mail don't get any delivery scans for the items delivered to this particular  block of flats , unless its a special delivery - and hence they have lots of free items to sell on the new account.

[da-vids]

"Charging a fee on postage was initially to deter sellers . i know this but why do they do it because they want to milk the seller not for the reason they claim"

Indeed they could have at least allowed a few quid fee free to allow for postage but conscious decisions not too.

[moldosgifts]

My point was in general as a private seller how can you offer any kind of guarantee.

Then if you cannot how can you sell new items.

Even a new towel should a have guarantee it should last well beyond six months.

A private account selling that games console they got gifted NEW in 4 month it stops working  "Sorry no guarantee " EXAMPLE do not use examples as facts

[therenewalworkshopltd]

Amazon have delivery date + 7 which means you can wait 10 days to get paid for a sale, up to 3 days for the delivery then an extra 7 days after the item has been delivered, they still have record numbers signing up each month to sell on there, even with this in place and all the verification required.

Sorry, buy you are not comparing Apples with Apples, but comparing them to Oranges.

I was talking about private sellers and you are talking about business sellers.

And just for the record, I still get paid on Amazon on an on demand basis, as do a lot of people.

There are very few private sellers on Amazon any longer, it is just far too much hassle and costly to become one.

[fatbobfan]

What I think should happen

For all sellers no listing fees of any form, selling fees FVF, equal for all. We pay to list and as customers the majority of the  responsibility of the platform is to get us Sales???. Im happy to make my listings more attractive than yours, I'll do my bit.  I'll happily pay when you get me the sale. Off site marketing should be the platforms responsibility, they have the skills and would get the buying power. Some visibilty benefits for sellers who provide, continual service metrics, incentives for sellers who put the platform in a good light, happy customers are returning customers.

Realistic but doubtful - A level playing field for all with fair fees.  Benefits/incentives for ALL , shouldnt discriminate, for all sellers who continually supply good service metrics, and put the platform in a good light. As above, happy returning customers, think any good seller knows this.

What will happen - Not a lot, the platforms a business and it will continue to rinse every penny where it can, it really has gotten worse in recent years, new fees, and high level increases, my concern they will ring the neck of the platform dissuading returning customers and professional sellers. 

[auctiongabble]

1. Private sellers should not be entitled to have a shop

2. Private sellers to be limited on number of items allowed to list / sell per year

3. Free basic shop for Business sellers

4. Business sellers to have free listings

5. Same final fee % for private and business sellers, one standard flate rate fee.  No need for different rates depending on catergory.

6. Ebay to get rid of all these 'bolt on fee' they introduced...

7. Ebay to get rid of promoted listings / ads and advertise like they used too.  Better advertising = more sales = more commission for ebay

8. Any private seller selling over the £1k allowance to have their details sent to HMRC

9. Only LTD or corporation companies need to have business details advertised on their listings, remove this for sole traders.

10.  Ebay to have actual staff members take part in the weekly chats that will act on points raised and actually provide resolutions to problems.

[da-vids]

One of the oddest things eBay ever did was 'Best Match' as default when it was originally 'Ending soonest'. Even stranger was to do 'Best Match' for feedback moving away from 'Most Recent'. The mind boggles 🙄

Of course they are right and I must be wrong on what's better. We're at the mercy of algorithms.

[gamingmoshpit]

That's because she was a Bag For Life

[vintique*violet]

😁😂😆............

[da-vids]

"That's because she was a Bag For Life"

Hopefully she won't blow away, thinking about it hopefully she will blow away 🤔

[da-vids]

If eBay could go back to basics and back to simpler times... for 'Private' accounts eBay could give them some privacy and for 'Business' accounts eBay could mind their own #£"(&@/; business.

[therenewalworkshopltd]

9. Only LTD or corporation companies need to have business details advertised on their listings, remove this for sole traders.

That's not going to happen.  It's a legal requirement to display your details, whether sole trader, partnership or Ltd.

[auctiongabble]

@therenewalworkshopltd  my error, I sit corrected on point 9 

[messier44000]

Would have the common sense from day 1, to implement Prevention rather than cure ( cure 20+ years later)

[da-vids]

"It's a legal requirement to display your details, whether sole trader, partnership or Ltd."

Never seen this in the real world. When I asked for business details that weren't displayed of the owner of a local mechanics, I got refunded over couple of hundred quid for 2 previous jobs without even asking for a refund, still didn't get the business owners details.

[leadhills_scot]

In 2006 ebay split into 2 sites ebay express for fixed priced listings and standard ebay. Express was closed down in 2008. So splitting the sites again won't work.

What the answer is to sorting the site out I don't know. All they are doing with these changes is causing more problems. Having everyone pay exactly the same fees could work however it is to late for them to backtrack as that would cause even more outrage.

No matter what they do in the future I won't be back as a seller or buyer.

[therenewalworkshopltd]

Online and physical shops have different rules.

Aside from the fact that if your in the shop, you know the address!

But if the shop/business is a Ltd, then they are obliged to display certain details, such as contact information etc.  Most do display this kind of information, but it tends to be on a back wall or out of the way so it's not easily visible.

Not sure if this one is allowed, but the basic details that need to be supplied for a website are as follows.

In the UK, certain legal information is required to be displayed on a website.  Not everyone is aware of this, so here is a useful summary:

1. Company name: If the website is operated by a company, the company’s name should be displayed.
2. Company registration number: If the company is registered with Companies House, its registration number must be included.
3. Registered office address: The address of the company’s registered office must be displayed.
4. VAT number: If the company is registered for VAT, its VAT number must be included.
5. Contact details: The website must include an email address or phone number for customers to contact the company.
6. Terms and conditions: The website must include terms and conditions, which outline the rules and regulations for using the website.
7. Privacy policy: If the website collects personal data, it must have a privacy policy that outlines how that data is used and protected.
8. Cookies policy: If the website uses cookies, it must have a cookies policy that explains how cookies are used and how users can opt-out.
9. Accessibility statement: If the website is subject to the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018, it must include an accessibility statement.

It’s worth noting that these requirements may vary depending on the type of website and the business operating it. It’s always a good idea to seek legal advice to ensure that your website meets all legal requirements.

https://www.contractstore.com/blog/business-contracts/what-legal-information-is-required-on-a-websit....

[da-vids]

"Online and physical shops have different rules"

In this case there is a lady who owns it and just makes the money lives in a house somewhere, the business address there are just 2 salaried grease monkeys. So not sure what the legalities would be but was planning on turning up when she was there counting her money. So who to go to if not the lady owner who's details aren't displayed.

[therenewalworkshopltd]

Re read my answer.

There are lots of rules and regulations and I don't profess to be an expert.

But even so, your post doesn't have anywhere near enough information to be able to answer that.

Aside from which, this topic is about Ebay, not some mechanics that you have been to.

[da-vids]

Yeah it was rhetorical wasn't asking for answers, real world and eBay no one likes, well personally I don't like having to do that as I work from home... Bringing it back to eBay. The law is the law I suppose.