Should legitimate businesses just move to a new private account ?

[howmuchtobid]

Ebay is clearly allowing businesses to trade from private accounts, we are all seeing it, Ebay is doing nothing about it.

So to be able to compete I guess moving to a private account is the only option for many.

[santlache_sales]

Exactly, it's the same in my line too, I found a private seller the other day knocking out everything I sell and of course undercutting me with 120 items listed.

On Monday they had three sales by midday, thirteen the day before and I'd had nothing for six days.

Who are the mugs here I ask ?

[santlache_sales]

I have been told by several ebay customer service agents to sell on a private account.

Yes, I had one tell me the same a few weeks back.

The staff at CS after all the calls they get from business sellers understand exactly what is going on, yet how long is it going to take before management get their heads around it and actually do something.

I don't think they will, this is someone's reputation on the line here and they would rather see hundreds of businesses leave the site or go under than admit they were wrong, that is how these people work. Hang on and blame others then leave with a big pay off and let someone else sort out your mess.

[johns-auction]

I've just seen a private seller on another thread complaining about the latest update for private sellers. I thought their feedback was quite high. I looked at their account, they sell 2nd hand collectables, with Feedback (12343) 22K items sold, 6,905 active listings, and 479 sales shown as sold in the last three months. How are those numbers even possible without being flagged by eBay as a business?

[dch2112011]

It seems ebay have removed the flag !

[santlache_sales]

There never was a flag, they just introduced this free listings policy and then tried to lie to everyone it wouldn't affect business sellers, no flag ever existed at eBay Towers as they still don't think they need one.

It would mean admitting they made a huge mistake, and the corporate suit types who made this decision don't ever like admitting they have failed and got it wrong.

[the_book_seekers]

I'm edging closer to the business seller's exit. After 21 years ebay is making retirement from business selling look desirable.

[leadhills_scot]

I've already gone, after 24 years I ceased trading on the 15th December. Come April I will receive the state pension which will be higher than the amount I received through selling on ebay these last couple of years. 

[billtev]

Just makes you wonder why we are even still on here trying to make some money I have just checked the graph for my last months sales and ebay have taken 51% of what I have made cant believe this - paid me this morning and I have also had to pay for 4 parcels out of my bank account to post them today

which makes it even less than the 49% of my earning they generously gave me this month- too many private business sellers for me to compete with - ready to give up if ebay are going to take more than half of what I am earning not including what I have to pay out for what I sell !

[santlache_sales]

Oh yes, it seems like we are now working to make eBay money and getting little if anything back, a lack of sales, added to a shop price sees eBay taking a huge chunk of your earnings.

This isn't sustainable for any business, I've dropped a shop category this month and should have done it months ago. I wonder how many others have done the same, or even just packed up and left.

eBay must be feeling it by now, with Private sellers getting all the sales, undercutting businesses and no fees to pay, while business sales became like a desert and eBay must be hit financially because of it.

[technthread]

Vinted have added a collectible category today. You can list your coins on there now, it might be worth a look.  

[santlache_sales]

Problem is they have all had a go at this line of collectables, Etsy etc and if you go there it is just mainly junk being listed, there are no serious dealers on there and it's not a go-to place collectors of coins will go to buy.

There's a new one recently started called WotNot who keep bombarding me with emails etc.

Sadly eBay is the only place that has a following, although it has dropped considerably on here in the last few years as eBay have destroyed the site with their corporate greed. It's a mere shadow of what it was in the early 2000's - the Golden Age of eBay as I call it, before they got greedy and royally screwed it up.

[technthread]

I was thinking that as you sell higher end stuff and was 50/50 on mentioning it.

I figured if buyers do start to look on there it would be good to get on early and pick up followers. I’ve listed some commemorative £2 coins and 50p’s there just to see, nothing special but have had 2 favourites straight away. I got no watchers on eBay so had nothing to lose by re-listing over there to test it out. 

[technthread]

Whatnot would be great there’s just really low traffic. You could end up selling to other dealers. Maybe in time.. I was tempted to do clothing but I didnt fancy the selling on camera part. 

[mar-yaxl]

if these people are paying their taxes/self assesment then HMRC wont care what tye of account you have

[mar-yaxl]

having a private account or business account is irrelevant to all instituitions other than ebay. HMRC dont care as long as you are paying your taxes and to trading standards it wont matter as you are selling through ebay and not as an independant business outside of ebay

[mar-yaxl]

all sellers comply with the consumer rights act as most returns or issues end with the buyer being refunded, its near impossible to get away with anything as a seller

[mar-yaxl]

It doesnt matter if a private seller sells 5 different items or 5 identical  items, ebay states that you have to sell x amount a  a month to be forced to upgrade so it doesnt matter what a private seller sells. Ebay created this 2 tier system and they made the business account less attractive and more expensive to have. Balme ebay for their terrible system

[jonat_broad]

They could certainly stop Private sellers being able to list items as Brand New. Given what private sellers should be selling off, there is no need to that option to be available.

like new is fine, unopened etc, but not brand new.

[vintagechinashop]

I get my pension in November 2026. I’ve got lots of stock to sell and I no longer buy to sell. Once the pension kicks in eBay will be going into savings for my retirement in 5 years. I’ll be less stressed about eBay then because now it tops up my income and obviously poor sales mean stressful times. I’ll continue to sell until my stock is at a level that I can move into a flat. I’m looking forward to the day when my sales are less important than they are now 

[the_book_seekers]

It doesnt matter if a private seller sells 5 different items or 5 identical  items, ebay states that you have to sell x amount a  a month to be forced to upgrade so it doesnt matter what a private seller sells. 

ebay seems to have never grasped the UK tax system. It's not the amount that a person sells, but whether the selling fits HMRC's definition of business selling ie buy, make or grow with the intention to sell (yes a seller can buy, make or grow something and still be a private seller - provided the selling matches HMRC's guidelines - for example HMRC gives the time span of 6 months for possessing something before selling).  People get confused with the £1000 limit which is for businesses and intended to keep those businesses under the limit from submitting self assessments. If under this limit it doesn't mean somebody isn't a business just that a self assessment isn't necessary. These businesses are still required to comply with consumer law which on ebay means registering correctly.  The system relies on self regulation and for people to know their obligations. The likes of HMRC won't accept any argument that ebay hasn't required a seller to do  the correct thing - as it stands that is down to the individual.