Confusion over best offers and VAT

[pitstop.pippa]

I sent a best offer of £2.75 for an item priced £3.25 listed by a business seller. I thought VAT was included in business seller prices (there's nothing on the listing to suggest otherwise) so imagine my shock when confirmation of my offer included the words "20% VAT will apply". Therefore, if my offer is accepted, I'll actually be paying more for the item than the original price!!! Something ain't right here!

[sml192]

Is it a UK business seller?  If so then any VAT applicable should already be included in both the Buy it Now and offer prices.

If it is showing as '+ 20% VAT will apply' then that would imply that either the item or seller is located overseas but again the VAT should already be included in both the original and offer prices unless it is an auction listing or alternatively a Buy it Now listing with a price greater than £135 and you are making an offer of £135 or less.

Are you able to provide the item number? 

[papso22]

A while ago this message was appearing completely erroneously and no VAT was actually charged at checkout.  This may, or may not, be that glitch again.

[pitstop.pippa]

Hi, the item number is 233544602491 and the seller is based in London. I'm hoping it's a glitch as suggested by papso22 (sorry, I don't know how to tag someone else's reply to this one) but then again, it might be immaterial as the seller hasn't responded to the offer as yet.

[sml192]

Thanks.  As you say, it is a UK seller and the VAT is already included in the Buy it Now and offer price. 

If it is just showing '20% VAT will apply' without a '+' or 'plus' in front then it may just be eBay's clumsy way of telling you that your offer price includes VAT or alternatively it may just be the recurring glitch that @papso22 mentioned.