Why is ebay allowing Chinese sellers to pretend they are in the uk?

[jimmythejock]

I am very angry that I can no longer shop on ebay knowing that I am buying from British business's.

There are literally dozens and dozens (100's 1000's???) of Chinese sellers advertising themselves as being in the uk and when you order something the first thing you realise is that the item is coming from abroad because it's the same scenario every time: You get instant tracking and it's usually always Yodel. On this ocassion I actually thought I might be wrong becuase it tells you the item is being send from Hayes to Yodel and sure enough the Yodel tracking updates like this:-

28/08/2418:12

We have your parcel. Please check back for updates

27/08/2418:00

Your parcel is on its way to Yodel. Please check back for updates

27/08/2400:00

We're expecting your parcel from your sender. We will provide updates here once we receive it

Estimated delivery issued by ebay says between today and Tuesday so I go onto yodel live chat and say "why is there no movement on my parcel which you say you have, and that was 2 days ago" the answer comes back and says "jimmy I know it says we have it but actually we don't we got advice of it from the sender on the 27th and since then they have never delivered it to us"

That's because it's coming from China. Are yodel colluding with these sellers in their deception? Looks very much like it.

So I report this to ebay as "Item location misrepresentation" just like I did the last time and I got the exact same reply. This reply is a disgrace. I say this is just ebay deliberately turning a blind eye.......

Thanks again for reporting the listing(s) you found. 

What happened:
We looked into your report and didn’t find the listing to be in violation of our policy. This determination was made using automation or artificial intelligence.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What about all the people in feedback reporting "Not in uk" or "delivery very late" etc etc etc

The last time I reported it I then got the item delivered (late of course). Isn't it strange that the label on it is not a normal yodel uk delivery slip.

Isn't it even stranger that on this Delivery label it has the letters 2CXN with word "Handling" printed above these letters.

Isn't it even more stranger that 2XCN is an international mail handler!!!!!

ebay are aiding and abetting Chinese sellers to steal business from uk sellers and are turning a blind eye to the sheer fraud and deception that is taking place never mind the ficticious delivery times which are NEVER going to be honoured!

You order something thinking it's a British seller you are buying from, and it's British goods you are buying, and it's neither. ebay have just helped these people to scam me by allowing them to operate on the ebay plaqtform and do nothing when you report it.

GO AND HANG YOUR HEADS IN SHAME!

[bonzo622]

Ebay obviously make money from these sellers so they're turning a blind eye. I always check the Sellers "About" page because if they are in China it will say that they are. As far as I can tell it's a reliable way to check.

[date80211]

I too am angry that I can't shop on eBay knowing that I am buying from British businesses but worse than that, this isn't merely about eBay…

Can we shop anywhere on line with any certainty about the source of the goods?

Can we even shop in any bricks-and-mortar store with any certainty, without at least squinting to find a label? Where is it written that the label must make the origin clear?

That's why I'm partitioning Parliament and my local MP to bring back at least the trade mark, 'Made in Britain…' if not 'Made in England/ Ireland/ Scotland/ Wales…' and why I ask you to do the same.

[twin--turbo]

Simply...

Did the item arive in the advertised timescale? Yes or No

Yes :-  No Problem

No :- Raise a ebay none delivery.

This whole BEEEF about china is ridiculous, we want cheap stuff and they supply it cheap. If you want the same stuff from a UK seller you pay 25% More. Stop looking at the cheap listings or raise none delivery complaints. Or go to Amazon and pay 25% more, or order from AliExpress and pay 25% less than ebay ( and delivery from ali is now quite quick.

Many Chineese selers have opted to have regional disto centers but also have to replenish stock which is not on a one in one out bassis. 

Ebay can't enforce "Seller Taxes" as that would be breaking trade agreements. 

[date80211]

Two fairly obvious thoughts there:
For myself, I don't care about the delivery time. I care only about where the goods came from and 'UK stock…' is in no way helpful.
To me, what's ridiculous is your complacency about China.
You have the right to want cheap stuff, which China clearly supplies.
You also have the right to demand cheap stuff when that clearly comes at the expense of friends', neighbours' or relatives' jobs.
Are their job losses OK with you, or not?

[caremblemsuk]

Its about false representation and misleading buyers to think they are in
uk .

[ep_micm_fpcrud5y6]

Hi thanks for the reply.

First off I am unable to afford the said item of a similar quality which
has been manufactured in the UK and ultimately I don't have the luxury of
simply inventing money.

I won't purchase a substandard item just because it's manufactured in the
UK as we are being heavily ripped off for no reason but if the said item
was of similar quality and cost, I would always choose to buy British.

The circumstances for which I require the item is personal and although I
appreciate you probably don't care it is a necessity to allow me to care
for someone.

I therefore made the difficult decision to purchase an item not
manufactured in the UK.

My complaint was also about advertising an item as already in the UK when
it is not so I suggest you read before jumping on your bandwagon of insults.

I would like you to list every item in your household so we can dissect
your purchases and offer some advice about buying UK manufactured goods as
I am willing to bet the majority of items you own are not British
manufactured.

If you can't prove to me that everything you own and use is British made
then I suggest you climb back in your box.

[date80211]

I’m sorry you seem to have so badly missed the point.

I’ve never heard of anyone minding about the delivery timescale as such… only whether the delivery was on time.

I’ve never heard of anyone being interested in where the stuff is warehoused… that’s purely a shipment issue and as even you yourself said, the stuff either does or not arrive within the advertised time.

Again, sorry… delivery times have nothing to do with product origin.

If you really believe eBay allowing Chinese sellers to pretend they are in the UK is more about the location than the origin of the stock, will you say how or why?

[twin--turbo]

Sorry can't make head nor tail of what your trying to say. 

There seems to be a complaint that chineese selers are proporting to be from the UK, yet they just say UK stock ( In my experince ), if you check there registerd buiness address it's usualy China  

The origin of the stock is going toi be the far east anyway.

What evidence is there that it takes jobs from UK workers  Regardless of seller most items from any bulk seller will be delivered from a fullfilment warehouse that's probably highly automated in the first place. A good numebr of business don't even own their stock, they have inventory that they purchase and drop ship from a much larger importer.

Ultimatly if your going to get hung up who's selling you what from where.. then go into town and buy it from Wilko or Woolworths 

[nigel_paul_wright7557]

The ironic thing is the UK businesses are probably selling Chinese goods anyway.

I buy in power supplies from UK vendors and they are all made in China.

[ep_micm_fpcrud5y6]

To be completely frank I didn't raise this point I simply replied to the
poster of my experience and agreed it's frustrating.

The stock is not about where it's from but that it is already in the UK
with a specific date when it will be delivered.

All I was saying was they should not be giving specific delivery dates when
in fact the are fully aware they cannot fulfil.

In respect to UK jobs I don't disagree but the point I was making is that
I'm quite sure that everything you own isn't manufactured in the UK but I
bet there is a UK option.

Is that any different or is it simply to do with Chinese manufactured goods
due to what can be cheaper less well made items at knockdown prices?

The item I have purchased is of very good quality made by a well known and
reputable company a bit like buying an imported vehicle.

I appreciate what your pointing out if it was a cheap garbage rip off item

[date80211]

First off, I’m sorry both that you’re unable to afford items manufactured in the UK and that like everyone else, you don't have the luxury of inventing money.

Will you separate your obvious anger from the facts of the case?

Will you say how any of that could relate to eBay allowing Chinese sellers to pretend they are in the UK? I suggest their stock being here in the UK clearly does not mean ‘they…’ are anywhere near the UK.

Will you say how items being ‘sub-standard…’ could have anything to do with the origin of the goods, unless you believe this, that or some other area is particularly associated with sub-standard or even bogus goods?

With all sympathy, I ask how the item being personal, or necessary to allow you to care for someone, is relevant to where that item comes from?

Unless it be cost, it’s in no way clear to me why you decided to purchase an item not made in the UK.

Whoever was advertising an item as already in the UK when it was not, should be reported at least to eBay, and also to the police. Fraud is fraud.

So I suggest you read more widely before jumping on anything and surely that you say what ‘insults…’ anyone loaded on your wagon. Will you explain, or explain why not?

In my view, your asking us to list every household item raises more questions than it answers.

First, who is ‘we…’ who might dissect anything? (Ignoring the fact that ‘dissect…’ is not an appropriate term…)

Further, if you have advice to offer about buying UK-made goods, why not Post helpful links?

I agree, the majority of items any of us own are not British made and that’s the problem!


At the same time, I wonder what your Question, as worded, could really mean?

[ep_micm_fpcrud5y6]

If you look carefully it wasn't my question, I replied to the guy who asked
it

[date80211]

If you yourself look carefully, you should be able to tell I wholly support jimmythejock's original Question, Why is ebay allowing Chinese sellers to pretend they are in the UK?

I also wish people would stick to that point, and not go sideways to explore delivery times of product qualities.

That's all, really.

[caremblemsuk]

I, 'm a UK British seller.I was taking 12 months ago £1400 plus weekly and paying VAT.I am putting many hours in.I participated in the eBay global shipping program and am offering high-quality goods.

Now the Chinese are destroying businesses built over long periods with hard work and dedication.

They claim to be based in uk but its obvious they are not.

The goods they send is inferior by far and I also suffer in this way from fraud.Buyers on ebay buy from Chinese seller the goods arrive only to find its total *bleep*.What they do then is buy the same item from me a quality item claim its not as described.I have to pay the return postage and what I get back is the item they bought from China, and they keep mine.Of course I have to give a full refund and am stuck with the Chinese *bleep* they had received.They cant send it back to China of course as its too much hassle

They are putting me slowly but surley out of business and ebay is allowing it .

THIS WEEKS TOTAL PAY OUT 15/07/2025 £114.70

THIS IS CRIMINAL

[cke786]

Most of these only claim the 'Item' is in the UK, which majority of the time is correct, as they use Drop Shipping serivces provided here in the UK, problem is, if the Drop Shipping company has made a mistake in the stock quantity, or if something has gotten broken somehow, the seller will ship the item from China, or wherever they are to fulfil the order.

[geomusic]

Hmmm why would anyone hide their feedback?

[geomusic]

It's not China specific any international buyer/seller is allowed to trade on Ebay UK or any other country.

Also, if a business seller has a UK registered address there's nothing wrong that their product originates in a different country.

I have bought from retailers that have a branch in the UK but the actual item ships from a warehouse in a different country. I have a dozen examples on Amazon where I've ordered items that shipped from the US, the shipping times vary but normally they take between 1 - 2 weeks.

I've looked into probably 100s of items here with a clear indication that they were shipping from China, I never felt aggrieved by that. I don't quite understand what the complaint is, just avoid if you don't like it.

[geomusic]

Well, if they pay UK taxes then that's fair enough in my opinion.

[robmar0se]

Firstly, it is usually clear from Ebay the location of the seller where they are based, even if they state goods are in the UK. In many cases if not all, there are clues, Yodel being pretty standard courier for these items, and where the tracking states Hayes Service Centre (not clear on this, but close to Heathrow, is that a coincidence?), the goods may be held in a bonded warehouse for customs clearance - are they officially/legally in the UK?  On occasion there are also cases where UK stock isn't actually in the UK, they are then sent from China resulting in delays.

I believe that Ebay should come clean on this, they are obviously complicit to this process. Is it a deception?

I prefer not buy from overseas.  I am now in the habit before buying from "Chinese"  sellers asking if stock is held in the UK, and if the delivery date can be met?  In the most recent case I received a one word answer "yes"! Where delivery date is not met I request a refund.

I do leave feedback where clearly stock wasn't in the UK going fwd where I see Hayes Service Centre, I will include in the feedback.

[robmar0se]

A bonded warehouse is a secure facility authorized by customs authorities to store imported goods without immediate payment of import duties and taxes.  They allow importers to defer duty payments until the goods are removed for domestic consumption or re-exported. Hayes Service Centre is a general term, and many businesses have service centres without any customs involvement. 

However, as the goods originate from China, Chinese sellers with UK stock are probably holding the goods in bonded warehouses under the control of transhippers. Orders when received, have first to clear customs, have duties paid before they can be passed to the courier, often Yodel.  This explains on tracking information that there is a 2 day delay before Yodel begins the process.

No such thing as 1-3 day delivery for these “UK” Chinese sellers!