A few questions from a newbie!

[tartantreasure]

Hi there, I'm a relatively new eBay seller. A few things are confusing me that I'd like clarity on.

1. How long can I expect funds to be on hold for? I send my items QR code without tracking which I think means that Royal Mail should scan my parcel when they deliver it. However, I now have items which I sent over 10 day ago now, still displaying funds on hold. I have been payed for items which I have sent more recently than these, so it's not a "new seller" thing.

2. I've read that there can be problems with posties not scanning these QR codes upon delivery, what can I actually do in these circumstances? Are the funds forever on hold or does eBay assume after a while that if the buyer hasn't complained that a parcel hasn't arrived, that all must be well and release the funds?

3. What is the function of the "Require immediate payment on buy it now purchases" check box that appears in the pricing section of creating a new listing? Don't all buy it now sales require immediate payment by default? Or does checking this box mean that my funds will not go on hold at all and will immediately be payed to me?

Thanks in advance for your wisdom and I hope my questions aren't too naive.

[*vyolla*]

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@tartantreasure wrote:

Hi there, I'm a relatively new eBay seller. A few things are confusing me that I'd like clarity on.

1. How long can I expect funds to be on hold for? I send my items QR code without tracking which I think means that Royal Mail should scan my parcel when they deliver it. However, I now have items which I sent over 10 day ago now, still displaying funds on hold. I have been payed for items which I have sent more recently than these, so it's not a "new seller" thing.

The payment hold can be pretty random becuase there are a number of reasons why eBay might hold a payment, the item price and category can be factors. All covered in this eBay guidance page:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold/payments-hold?id=4816...

2. I've read that there can be problems with posties not scanning these QR codes upon delivery, what can I actually do in these circumstances? Are the funds forever on hold or does eBay assume after a while that if the buyer hasn't complained that a parcel hasn't arrived, that all must be well and release the funds?

A buyer leaving feedback is taken into consideration too, but if there's no tracking number and it doesn't update then, after you've built up a good trading record, eBay won't hold the payments.

3. What is the function of the "Require immediate payment on buy it now purchases" check box that appears in the pricing section of creating a new listing? Don't all buy it now sales require immediate payment by default? Or does checking this box mean that my funds will not go on hold at all and will immediately be payed to me?

You're right, a buyer has to use the Buy It Now and make payment else the item remains unsold. It's a pretty obselete feature now.  Checking the box has nothing to do with payment holds. 

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[moldosgifts]

First bit of advice i can give is your selling allot of new stuff so take a look at HMRC on what constitutes a business, if you buy to sell then your a business.

[tartantreasure]

Thank you very much for your advice. It all makes perfect sense and has put my mind at ease.

[tartantreasure]

Hi there, thanks for your advice. It was the first thing I looked into, the guidance isn't great or exhaustive, I didn't buy any of these things to resell, I'm clearing a shed out.

[moldosgifts]

Your selling 10 of your first item and sold 18 so far that doers not look like a shed clearance.

Second item sold 5, 3rd item sold 3 , you seem to sold have 42 items already that falls within the automatic reporting to HMRC each item has at least 10 on offer. Ebay will send your sales data HMRC Its automatic and they must send it. Plus it's the same wherever you sell Etsy, amazon, Ebid vintade all the same 

All inications of a business, Better take a second look at HMRC guidance you figures will be sent to them anyway ,

This is freindly advice It's always better to set off on the right foot.

And as your new to selling 

[tartantreasure]

Hi there, I appreciate the friendly advice again, thanks. I'm aware that eBay will, and probably already have, passed details to HMRC and I was happy to provide my NI number for this reason. I'm also aware of what the sales on my page appear to indicate, but the fact of the matter is that the items are genuinely from a shed clearance - now, whether the fact that I can prove that is sufficient for HMRC or not, is a different story ofcourse. That's the only reason I said that the guidance wasn't exhaustive, because my situation remains ambiguous.

Thanks again by the way, I do believe you are simply looking out for me.