05-02-2025 2:54 PM
05-02-2025 2:59 PM - edited 05-02-2025 2:59 PM
The distinction between private and business sellers on eBay is eBay’s own policy, not a legal requirement. Whether you’re a private seller or a business seller, the classification is purely a platform membership tag. As a business seller, I choose to use a subscription model for my own reasons. On other platforms, this separation is less clear, and the membership tag is simply a way to differentiate users Legally, the only requirement is informing HMRC and paying taxes on any profits – nothing more Now, regarding eBays new changes: the buyer protection fee is a marketing tactic, not a genuine improvement. Many of the protections being offered were already in place under different names. It’s just a buzzword to make buyers feel safer, and it does not really change much. The real problem here is that these changes are pushing private sellers away. Business sellers have pushed for fairer policies, but eBays response is hurting the very sellers who make the platform work – the private sellers. Many of these private sellers are also buyers, and their departure means less business for all of us. My sales will decrease as a result, just like every other business seller who depends on a balanced marketplace. In short, eBay needs to understand that by making changes to appease business sellers, they are driving away the very people who make the platform vibrant. Demanding more fees and changes without fully understanding the consequences is hurting everyones sales.
05-02-2025 3:13 PM
Thank you... it is exactly that, and surprised as to why so many fail to see and understand this.
Appreciate you sharing.
05-02-2025 3:38 PM - edited 05-02-2025 3:43 PM
05-02-2025 3:40 PM - edited 05-02-2025 3:46 PM
@retail_media_station_group wrote:The distinction between private and business sellers on eBay is eBay’s own policy, not a legal requirement. Whether you’re a private seller or a business seller, the classification is purely a platform membership tag.
Really?
Business sellers are required to follow all government regulations, including registering as a business on eBay, and providing contact information and a return policy.
An eBay seller must register as a business if, for example, they sell items they have bought to resell, they make items in order to sell them, or if they buy items for their business.
Why does eBay have this policy?
This policy helps ensure that important government regulations for business sellers in the UK are followed.
Distance selling
You must provide certain information if you’re selling goods or services through digital TV, by mail order or by phone or text message. This is called distance selling.
Before an order is placed
You must provide:
- your business name, contact details and address
- a description of your goods or services
- the price, including all taxes
- how a customer can pay
- delivery arrangements, costs and how long goods will take to arrive
- the minimum length of their contract and billing period
- conditions for ending contracts
- how they can cancel and when they lose the right to cancel
- if they will still need to pay reasonable costs for using a service after they cancel
- a standard cancellation form, if they can cancel
- conditions for money given as a deposit or financial guarantees
- what digital content does (for example, the language it’s in or how to update software)
- the cost of using phone lines or other communication to complete the contract where it will cost more than the basic rate
https://www.gov.uk/online-and-distance-selling-for-businesses
I guess it's also okay for that business seller on a private account to not display their VAT Number if the seller is VAT registered, because it's just a "platform membership tag"
05-02-2025 3:43 PM
'The distinction between private and business sellers on eBay is eBay’s own policy, not a legal requirement.'
I think it's a legal requirment to have your Business Details, Address and Contact on your listings if you are a business. This is to comply with UK Consumer Law.
Ebay come down heavily on private sellers having any contact details on show (because this makes it possible to do 'off ebay' deals which avoids ebay fees -*was* seller fees, *now* buyer fees.)
So basically if ebay had the choice (and no consumer law to abide by) there'd be *no* contact details visible for anybody (so no easy 'off ebay' dealing).
05-02-2025 3:45 PM
Nonsense, it is impossible for a business to comply with the CRA 2015 if they use an ebay private account.
They are also in contravention of the law that makes it illegal to misrepresent yourself as a private seller when you are really a business.
05-02-2025 3:47 PM
@vintique*violet wrote:
Thank you... it is exactly that, and surprised as to why so many fail to see and understand this.
Appreciate you sharing.
Sorry but there is a lot wrong in that member's post, in fact, everything that refers to the law.
05-02-2025 3:48 PM
It was new gov " legislation" for online sales ...originally people did not have to register as a business on eBay, particularly if they were "trading" under their own name... this was covered on a different thread some time ago I think, many people were not aware of...it didn't mean they were thwarting HMRC, but perhaps not paying " business" fees correctly to eBay?
05-02-2025 4:07 PM
I don't think HMRC give two hoots what you call yourself online, as long as you pay any tax due. (they leave the business/non-business stuff to Consumer Law to sort out...)
But as soon as Consumer Law caught up with the online world (which needed regulating to stop 'the Wild West' aspects) and it became law to have your buisness details on view , ebay will have had to do *something* to differentiate business and private.
If the site remained 'private' (i.e. no details allowed so no easy 'off-ebaying') it would be illegal for business sellers to be here, and ebay would lose huge amounts of trade.
So they had to allow businesses to have details on view but charge them higher fees to perhaps re-coup any potential 'off-ebaying' ? maybe....!
05-02-2025 4:22 PM
The unbelievable failure to announce through channels that the majority of users would see is atrocious. There is nothing on the main Ebay pages, many people have never used Twitter/X & there has been a recent exodus due to other reasons. Community pages are not frequented by the majority but the main sites announcements, press pages & help have zero information.
Also interesting are the listings of some of the posters on here. Those with hundreds of listings, all in the same basic category & clearly trading but "private". The cause of the problems still not getting the message?
05-02-2025 4:29 PM
Hi @valueaddedresource ,
As I mentioned in my reply on the weekly chat we don't have an exact date and time. It is currently being updated to the site which is a gradual process. Once it fully updates its due to go live in electronics first.
If we get any further information on any changes we will update the community.
Thank you,
Kat
05-02-2025 4:36 PM
I never suggested HMRC cared about a business name... it was eBay who stated that there was no need to register as a business - granted this was some time ago and before the online legislation etc etc, but that was how it was and some still are not aware ( whether intentional or not) ... and many report their " earnings" to HMRC but not perhaps registered " online" correctly...( I think there are other sites that do not charge " business" fees or are lesser or have a different structure anyhow ) and as a private seller/buyer there is no way I would be comfortable having my personal details "advertised" on an online marketplace etc ( as some have suggested on here)...
05-02-2025 4:37 PM
kat@ebay wrote:Hi @valueaddedresource ,
As I mentioned in my reply on the weekly chat we don't have an exact date and time. It is currently being updated to the site which is a gradual process. Once it fully updates its due to go live in electronics first.
If we get any further information on any changes we will update the community.
Thank you,
Kat
Thanks kat@ebay ! So just to confirm, you are saying definitively that eBay has actually begun the rollout of Buyer Fees and they are currently active on at least some listings?
Because nobody seems to have seen any evidence of that and support is telling people it has been postponed.
05-02-2025 4:39 PM
I read it as they are working behind the scenes but it's not live in any category yet.
05-02-2025 4:44 PM
And at one time it was legal do drive without a seat belt on but completely illegal now without a medical exemption.
It was also legal to drive without a full license but laws change.
05-02-2025 4:47 PM
So basically, my take is that the process is going at a snail pace and once updated electronics will be the first to go " live?"
So the 4th be with you, wasn't really ?
Or It could be the 6th of never?
How is next week looking? I like the number 13 😉
05-02-2025 4:48 PM
Yes exactly that...
05-02-2025 4:58 PM - edited 05-02-2025 5:00 PM
As soon as this is launched I predict the following threads
05-02-2025 4:59 PM