Crazy and Mis-informed posts by private sellers re Fees

[jere-nott]

Oh Dear. I have read some posts by Private Sellers moaning about eBay Buyers Fees.

Some say they are leaving, some say this is the end of eBay or RIP eBay. What tosh.

eBay is a multi billion pound or $  Global Company. Some (not all) private sellers are so naive. 

eBay has good Customer Service and as long as you are open and honest with them they will treat you with respect and try and solve any issues. eBay (and PayPal) know every trick in the book and a few more too.

However, I sympathise with genuine Private Sellers but I have noticed that a lot of posts are from "Private Sellers" who, clearly, should be Business Sellers.

I am a 74 year old Pensioner selling by stamp collection which I have been collecting for over 60 years and have been a member for over 11 years. eBay contacted me and said that because of my volumes I should upgrade to a business seller, this was because I have bought stamps some I keep some that I don't want a list on eBay therefore by law I am a business seller. I complied - no problem.

I now pay a 36p listing fee and a FVF on sales, again not a problem for me.

Some Private Sellers have little or no business acumen, maybe they are worried about the consequences of upgrading re HMRC. Believe you me it is not all that scary. 

So Private Sellers take a step back and have a think and stop the posting hysteria. 

Just my opinion, always open to constructive criticism and discussion.

[andha-21]

"eBay has good Customer Service and as long as you are open and honest with them they will treat you with respect and try and solve any issues."

I'm sorry. As soon as I read that I started laughing and you lost all credibility.

[jere-nott]

Laugh all you like, your reply is typical of a stroppy and rude person who must have have been rude to an advisor on eBay. Get real, this is a discussion board not Twitter!

[*devils.advocate*]

But you latch on to only one thing and (deliberately?) skip the other pertinent points

The sheer amount of misinformation which has been posted - yes, without question

The appalling number of obvious pseudo-private chancers

Genuine sympathy for the genuine private sellers caught up in all this - through no fault of their own

Some genuine Private Sellers have little or no business acumen - which is true because, if it's your own stuff you’re trying to sell, you really only need the basics

Yes, CS isn’t good overall - but if you are extremely fortunate and get the right one ……… (so wrong to tar all with the same brush - CS, buyers, sellers?)

Hysteria - yes, definitely a lot - but mostly crocodile tears

[zillabudgie]

You definitely deserve a 'Blue Peter Badge' from Ebay. I'll have a word for you... 😉

[jere-nott]

Thank you but I already have 7, no need for anymore

[*devils.advocate*]

Given the number of people who say they're leaving, you could do a roaring trade in blue Peter flags?

[eastern_standard_time]

So you became a business seller even though you already said you're not a business seller? Takes all sorts, I guess.

[jere-nott]

You make some very good points. 

Not all eBay Advisors are good, some can get quite stroppy but in my experience I have not had any bad discussions with eBay. Luck has nothing to do with it.

I stand by the rest of my comments. I have already had a response from someone on here who thinks he/she is on X (Twitter). Typical

[jere-nott]

I abide by the law. If you buy and then resell any items you don't want then you are a business seller. That is the law not eBay rules.  Private Sellers either ignore this or are just misinformed.

[andha-21]

---

@jere-nott wrote:

Laugh all you like, your reply is typical of a stroppy and rude person who must have have been rude to an advisor on eBay. Get real, this is a discussion board not Twitter!

---

Well actually I wasn't rude to any of them when I've had to deal with them in the past. But since coming here I have found out that they consistently talk out of their *bleep*.

I have at least 3 cs transcripts in my emails where CS agents tell me it's okay to use a new delivery address sent to me via message post sale.

Fancy asking the audience if that was good advice?

I've been watching the posts here too, learning. Just the other day a CS agent told a seller to send an invoice to a buyer via PayPal...

By definition that means the sale would move off eBay, which isn't allowed.

There are so many examples in these threads it's ridiculous and when it is as consistent as this it only really leaves 3 possibilities. 

Gross incompetence, deliberate fraud or a combination of both.

[andha-21]

"I stand by the rest of my comments. I have already had a response from someone on here who thinks he/she is on X (Twitter). Typical"

Considering I've never used Twitter in my life, or Facebook or any of those other follow the leader shepherd/sheep/influencer platforms that really makes your above comment worthless. Good try though. Keep it up.

[magpiecorner1]

I don't think it is, simply the reaction of a person who has found out that eBay CS are not well trained, do there is really no need to be rude yourself.  Indeed this is not twitter!

I spoke to a lovely CS guy the other night, couldn't help me simply because he couldn't find his way around the eBay UK site.   I was that rare thing for him, a UK customer.  He was based in Los Angeles.  Far from being rude to him - and I've never been rude to a CS person in my life, we had a grand chat. 

I did wonder though why, for eBay UK, there is no customer service in the UK.   

Of course the Dublin guys and gals are lovely, and very often on the ball, but as a whole the CS folk are not very well trained. 

As a new business seller, you might find that there will be a need to contact eBay CS more often, as you are now in a different ball game.  

[magpiecorner1]

Could you please quote that 'law'?

Ever sold a house, shares or car?

[jere-nott]

Sale of Goods Act 1979

In simple terms buying to sell means purchasing items from another source with the intention of reselling for a monetary consideration. ie the seller transfers or agrees to transfer the property or goods to the buyer with intention of making a profit.

[vintique*violet]

I abide by the law. If you buy and then resell any items you don't want then you are a business seller. That is the law not eBay rules.  Private Sellers either ignore this or are just misinformed.

If you frequently and continuously buy with the intention and purpose to resell to make a profit, that is business activity and would require a business account.  However, there is such a thing as " hobby" selling which often does not garner a profit as expenses of such can be higher. This would come under miscellaneous income and is not necessarily classed as business activity unless it is " grown" into a viable business making profit. Many people are hobby sellers for the enjoyment...they need to clarify with HMRC.  

Totally different to selling unwanted personal items, which can include unwanted gifts, clothes, electrical, games, collections, china , furniture, in fact mostly anything;  which is what a private sellers account is for and does not require registration with HMRC (or to hold a business account with eBay), unless an "asset" sold is  £6000 or more then CGT could apply. 

What exactly is the law that you are speaking of that states "if you buy and then resell any items you don't want then you are a business seller? "

@jere-nott 

[vinylscot]

Please explain precisely what you think "hobby selling" is, and where you are getting this information.

I wasn't aware that there were degrees of selling for profit. Obviously, there is a taxable allowance for lower volume business sellers, but they are still business sellers.

[jere-nott]

 You are slightly misinformed. Hobby selling is selling your own items or gifts etc where you can make a profit up to £1000 p.a. After that the income is taxed and you are classed as a sole trader.

Capital Gains Tax is an entirely different matter

If you buy with the intention of reselling then you are a business it doesn't matter if you make a profit or a loss - you are trading.

[vintique*violet]

Many hobby sellers do not reach the threshold for the £1000 trading allowance, correct and it comes under Miscellaneous income... not necessarily as a business trading income as many hobby sellers are not profit seeking... (unless that " hobby" took " wings" and grew into a legitimate trading business ) you do not need to register as a business/ self employed , if that " hobby" does not meet the badges of trade,  ... as long as it is declared if over and you want to claim the allowance as it is relevant for income tax ie. self assessment... There are " hobby sellers" not just on ebay, and do it for enjoyment to share, or meet people etc,... they may be employed or self employed , retired, disabled, etc. They are not running a business.  So much information on this in many posts including from HMRC and if in doubt give them a call like I did for clarification. 

[dch2112011]

When is a business not a business ? Does the poster fall into this category ? Perhaps not on ebay ?

The most common type of taxable miscellaneous income that you are likely to come across is hobby income. This is generally income from activity that is not a trade or profession – so they are not self-employed. However, payment has been or is agreed for the service or item. Typical examples of hobby income may include:

someone may receive payments for writing an article from time to time or selling a photograph occasionally
someone may buy and sell items (not of a capital nature), but as a hobby, not with a view to making a profit. This might be the case where they collect items, and occasionally sell items from their collection, or where they buy an item, carry out some work on it, and then sell on.