Ebay's new Buyers' protection fee from the 4th Feb

[rsbrickshop]

I'm a private seller. Items I sell are between £2.90 - £10. Is It just me or will ebay's new Buyers' protection fee from the 4th Feb make it near impossible to sell competitively. A few months ago Ebay got rid of Sellers' fees for private sellers, which was a welcome move. But this new change and getting rid of multi-buy discount for private sellers will make it worse than it was with the original fees.

[vintique*violet]

Low cost items or not - I am going to ask this question - are you really a private seller selling your own personal items? Or are you actually a business seller? I ask because the items you are selling would not be the type found in my personal collections nor at the quantity that is listed. 

There is concern around those who are "masquerading"  and I am not saying that you are , but with the items you are selling it could be questionable on many levels...

Whilst your business is private, your privacy as a business is not according to eBay, HMRC, Consumer Laws etc and I hope you have understanding of that for your own sake.

@bestbargainsuk 

[jonat_broad]

Yes friends and family generally help there by telling you how amazing your cakes are.

Not by selling small quantities of cakes. Because that’s trading.

[jonat_broad]

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/getting-ready-to-start-your-food-business

[andha-21]

Doesn't the moving to Amazon part of his post prove he's a business?

I've never sold there but I always understood to be business only.

[vintique*violet]

Thanks for the link, however that is for foods  whereby there are many more regulations involved ie health and safety etc etc I do not think it applies to other categories. 

just realised that you mentioned Bakery in your other comment so apologies for that...

[vintique*violet]

Unsure as I do not know much about Amazon polices for selling. 

[andha-21]

I'm honestly not either, hopefully someone here does.

[jonat_broad]

You can selling your own personal belongings as a none business seller but you can’t listing anything as new I believe. Only used like new

[andha-21]

Thank you for clarifying.

[vintique*violet]

Yes you can list New items - sealed in package unused, possibly an unwanted gift.  eBays categories are specific. 

[jonat_broad]

I was responding to someone asking about Amazon though.

Amazon are hotter on this. If you list something as new as far as I’m aware they sxpect you to be able to show a valid supply chain. They are known not to accept receipts from shops (including amazon) and expect you to have purchased from a wholesaler or manufacturer.

even if it is new in eBay terms Amazon would view a private seller as having owned that item.

[legotrooper]

I've just sold my last item on ebay and now wait for Royal Mail to deliver my parcel before I get my funds?  (Tracked 24 and it's been 2 days! Don't get me started on that!!) I believe even after delivery ebay hold funds for 2 more days! 

I'm pretty sure amazon, hmv or any other online company in the world don't have to wait for Royal Mail (or any other courier) to deliver their goods before they get the money I pay over! This system is beyond ridiculous for the seller!

Ebay are just holding everyone's money for as long as they can to make millions on interest (on your own money). 

I no longer will use this format. I preferred selling with a fee and adjusting my sales to incorporate that fee or using the 70-80% off seller fees promotions.

Ebay s**ks! 

[goodibags]

"Part of the definition of being a business is to offer a service. With your scenarios if you were to put together a puzzle or a Warhammer model and later sell it as complete without any add ons then it wouldn't be considered trading. If you were to repeat this but added a charge for the building the puzzle or model then this would be considered offering a service and you would be trading as a business. "

Thanks for clarifying. Is it correct to infer from that that it's fine to make things and sell them as long as it's being done at a loss? i.e. No charge for the service. No serious business venture or start up would even attempt this - the words unsustainable and no-brainer come to mind. Apart from on Ebay?

[goodibags]

"Yes friends and family generally help there by telling you how amazing your cakes are."

Ah, but friends and family deceive with unmerited praise. They're completely unreliable.

The proof of the pudding can only ever be in the attempted selling of it. Up to the permitted £1000. 😁

[the_book_seekers]

The answer I gave was from a private seller's perspective in the scenario that was given ie make up the model and later sell it as complete with no charge. Business selling is different as you'd be making up the model to sell probably on completion and could add something for doing so.

[christiesmusicstore]

I did my last ebay tracked on 31st January and they never released my money for 9 days!  

[jasonsdad]

Ebay are trying to put over the rhetoric that payment is 2 days after delivery; the emphasis is on 2 days. However, the reality is time spent packing, posting then the actual delivery, suggests the earliest payout will be on average a week from POS. So work on a time frame of between 1 to 2 weeks to receive payouts.
This thread is still for discussing the protection money and 4% buyers surcharge fee. If you can absorb these charges then there are no issues. Good luck to all.
Sent from Outlook for Android<>

[doumind_7]

Yes I agree. But for the 1000s that sell under a tenner items, like me, its not worth doing. You make 5p and need a maths degree to work it out.

[jasonsdad]

Private sellers of lower value items now need to start their auctions at 23p plus the 4% and the 75p protection will come back to a 99p starting price.   If you only get 1 bid though you will end up with 23p.

[the_bald_orc]

I could be wrong as I don't use the auction format, but I believe the lowest price you can start with is 99p. This is true at least for BIN items.