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.

[theelench]

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@myriad*seller wrote:

eBay want to get rid of business sellers trading on private accounts

eBay does not want to get rid of GENUINE private sellers selling their own unwanted items

What they do want to get rid of is people who buy, make or grow items to sell, illegally listing them on private accounts 

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Yet all they've done is introduce measures that hit ALL private sellers, whether they are genuine or not.

As the business sellers operating on private accounts are more likely have the resources to weather this 💩-storm, who are ebay really under-mining, inconveniencing, pricing out of their market, restricting their postage options etc.? 

The genuine private sellers who are far less likely to have the guile, resources or even the inclination to continue using such a one-sided site.  The crooks aren't the ones shutting down and leaving or even re-registering as businesses.  They'll already have worked out to the penny when their illegal activity becomes un-profitable and will already be working on their next scam.  It's what crooks do.

[papso22]

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@goodibags wrote:

"The issue over private/business accounts on ebay has nothing to do with HMRC and taxes."

But there is more than one type of issue here.

Are you suggesting that private sellers who sell their own personal possessions SHOULD start running a business?

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I was responding to one issue only, the type of account needed.

Sellers who sell their own private possessions could start running a business but only if they started selling things they bought, made, or grew, to sell.

I would never suggest that genuine private sellers (selling unwanted personal possessions), should register as a business for those sales, that would be wrong.

[doumind_7]

Actually it has everything to do with taxes. A private,seller can make profit up to £1000 a year as you well know. Also if you buy anything it becomes your personal possession after six months so you can sell it if you want to. You'd need a receipt officially but how many would have.

In the real world the tax man is going to chase those making £10k a year without paying tax, not the person who goes a few quid over the allowance. Its not cost effective.

[lucy_farmer]

'They'll already have worked out to the penny when their illegal activity becomes un-profitable and will already be working on their next scam.  It's what crooks do.'

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To be honest, I don't think a lot of crooks are that clever.

Some of the 'private' buyers who appeared on here kicking at the new restrictions, weren't anywhere near clever enough to hide the fact (from other board members) they were trading in 100s of brand new items.

Clever crooks keep their heads down.

[the_book_seekers]

Reality has changed. We have a government determined to collect every bit of tax it can. HMRC have just said that tax evasion is higher than estimated at £5.5 billion and are under pressure from government to up their game. The advent of AI could tighten things further.

[doumind_7]

HMRC should be concentrating on government freebies before worrying about chasing two quid from some poor devil who has gone £10 over the limit!

[taffrikaner]

I for one will soon be done with eBay, this is an absolute rip off! 

[goodibags]

"I would never suggest that genuine private sellers (selling unwanted personal possessions), should register as a business for those sales, that would be wrong"

To rewind, I was merely pointing out that an activity such as selling your own possessions, like hundreds of postcards, can very quickly look like trading, especially when volumes and sales take off.

While you may not advise such sellers to upgrade I can guarantee from my limited time on these forums there'll be plenty spotting those things who routinely suggest sellers should.

[papso22]

I agree that people selling off collections is a very tricky area when it comes to identifying traders as opposed to private sellers.

[goodibags]

It's possibly a job beyond the amateur sleuths that populate these forums too?

I like to do my selling for the year in April and then ease off, so while I can simulate 'trading' it never lasts long.

Not sure about April this year. March is looming and will have to see how that goes first.

[tatty22s]

Same for me, I sell birthday cards at mostly £1.75 but my sales have now ceased. I don’t know why eBay didn’t split the money so that is shows separately. Think that’s me done

[andha-21]

From my bookmarks it looks like my area has nosedived. Things look around 20-30% down on where they were a few weeks ago. Referring to auctions I watch. Haven't been paying alot of attention to BIN listings since I stopped all of mine on the 3rd.

But if the auctions are tapping out lower then it's inevitable it will pass through to BIN.

[wintersdawn1]

I think its such a shame that there is a link to a sellers items, as when a seller reaches out for help here, the first thing that some responders do is click to view their listings and totally derail the request for help by accusing the poster of being incorrectly registered, in their opinion.

I see there assertions proven to be incorrect often and the accuser slips quietly away, after being aggressive, disrespectful and rude, probably making the poster requesting help wishing they had never come here.

I don't think its anybody else's business how a seller is registered and a responder should just deal with the request for help.

[jasonsdad]

Yes, it has always happened, there are a number of unpaid helpers and Pro-mentors (unpaid) who comment often on a similar theme. As for the Term Pro (AKA professional, would they qualify for the Olympics ?) I lot of sellers private have already dropped off and a number like me are just waiting until our final confiscated sales funds are eventually released.

I for one really enjoyed the EBay experience, the involvement and a sense of purpose, responsibility and the opportunity to grow a large collection. However I generally only see the big picture and I noted that I am not a part of that anymore. I am not waiting to see what happens like some here. I am closing the account ASAP as the trust is broken. As in life…I'm moving on.

Good luck to those who remain, waiting 14 days for a £5 payment is a tough ask.

[andha-21]

Think you'll have to wait 6 months to close your account. Something to do with charge backs on your last orders.

Sorry, not just you, any seller

[nitrohopup]

Anyone else noticed a very quick and sharp drop in interactions and sales.

Wonder if its just coincidence or the changes have already affected the buyers mindset towards private sellers?

[craigfarrelly]

I've just cancelled my last listing, It's only a £13 "buyer protection fee" ebay will miss out on but every little helps. I won't be selling on ebay anymore, I'd be very surprised if I bought anything via ebay again.

[jasonsdad]

YOU should have opened a business account to sell a £13 top !!!      life continues,  don't let this stress affect you,  summer is around the corner,  put down the tablet with the non- working App,  get out and breathe the air.

[goodibags]

I have 2 payments for £2.80 and 1 for £2.10, due to be paid out on the 24th, 25th and 26th Feb. For items bought before BPFs started. Can't wait to get my hands on that lot!

I only hope Ebay has invested wisely.  [shades of Arthur Daley and his Leeds' Liquid Gold account]

[nitrohopup]

Yep,

I can't imagine it will be too long before they realise the impact and by then its most likely too late.