Getting a bit fed up with whinging private sellers

[jere-nott]

Why are private sellers whinging about payments? Most of them should be business sellers anyway.

Some of my buyers can take up to two weeks to pay, no problem for me.

In addition I have to pay a listing fee and a final valuation fee of around 17%. One would have to pay this at a local auction house if not more.

Some private sellers are deluded, list an item at a crazy high price which most of us would laugh at. Yeah you don't need luck with that price you would  need a miracle. For example I have seen valueless postage stamp(s) listed at a BIN price of £1500.00!

Describes it as rare stamp and a collectors must have! Just irritates me that these idiots think that buyers are naive.

Private Sellers if you don't like eBay new rules go elsewhere like ebid

Sorry, just my rant.

[chris.n7]

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@jere-nott wrote:

Why are private sellers whinging about payments? Most of them should be business sellers anyway.

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Because the experience has been made worse and worse since the removal of final value fees. And it's only going to get even worse with Simple Delivery (which is when I will be leaving).

I'd rather pay fees than deal with fees than all of this.

[beyourb3st]

If I remain a private seller but pretend I am a business seller pretending to be a private seller :

Can I moan until the cows come home
Sneer at people moaning after the cows have arrived
Sell a picture of a sneering cow in mint condition as a private seller and still donate 20% to the hmrc because billion pound businesses don't have a special contact and the only way to talk is via a hand written posted letter. 

[insidethe93]

Sorry if my sarcastic joke wasn't clear enough for you.

But you're right, probably not something to joke about.

[trainofthought]

I think the principle of ebay withholding funds is wrong: If the buyer has paid for the item the funds should be available to the seller. For me this isn't about private v business, this is just about what seems to be ethical. ebay have made this situation even more unpalatable because the release of funds depends on a 3rd party, the postal service, and the efficiency of delivering item AND marking item as delivered. 

But it is what it is and as with all ebay changes it will slowly become the norm but will one day be reversed and celebrated, and be replaced by another brainwave that irks everyone! ebay is still the best platform for my interests so I have to suck on the lemon.  Fortunately I like lemon.

[goldenwolfman]

I awoke this morning to see more of my ‘remaining listings having the new tax added - so another 3 that I’ve taken down - so far. They are listings in Diecast and toys and games. You’re making a mistake obey!

I don’t have to suck on the lemon, time for new pastures and new ideas, I’m off to assorted venues like maybe Facebook, or eBid where I may not indeed get the sales in volume, but I’ll sell a few and it matters not to me.…. Don’t forget business sellers we spent money with you - but won’t be happening with me now!

[killshotgames]

Business sellers are defined by the amount of items they sell each month.

If you have overheads to pay for then you get better deals for selling higher volumes.

I am a single parent and operate from my house. This means I can work from home in the holiday periods and the extra income is welcomed.

I put a lot of work into what I do, to offer the best service.

It is very wrong to suggest that private sellers should have business accounts, as it is guidlined by ebay. In business you can have private businesses or assets that are owned by private individuals. If you decide not to pay tax on your income and not be accountable, then you run the risk of getting into trouble with the HMRC.

Not one person on here can say that being a private seller defines your ability to offer a good service. The limitations are guidlined, as private sellers make up a massive part of ebay.

    Unfortunately, ebay has restructured and put delays in payments in place, which for most people, has killed their cashflow. Chasing up sales to scrape cash from ebay isn't really an option.

I do not have the facilities to grow, nor will I invest any more time whilst things exist in this fomat.

In my category of sales, almost all the big players have seized trading in the category as from last year and this year, to concentrate on their key businesses, so the emphasis should be on the remaining outlets that are connected with the stock.

This is a win for certain big businesses, but a loss for the niche, specialist businesses. People will remember, no doubt.

[trainofthought]

I've been on ebay 25 years so I've seen many changes, good, bad, nothing lasts forever, and I have learned to adapt even if ebay don't deserve my loyalty. Until someone creates an alternative platform that suits my interests then I'm here to stay I guess. But your last sentiment is so very true. I think on ebay there are a lot of enthusiastic collectors who sell more than is comfortable for business sellers but it's just a fly-wheel effect, they sell on ebay so they can buy on ebay. Many collections are funded by ebay selling. It's a cultural thing. If you crush the selling power of "private sellers" then you crush everyone, business sellers included. ebay will wise-up when their revenue plummets. 

[susapric-68]

Does not matter what ebay defines as a business, if you buy to sell then you ARE a business legally and have to offer the customer their consumer rights. "kill their cashflow"? what? As a private seller you are selling unwanted stuff in your house and no need to worry about cashflow, It's been sat in your house long enough for you not to want it so waiting for your payment should not matter. As for good service, if a buyer buys for a friend a DVD from you that turns out is not needed can they return it? Didn't think so but they could if you're a business

[papso22]

"Business sellers are defined by the amount of items they sell each month".

No they are not, they are defined by their activity, if someone buys, makes, or grows something to sell, then they are a business seller.  Even if there was a grey area about volume, you have sold almost 6,000 items and have over 1,200 items for sale.

[killshotgames]

There has always been buyer protection and yes, you have the choice to accept returns or not. All sales in the UK are covered by consumer rights.

You do not know everyone's circumstances, especially buiness, so don't make a fool out of yourself by assuming you do.

A lot of businesses operate from homes these days, as the highstreets have become bare due to online business....fancy that 🤔

[cassidy_r_private]

Respectfully, that's rubbish.

A business can have ANY turnover. If you buy to sell at a profit or you create to sell at a profit, you are a business and the same rules apply to you as to every other business that you are trying to get an edge over.

If someone sells the same stuff as I sell on my business account, as far as I'm concerned they are depriving me of the opportunity to put food on MY table for MY kids - therefore they must be made to play by the same rules. If they continue to outsell me then good for them - they are doing something better than me and I need to up my game.

Cheating is not a business model.

[theelench]

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@cassidy_r_private wrote:

There is no compromise or halfway solution, nor should there be.

You're either a private seller who is selling off items originally obtained for personal use, or you are trading, and as a trader you have obligations to your customers and obligations to keep proper records and declare earnings etc.

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If it's so clear cut why is ebay demanding that private sellers who are clearly not businesses re-register as businesses?  There have been several cases on the boards recently and even the OP of this tread appears to have been targeted, there will be many more who haven't commented on their situation.

Why is there no outrage from business sellers about this?  Surely incorrect registration is still incorrect, whichever way round it is?  

[trainofthought]

It's ebay's fault for applying different operating conditions for "private" and "business" sellers. There's no reason why, for example, ebay couldn't insist that all sellers have to provide for returns of items? ebay can set their terms of use surely? Once ebay did not differentiate between types of seller and it worked better then and there was no discontent between sellers. I think ebay saw the creation of "business seller" accounts as a means to encourage increase in sales and then once they got many "trapped" they then added all the hidden costs thereby making many business sellers resentful of the freebies private sellers had, and who can blame them?! Usually there's "cost savings for more", and business sellers should have benefited from savings from their greater sales listings, but judging by their whinging they evidently don't. This too was ebay's choice. 

[plpmr]

of course you are correct, but, something usually overlooked by people running a business from their home are the implications of using ones home as a place of business.

[susapric-68]

Stop it I'm crying with laughter, Working from home still means you're a business. Waiting for the "It's just a hobby" post from you next. Business don't have a choice, it's called distant selling regulations

[cassidy_r_private]

It's a numbers game. Ebay will no doubt be prepared to lose a few busy private accounts. They may be many things but they aren't stupid. They will have done the sums.

[killshotgames]

I'm sorry, did I miss something, or are you finding something that I can't see? In business you can be private or public. You have the same consumer rights of both and you should pay taxes on all your income, if you are over your tax threshold. 

I see you're attitude and I too am connected with business users, I just don't want to sell more from my "distant selling" property.

[susapric-68]

Just to help you out as you are confused what a business seller is.

In the UK, a "business seller" is defined as an individual or organization selling goods or services as part of a trade, business, craft, or profession, as opposed to a private seller who sells items occasionally or for personal reasons.

Distant selling does not means your house is distant, you can sell to your next door neighbour online and if you were correctly registered they would be covered by it. It covers online sales.

Register correctly and you will have the cash on the hip you need to buy more stock, or just wait. Get the feeling you're just trolling

[moldosgifts]

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@killshotgames wrote:

Business sellers are defined by the amount of items they sell each month.

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That premise is wrong a business is defined under HMRC rules. ebay have an amount before sending your details to HMRC set by law, It not something they want to its some thing they must do.

• selling things, for example at car boot sales or auctions, or online
• doing casual jobs such as gardening, food delivery or babysitting
• charging other people for using your equipment or tools
• renting out property or part of your home, including for holidays (for example, through an agency or online)
• creating content online, for example on social media

So if you buy, make , grow, bake thing to resell you are a business, then ebay will need to display your contact address to buyer that is why it is important to be on the correct account it is the law.

Business seller policy | eBay here is the policy on ebay they do it to keep its member compliant with the law.

There is no such thing as a side hustle, hobby, part time, spare time for extras cash as a little income, on ebay there is selling your own stuff or buying it in to sell. The second come with strings attached, so if members are not registered properly they are breaking the law. 

[killshotgames]

I agree, it's totally a number game. Ebay needs to continue to make up for the ever growing alternative platforms.

The reaction of some people that could benefit from these changes, is an example of attitude towards others that won't benefit.

Ebay has added the buyers fee to the purchase price of items, without any consultation, which means their products are no longer competative. The amounts they are asking is a lot more from sellers, with respect to competition. So whilst the pendulum changes, it's just unfortunate that no care is taken.

Being self employed is a choice that 13% of the UK population decided was right for them and it is suggested that having a private account is probably the best choice for them.