eBay's rip off new buyer protection fees and delayed payment for sellers

[rowater82]

I first posted on this last night and received dozens (possibly more than 100 in less than 24 hours) of emails and posts on seller centre and eBay community  sharing my objection to eBay's new rip off Buyer Protection fees and delayed payment for sellers. Re: Buyer protection fees. Unilaterally imposed on all listed items including those listed by sellers before the February 4 changes. I wonder if this is illegal? It is almost certainly in breach of UK Trading Standards Laws - to unilaterally increase the price of an item, publicly advertised, days, weeks, months beforehand,  without the seller's consent. I will be seeking pro bono legal advice. And may well move to another platform. eBay's actions are despicable, motivated purely by greed. BUYERS already had protection under the previous system. I have expressed these views to an eBay rep on the phone. If eBay had tidal wave of complaints and an exodus of items - removed from sale on eBay - maybe their powers that be might see sense and abandon this rip off policy.

[storage.boutique]

Yes, but the private sellers still see it as a a fee. Presumably with a feedback of 58,821 you will be easily a business seller anyway.

[storage.boutique]

In the year 2000, I decided to sell off my excess coin collection and started listing on eBay. Within weeks my account was converted by them to a business account with no avenue for appeal. Having now done 25 years as a business seller and paid all my fees and taxes, am I expected to feel sorry for those who are dodging fees and taxes?

If you buy something, hold it, and later sell it at a profit, its a business in my book. You can take the costs and fees off your profit, but declare your income and if needs be, pay your taxes. Nowadays, when you have stuff and hold it, we call it stock. If it is a private collection then it is not sold, but when you do sell stuff it is a business. The costs of the LPs you sell are material cost of sales and deductable.

Register as a business, pay the proper fees and stop ripping us all off.

[specialk1937]

Your distinction of what is a private and what is business is all haywire!
If you don't believe me check with HMRC. I already have and hey have
stated in writing that selling your own possessions is NOT a business and
you will not be liable to pay tax!