Home address alternative for business sellers?

cashvoid121 · 17 February 2017 at 5:06PM

Hi all,

I sell on Ebay as a small business seller, but since I have no separate premises from my home, this means I have to put my home address on my listings, which makes me very uncomfortable. In particular, I'm worried that people will see "oh this guy has a some expensive electronics in his house - maybe we'll pay him a visit at 4am".

Is there any way around this? I realise that by law you can't substitute a PO box for your business address, but I've seen some 'alternative to PO box' services claiming that they are legal substitutes.

Can anyone advise on this? What is the cheapest legal option?

Thanks in advance.

soolin · 17 February 2017 at 5:16PM

Dangerous_Dave2k wrote: »

Hi all,

I sell on Ebay as a small business seller, but since I have no separate premises from my home, this means I have to put my home address on my listings, which makes me very uncomfortable. In particular, I'm worried that people will see "oh this guy has a some expensive electronics in his house - maybe we'll pay him a visit at 4am".

Is there any way around this? I realise that by law you can't substitute a PO box for your business address, but I've seen some 'alternative to PO box' services claiming that they are legal substitutes.

Can anyone advise on this? What is the cheapest legal option?

Thanks in advance.

Ebay require just a geographic address, but just remember that the address you give is where any returns will go back to you. You can't substitute a different return address if buyer opens a case- so just make sure whatever arrangements you make the address is capable of accepting a return.

cashvoid121 · 17 February 2017 at 5:21PM

I think it's possible to specify a separate return address to your main address - not 100% though.

EDIT: Yes, you can have a Registration Address, a Primary Postal Address (where you receive items), A Primary Post-From Address (where you post from) and a Primary Return Address (where buyers return items to). I'm not sure which is displayed on listings, but I suspect it's not the latter.

cashvoid121 · 17 February 2017 at 6:36PM

For example, what is the legal standing/truth of the claims made by this company:

https://www.scanmypost.co.uk/services/pobox.htm?gclid=Cj0KEQiA25rFBRC8rfyX1vjeg7YBEiQAFIb3b2-ormCJD0CsuvaKyZdNG-5sREveMoHYAXvkrDi2algaAnPY8P8HAQ

cashvoid121 · 21 February 2017 at 10:11AM

Anyone got a view on this?

martindow · 21 February 2017 at 11:36AM

PO boxes will only accept post from Royal Mail. If you use other carriers they will not accept your returns.

cashvoid121 · 21 February 2017 at 11:54AM

It's an issue of the address given to satisfy legal obligations, not return address (which you can specify separately).

soolin · 21 February 2017 at 12:07PM

I don't know exactly how ebay handle returns and can't see anything helpful in 'help' about having different addresses.

The only issue I can see is how to communicate the return address to the buyer to ensure they see it? You do get buyers who just send the item back tracked without warning the seller first, I've had it happen to me. You would need a robust way of letting the buyer know, before they open the parcel (my item was returned unopened) about the return address otherwise they will just use the one on the listing.

cashvoid121 · 21 February 2017 at 12:26PM

I can see the issue there (although I've never personally had a buyer send an item back without clearing it with me first) but my worry is more with the legal/burglary issue.

ballisticbrian · 21 February 2017 at 1:04PM

It's only probably what you already know but start here:

https://www.out-law.com/page-431
Scroll down to where is says "Minimum information to be provided".

Home address alternative for business sellers?

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