Ebay: To sell or not to sell, that is my question...

slowlygoingcrazy37

Hi, sorry if this is a question that has been asked a thousand times, but im new to this site, and im on a mission!

Could anyone fill me in on ebay? I want to make a bit of extra cash and looking through my wardrobe, ive actually found a few nice pieces id like to sell and am actaully considering doing it properly. Here's where my questions lay- shop v's private seller.

1) If i have more than a few pieces to sell, do i, by law have to set up as a shop?

2) What are the advantages as listing yourself as a shop as opposed to a private seller? Reading some articles on the net (particularly those advising you to get them to build you a website) seem to suggest that your goods will sell better and faster as a shop with a website.

3) I have some items that i have never worn. if i sell them as a private seller,I'd just mark them up as 'never worn' items. If I sold them as a shop, would I need to do it differently? Would I even be allowed to sell them or is there a law against it (high street store gets annoyed because another 'shop' is selling their goods).

If anyone has any thoughts/ideas/knowledge, I'd love to hear from you.
Thanks!

TurkishDelight

I'm going to try and not confuse you here, but I'm sorry if I do- I'm not the most eloquent

You don't have to register as a business if you are just selling your own stuff that you bought for you. However you can still have a shop as a private seller.

Shops are only really any good if you are listing a lot of stuff in buy-it-now format, otherwise they will just cost you money.

Some designer items are protected by VERO, which I've never come against personally, but as I understand it generally means that you are unable to list/have listing pulled of these designers.

Avoid the term "as new". This means it will come up in searches for "new" and it will get reported and taken down.

(This is all from a ebay perspective as I notice you seem to be considering a off ebay shop as well)

slowlygoingcrazy37

Hi TD!

Yes, I'm considering an Ebay shop and your reply was great, but has muddied the waters of my brain a little (not through anything you said, I'm sure it's all very simple, and my head is making it come complicated!)
It's the part about registering as a business. You say that you don't have to register as a shop if I'm selling stuff that was brought for me, but that I can still register as a business as a private seller- could you explain more?

I get what you are saying about selling something from a ebay shop and classing it as new- Ebay will pull at. Do you have any suggestions about this- I have some lovely underwear sets that have never been worn, how would i get around classifying those - i wouldnt be able to class them as new or from m&s etc, but I dont want anyone to think they were getting second hand smalls either!

Thanks for your info on VERO, never come across that before and dont seen able to come across the answers to the questions i really want answering from ebay.

do you have any more useful advice to a green-round-the-gills newbie?!

:j

TurkishDelight

slowlygoingcrazy37 wrote: »

Hi TD!

Yes, I'm considering an Ebay shop and your reply was great, but has muddied the waters of my brain a little (not through anything you said, I'm sure it's all very simple, and my head is making it come complicated!)
It's the part about registering as a business. You say that you don't have to register as a shop if I'm selling stuff that was brought for me, but that I can still register as a business as a private seller- could you explain more?

Hi!
A business is a different thing from a shop on ebay- you can be a private seller with a shop, or a business seller with a shop. Theres no requirement to have a shop for anyone though.
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/sell/store-getstarted.html Useful link (well, ish)

I get what you are saying about selling something from a ebay shop and classing it as new- Ebay will pull at. Do you have any suggestions about this- I have some lovely underwear sets that have never been worn, how would i get around classifying those - i wouldnt be able to class them as new or from m&s etc, but I dont want anyone to think they were getting second hand smalls either!

Put them as used in the drop down box and then put in the listing never worn or something along those lines, just don't use the word new and you'll be fine.

Thanks for your info on VERO, never come across that before and dont seen able to come across the answers to the questions i really want answering from ebay.

do you have any more useful advice to a green-round-the-gills newbie?!

:j

I do, but it would take forever, and I can't think of much. Someone will be along to tell you the stuff that I can't think of though.
Make sure your preferences are set up right like this (so you don't sell to people that are a bit.... iffy) http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=15101411&postcount=20

Have a look around this board, and if you've got time have a scan of this thread in particular- it's a fairly comprehensive "don't do this" list, but I warn you it is a big thread. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1775799

slowlygoingcrazy37

Thanks, just read yr posting about private sellers- feel really embrassed now (lol!) Thanks for the links, had a quick browse and v useful, well read fully tomoz or later on today as the case is. Cheers again!

Ames

Could she also put 'with tags' in the title, or would that break rules? That would explain that they've never been worn, without describing them as new.

soolin

With tags is perfectly OK and then in the description I would suggest something like 'this bra is new and unworn with tags but has been stored for a while in my wardrobe and may need freshening up'. Or maybe mention boxes or tags are present but creased etc due to storage.

tyzer2001

in the title, use the term BNWT - this means 'Brand new with tags' and is perfectly in accordance with ebay rules. As for the dropdown box, you can ignore this entirely.
In fact, if they are brand new with tags, you can say 'new' in the title. It's only if you are describing something that has been used but still is in perfect condition, that Ebay dislike the term 'as new'.

As has been said, you do not need an ebay shop -in fact some bidders are put off by Ebay shops as they feel they're more likely to get a real bargain from what they see as a 'private seller' - despite the fact that you can have an ebay shopfront as a private seller.

If you are only selling your own, unwanted belongings, you don't need to register as a business. The moment you start buying stuff deliberately to sell on, you do.

slowlygoingcrazy37

hi, ive pretty much decided that yes, im going to be an ebay seller BUT, im not in work at mo and i take it you cant do this while unemployed? thats fine as fingers crossed i should have a brand new job come september! its going to be part time and i am a single parent and a first timer, so can anyone point me in the direction on tax etc? also, if anyone has any experience of this and really thought it was just a headache, pls let me know. yes, id like to make some extra cash, but i also want to have a bit of fun while i do it. soolin,tyzer,td, you seem to know what you are talking about, any knowledge to share?

tyzer2001

Can't do this while unemployed?
Not sure what you mean, unless you mean whilst claiming JSA or whatever it's called this week! If so, you can still sell your own property without any issues, but again, if buying to sell on you would need to declare the income to the appropriate people and your benefits would be reduced accordingly. IME, they are happy to take an estimate of earnings, and to then review if your estimate is wrong and adjust payments accordingly.
You are allowed to earn a a small amoutn whilst claiming. Your local benefits office would be able to tell you these amounts, but I believe as a single parent it's £20 pw. Please check though, don't rely on my dodgy brain!

soolin

As per post 2 you are not a business and do not need to register as such if you are just clearing out your own items.