Private seller but buyer wants no VAT on bill?

mack2

Hi folks,

I am a private seller and the item I have listed currently has had an enquiry from a prospective buyer in Italy. He has asked me the following question however which I am not clear on.

"please can you confirm me shipping charges to Italy are included (with buy-it-now) ? And please, can you invoice our company in Italy (vat no. IT0683xxxxxxx)excluding vat ?"

Can anyone explain how I do this? i.e. say the item costs £100 on the listing does he buy it at £100 and then I supply a bill for £100 - VAT or what?

Confused seller.

Cheers,

Mack1

jakes-mum

I personally would email back and say that you are a private seller so do not raise your own invoices, the only invoice that can be provided is the one created by ebay. Your auction Buy it now price is exclusive of the postage cost (as you will end up paying more fees to ebay if you include your postage in the auction price as ebay do not charge fees on postage costs).
Also if you decide to sell to this person make sure you charge to post by a trackable postal service as if they say it doesn't arrive its you who has to prove they recieved it to stop them getting their money back.

mack2

I think that may be the way I go.
Thanks for your inputs.

Cheers,

Mack1

Jo_F

I would be wary about shipping to Italy though, the boards are full of people talking about the strange black hole just over the Italian border that parcels fall into never to be seen again.

Alias_Omega

Price up some easy jet flight to deliver the item, then quote him that as P&P.

fatherazhara

lol i will have to try that one myself, sounds to me that hes just chanceing a discount... just tell him your a private seller (or any other choice phrase lol)

cyberbob

I wouldn't personally sell any item out of the uk woryh more than £39 (the amount royalmail will insure for) an item worth more than that you need to find adequate insurance. Airsure is the only real tracked service to italy (i wouldnt send to italy untracked) and the insurance is only £39

mack2

thanks everyone for the responses.
Mmmm.. easyjet sounds like fun :-)

Sarri_2

I'd really try to avoid posting to Italy if you can - or at least don't even consider sending it untracked. I've got a couple of family members there and we've just given up sending parcels - more go missing than make it!!

martindow

Your buyer thinks that you must be a VAT registered business. If you were registered then you can supply to EC countries without charging UK VAT when they give you their local VAT number.

Obviously as a private seller this doesn't apply, so they buy at the auction price (or not!).