Rant. "Private" business sellers (again...)

custardy

Ames wrote: »

There might be gullible people out there who buy the commons at 99p though. When I first started gaming, instead of buying boxes I bought off ebay, it was ages before I realised that paying a couple of quid for a 'full set' of 40 commons was waaaay overpriced and getting the set was cheaper if you just bought a box.

My ex sells trading cards (only loots or rares though), he buys a box to get the cards he wants then sells what he doesn't want, would that be classed as business? I think it should be but he's adamant it isn't.

i used to do the same with xbox's (old ones)
buy job lots and split them,break for parts etc
even though i kept parts for myself i was selling as a business

bylromarha

Contains_Mild_Peril wrote: »

Technically you should open a new account on eBay and have one for business and one for private transactions. That's what I do. I confess I started my "business" eBaying like you, occasionally selling for profit on a private account, but when it became a habit I "went legal", opened a business account on eBay and started declaring my profits to HMRC. I will say that the paperwork can be time-consuming and likely to deter those who only sell for profit once in a blue moon but still have to fill in tax returns and declare all their earnings on tax credit forms etc, and risk severe penalties if they're late in providing the required information.

I have.

I have my business account which I trade in a specific area-registered on Ebay as business and taxes to HMRC.

I see deals in Tesco or places every blue moon that I know will make a profit on ebay, so sell them on my personal account. Probably about 10 or so a year I guess.

I don't register this account as a business one as I don't want the faff of having to offer returns and the like, although if anyone got a faulty item, as I'm selling on new products, I'd just take it back to the shop.

Amount gets declared on tax return, but for ebay purposes I'm unwilling to call it a business.

DaveAshton

juju11 wrote: »

Not meant rudely at all but... it sounds like you don't like a bit of competition.

I don't mind competition if it's within the rules (and the law). It keeps us on our toes, and makes sure we don't get complacent with what we do, because we know if we start slipping up, the buyers will buy elsewhere. So the competition is good for us in a way (also, they usually don't know what they're doing, so when they inevitably give up and auction all of their stuff, we buy their stock off them at the price we'd normally pay ). What I do mind is when these people pop up as private sellers when they're obviously businesses.

bylromarha wrote: »

I have.

I have my business account which I trade in a specific area-registered on Ebay as business and taxes to HMRC.

I see deals in Tesco or places every blue moon that I know will make a profit on ebay, so sell them on my personal account. Probably about 10 or so a year I guess.

So, you've got a business account, and are buying things to re-sell... but aren't declaring those items as business items? We buy some very random stuff that's a long way form our regular products if the price is good, and all that gets declared. Why do you find it so hard to wrap your head around the simple fact that if you buy to sell, it's a business purchase and should be declared as such? :rolleyes:

bylromarha

DaveAshton wrote: »

So, you've got a business account, and are buying things to re-sell... but aren't declaring those items as business items? We buy some very random stuff that's a long way form our regular products if the price is good, and all that gets declared. Why do you find it so hard to wrap your head around the simple fact that if you buy to sell, it's a business purchase and should be declared as such? :rolleyes:

No-my ebay business is my ebay business. All registered as a business with ebay and selling in a very specific area. Registered with HMRC and all declared.

My personal account is my personal account. I sporadically buy things specifically to sell on ebay. I refuse to register my personal account as a business one as it's such a small percentage of the transactions and do not want to offer business terms on my personal sales-faulty items are refunded as with all personal sales but I am not willing to be out of pocket if someone refuses to read the description and wants to return, which happens too often on my business account.

I refuse to use my business account for these items as it would be bad for the overall Ebay business. Sellers who sell a little bit of everything are non specialists, so are more likely to offer poorer customer service or know little about the suitablility of their products as it's obvious they're chasing the cash.

I refuse to register a sellers account for selling these items as the feedback would be so low, the sale price would be slack.

The business sales on my personal account get declared to HMRC. The sales achieve a realistic price as they're sold on my personal account-Ebay get their cut, as the sales don't qualify for the powerseller discount on my personal account.

Why does it bother you so much? Seriously? Why do you find it so hard to wrap your head around the simple fact that it's declared to HMRC, the buyers get a great deal and Ebay get their fees? :rolleyes:

Sugar_Coated_Owl

bylromarha, I think you need to get your head around the fact that what you are doing is wrong. You are buying to resell on a personal eBay account and not declaring it to the HMRC, that is not allowed. Surely as a business person you should be aware of this.

juju11_2

razorbladekisses wrote: »

bylromarha, I think you need to get your head around the fact that what you are doing is wrong. You are buying to resell on a personal eBay account and not declaring it to the HMRC, that is not allowed.

bylromarha wrote: »

The business sales on my personal account get declared to HMRC...

...Why do you find it so hard to wrap your head around the simple fact that it's declared to HMRC, the buyers get a great deal and Ebay get their fees? :rolleyes:

I don't think you read the post properly Razorbladekiss

durham_girl

bylromarha wrote: »

The business sales on my personal account get declared to HMRC. The sales achieve a realistic price as they're sold on my personal account-Ebay get their cut, as the sales don't qualify for the powerseller discount on my personal account.

razorbladekisses wrote: »

bylromarha, I think you need to get your head around the fact that what you are doing is wrong. You are buying to resell on a personal eBay account and not declaring it to the HMRC, that is not allowed. Surely as a business person you should be aware of this.

RBK, Bylormarha said they declare the business sales on their personal account.

StaffsSW

Regardless of the taxation issue, selling as an undeclared business is against UK & EC consumer law. It's for the protection of the consumer, rather than for the benefit of the business, although there are business benefits to be had.

As a buyer, I'd feel much more confident, and being willing to pay more, knowing that when I purchase from a registered business I have more rights in the event something did go awry.

Given that this site, MSE, is fundamentally about the interests of consumers, I don't think that was the most prudent of confessions to publicly state...

wik

Hi... just want to clarify something..
I have over the last 10 years collected a lot of craft things and fabrics.. all bought out of my own money - not a business, due to serious family illness I am now not able to carry on with as much sewing as I was doing, so I am slowly selling off my fabric stash - is taking ages as I am not really wanting to part with it..
So should I have a business account? As in a few months when its all sold my ebay time shall come to an end.

chezba

wik wrote: »

Hi... just want to clarify something..
I have over the last 10 years collected a lot of craft things and fabrics.. all bought out of my own money - not a business, due to serious family illness I am now not able to carry on with as much sewing as I was doing, so I am slowly selling off my fabric stash - is taking ages as I am not really wanting to part with it..
So should I have a business account? As in a few months when its all sold my ebay time shall come to an end.

No - as it was bought for your own personal use and you no longer require it so can sell it as a personal item.