Help! Ebay wants me to upgrade to a business account.

soolin

dannypne7 wrote: »

Perhaps they have addressed the issue with ebay.

As others have said, why be a snitch? It's pathetic!!

I assume we are making you nervous then?

I rarely report but the moment I come across threads trying to justify or encouraging people to defraud HMRC I suddenly have an urge to start reporting.

I rather suspect though that the more people who take the mickey registration wise the harsher ebay will get with penalties. When people moan about the 100 free listing cap for private sellers I susggest we point them towards all the other sellers who have blatantly tried to get round the rules.

jano.0795

bylromarha wrote: »

The private business I reported earlier in the thread are still selling 100s of the same item, I've reported them to ebay 4 times now, but ebay are still allowing them to trade as an individual. Grrrrr.

Does it really matter if they are still selling? what are you worried about? good luck to them, they still have invoices to pay. What is your true problem over this?

jano.0795

RFW wrote: »

I can understand that. I've never done much other than business sales on Ebay but I have sold a lot of personal CDs and DVDs on Amazon so could understand how if selling them on Ebay you'd want the extra shop categories and one place to see them that Ebay shops offer. They could differentiate between business and private sellers more though. Some gimmick like a shop for business and a stall for private would work.

There is one category I sell in where a 'private' seller has flooded it with lots of 99p listings, I know that they aren't a personal seller as he could have only possibly purchased the items to resell, so listings like that could be easily sorted. So it isn't just the tax issues that have a bearing, if a seller is affecting my sales by breaking rules then I'm more likely to report them.

How can a seller be affecting your sales?

RFW

jano.0795 wrote: »

How can a seller be affecting your sales?

Strange question, but anyway....

If there are hundreds of listings in one category for 99p that aren't selling, it puts off bidders looking at what else is in that category for sale. If they were paying for the listings, which as a business they should be, they wouldn't have as many items listed and the category wouldn't be flooded with useless tat.

soolin

jano.0795 wrote: »

How can a seller be affecting your sales?

Run a business and find out. The free 99p listings has just about killed the lower end of the book market on ebay. Like RFW says it is nothing to do with fair pricing it is all to do with so much junk being listed that the good stuff just doesn't get seen anymore.

jano.0795

soolin wrote: »

Firstly your last sentence, of course you can be both employed and self employed. I have some PAYE earnings and am self employed and I suspect the vast majority of people on this forum are the same.

As for your main point, people selling used clothing in a variety of sizes are often the easiest for ebay to flag as a business as second hand clothing is a huge market for small traders. Until recently every one who had contacted me about this enforced upgrade had been selling clothes (it has changed now).

Unfortunately whether or not you are a business as far as HMRC is concerned is not the same as being flagged as a business by ebay. They appear to be going solely on probability and amounts listed and even reading the community boards no one has appeared to be able to get them to change their mind. It doesn't mean though that you can't continue to sell, and it also doesn't mean you need to pay tax unless you are taking anything from your relatives or friends for selling on their behalf. Just change your aco!!!! over and carry on, all that changes is that you can no longer get the free 99p listings and will need to have yoru name and address on yoru listings and have a refund policy.

Well ebay got back to me today, and said if I was buying to resell ect I am classed as a business, well I get things given from family, friends and the church I attend, but they give me them to help manage to pay my bills and morgage ect.,. as I live alone.

If I have to upgrade because of it doesnt seem fair really, the new things that I have on are also off the same people who have never worn them, but had them a while and cannot take back so they give me them.

I told e bay because I have my things displayed nice doesnt mean I am a business, I want to sell and get what I can for my items of course I do dont we all, but I start them at 99p because they are either mine, or have been given. If I went out and bought things I would put a higher price on the items to pay for what I would of spent, but thats not the case.

Bills ect., dont just come every couple of times a year, they come in every month, so thats why I have items on all the time to cover them.

Do you pay for pictures if you are classed as a business? if I have to upgrade then so be it, I have to pay bills some how, and I guess something is better than nothing. I dont earn enough to pay tax, so that dosent bother me, plus I keep a record of things anyway just incase.

soolin

You pay no additional fees for being a business on ebay, the only differene is you can't list for free at 99p.
In fact sell enough and you could even qualify for a discount on FVFs.

The other thing to rememeber is that you must display your full contact details on the auction page and have a refund policy.

jano.0795

soolin wrote: »

You pay no additional fees for being a business on ebay, the only differene is you can't list for free at 99p.
In fact sell enough and you could even qualify for a discount on FVFs.

The other thing to rememeber is that you must display your full contact details on the auction page and have a refund policy.

Thanks for that, so all pictures are free then? about the refund policy does that mean if they dont like anything they can just ask for a refund, or only if something wrong with it?

soolin

jano.0795 wrote: »

Thanks for that, so all pictures are free then? about the refund policy does that mean if they dont like anything they can just ask for a refund, or only if something wrong with it?

Yes gallery pics are free for business sellers as well as for private sellers.

You will need to have a refund policy and under the DSRs as interpreted by ebay you will need to offer a full refund on return of items. However, you do not have to repay the return postage if they have just changed their mind, which is why it is important to actually outline your policy in full when listing. Have a look at some of the other return policies, and choose one you are comfortable with.

RFW

soolin wrote: »

Yes gallery pics are free for business sellers as well as for private sellers.

You will need to have a refund policy and under the DSRs as interpreted by ebay you will need to offer a full refund on return of items. However, you do not have to repay the return postage if they have just changed their mind, which is why it is important to actually outline your policy in full when listing. Have a look at some of the other return policies, and choose one you are comfortable with.

DSRs only apply on fixed price, auction goods are slightly different and aren't as restrictive on giving refunds.