Business Seller?

TrishaM

Can some one tell me the implications of becoming a business seller? My boy friend has been selling his own stuff, and now ebay have decided that he has to update his account to business seller. He is not a business seller, all of the stuff he is selling is his own, and he wont be able to sell unless he updates his account. Just thought I would ask on here.. Many thanks

techspec

General consensus on here seems to be just do it - as being a business sellers on ebay does not mean your a business.

I'm not so sure its a good idea - but if its the only way. I know loads of people who now have business acounts who just sell their own stuff.

Contains_Mild_Peril

The main disadvantage is that business sellers are obliged to accept returns if the buyer simply doesn't want the item. There's also a theoretical possibility that HMRC might start asking questions, though I haven't heard of this happening to eBay sellers who weren't actually running a business. Some customers may also have higher expectations of "business" sellers.
The main advantages are that you can list as much as you like, and have the possibility of achieving Above Standard or even Top Rated seller status (though it's not very likely someone just selling their own belongings would have sufficient turnover for the latter), which improves placement in search results with the default "best match" setting.

techspec

Contains_Mild_Peril wrote: »

The main disadvantage is that business sellers are obliged to accept returns if the buyer simply doesn't want the item.

Lets face it - EVERY item on Ebay can be returned if the buyer is not happy.

Out of curiosity - how many items have you sold per month? General feeling is 100 a month triggers it - but some have reported less.

soolin

techspec wrote: »

Lets face it - EVERY item on Ebay can be returned if the buyer is not happy.

Out of curiosity - how many items have you sold per month? General feeling is 100 a month triggers it - but some have reported less.

I think it is categories as well- although i am sure they have some sort of clever algorithm to balance reports against categories and listings.

Most of those I was aware of were selling second hand or NWT clothes and many had no where near 100 listings a month (in fairness though many of them were business sellers trying to stay under the radar). In the antique and collectable categories it seems you can even show a business name, business premises an dmention that you bought this item at a French antique fair and have restored it for sale, and still not be bothered by ebay.

RFW

Contains_Mild_Peril wrote: »

There's also a theoretical possibility that HMRC might start asking questions, though I haven't heard of this happening to eBay sellers who weren't actually running a business.

I have heard that they are more likely to check out 'private sellers' who are clearly businesses first, the thinking being that if they don't declare being a business to Ebay they won't have done with HMRC either.

Pembroke

I'm surprised no one has mentioned that you won't be able to take advantage of most 'Free Listing Days' or 'no listing fee for 99p start price' as a business seller.

techspec

Pembroke wrote: »

I'm surprised no one has mentioned that you won't be able to take advantage of most 'Free Listing Days' or 'no listing fee for 99p start price' as a business seller.

Unless you open up another account for personal use.