Ebay have upgraded me to business...i only sell my own stuff!

bxboards

FidgitsID wrote: »

To me misrepresenting the sellers status as a business by the wrong account type is simply unacceptable and morally wrong. That goes for buisness seller using private acc AND private seller using business acc, both give the buyer the wrong true status of the seller.

I don't think buyers pay much attention to this status.

For example I am a Top Rated Seller and obviously a business - but I still get asked 'Why are you selling?' questions as if somehow I was selling unwanted goods..I'd love to reply..'its my job, dumbo!' but I bite my tongue.

FidgitsID

bxboards wrote: »

I don't think buyers pay much attention to this status.

For example I am a Top Rated Seller and obviously a business - but I still get asked 'Why are you selling?' questions as if somehow I was selling unwanted goods..I'd love to reply..'its my job, dumbo!' but I bite my tongue.

Yes, I dont know how business sellers manage to keep doing that given the stupidity of some buyers, it sounds very stressfull to be a business on ebay.

I know lots of buyers dont read listings, or even bother to look at feedback before buying, but I still think its wrong.

ballisticbrian

My partners account was "upgraded" to a business account, even though on eBay's systems, it will be clearly attached to our *actual* business account. We were told it was because x amount of items had been listed in the same category.
We simply had to start a new private account as they wont undo it.

theonlywayisup

FidgitsID wrote: »

Good grief, I thought the ebay forums had blinkered views, if you both stopped trying to be "right", and tried to see the common sense point I was trying to make, you might have followed it.

I know ebay/hmrac have different standards, BUT its also perfectly obvious to anyone with a bit of common sense that by accepting ebay decision and continuing to list on a "business" account & therefore acting like a business with return policy/showing address etc, that it weakens any sellers position of "I'm not a business" if they are ever looked at.

But I guess common sense is not so common these days :rotfl:

Anyway this was not my only point, and overall, if they had ever tried to make me misrepresent myself as a business and therefore deceive my buyers, I would not have done it, guess it comes down to what people think is acceptable behaviour.

To me misrepresenting the sellers status as a business by the wrong account type is simply unacceptable and morally wrong. That goes for buisness seller using private acc AND private seller using business acc, both give the buyer the wrong true status of the seller.

I am not trying to be right, I am right.

It is irrelevant what you think or what any buyer thinks. It is HMRC and their thinking that matter and which eBay account you have is of no consequence.

Having a private account when you are a business seller, is another issue entirely.

Mrs_justjohn

theonlywayisup wrote: »

I am not trying to be right, I am right.

It is irrelevant what you think ... (or ebay thinks) or what any buyer thinks. It is HMRC and their thinking that matter and which eBay account you have is of no consequence.




Having a private account when you are a business seller, is another issue entirely.

Yes I think this is what I have been trying to get across (unsuccessfully) in my last few posts....LOL

lrb7691

Mrs_justjohn wrote: »

No I don't think this is strictly true. Just because ebay deem you to be selling at a level that makes them set your account as 'business' doesn't make it true, and I don't believe you can appeal it either.


Also a private seller can (if they wish) make their account business (on ebay) to benefit from promotions...it doesn't mean they are a business in the eyes of HMRC

You are correct! I've tried to appeal my 'business' status and they said no! You pay more for listings as a business, however the more you sell the more discount you get. So if your stuck in no man's land between the two figures, your basically screwed!

soolin

lrb7691 wrote: »

You are correct! I've tried to appeal my 'business' status and they said no! You pay more for listings as a business, however the more you sell the more discount you get. So if your stuck in no man's land between the two figures, your basically screwed!

There are no automatic discounts for business sellers, unfortunately. To get any discounts you must be a TRS and offer premium listings. However there is an advantage being a business seller if you have a shop as businesses get 200 free listings with their shop subscription, private sellers only get 100.