Can (should I) become an ebay business seller?

Pollycat

se2020 said:

Seems like I'm being stabbed by the masses already!!

Because your original post didn't include the later information.

se2020

I did say in the opening post..
"I am a genuine private seller"

se2020

Plus, nobody has actually answered my question!

There is obviously hatred towards anyone who is actually a business seller but registered as a private seller.

Will the business sellers feel the same if I (a genuine private seller) register as a business?

Hoenir

se2020 said:

Plus, nobody has actually answered my question!

There is obviously hatred towards anyone who is actually a business seller but registered as a private seller.

Will the business sellers feel the same if I (a genuine private seller) register as a business?

Given the volumes you are transacting. Then at some point you'll will come onto the HMRC's radar (as they receive data from Ebay that they can connect to taxpayers records).  They'll be very direct and to the point. Won't take any prisoners. Onus will be on you to convince them. Remember that they can back assess prior years on a whim. Imposing penalties and interest on top on any previously underpaid income tax. 

Many of us on here speak with workhats on rather than personal. Been there, seen it, done it , investigated it etc. Not remotely interested in playing games for the reasons I've outlined previously. 

se2020

Hoenir said:

Given the volumes you are transacting. Then at some point you'll will come onto the HMRC's radar (as they receive data from Ebay that they can connect to taxpayers records).  They'll be very direct and to the point. Won't take any prisoners. Onus will be on you to convince them. Remember that they can back assess prior years on a whim. Imposing penalties and interest on top on any previously underpaid income tax. 

Many of us on here speak with workhats on rather than personal. Been there, seen it, done it , investigated it etc. Not remotely interested in playing games for the reasons I've outlined previously. 

I've no problem with hmrc checking any of it.
I have most of the original receipts for the items so can show that I would actually be making a loss year on year if they did decide I was trading!

soolin

se2020 said:

Plus, nobody has actually answered my question!

There is obviously hatred towards anyone who is actually a business seller but registered as a private seller.

Will the business sellers feel the same if I (a genuine private seller) register as a business?

Sorry if you think my response earlier in the thread didn't answer your question - I thought it did.

Your question as per the title '

Can (should I) become an ebay business seller?

Cannot be answered with a yes or no response, hence needing more information. 

In the thread the requirements are given for a private seller, the costs of a business seller (which are higher than for a private seller) it even covered the MVL potential issue   so I'm not sure what else you want?

se2020

soolin said:

se2020 said:

Plus, nobody has actually answered my question!

There is obviously hatred towards anyone who is actually a business seller but registered as a private seller.

Will the business sellers feel the same if I (a genuine private seller) register as a business?

Sorry if you think my response earlier in the thread didn't answer your question - I thought it did.

Your question as per the title '

Can (should I) become an ebay business seller?

Cannot be answered with a yes or no response, hence needing more information. 

In the thread the requirements are given for a private seller, the costs of a business seller (which are higher than for a private seller) it even covered the MVL potential issue   so I'm not sure what else you want?

I was basically asking, is there anything in ebays terms/conditions that stop me using a business account when I am not a business?

If not, will it still upset the business sellers?

soolin

se2020 said:

soolin said:

se2020 said:

Plus, nobody has actually answered my question!

There is obviously hatred towards anyone who is actually a business seller but registered as a private seller.

Will the business sellers feel the same if I (a genuine private seller) register as a business?

Sorry if you think my response earlier in the thread didn't answer your question - I thought it did.

Your question as per the title '

Can (should I) become an ebay business seller?

Cannot be answered with a yes or no response, hence needing more information. 

In the thread the requirements are given for a private seller, the costs of a business seller (which are higher than for a private seller) it even covered the MVL potential issue   so I'm not sure what else you want?

I was basically asking, is there anything in ebays terms/conditions that stop me using a business account when I am not a business?

If not, will it still upset the business sellers?

This is a bit of a ramble, but I think it clarifies the situation as far as I see it.

I can see no reason at all why a business seller would have issues, what type of issues were you particularly  thinking of? I run a small business and also a private account, apart from my registration and the need to pay tax on my business sales, I run both accounts the same - I offer a full refund policy (exact same wording on both accounts) I keep my listings descriptive and take lots of photos. 

My private sales are just that, I don't need to worry about competition as it's just my own unwanted items, if they sell, then good, if not I can shrug my shoulders, leave them listed or end up taking them to a charity shop. As I mentioned on another thread I listed a few low cost items in October when the totally free listings came in, they are probably now not going to sell once the buyer fee is introduced (the 75p standing charge is the killer on low cost items) so I have started to bundle some of the things but also took a lot to the charity shop this week.

If you are selling in competitive categories then to account for the fees you can just reduce the item cost and that means the buyer will see the same cost but you'll get less. 

If you decide on going to a business account then the cost of monthly renewals is going to be a real issue for you, and so I see no reason at all why you would even consider it. It might be that at some point breaking large equipment and selling on parts might trigger an enquiry from either ebay or HMRC, I wouldn't worry about it unless that happens if as you say, you can show these were your items to start with.. 

Obviously when ebay report turnover to HMRC (and assuming you exceed the lower limits) then being registered as a business might well trigger HMRC to question why you aren't declaring it. However I am aware of some truly private sellers who were forced by ebay to upgrade, despite protests, and they have paperwork ready and proof of the items being owned by them in a private capacity which they are prepared to answer HMRC with if questioned. 

GadgetGuru

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

As an aside it's been hinted at that MVL won't be available to private sellers sometime in the (presumably near) future. 

Finally a good move by eBay. I would welcome this. 

Sellins

"Looking at the cost links provided above I'd be spending £000's a month in listings fees as a business seller so I'll just stick with being private for now I think!"

Yes, you will pay over and over again on listing fees. It's not worth it to do this to avoid the new fees. Other points to consider are that you cannot convert back to a private account after switching . You can have a separate private account though. I tried to convert to a business. It is relentless hard work. It's not just switch over and life goes on as normal. You would not even cover the shop fees needed to get the relists paid for. Loads of the shop fees cover auction listings which you probably don't want. It sounds to me like you have niche products that someone will be delighted to find. They won't mind the extra fees. Also bear in mind that apart from undercutting Vinted fees slightly, eBay is following the Vinted model almost to the letter. Vinted don't differentiate between private and business sellers at all when it comes to fees. It is very likely that Ebay will go the same way in the future. Private sellers are just being used to test the waters, iron out glitches etc and by this time next year business sellers will be throwing their hands up in the air too. 
Just do nothing. See what happens.