E-bay insist I am a business - I'm not

Gragis · 05-03-2010, 18:39

Hi

My wife decided to sell some of her crafting stamps, papers, embellishments etc and has listed 238 items in the last week and E-bay have now written to advise :-

eCommerce is governed by laws which lay down the obligations and rights of buyers and sellers. These laws apply to all internet trading including activity on eBay, but the details vary for both buyers and sellers depending on whether the seller is considered to be operating as an individual or as a business.
Legally, you are considered to be operating as a business if you do any of the following:
• sell items that you have bought to resell
• make items yourself and sell them, intending to make a profit
• are a trading assistant
• buy items for your business

eBay offers two different kinds of user accounts: private and business. Both are free to open, but business accounts offer tailored site functionality specifically designed to help you meet your legal obligations as a business seller.

She has had her account since June 2002 and in the time she sold 53 items. She has also purchased over 1,600 items!!!!! Is it because she decided to have a clearout? Is there anything that can be done to get them to change their mind? Offer to deleted 150 items and list them a few at a time over the next few months?

Any help would be appreciated.

Innes · 06-03-2010, 07:25

Ignore any private companies who use "legal" and "law" or anything similar with copy and paste emails or letters.

Saying that if you like eBay then you should sort this by giving them a phone. I'm sure they'll help.

Gragis · 06-03-2010, 10:51

I tried calling last night but got through to a US call centre. The lady I spoke to said I was to complete a response form which my wife has already completed and sent, with no success. I'll try another e-mail asking which EU law they were quoting.

Thanks for the response.

Innes · 07-03-2010, 12:03

Phone in normal UK working hours and you'll either get someone in the UK or someone with more knowledge about the UK.

I'd say you are wasting your time emailing as their automated system is awaiting your response. You need input from a real person @ eBay.

www.saynoto0870.co.uk For the best number. I have one of those "eBay Star" numbers and those people are always very helpful in the UK.

And if this is your partner's private business then it's her business over the phone too.

AndyWilson · 07-03-2010, 16:45

Just playing devil's advocate - if you were buying something on ebay and the seller had listed over 200 items in the past week - might you not suspect they were really a business?

Gragis · 07-03-2010, 17:07

I appreciate the comment but it is simply that she is getting rid of stuff she's been accumulating over the years and no longer needs. E-bay has classed me as a "top seller" which I don't understand as technically I have only sold 53 items since 2002 and if none of the items sell I'll be no further forward with my count.

Gragis · 09-03-2010, 10:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innes

Phone in normal UK working hours and you'll either get someone in the UK or someone with more knowledge about the UK.

I'd say you are wasting your time emailing as their automated system is awaiting your response. You need input from a real person @ eBay.

www.saynoto0870.co.uk For the best number. I have one of those "eBay Star" numbers and those people are always very helpful in the UK.

And if this is your partner's private business then it's her business over the phone too.

I've called twice now and both times I've ended up speaking tp someone in the Philippines. Have had to re-email my inital request so will see what happens.

rbullivant · 09-03-2010, 11:00

Don't like that e-mail message at all from ebay, the rules on whether you are operating a business are not that simplistic.

R

AdsterUK · 09-03-2010, 11:15

The details in the first post read like advice, I'm not seeing anything that says they are forcing you to be a business.

hazelb · 09-03-2010, 11:24

I think you have assumed they are classing you as a business.

I would just fire out a rambling e-mail in response thanking them for their kind attention but pointing out that your wife has decided to have a large clear out of her hobby making stuff and wanted to list as much as she could in one go.

the more rambling and unprofessional the e-mail, the better.

Gragis · 09-03-2010, 13:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdsterUK

The details in the first post read like advice, I'm not seeing anything that says they are forcing you to be a business.

I only put in part of the e-mail received. It did start off with - As part of an ongoing review of the eBay trading activities of our top sellers, we are requesting that you upgrade your account from a private account to a business account. There is no charge for this upgrade, and it will only take a few minutes of your time.

Please follow the steps below to upgrade your account to a business account by 11 March 2010.

If you do not upgrade your account by 11 March 2010, please note that you will be unable to sell on eBay until you complete the upgrade.

Therefore I assume that I am being forced into an upgrade or I can no longer sell using the account. I've asked what "top sellers" means as 53 items sold in 8 years appears a tad small.

Cade Foster · 09-03-2010, 22:41

Playing devils advocate herebut listing 238 items in a week when a total of 53 items over 8 years has been sold before does look like business like.

I am all for having clear outs but its a huge clear out.

Kevb · 16-03-2010, 16:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cade Foster

Playing devils advocate herebut listing 238 items in a week when a total of 53 items over 8 years has been sold before does look like business like.

I am all for having clear outs but its a huge clear out.

It's probably flagged up as unusal activity by Ebay's system. If there are multiple instances of the same item it might flag up as well.

Gragis · 17-03-2010, 18:27

I asked 3 times for an explanation as to why I was a "top seller" and what law they were spouting. Not a single answer and then they have the cheek to send a request - We'd like to ask you to share your opinion on your overall experience with eBay Customer Support and on the response you received from our representative

Muppets!!!

05-03-2010, 18:39	#1
Gragis Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 63 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 1 Post	E-bay insist I am a business - I'm not Hi My wife decided to sell some of her crafting stamps, papers, embellishments etc and has listed 238 items in the last week and E-bay have now written to advise :- eCommerce is governed by laws which lay down the obligations and rights of buyers and sellers. These laws apply to all internet trading including activity on eBay, but the details vary for both buyers and sellers depending on whether the seller is considered to be operating as an individual or as a business. Legally, you are considered to be operating as a business if you do any of the following: • sell items that you have bought to resell • make items yourself and sell them, intending to make a profit • are a trading assistant • buy items for your business eBay offers two different kinds of user accounts: private and business. Both are free to open, but business accounts offer tailored site functionality specifically designed to help you meet your legal obligations as a business seller. She has had her account since June 2002 and in the time she sold 53 items. She has also purchased over 1,600 items!!!!! Is it because she decided to have a clearout? Is there anything that can be done to get them to change their mind? Offer to deleted 150 items and list them a few at a time over the next few months? Any help would be appreciated. Last edited by Gragis; 06-03-2010 at 18:34. Reason: less formal title

07-03-2010, 16:45	#5
AndyWilson --------old-geek Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 8,852 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Just playing devil's advocate - if you were buying something on ebay and the seller had listed over 200 items in the past week - might you not suspect they were really a business? __________________ my flickr

09-03-2010, 22:41	#12
Cade Foster Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 1,535 Thanks: 7 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Playing devils advocate herebut listing 238 items in a week when a total of 53 items over 8 years has been sold before does look like business like. I am all for having clear outs but its a huge clear out. Last edited by Cade Foster; 09-03-2010 at 22:41.

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06-03-2010, 07:25	#2
Innes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Wandsworth Posts: 74 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Ignore any private companies who use "legal" and "law" or anything similar with copy and paste emails or letters. Saying that if you like eBay then you should sort this by giving them a phone. I'm sure they'll help.

06-03-2010, 10:51	#3
Gragis Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 63 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 1 Post	I tried calling last night but got through to a US call centre. The lady I spoke to said I was to complete a response form which my wife has already completed and sent, with no success. I'll try another e-mail asking which EU law they were quoting. Thanks for the response.

07-03-2010, 12:03	#4
Innes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Wandsworth Posts: 74 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Phone in normal UK working hours and you'll either get someone in the UK or someone with more knowledge about the UK. I'd say you are wasting your time emailing as their automated system is awaiting your response. You need input from a real person @ eBay. www.saynoto0870.co.uk For the best number. I have one of those "eBay Star" numbers and those people are always very helpful in the UK. And if this is your partner's private business then it's her business over the phone too.

07-03-2010, 17:07	#6
Gragis Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 63 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 1 Post	I appreciate the comment but it is simply that she is getting rid of stuff she's been accumulating over the years and no longer needs. E-bay has classed me as a "top seller" which I don't understand as technically I have only sold 53 items since 2002 and if none of the items sell I'll be no further forward with my count.

09-03-2010, 11:00	#8
rbullivant Finger Lickin Good Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Preston, Lancashire, England Posts: 4,465 Thanks: 14 Thanked 14 Times in 7 Posts	Don't like that e-mail message at all from ebay, the rules on whether you are operating a business are not that simplistic. R

09-03-2010, 11:15	#9
AdsterUK ermmm..... Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Sunderland Posts: 1,637 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The details in the first post read like advice, I'm not seeing anything that says they are forcing you to be a business.

09-03-2010, 11:24	#10
hazelb Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: wilts Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I think you have assumed they are classing you as a business. I would just fire out a rambling e-mail in response thanking them for their kind attention but pointing out that your wife has decided to have a large clear out of her hobby making stuff and wanted to list as much as she could in one go. the more rambling and unprofessional the e-mail, the better.

17-03-2010, 18:27	#14
Gragis Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 63 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 1 Post	I asked 3 times for an explanation as to why I was a "top seller" and what law they were spouting. Not a single answer and then they have the cheek to send a request - We'd like to ask you to share your opinion on your overall experience with eBay Customer Support and on the response you received from our representative Muppets!!!