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Switch to a business account?
Summary: drchri-3 received a notification from eBay suggesting they switch to a business account due to their sales activity. They claim to sell mainly used items and collectibles, such as footballs and coins. perfect-sally and petersmodellbahnstuebchen advise that selling patterns resembling business operations, such as multiple similar items and frequent sales, might flag an account as commercial, urging drchri-3 to comply with the request to avoid restrictions. drchri-3 explains they've closed their business years ago and are now selling off personal collection items. The discussion highlights differing views on private and business selling activities on eBay.
Ebay wrote to me:
Because your selling activity indicates that you are no longer acting as a private seller, we ask that you make the switch within the next two weeks. This will ensure that you can continue selling without restrictions.
You can find the necessary information in our policy on business sellers.
Detailed information about the switch can be found on our website as well as in the section “Converting a private eBay account into a business eBay account” on our help page.
But I only sell used items and collectibles like soccer balls, coins, or watches.
What should I do so my account doesn’t get restricted?
Has this happened to anyone else too?
Regards from the Westerwald
petersmodellbahnstuebchen
Mentor1 week agoHi @drchri-3
I also only sell used items and am still a commercial seller.
And your listings are not just used items:
So deal with the request soon, otherwise your account will be history in no time.
Best regards from the Baltic Sea
Peter
perfect-sally
Mentor1 week agoWhat should I do so that my account won’t be restricted?
Register as a business seller or stop selling on ebay!
Current listings: 25
Of those NEW items: 18
Sold items: 39 and also multi-quantity listings!
Of those NEW items: 36
A private seller doesn’t have multiple of the same items and also doesn’t sell almost only new items!
So much for your claim that you only sell used items!
As you can see, ebay’s new method for uncovering fake private sellers is taking effect!
You are typically acting as a business or commercially if you:
buy items in order to resell them
sell items that you made for resale
regularly sell large quantities of items
sell similar goods over a longer period of time, especially new goods
frequently sell new items that you did not purchase for your own use
According to case law, the following are considered indications of commercial activity:
operating an eBay Shop
number of current sales: if many items are being sold continuously over a longer period of time, this is generally a commercial seller
selling a private collection in a drawn-out process over many years
type of items sold (new or used goods, value): the sale of several similar navigation devices was classified as evidence of commercial activity – as was the offering of 250 batteries in different sizes with reference to the availability of larger quantities.
a website or the use of promotional descriptions that make a professional impression
Note: We regularly review our sellers’ trading activities and may ask them to mark their eBay account as a business account. You should also expect to receive a paid warning letter from competitors or consumer protection associations and to be sued in court for an injunction.
drchri-3
OP1 week agoI’m not a fake private seller. Yes, I did previously offer some items from the liquidation of my business that I couldn’t otherwise get rid of. The items now on offer are all used items, or individual pieces from my play ball collection, which I now want to clear out, since I shut down my business 3 years ago. Just to clarify.
perfect-sally
Mentor1 week ago · EditedYes, there’s always some reason or excuse. It’s supposedly estate clearances, collection clearances, and so on and so on.
And if you sell accordingly, ebqay notices that by now, and you can believe ebay checks very carefully in the background who comes under suspicion of trading commercially, and if the check for the seller comes back negative, then you get the request to switch to commercial.
It has already affected many users before you and will probably affect many more in the future because the software that is supposed to track down such sellers is getting better and better too.
Besides, ebay doesn’t make any money from private sellers ;) And there’s also the legal side if you withhold consumer rights from your buyers in supposed private sales.
There are some commercial sellers here who see it differently and have no problem if ebay is on their case!
petersmodellbahnstuebchen
Mentor1 week agoHi @drchri-3
whether you're private, pseudo-private, or commercial doesn't really interest me. However, Ebay seems, for whatever reason, to be coming to the conclusion that your actions here are commercial.
You should comply with Ebay's requests if you care about your account here or your wallet.
Best regards from the Baltic Sea
Peter