Can an eBay seller really do this...?

LKV_Jazzmaster

So I’m in the market for a Mesa Rectifier and the closest one to me on Fleabay is this...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F192376447161

I had had been considering bidding when I noticed in the description it states  VAT will be added to the sale. Surely that’s outside the realms of an eBay auction?

Thoughts?

xpia98jf

From the EBay site:

“Please remember: eBay is primarily a consumer marketplace. Therefore, sellers are not permitted to add VAT to the final item price after a buyer has won the item. If you are a seller and you want to show your buyers how much VAT they paid on the item they've bought from you, you need to specify the VAT rate when you create your listing.”

LKV_Jazzmaster

pia98jf said:

From the EBay site:

“Please remember: eBay is primarily a consumer marketplace. Therefore, sellers are not permitted to add VAT to the final item price after a buyer has won the item. If you are a seller and you want to show your buyers how much VAT they paid on the item they've bought from you, you need to specify the VAT rate when you create your listing.”

Guess that answered that. Cheers. 

AlexC

Value Added Twatishness!

thebreeze

Interesting, never seen that before.  I've no idea from a legal point of view but my hunch would be you can stipulate whatever sales terms you like e.g. "postage will cost £1,000" and then it's up to the buyer to decide if he wants to bid for it on those terms??  Does seem a bit odd though.

VimFuego

report him to HMRC, I'm sure they'd like to have a good look through his records to make sure he is passing this on to them. 

LKV_Jazzmaster

AlexC said:

Value Added Twatishness!

That was my first reaction. Haha. 

I remember when when people used to get round having to pay high fees by charging like £300 for postage then only £100 for the guitar. That’s why eBay now charges you 10% on your postage fees as well. 

mbe

Seller states contradictory payment terms. Description states VAT will be added to final purchase price. Postage and payment tab states VAT included in stated listing price (think this is more in tune with ebay rules).

iain.reverb

LKV_Jazzmaster said:

So I’m in the market for a Mesa Rectifier and the closest one to me on Fleabay is this...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F192376447161

I had had been considering bidding when I noticed in the description it states  VAT will be added to the sale. Surely that’s outside the realms of an eBay auction?

Thoughts?

Im no accountant, so stand to be corrected, but from looking at everything else he is selling it looks like he is running a backline hire/touring company. I've seen this before with second hand van sales where VAT has to be added to the final price, as its a business asset that is being sold. So it may be the same for this.

LKV_Jazzmaster

iain.reverb said:

LKV_Jazzmaster said:

So I’m in the market for a Mesa Rectifier and the closest one to me on Fleabay is this...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F192376447161

I had had been considering bidding when I noticed in the description it states  VAT will be added to the sale. Surely that’s outside the realms of an eBay auction?

Thoughts?

Im no accountant, so stand to be corrected, but from looking at everything else he is selling it looks like he is running a backline hire/touring company. I've seen this before with second hand van sales where VAT has to be added to the final price, as its a business asset that is being sold. So it may be the same for this.

Out of curiosity @iain.reverb would a seller be allowed to stipulate such terms on Reverb? (I'm about to go have a look for some gear on there now, I haven't used it before)

iain.reverb

LKV_Jazzmaster said:

iain.reverb said:

LKV_Jazzmaster said:

So I’m in the market for a Mesa Rectifier and the closest one to me on Fleabay is this...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F192376447161

I had had been considering bidding when I noticed in the description it states  VAT will be added to the sale. Surely that’s outside the realms of an eBay auction?

Thoughts?

Im no accountant, so stand to be corrected, but from looking at everything else he is selling it looks like he is running a backline hire/touring company. I've seen this before with second hand van sales where VAT has to be added to the final price, as its a business asset that is being sold. So it may be the same for this.

Out of curiosity @iain.reverb would a seller be allowed to stipulate such terms on Reverb? (I'm about to go have a look for some gear on there now, I haven't used it before)

They couldn't stipulate in the item description that VAT was to be added. They could set up a tax policy where the VAT was to be included in the sales price. This only really applies to business sellers however. We have the functionality now for a seller to include their VAT number and be able to offer their items ex VAT outside of the EU. 99% of used items are sold ex VAT on Reverb, with VAT registered businesses only having to pay the taxman margin VAT on the sale, which the buyer doesn't need to worry about.

RiftAmps

iain.reverb said:

LKV_Jazzmaster said:

So I’m in the market for a Mesa Rectifier and the closest one to me on Fleabay is this...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F192376447161

I had had been considering bidding when I noticed in the description it states  VAT will be added to the sale. Surely that’s outside the realms of an eBay auction?

Thoughts?

Im no accountant, so stand to be corrected, but from looking at everything else he is selling it looks like he is running a backline hire/touring company. I've seen this before with second hand van sales where VAT has to be added to the final price, as its a business asset that is being sold. So it may be the same for this.

As far as eBay is concerned, the final selling price would include VAT if the seller is VAT registered. They are not allowed to add VAT afterwards so would have to swallow it themselves.

fretfinder

Nearly as bad as Watford Valves...

Ddigger

He is a business.  His company registration number, contact details and VAT number all there on the page.  He has to charge and pay VAT.

Dodge

Ddigger said:

He is a business.  His company registration number, contact details and VAT number all there on the page.  He has to charge and pay VAT.

The listing also says: "VAT price: 20.0% (included in the listed price)", so in essence he's trying to charge VAT twice.

xpia98jf

Ddigger said:

He is a business.  His company registration number, contact details and VAT number all there on the page.  He has to charge and pay VAT.

Not all businesses are VAT registered.

Ddigger

I don't think he's pulling a fast one, I just think he's not aware of all the ebay ins and outs (I know I wasn't until this thread).

He is VAT registered (you can look up his number online).

Send him an email (it's on the ebay page) and ask him to clarify.  If he is in your local area, he might be a good contact to make when other stuff comes up.  Gear looks in good nick, I have seen 'home use only' gear in much worse condition.

I guess this amp will be about a grand, plus VAT, so £1200?

Cheers,

Ddig

paulmapp8306

EBay will pull that add - they dont give a crud about the VAT, they do give a crud about loosing their % slice of the extra £200 or so.

LKV_Jazzmaster

Thanks for all the input guys. I think I’m going to leave this one. I’ve found one that’s literally 20mins up the road anyway for a decent price which I should hopefully be getting a week tomorrow. 

paulmapp8306 said:

EBay will pull that add - they dont give a crud about the VAT, they do give a crud about loosing their % slice of the extra £200 or so.

This is very true!

prowla

pia98jf said:

Ddigger said:

He is a business.  His company registration number, contact details and VAT number all there on the page.  He has to charge and pay VAT.

Not all businesses are VAT registered.

Businesses with a turnover greater than the VAT threshold (£85k normally or £70k for distance selling) have too be VAT registered.

https://www.gov.uk/vat-registration-thresholds