topic Re: Ebays latest agreement update in Selling

Ebays latest agreement update

outback_blends — Tue, 29 May 2018 01:48:59 GMT

Wont affect me because I dont buy outside Australia but I cant wait to read the inevitable messages from buyers and sellers about the new GST collection announcement .

The bit that really made me laugh was this bit about location mis representation....

We take item location misrepresentation seriously on eBay. As part of eBay’s Selling practices policy, we have deployed technology to prevent and detect violations across listings and transactions. Sellers found in violation of this policy are may be subject to listing removal, warnings, suspensions by eBay, and may be at risk of compliance action by the Australian Tax Office.

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

lm-entertainment — Tue, 29 May 2018 02:37:13 GMT

also, it is interesting to note changes to the user agreement in section 10 and 12 - which it doesn't specify what they are in the email.. but when looking at the agreement it says the following (that being said, i've never read these clauses in full, so don't know what is new and what is not)..

but in summary - section 10 says ebay can refund for any reason and withdraw the money from your paypal account as well as the return postage the buyer pays on returns.. and section 12 is in regards to click & collect stating that woolworths has no liability for lost or damaged items whilst under their control..

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

lyndal1838 — Tue, 29 May 2018 02:39:08 GMT

I can't imagine why there would be messages about the collection of the GST.....it is quite clear what is going to happen.

Sellers don't have to do anything and buyers just have to pay the invoice that they are sent.

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

kopenhagen5 — Tue, 29 May 2018 02:48:35 GMT

From eBay -

Starting 1 July 2018, we will be collecting Goods and Services Tax (GST) from buyers on all imports with an order value less than 1,000 AUD. Sellers don't need to do anything.

If you have products located outside Australia, your prices may appear 10% higher to buyers than before if their ship-to location delivery address is in Australia. If you have any questions or require more information, please head to the Australian Tax Office.

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

outback_blends — Tue, 29 May 2018 03:40:44 GMT

@lyndal1838 wrote:
I can't imagine why there would be messages about the collection of the GST.....it is quite clear what is going to happen.

Sellers don't have to do anything and buyers just have to pay the invoice that they are sent.

Yea but you and I both know you could put it in plain language that even a baby could understand then make a big flashing neon sign out of it and you would still get the folks that go - Oh no ebays charging me GST .... its bound to happen!

Reading the above about sections 10 and 12 ....hmm maybe I was not far off with my idea that the recent defect notices some of us got IS actually ebay playing with automatic defect ratings.

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

lyndal1838 — Tue, 29 May 2018 03:51:48 GMT

But why would it be remarkable for ebay to charge GST.....it is being done on behalf of the seller. Every B & M store that you shop in adds GST which goes to the ATO.

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

digital*ghost — Tue, 29 May 2018 04:45:47 GMT

@outback_blends wrote:
Wont affect me because I dont buy outside Australia but I cant wait to read the inevitable messages from buyers and sellers about the new GST collection announcement .
The bit that really made me laugh was this bit about location mis representation....

We take item location misrepresentation seriously on eBay. As part of eBay’s Selling practices policy, we have deployed technology to prevent and detect violations across listings and transactions. Sellers found in violation of this policy are may be subject to listing removal, warnings, suspensions by eBay, and may be at risk of compliance action by the Australian Tax Office.

eBay now have skin in the game and potentially something to lose if they should have collected GST on a transaction, but didn't because the seller lied about the item location.

If they are deemed liable for the GST that wasn't collected, I can see them suddenly taking the issue much more seriously than they have up til now.

@lm - some of those terms have been around for a while, some have been reworded or introduced; they changed the user agreement so that eBay is authorised to debit PayPal accounts in relation to MBG cases, including return postage costs. Automated returns is newer, so some of the new clauses is in relation to that (not impressed with automated return system at all, but that's a rant for another day).

The Woolworths clause is actually stating they will take liability for any parts of the service they are directly responsible for (in other words,they'll meet their legal requirements, but they won't compensate buyers in any way for items not as described, or something that is a direct result of the seller's / eBay's actions, nor any consequential loss related to the products or service, which is pretty standard.

PS - Anyone had a gander at eBay ~~Prime~~ Plus? $49 a year and buyers get free post plus free returns (eBay pays for the postage costs on their behalf if the seller has a P&H charge, interestingly). According to the listed criteria, I could potentially qualify for this. Though probably won't with a 2 day handling time.

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

zanadoo_56 — Tue, 29 May 2018 04:53:42 GMT

@kopenhagen5 wrote:
From eBay -

Starting 1 July 2018, we will be collecting Goods and Services Tax (GST) from buyers on all imports with an order value less than 1,000 AUD. Sellers don't need to do anything.

If you have products located outside Australia, your prices may appear 10% higher to buyers than before if their ship-to location delivery address is in Australia. If you have any questions or require more information, please head to the Australian Tax Office.

Sigh. There are still a few expensive rare collectable items I will never find in Oz that are going to be far worse to justify the cost if another 10% is added. I might as well give up the chase. The cost of postage had almost done it...the GST may be the death knell.

Perhaps eBay might like to have another promotional discount for overseas sales from 01 Jul to ease us into the pain. 🙂

Blasted government and blinkered Oz shop owners. None of this is going to get me anywhere near B&M stores. They don't have what I want.

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

tennis_sweetspot — Tue, 29 May 2018 05:01:49 GMT

I can't believe any seller will qualify for ebay Plus if they are not offering so called free post.

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

kopenhagen5 — Tue, 29 May 2018 05:58:01 GMT

zanadoo, eBay have just introduced make offer for auctions so you might still find a good item and offer 10% less.

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

lyndal1838 — Tue, 29 May 2018 05:58:16 GMT

@digital*ghost wrote:
PS - Anyone had a gander at eBay ~~Prime~~ Plus? $49 a year and buyers get free post plus free returns (eBay pays for the postage costs on their behalf if the seller has a P&H charge, interestingly). According to the listed criteria, I could potentially qualify for this. Though probably won't with a 2 day handling time.

Digi, as a buyer I doubt that it would be of much use to me. In all my years on ebay I doubt if I have had to return 6 items. And ebay is only offering standard postage.....no tracked and SOD as needed for ebay and paypal.

Postage is not a big concern of mine.....the majority of my local purchases are free postage and the scheme does not cover overseas postage.

I am more worried by the terms whereby ebay can change the goal posts as they see fit.....and it is up to them what items will qualify for the scheme.

I smell a rat.....just another way for ebay to milk it's members but this time they are targetting buyers, not sellers.
I will definitely wait and see before parting with my hard earned $$$$.

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

6508.froggy — Tue, 29 May 2018 06:04:55 GMT

Just a thought and maybe I am totally wrong but GST at this present time in Australia is not applicable to second hand goods ie. Collectables etc.

Any purchases made at auctions houses etc. do not attract GST. Just the buyers or sellers premium.

So my question is ebay has advised they will be collecting the GST for all items of any value being imported but if this is for a second hand item classiifed as a collectable item will they still apply the GST.

Muddy waters in my opinion but as I mentioned I could be wrong.

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

porcelain_dolls_by_me — Tue, 29 May 2018 06:18:00 GMT

The GST is not being added on behalf of the seller - it is being done at the behest of the Australian Government in order to catch as much GST on imported goods as possible.

And not "EVERY" B & M store adds GST, it is feasible it may be a very small store that has a turnover of less than $75.000 and are not registered for GST

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

the_2nd_zoo — Tue, 29 May 2018 06:30:48 GMT

So if ebayPlus members pay no postage on qualifying items then should we all ditch Free shipping and go back to calculated shipping as the buyer will pay only the item cost (obviously the ebay Plus program has a cost but if you buy 50 items a year that is $1 each) and it wil be cheaper than the so called free shipping price.

With the big items I sell my free shipping price is at least 10% more than a pickup price would be.

In the case of an item that is 500g to 1kg that is $15 full AP price.

I suppose if an item does not have free shipping will it be visable when ebay Plus tab is switched on and ebay has to eat the shipping.

Like Best match ebay does not care about a lower cost for the customer but what is in it for ebay.

I can see ebay allowing items in Plus category only if seller offers free shipping and free returns or some other hoop that will force those by stealth.

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

swamp-stalker — Tue, 29 May 2018 06:47:09 GMT

The collection of GST would actually be a good thing for Aus sellers, if ebay were able to apply it to all the Chinese Sellers that flood Aus ebay. Unfortunately having the items location as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, although the item is actually shipped from China, will no doubt not incure the GST.

Call me cynical, but I dont think Ebay like rocking the boat with Chinese sellers, as it is their biggest income stream.

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

davewil1964 — Tue, 29 May 2018 07:30:57 GMT

If the ATO starts billing eBay for Chinese imports, eBay will soon take notice. This was mentioned at about post #4.

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

padi*0409 — Tue, 29 May 2018 07:44:07 GMT

There's something I don't understand with eBay collecting the GST from buyers of OS items.

When the parcel arrives at customs or the post office (if they are going to be the ones collecting GST), HOW will they know that it's an eBay item that's already had the tax paid on it ??

I can see multiple emails or trips to the relavant collection agent for proof that the GST payment has already been made.

A can of worms is about to be opened methinks...........................

.............as if the queues at the post offices ain't long enough already with frustated customers...............

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

lyndal1838 — Tue, 29 May 2018 08:00:18 GMT

@porcelain_dolls_by_me wrote:
The GST is not being added on behalf of the seller - it is being done at the behest of the Australian Government in order to catch as much GST on imported goods as possible.

And not "EVERY" B & M store adds GST, it is feasible it may be a very small store that has a turnover of less than $75.000 and are not registered for GST

The GST is being collected here because the ATO cannot force overseas sellers to do it.

It would have to be a very small B & M store not to turn over $1450 per week. It would barely make a living wage for the owner, let alone pay rent and other running expenses.

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

lyndal1838 — Tue, 29 May 2018 08:04:33 GMT

@6508.froggy wrote:
Just a thought and maybe I am totally wrong but GST at this present time in Australia is not applicable to second hand goods ie. Collectables etc.

Any purchases made at auctions houses etc. do not attract GST. Just the buyers or sellers premium.

So my question is ebay has advised they will be collecting the GST for all items of any value being imported but if this is for a second hand item classiifed as a collectable item will they still apply the GST.

Muddy waters in my opinion but as I mentioned I could be wrong.

I'm afraid you are wrong.....GST is most certainly payable on second hand goods.

Ebay will apply the GST to every item under $1000 coming into Australia from overseas.

Re: Ebays latest agreement update

porcelain_dolls_by_me — Tue, 29 May 2018 08:56:58 GMT

It comes down to a contest between "Ebay like rocking the boat with Chinese sellers", and the Australian Government my money in on the latter!!