topic Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern? in Selling

Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

clarry100 — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 02:08:33 GMT

Just a thought at this stage.....

We wondered if when we are done with selling on ebay (some day in the future) we might want to sell the entire business lock, stock & barrell rather than simply close it down.

The new owner would take over our built-up good-will, FB scores etc including all our stock holdings.

They would just have to link in their own PayPal and bank accounts etc and off they go with a running store.

Anyone know if/not this is possible or even a good idea?

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

kopenhagen5 — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 02:30:43 GMT

ebay accounts are non transferable. So all you can sell is the stock, not the account.

You can only have it transferred from one staff member of the business to another staff member of the business.

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

*crikey*mate* — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 02:33:44 GMT

Apparently it doesn't happen very often.

I've heard of it happening in one instance where a member died and eBay gave permission for the son to take over the account.

It talks about it in the User Agreement

at #3 (Note they say "while using the eBay service", so I guess if you pass away, they can be pretty sure that you will no longer be using eBay)

Using eBay

While using the eBay services, you will not:

transfer your eBay account (including feedback) and User ID to another party without our consent;

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

*crikey*mate* — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 02:35:28 GMT

oops - *type faster*

and what Kopes said ^^^

- hey Kopes, somebody stole your heart!

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

digital*ghost — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 02:36:20 GMT

I don't think it's possible - the transfer of an account into someone else's name can only be done with eBay's permission, and I think the circumstances in which they'll allow it are limited.

Edit: there weren't any answers here a minute ago.

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

thecatspjs — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 02:44:30 GMT

It is a simple straightforward process. You change the name, as you would your address and submit it electronically. if the new name successfully appears in the account details and account is still operational, eBay have accepted the name change through the process they have provided to the same. Done it twice, no drama.

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

digital*ghost — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 02:52:33 GMT

@thecatspjs wrote:
It is a simple straightforward process. You change the name, as you would your address and submit it electronically. if the new name successfully appears in the account details and account is still operational, eBay have accepted the name change through the process they have provided to the same. Done it twice, no drama.

It wouldn't be that simple and straightforward if you were selling the business, though - eg what would happen if the buyer's name was rejected, or you tried to test all the interested parties names before they made a committment?

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

thecatspjs — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 03:00:30 GMT

Business change hands all the time, including many here on ebay that still retain ids from when business first established on ebay.

Businesses and other entities (charities etc) also change staff members that may be responsible for their ebay accounts.

If the "identify" of an id is a business account then can't see that it is all that difficult to make a phone call to ebay to confirm the correct procedure.

Changing name, changing bank account and changing paypal all at the one time electronically would trigger alarms and potential supsension I imagine, but if the account is still trading under the same business trading name, has same address and email contact details maybe not so much. Shrugs.

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

k1ooo-slr-sales — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 03:38:33 GMT

I have seen some eBay IDs listed over the years. Do a search for eBay store sale and you will see 4 listings. The one for 5,000,000 has been listed since last year and 17 offers have been declined. I would think that if it was not allowed then the listing would not be able to be relisted so many times.

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

digital*ghost — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 03:52:39 GMT

@k1ooo-slr-sales wrote:
I would think that if it was not allowed then the listing would not be able to be relisted so many times.

Like all the other listings that breach policies that go unchecked, like mine apparently did for well over a year?

Think about the ramefications - especially that one referred to with a huge FB count. Someone who has never even bought on eBay before let alone sold could suddenly start trading under someone else's established ID with massive, very trustworthy feedback....

I really don't think doing it properly is as simple as changing the name on an account, and the implications of allowing it are too great for it to be that simple, even if somehow it doesn't get picked up by the system.

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

*crikey*mate* — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 04:08:37 GMT

@k1ooo-slr-sales wrote:
I have seen some eBay IDs listed over the years. Do a search for eBay store sale and you will see 4 listings. The one for 5,000,000 has been listed since last year and 17 offers have been declined. I would think that if it was not allowed then the listing would not be able to be relisted so many times.

I just rang eBay and they said that the sale of an eBay ID cannot be listed on eBay. (But it can be advertised elsewhere) This is not written anywhere, however it is a rule which apparently we "should" know. The staff member said she has escalated this to (I don't know where) asking for clarification - (the gist was that to have it written somewhere in case our crystal balls were broken)

The lady also says that eBay can't stop you selling the business - but she did say that to transfer the user name - the account had to be closed? for 35 days, before anyone else could use that user name???? but then wouldn't this cause the loss of the feedback as well?

Then on the other hand she said that of course the feedback can be transferred, and if the new person was dodgy, eventually "the system" would catch up with them and account restrictions etc would be applied...

Seems to be conflicting ionformation with the User Agreement?

(I even tried to ring twioce to get a different person - but I got THE SAME ONE both times LOL - even though I went through a dif category)

Plus I forgot to ask HOW to get the consent referred to in the User Agreement.

Maybe someone else could give them a call - they may know how to ask the questions or understand the answers better....

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

digital*ghost — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 04:17:10 GMT

@my*mum wrote:

Then on the other hand she said that of course the feedback can be transferred, and if the new person was dodgy, eventually "the system" would catch up with them and account restrictions etc would be applied...

Great, I got a bunch of fake brand name stuff to sell and eBay are impeding me as a new seller with their annoying selling restrictions.

I know! I'll just go buy someone's established ID with no restrictions.

Nice one, eBay.

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

thecatspjs — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 04:19:47 GMT

Money talks DG ...

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

digital*ghost — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 04:26:38 GMT

@thecatspjs wrote:
Money talks DG ...

Mine's a one-trick pony - it only ever says goodbye.

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

*crikey*mate* — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 04:30:08 GMT

@digital*ghost wrote:
@my*mum wrote:

Then on the other hand she said that of course the feedback can be transferred, and if the new person was dodgy, eventually "the system" would catch up with them and account restrictions etc would be applied...

Great, I got a bunch of fake brand name stuff to sell and eBay are impeding me as a new seller with their annoying selling restrictions.

I know! I'll just go buy someone's established ID with no restrictions.

Nice one, eBay.

it seems weird to me digi, especially with consideration of the User Agreement, but that's what eBay said twice...

keep in mind they also told me to contact LIVEWORLD 4 months after Lithium took over though..... also keeping ion mind what purpose bioth those companies have and that my issue was to do with tech stuff in my listings.....

I know that donnashuggy knows a member who went through the process of transferring the business, and from what I could make out, it wasn't easy.... Maybe someone who posts in poersellers could ask her?

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

thecatspjs — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 04:41:23 GMT

From e-commerce bytes July 2010

eBay Roadblocks
Be aware that selling an eBay business has special risks - eBay makes it very difficult for sellers to transfer their eBay User ID to another owner. eBay spokesperson Johnna Hoff explained, "As a general rule, we do not allow users to transfer eBay user IDs. It's important to understand that this helps protect the reputation a seller has built and the integrity of our feedback system. In relatively rare situations that involve the sale of an entire business, we may give consent to a seller to transfer the user ID connected to that business. We consider these requests on a case-by-case basis and work with the requestor on the specific requirements of the transfer process."

However, Ms. Hoff declined to explain how sellers would submit such a request, stating that it was such a rare occurrence that eBay did not publish any sort of contact. "Rather, we consider these cases if they arise, which is quite infrequently."

Lol in the real world businesses are sold very frequently indeed ...

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

digital*ghost — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 04:48:49 GMT

@thecatspjs wrote:
From e-commerce bytes July 2010

eBay Roadblocks
Be aware that selling an eBay business has special risks - eBay makes it very difficult for sellers to transfer their eBay User ID to another owner. eBay spokesperson Johnna Hoff explained, "As a general rule, we do not allow users to transfer eBay user IDs. It's important to understand that this helps protect the reputation a seller has built and the integrity of our feedback system. In relatively rare situations that involve the sale of an entire business, we may give consent to a seller to transfer the user ID connected to that business. We consider these requests on a case-by-case basis and work with the requestor on the specific requirements of the transfer process."

However, Ms. Hoff declined to explain how sellers would submit such a request, stating that it was such a rare occurrence that eBay did not publish any sort of contact. "Rather, we consider these cases if they arise, which is quite infrequently."

Lol in the real world businesses are sold very frequently indeed ...

Yeah, but since when is eBay the real world.

An eBay business is one thing, an eBay ID is something a little different. eBay is a little more unique in that the business is more the stock and - possibly - customer base. The ID is a history and reputation that shouldn't be transferable, (in my opinion, special circumstances notwithstanding).

Listings on eBay for stores are a bad idea even if it wasn't against policy - it doesn't exactly allow anyone to be (completely) discriminate about who buys the business.

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

thecatspjs — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 05:04:27 GMT

What a mouthpiece says and what occurs, as we know, are two very different things.

I reckon that a raft of legislation is relevant including restriction of trade if ebay prevented user IDs for businesses to be transferred.

IMO I also reckon that many businesses transferring ownership would just do as I did and do a simple name change, press submit and move on and never think about it again.

By making the change, submitting the electronic form to ebay, by default if the change occurs it indicates at least ebays interim approval , what more can one do when there are no other apparant policys or guidelines to follow. The user agreement indicates that user IDs are transferable with ebay approval - and does not indicate what process needs to be followed.

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

davewil1964 — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 05:16:29 GMT

I suppose it depends if the eBay account is a business account.

If not, then it is similar to a sole trader selling up. They sell their stock, maybe even premise lease, but not their name.

Re: Is it possible to sell your entire ebay store as a running concern?

*crikey*mate* — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 05:28:09 GMT

@thecatspjs wrote:
It is a simple straightforward process. You change the name, as you would your address and submit it electronically. if the new name successfully appears in the account details and account is still operational, eBay have accepted the name change through the process they have provided to the same. Done it twice, no drama.

so what are you talking about here?

and how does this relate to the OP?

just having trouble joining the dots.