Right that is it, I am over ebay. They don't care for casual sellers.

[grannytakesatrip17]

I am seriously peed off. I have been a collector for over 50 years of antique and vintage items. It was all started when I was just 12 when my Nana took me to jumble sales and I started to appreciate the quality and workmanship of old items,

This led to me inheriting heaps of things and building up crazy collections of everything.

Many things I display and enjoy in my home, but heaps have been stored away. I think I srarted selling things occasionally on ebay about 7 years ago. I always enjoy the research and making people happy.

It is a ot of work, to take good photos and write honest descriptions, but I didnt mind as it was a nice hobby.

This week I decided to kick it off again, I spent over $250.00 pn pre paid satchels, spent 6 days doing the photos and descriptions and hey ho, I sold one tea towel tonight for $5.50.

I notice there is hardly any decent vintage/antique stuff sold now on ebay. I believe this is because they are greedy b******s who have even taken a cut from Australia Post which is outrageous.

So now I will look for somewhere else to sell my hoard, I am considering etsy or FB pages, which seems to be where most are heading. I am bitterly dissapointed as I have top seller status, but thing for me and other similar people ebay is now a dead duck, so sad. If anyone has any suggestions, they would me most welcome. 

[redders_60]

Hi; Birds of a feather? Oh dear for the deco light! Such a sad thing to happen for something that has been cherished for so long.

I'm wondering if the uranium bowl will be the one that I need to complete my set of 5 to a 6? What are the chances? 

When talking about non ebay owned Aussie sites, one must not mention the name or you will be sanctioned. I have most of my clear glass, small porcelains & Aust Pottery on a site that starts with the word Quick. 

Dropping glassware is my forte. My hands are nerve damaged due to a long ago accident. I really need to clear my breakable things before I drop the lot!

A few days ago I sold some 1970's Australian Pottery drip glaze small jugs on QS on an offer. Before I accepted the offer I part packaged the items in tissue, b/wrap & found a suitable box & then accepted the offer to post from Melb to Tas. I wasn't willing to send a message saying I'd dropped a jug (You could bet that it would be the one the buyer most wanted!) So needed to cover myself before finalising the sale. 

My new favourite thing of the moment is older hand turned wooden bowls in different Aussie wood types. I see a collection starting as I now have 3 garnered recently. My hubby is doing the usual "What do you want that for?!" But I admire the workmanship & the beauty of the wood & the fact that there will never be another bowl like those I have. 

[grannytakesatrip17]

Haha, birds of a feather 🙂 Well I have just set up my last 4 scheduled sales for tonight. That is my 40 free listings gone for the month.

I may be tempted to put a few more on, especially as I now have some more bids, so am feeling much more encouraged 🙂

If I do, I will put that little uranium bowl on, it is a very unusual pattern.

Yes turned wood would be a good thing to collect. I have been accumulating maninly Australian studio pottery in the last few years as they are also unique.

Oh my goodness, my husband is not a happy bunny either as one bedroom is choc a block with stuff, plus cupboards and cupboards full of things, I think I will be in my box before I sell most of them. I try not to buy anymore, I remember my Mother in Law (who was a terrible hoarder) finally saying. "My buying days are over"

I am now in the same mode I think.

Nice chatting.

[davidc4430]

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@grannytakesatrip17 wrote:

Yes I know that and that is all I am prepared to do, but last year I got all these lunatic offers from ebay eg 150 free listings in 4 days or so. It is not possible for me to do this. Are they still putting tese offers forward now?

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i could do with a lunatic offer just about now

[grannytakesatrip17]

Lol, me too, but then I would neer have the time to list them anyway 🙂

[rocket2retro]

Thanks for your kind comments. If you travel for extended periods you would need to put your store on holiday mode (whereby buyers won't see your listings) and start it up again upon return.

I use a lot of 3kg & 5kg satchels which keep postage costs down.

No matter how/what you sell, if you sell more than $10k (including postage cost) in a financial year, eBay are obliged to forward your sales amounts to the ATO.  You might be avble able to explain away one year (with a good accountant) but if you were to keep selling year after I'd think you'd be recognised as a business.

[grannytakesatrip17]

Wow, I didnt know that the $10k included the postage, that seems unfair.

Well on the bright side I received 150 free listings this morning, invitation only so unable to share.

I can't risk becoming a business as it would be a paperwork nightmare, as I am just selling my own ridiculous amount of hoarded stuff.

Oh well just plod along as usual. But I will try BIN with some of these free listings as you get no free relists on this offer for auction.

You have some nice stuff, all beautifully presented.

[lyndal1838]

The inclusion of postage is not a problem as you claim it as a deduction when you do your tax.

Why is it a problem if you become a business seller.  You can claim all your expenses as a deduction.....there is no paperwork nightmare if you are organised.

Put up the link to the free listings.....most sellers do and often other sellers are able to take advantage of them.

[grannytakesatrip17]

Here is the link, not sure if it will work though

. /eBay%20Seller%20Centre%20-%20150%20reasons%20to%20list%20more%20items%20%7C%20eBay%20Seller%20Centre.webarchive

Well if you are running a business of any kind, which I have done in the past.

The accounts are based on purchase prices, other expenditure etc and then this is offset against the sales which shows your profit margin.

Now my problem is that I have seriously been collecting all sorts of items for over 50 years.

Many many were inherited and of course many were purchased. It has got totally out of control. I have stuff displayed all over my house, but I also got very carried away in my younger days, buying and collecting.

I have probably thousands of things in boxes etc.

If I wanted to turn it into a business how on earth could I know the purchase prices

Do you understand my problem? I rarely buy anything now. 

[lyndal1838 · Accepted solution]

Believe it or not, I do understand you and your collection.  I could be your twin sister.

I have been a collector of many things over the years, as were my Mother and both Grandmothers.

I have now in my possession the complete collections of 4 very dedicated collectors of a great variety of items.

I have also been a business owner....my husband and I ran a retail business of 3 shops and currently have a service based business.

A few years ago I contacted the ATO to see where I stood if I were to sell some of my items.  As they were all my personal items I would not have to pay tax on the proceeds.  I was most interested in how my coin collection would be treated and was told that if I was only selling one of a coin it would not attract tax but if I had multiples it would be treated as a business where I had purchased with the view to selling the extras.

Just because you are termed a business on ebay that does not mean you would be a business in tax office terms.  If I sold my coins on ebay I would well and truly have to abide by ebay's business policies but would not be treated as a business by the ATO.

It may pay you to have a word with an accountant if you really do want to get rid of your collections.....and have a look over the current ebay rules....you will find they have changed a lot over the years.

[grannytakesatrip17]

Hello Sister lol. 

Yes I can see that you totally understand my situation. It is funny because of the similarities, my Grandmother started me on the fettish as a child when she used to take me along to jumble sales. In fact I have items from her family in Wales which were passed on to her.

Then other aged relatives knew I loved old things and I was awarded even more 🙂

What you have said suddenly made a bell ping in my head, because I did ask our accountant the same question a few years ago and he told me that personal items would not be taxable.

We do still run a business, we have a farm although we will need to get rid of it in the next few years. It is a money pit and my husband is finding it too much for him, so in effect we have 2 houses full of "stuff".

I do the paperwork for the farm etc and anything that gets sold on ebay I enter as non income, which is what he suggested.

I think the thing that threw me was the selling limits, but as you have explained so well this may not be a problem.

Thank you so much for your help, I am going to stop worrying about it and just sell what I can as I get time.