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If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

Original poster

shipping furniture?

35 replies

ReginaBlitz · 26/09/2015 17:27

I paint and sell furniture as a hobby not a business, I listed a couple of things on eBay (normally use fb gumtree for furniture). On one of my listings I didn't take the postage option off, so instead of free collection in person, it was free Royal Mail second class! So a buyer with no feedback bought and paid for the item expecting it to be shipped to somewhere 3 hours away. My question is is this do Able? Has anyone ever shipped furniture and how much was it? To give a rough idea think tv cabinet type thing measuring 30 inches by 26 inches high at a guess it is 15/20 kgs. It's my fault they have bought it so want to try and get it there.

OP posts:
Original poster
ReginaBlitz · 26/09/2015 17:27

Sorry about the messed up paragraphs! Using the app on my phone nightmare!

OP posts:
lljkk · 26/09/2015 21:28

I think I'd take neg. f/back rather than ship it at a loss.

That size I find that Parcelforce is usually best price but they aren't cheap. If you sell a lot of furniture, then getting a regular business account might pay off eventually (I don't know details).

You can also look at Anyvan.com.

lljkk · 26/09/2015 21:30

ah, this is better link

summerwinterton · 27/09/2015 19:30

if you are doing up to sell you are a business so you should be registered as such. And if people collect it is only cash never paypal.

19lottie82 · 27/09/2015 22:54

Sorry, but you are running a business here and you need to register with eBay and the HMRC. If you kept the furniture for yourself or even gifted the odd piece then it would be a hobby, but you're making it to sell so it IS a business.

Original poster
ReginaBlitz · 27/09/2015 23:13

I'm not running a bloody business! I sell to regulars/ locals on facebook and family. The two pieces on eBay are the first of my refurbished items I've ever put on there! I've been selling on eBay for years and am not stupid. (Apart from my mistake this time)That wasn't my question anyway but regardless I've refunded the buyer but she still really wants it so is going to get quotes herself. So no negative feedback. Can't believe the ebay police on here! Ridiculous

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19lottie82 · 27/09/2015 23:49

You ARE running a business! It may be a hobby but it is also a business. You're making items to sell, on eBay and Facebook, as well as privately to "regulars". You should have an eBay business account, if you don't already.

if you require clarification I suggest you call the HMRC who will be able to advise you and tell you how you can register to pay the relevant taxes that you owe, as I presume you're not doing this at the moment?

Original poster
ReginaBlitz · 28/09/2015 00:03

Tax on £20-£60 a month? I have a lot of kids, pets and a life I sometimes don't have time to do my hair let alone run a business! By regulars I mean people that have bought from me in the past and ask me to do a matching item. 90 percent of stuff I've done is in my home or my family's. It is a hobby, something I do in my rare spare time that I happen to be good at, I hope to o e day turn it into a business but tbh for the pittance in regular money I make right now for a lot of work I don't think I will be declaring it no!!

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19lottie82 · 28/09/2015 00:29

OP it looks like you're not going to agree with me but for the third time you ARE running a business, whether you like it or not!

As already suggested if you check with eBay and or the HMRC they will be able to confirm this, if you don't believe me.

19lottie82 · 28/09/2015 00:30

You've openly admitted that you paint items to sell on eBay, gumtree and Facebook. Why do you think you're not a business?

19lottie82 · 28/09/2015 00:58

PS no, you prob won't have to pay tax on the amount you make as long as your total income falls within your personal allowance, but legally, you're still supposed to declare any income to the HMRC

summerwinterton · 28/09/2015 03:28

and as a business you have to follow ebay rules - you are cheating your buyers by not doing this

Original poster
ReginaBlitz · 28/09/2015 20:24

How am I cheating buyers? I've never sold any of my furniture on eBay I listed 2 items just to see. My family and people I know normally nab the stuff I do before I advertise it! I've sold around 5 items to people I don't know through facebook. And have a couple of people asking me to do things for me which I'm waiting to do. I am explaining myself as the scale which this is on is no where near being a business! I do it because I love doing it. The last thing I sold was to family I really have nothing to hide and like I said won't be rushing to get an accountant anytime soon for the sake of a few pounds

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Original poster
ReginaBlitz · 28/09/2015 22:40

Actually thinking about it, be sold hundreds of pounds worth of clothes and other items on eBay over the years, as apposed to two pieces of used painted furniture in the same amount of time, if me putting 2 pieces of furniture on counts as a business then why not when I've put 30 items of clothes on there?! So to summarise you are actually talking bollocks!

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summerwinterton · 28/09/2015 23:51

If you buy or make to sell you are a business. It isn't just about tax you may or may not have to pay. It is buyers' rights when buying from a business.

And selling own old used items is not a business.

So you are talking bollocks - I suggest you check your facts before disparaging the collective wisdom on this board. Perhaps you would like to read this before you speak to people so rudely

www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/experts/article-2671967/Do-I-pay-tax-selling-eBay-I-auction-personal-items-going-Im-thinking-taking-seriously.html

Original poster
ReginaBlitz · 29/09/2015 01:01

But it is my stuff?! all my old stuff 7 fucking years worth of stuff so because I decide to paint it and sell it im a business? All the stuff I've sold has been used by myself then fixed and painted by myself. I also give a lot of stuff away free to people that really need it when I could actually make money off it ( kids furniture mainly) I think people have totally missed the point but do I give two shiny shits? Nope, will I declare my self to the taxman? nope, and finally did anybody on this thread answer my initial question regarding shipping furniture without being a twat about it?...Did they fuck.

OP posts:
VodkaValiumLattePlease · 29/09/2015 01:07

No need to be such a raging bitch, you just look stupid.

Original poster
ReginaBlitz · 29/09/2015 01:09

Read the link and guess what selling two pieces of revamped furniture on there doesn't equate to frequent selling so I guess I'm not a business.

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Original poster
ReginaBlitz · 29/09/2015 01:11

I don't look stupid.. The people saying I am a business do I asked a question why on here do people feel the need to harp on about something I havnt asked about its seriously boring

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VodkaValiumLattePlease · 29/09/2015 01:16

Because people don't have to only answer the question you want? How hard is it to look on the bloody FedEx website?

summerwinterton · 29/09/2015 08:04

yes you are a business if you do something up to sell. What part of that don't you understand. And why such utter fury - odd. And it won't be boring when HMRC are fining you for not registering with them properly. Your raving at them just won't wash.

19lottie82 · 29/09/2015 09:19

Yes love, now, you do look stupid. You keep telling other people they're "talking bollocks" and keep arguing that you're "not a business". For the fifth time, you are. You may not think you are, but again, please phone the HMRC or eBay and ask them, then come back and tell us what they say. But oh no, you keep ignoring the parts of posts you don't want to hear and would rather insult people. You may not "give two shiny shits", but that doesn't make you right I'm afraid.

Also I'm a little confused. At the start of the thread you describe how you list things on gumtree, FB and eBay, now you say it's only been 2 items?

Again, please phone the HMRC and let us know what they say, rather than throwing insults at people?

19lottie82 · 29/09/2015 09:24

www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/bimmanual/BIM20275.htm

OP, FYI

nauticant · 29/09/2015 10:17

You're running a business OP. I suppose the difference between your business and what you consider to be a "proper business" is that yours is non-compliant and tax-evading.

Whenever I encounter a really difficult person on ebay I think "where do these people come from?" At least this thread provides a little part of the answer.

Original poster
ReginaBlitz · 29/09/2015 16:32

Where did I say I list on eBay? I've listed 2 items on eBay. My stuff has sold on Facebook and to family and friends that have seen them so I don't actually have to advertise. I've advertised 3 items before on gumtree but again my brother ended up buying them! Struggling to understand still how just because I paint the stuff it's classed as a business? If I didn't then that's fine? It's still mine whichever way you look at it. And I obviously asked about the shipping as I have never sold my furniture on eBay. Everyone knows I do it so I'm really not hiding anything. When my sheds are empty maybe I will buy stock maybe then it might be a business but all I'm doing for now is doing what I have to see how it goes. I don't need the money I do it because I enjoy it, so if I'm going to get taxed on doing something I love and litrally only covering expenses then the taxman truly is a cock

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