Becoming an Ebay seller in the UK
March 30, 2008 4:04 AM Subscribe
My friend runs a Ebay business in the US. He wants me to help him out on the UK side.
He sells small electronics and is doing pretty well selling them through Ebay. He already does ship internationally, but is thinking that if I were to help him in the UK he could save on shipping and also possibly sell to more people who may be wary of ordering from abroad. Also, with the weakness of the dollar, people in the UK might be saving by paying in sterling.
I don't use Ebay often so this may seem like an ignorant question, but what things would we need to consider? He already knows about things like setting prices, shipping costs, return policy etc, but what are the other issues? All I can think of is taxes to import the products (camaras etc) to me and insurance for storing them at my house, but what else might I not be thinking of? Also does Ebay have some sort of capability where I could "link" my UK account to his US account so people could see the business is operated from both countries?
We are only at the first stages of considering this but any imput that anyone could give would be very helpful. Is this a worthwhile venture?
He sells small electronics and is doing pretty well selling them through Ebay. He already does ship internationally, but is thinking that if I were to help him in the UK he could save on shipping and also possibly sell to more people who may be wary of ordering from abroad. Also, with the weakness of the dollar, people in the UK might be saving by paying in sterling.
I don't use Ebay often so this may seem like an ignorant question, but what things would we need to consider? He already knows about things like setting prices, shipping costs, return policy etc, but what are the other issues? All I can think of is taxes to import the products (camaras etc) to me and insurance for storing them at my house, but what else might I not be thinking of? Also does Ebay have some sort of capability where I could "link" my UK account to his US account so people could see the business is operated from both countries?
We are only at the first stages of considering this but any imput that anyone could give would be very helpful. Is this a worthwhile venture?
Best answer: Point of interest - Cameras are NOT subject to UK import tax of any description. Strange but true. (Last confirmed over a year ago) Not 100% sure about directly related extras such as lenses etc though.
Suggest you use an identifier to the name - ie shopUS and shopUK
Obviously be aware of comparitive pricing 'making sense' vis-a-vis shipping costs and currency.
posted by DrtyBlvd at 12:58 AM on March 31, 2008
Suggest you use an identifier to the name - ie shopUS and shopUK
Obviously be aware of comparitive pricing 'making sense' vis-a-vis shipping costs and currency.
posted by DrtyBlvd at 12:58 AM on March 31, 2008
Response by poster: Thank you both - that is very helpful.
posted by triggerfinger at 8:39 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by triggerfinger at 8:39 AM on April 1, 2008
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posted by koahiatamadl at 10:59 AM on March 30, 2008