Ebay advice

[RobinBHM]

Ive won a startrite mercury drill on ebay auction.

However the seller has sent me an invoice with final bid price plus + vat, which I was surprised at, although now Ive re-read the listing it does say so, but not that explicitly

The listing says:

Startrite Mercury bench drill 3 phase good working order finish price + vat invoice given

I just read this as a vat invoice will be issued. Usually trade sellers will say explicitly ' vat will be added to the final price' when vat is added.

 

[Myfordman]

I thought that eBay did not allow vat to be added and that bids were deemed to be vat inc?

 

[Jacob]

Ive won a startrite mercury drill on ebay auction.

However the seller has sent me an invoice with final bid price plus + vat, which I was surprised at, although now Ive re-read the listing it does say so, but not that explicitly

The listing says:

Startrite Mercury bench drill 3 phase good working order finish price + vat invoice given

I just read this as a vat invoice will be issued. Usually trade sellers will say explicitly ' vat will be added to the final price' when vat is added.

It's ambiguous. When people offer a "VAT invoice" it usually means an invoice showing the agreed price broken down to show the vat included - not added. So you are entitled to object IMHO. Either don't pay or offer to pay only your bid price.

 

[Rorschach]

Unless it specifically stated VAT to be added on, I wouldn't be paying it.

 

[JohnPW]

The listing says:

Startrite Mercury bench drill 3 phase good working order finish price + vat invoice given

My bold. You would need to read that very carefully to realise the seller is going to add VAT to the final price. I would be surprised if Ebay would allow VAT to be added to the final price.

When people offer a "VAT invoice" it usually means an invoice showing the agreed price broken down to show the vat included - not added.

I agree.

Here's the Ebay page on VAT:
http://sellercentre.ebay.co.uk/charging ... s-you-sell?

 

[Wuffles]

I agree with everyone so far, and luckily, so do eBay it seems.

http://sellercentre.ebay.co.uk/charging ... s-you-sell

 

[Stu_2]

The seller is either not familiar with eBay, or trying it on.

http://sellercentre.ebay.co.uk/charging ... s-you-sell

 

[shed9]

It's ambiguous. When people offer a "VAT invoice" it usually means an invoice showing the agreed price broken down to show the vat included - not added. So you are entitled to object IMHO. Either don't pay or offer to pay only your bid price.

That's how I read it too. If I had seen that text prior to bidding I would have bid not expecting VAT to be added but an invoice to show the VAT element if relevant.

Drop them a note and tell them to honour the original bid.

 

[RogerP]

As Stu-2 says and is unambiguously said by eBay ...

Include VAT in your selling price

As eBay is primarily a consumer marketplace, you can't add VAT to the final item price after the item has been won. Please state the item price including VAT in your listing.

 

[JohnPW]

But it goes on to say:

Specify VAT in your listing

Under the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002, if you're VAT-registered and you've determined that an item you've listed on eBay qualifies for VAT, you must clearly state the amount or percentage of VAT that will be charged in the listing.

If you didn't make it clear before the buyer agreed to purchase the item or service that VAT would be charged, it's against eBay rules to charge VAT. Instead, you'll be responsible for paying any VAT owed on the item.

 

[Stu_2]

But it goes on to say:

Specify VAT in your listing

Under the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002, if you're VAT-registered and you've determined that an item you've listed on eBay qualifies for VAT, you must clearly state the amount or percentage of VAT that will be charged in the listing.

If you didn't make it clear before the buyer agreed to purchase the item or service that VAT would be charged, it's against eBay rules to charge VAT. Instead, you'll be responsible for paying any VAT owed on the item.

But the seller has failed to state VAT will be added. Offering a VAT invoice means nothing other than that.

 

[RogerP]

Just contact eBay they will sort it out in your favour.

 

[Homers double]

I think the sellers grammar will let him down, I read what you've posted above as saying + vat invoice given, so I would expect a vat invoice to arrive with item
If he'd put a comma in ie + vat, invoice given I would then expect to pay vat on final price.
I learnt this the hard way, I won a sisis lawn scarifier for £2300 and was caught out by not reading the listing properly and had to pay the extra £460 to cover the vat I now read bigger listings thoroughly and if still in doubt ask the seller a question.
eBay should be on your side if it's not listed properly

 

[RogerP]

I think the sellers grammar will let him down, I read what you've posted above as saying + vat invoice given, so I would expect a vat invoice to arrive with item
If he'd put a comma in ie + vat, invoice given I would then expect to pay vat on final price.
I learnt this the hard way, I won a sisis lawn scarifier for £2300 and was caught out by not reading the listing properly and had to pay the extra £460 to cover the vat I now read bigger listings thoroughly and if still in doubt ask the seller a question.
eBay should be on your side if it's not listed properly

It's not a question of grammar. The fact is a seller cannot add VAT to the auction winning price. eBay are very clear on this. Read their rules. As eBay is primarily a consumer marketplace, you can't add VAT to the final item price after the item has been won. Please state the item price including VAT in your listing.

and ...http://sellercentre.ebay.co.uk/charging ... s-you-sell

If you paid extra for your scarifier you were misled by the seller.

 

[scholar]

The eBay guidance appears to be clear in its first statement where it explains it is a consumer marketplace. Then as already commented, it adds some confusion,by implying that the seller can add vat if this is made clear.

In this case it was certainly not clear and I would strongly expect that eBay will support you. However, they will only support you insofar as providing a ruling and allowing you to cancel the transaction. If the seller refuses to sell at the auction price, I think the worst that happens to him is a notional black mark in eBay's records. You might have a claim for loss of bargain against him, but that might be disputed and then it would depend what the court thought of the wording.

Personally, I think eBay should be much more assertive in their policing of these things and it should be quite clear that the auction price in all cases is gross; business sellers should also be obliged to state their VAT reg number and the rate of VAT that will be included in (ie not added to) the final auction price and that a VAT invoice will be provided.

Hope you get it sorted out amicably anyway.


Cheers

 

[Woodwormer]

Talk to ebay. Their dispute team are very good to deal with.