robbyville

I generally don't have much to sell but when I have I've used ebay (but again it's not a business for me).

I am however in the market for some parts (Campag 10 or 11spd group), and have no knowledge of where to look other than Ebay. where else do people sell?

roadcrankr

Maybe you missed my earlier post where I identified myself as a CPA.
The advice from your lawyer friends would only pertain to somebody already filing a Schedule C, like for a sole proprietor-type business.
At least, if that person files revenue in excess all 1099's given to him.
But somebody who gets their $3,000 1099-K from eBay, who fails to file a Schedule C will typically get a bill from the IRS.
That bill will treat the entire revenue as taxable. There's no simple explanation to make it go away. The IRS will require an amended 1040.
A Schedule C takes minutes to complete and, most times, you can bring the profit to nil.
I am not referring to tax audits, which are super rare. Just the normal triggering caused by a 1099.

wrk101

I almost always buy my parts in the form of a COMPLETE bike. Typically I can harvest the parts I want, sell some of the remaining parts, and donate the rest. I'm going through that process on four bikes I recently picked up.

Buy right, and you can get "free" parts to upgrade your bike. In fact, usually I make money on what remains, so the parts I keep are better than free.

The Juvela I just picked up is a case in point. Full of non-original RSX parts, including shifters. Meanwhile, another Motobecane I picked up earlier this week will provide stem, handlebars and appropriate brakes. Its a lot easier but much more costly to just buy the part(s) you need on ebay. Just realize convenience comes at a cost.

Manny66 

Why the passive agressive routine ? First off you attempt to ridcule someone Online simply for standing up for an obvious grievance that is being experienced by many Sellers, and then when you realize you look like a total internet know it all Clown, you backtrack.

Lighten up Son, this is the Internet,,its Not Real, and its all in good fun ...Now where do I send that box of Kleenex ?

Manny66 

Because I can,,, why does it bother You ? I Can Stop doing It if You ask Politely.

cudak888 

This is literally a thread about eBay and tax laws. This is the Internet...and it's Very Real.

I'll leave it at that for the good of all of us in this thread.

To your doorstep, along with the advice to lighten up.

-Kurt

/flamewar - back to the regularly scheduled eBay caterwauling.

Manny66 

WOW, 3 days and you're still here whining about a Letter that I wrote to Ebay that has absolutely nothing to do with You..You are some kind of special.

BTW, Im rescinding that offer of Kleenex and will be writing a "deeply Heartfelt"Letter to Dr, Phil in hopes that he's able to help you with that serious Emotional Distress Issue that my sImple ,"Strongly Worded" letter to Ebay has caused you.

Im rooting for you son, hope that my letter gets thru to Dr. Phil like it got thru to Ebay and we get some action. Hang in there little buddy.

SoccerBallXan

I have no involvement in this thread and I’m offended.

cudak888 

On the contrary, it does. This is a discussion forum. In this discussion thread, you suggested that eBay actually cares about independent sellers doing this for a hobby. I disagreed. So did wrk101. By virtue of this being a discussion, you're going to have to deal with the fact that not everyone agrees with your perception of eBay.

Just because their customer service department operates in a manner to make you think they care, they have no track record to suggest Strongly Worded Letters™ have resulted in any adjustment of their policies to support the hobbyist. It is irresponsible to suggest otherwise. Same goes for everyone here sharing tax advice, with exception to those who are actual CPAs.

eBay hasn't cared ever since Buyer Protection was put in place years ago. Period.

-Kurt

Manny66 

Still at it ? WOW,, feel free to quote me where I posted about Ebay caring about anything or about anyone having a selling Hobby... I'll be waiting.

Oh yeah, Dr. Phil responded using a homing pidgeon,,, he said he cant make it to your Intervention, but that I should try contacting Dr. Seuss to aid in your severe Emotional condition.

xiaoman1 

The King had it right....


Best, Ben

Vonruden 

My last straw was when I sold perfectly functioning TA cranks, they were then assembled by the buyer and after 20 days the buyer removed the cranks and said they were stripped. I believe they used the wrong crank remover and stripped them. Ebay sided w the buyer and I was out shipping both ways with damaged goods. I still buy, however not worth the hassle to sell.

bark_eater 

I've had to use buyer protection a few times, but both times it was with a seller who offered up alternate facts floating in an alternate reality, but were able to move freely enough in this world to make it as drawn out and painfull a process as possible. I've also contacted sellers about a honest mistake issues that warranted a return and got an instant "here's a refund, keep the item and go with god" response, which is "nice" but concerning when I think about starting to sell.

cudak888 

Even as a buyer, these types of refunds hurt, because I know what it can do on the seller's end if they're a small time hobbyist.

Perhaps the worst part about it is how Amazon set this precedent for the entirety of internet sales by catering to the whim of buyer emotional satisfaction with each transaction; any and all disappointments must result in an instant refund. While I'm sure many of us like this feature as buyers (or are enticed by it even though we know what it requires of sellers), it just opens the door up wide to every other buyer trying to scam off small items.

My favorite (read = worst) interaction was some pre-pubescent lowlife who got pissed off when a partially-complete (missing lower jockey wheel) and otherwise NOS Huret Duopar derailer I sold didn't have the "nut" to secure the hanger bolt. He wouldn't accept anything (including a return) other than for me to send him the nut - which was clearly not part of the listing and not actually spec'ed on the Campagnolo dropout version of that derailer. Absolutely no explanation would convince that son of a Huffy otherwise. He either knew exactly what he was doing or was denser than lead.

The icing on the cake is that at least one C&V'er was a complete arseholes about it too when I asked the collective knowledgebase here (just to be 100% sure I wasn't wrong): Does a Huret Duopar come with a mounting nut for the top bolt?

That one really soured me on selling for a long time. It also soured me on this forum a bit, but I've grown to enjoy being called someone with a "severe emotional condition" for having a differing opinion.

-Kurt

StanSeven

Manny66, enough. I know your comments are tongue-in-cheek but they are distracting to the thread. Thanks.

Kabuki12

I have bought and continue to buy some parts and consumables on eBay. I have an account that is many tears old and have a 100% feedback rating on both buying and selling many transactions. I try not to sell because the fees are heavy and they have, on a few occasions held my money for a month, after deducting their fees immediately. On one occasion the buyer picked up the item and left positive feedback while he was at my place picking up the item. I had given him a lot of extras that were not on the listing as he was a really nice guy and we are still friends to this day , two years later. He and I both wrote messages to both eBay and PayPal asking them to release the funds to which they said “no”. They claimed that it was policy . They lost two potential sellers with that policy and I am sure many others as well.

SurferRosa

repechage

ouch.

repechage

I won an auction for a bike, paid promptly and crickets. Then, if you offered me $600 more I would consider selling! I reported the extortion attempt to eBay, I finally got a reply, we will give him a black mark and request a refund.
took 6 weeks to get my money back. As PayPal and eBay separated, the handshake is troubled that way also.

if the guy had a minimum amount to get beyond his sentimental value, place a reserve.
bike had faults I could tell from images but undisclosed, mismatched crank arms and such.

Manny66 

I had a very similar situation like yours , purchased items that seemed to be deliberately damaged by the buyer to initiate a refund benefitting them. After the third similar issue I stopped selling anything on Ebay.

Manny66 

Duly noted, now make sure and publicly reprimend the other guy for the personal attacks over my simple post. That type of nonsense is not needed as well.

Kabuki12

Typo Joe

squirtdad

and to note, no humans are involved it is all computer based (ie. ebay electronically sends 1099, which get compared to same year return, mismatch means computer calculates and sends a letter
and heaven help trying to get in touch with a human being at the IRS with their current staffing levels.

no I am not a cpa, but I spend more hours than I care to think about trying to fix an issue (yes I made an error in filing, corrected per IRS instruction and after a year hanging on the phone still did resolve it in the way I hoped to)

Trakhak

You just reminded me of the time in my teenage days when a joke I was telling fell flat because the guy I was telling it to came up with a better punch line before I could deliver mine.

Mine: "Two Wongs don't make a white."

His: "Occidents will happen."

cudak888 

-Kurt