You HAVE to try this!! EBAY your way to DISNEY!!

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Wow - how unnerving!

After being out all morning and afternoon, I got home and checked my email to find this message, with the subject line eBay Pre Suspension:

We regret to inform you that your eBay account could
be suspended if you don't resolve your problems. To
resolve this problems please click here and login
to your account in order to resolve your account
problems. If your problems could not be resolved
your account will be suspended for a period of
3-4 days, after that it will be again operational.

Per the User Agreement, Section 9, we may immediately
issue a warning, temporarily suspend, indefinitely
suspend or terminate your membership and refuse
to provide our services to you if we believe that
your actions may cause financial loss or legal
liability for you, our users or us. We may also
take these actions if we are unable to verify or
authenticate any information you provide to us.

Due to the suspension of this account, please be
advised you are prohibited from using eBay in
any way. This includes the registering of a new
account.

Please note that this suspension does no relieve you
of your agreed-upon obligation to pay any fees
you may owe to ebay.

Regards,

Safeharbor Department
eBay, Inc.

There was a very real-looking ebay log-in graphic below the message.
________________________________________

So, I immediately closed the message and logged on through my normal bookmark on my browser, checked my account, and saw nothing that seemed wrong (other than no new bids after 6 hours - LOL). I also forwarded the message to ebay's spoof address, and got an acknowledgement within a couple of minutes.

I'm still feeling a bit wierd, and I'm wondering if there really IS a problem with my account, but I can't think of anything it could be. Plus the grammar and wording in the message is poor, and really doesn't completely make sense. I'd think eBay would be quite clear about the reason for a potential suspension, wouldn't they?!?!

I welcome any thoughts! I remember someone else mentioning getting warned, but that was so far back, I'm not sure the poster has been active on this thread lately.

 

[eeyore74]

Mrs. Snowgod... you did the right thing! Never click on a link in an email like that; that's how they (the bad people) get your information. I've gotten quite a few spoof emails and always forwarded them to ebay. You should get another email from ebay in a day or so and they will tell you that there is nothing wrong with your account.

It is hard to tell and it is worrying when they use real-looking graphics and such. However, ebay will tell you they never put a link in their emails like that.

So you're good to go!!! Don't let it worry you at all. From what I hear, ebay is working really hard to get these spoofy and spammy emails stopped.

*hoping her writing makes sense*
allie

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

I appreciate the response. After some time for reflection, I'm sure it's a hoax and that I have nothing to worry about. But the reassurance is nice, too!

Hey, it looks like we may be at WDW at the same time this October. I can't wait!

 

[disneychrista]

Do you relist your items if the do not sell? Would you relist more then once?

 

[eeyore74]

Hi Mrs. Snowgod! Reassurance is always nice. I just got ANOTHER spoof email from ebay. This one wanted me to sign in through the email because they are testing their security measures and needed to make sure I am an ebay user. Ummm... sure. lol Poor ebay.. they've gotten so many emails from me because of these spoofs. I did change my password, though. I plan to do that more often now.

We aren't going to Disney til Nov. Our anniversary is in Oct, though. We honeymooned in Nov and since DH finishes his masters in Oct, we decided to do Nov again. We'll miss seeing you!!! It would have been cool to meet.

 

[avdeane]

To add to Christa's question, when relisting an item can you add another item to it? For example, you are selling a book and it doesn't sell and you'd like to relist it but with another book...can you do this under relisting or would this be considered a new item? Thanks for the help!

Vicky

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Originally posted by disneychrista
Do you relist your items if the do not sell? Would you relist more then once?

I generally relist immediately, then if the item does not sell the second time, I give thought to seasons in the future in which it might do better.

when relisting an item can you add another item to it?

Well, gee.... if you relisted the same listing, then edited it... I don't know, really. Maybe someone else does.

Allie, maybe this is a new rash of ebay scam messages - interesting they both came through on the same day! Glad that you are only postponing by a couple of weeks and not cancelling altogether. Love that F&WF! One of these days I hope to meet other DISers!

 

[Mermaid 3]

W I have purchased quite a few items from e-bay, but never figured out how to sell things myself. And I have so many things I could sell. So you say it really works, huh? Well then, with the help of a little magic, I am going to do it and......e-bay my way to Disney!! Thanks, I will report on how it goes.

 

[DMRick]

Yes, you can add something to your listing..that's called helping it to sell. Some people use their relist feature to change the item entirely.

 

[Shelby5514]

Just a question for all you veteran E-bayers...Do you have to report the money you make on e-bay to the IRS as income? I've asked a couple of people at work and I'm getting all kinds of answers. Some are saying that since you've already paid taxes on the item when you first bought it that you don't. Others are saying that it's like a garage sale that it is income and yes you have to report it as income. I personally do not know anyone that has considered garage sale money as income. Does it depend on the amount of money???
Anyone out there with any knowledge about this???
Thanks!
Shelby5514

 

[DMRick]

Do you have to report the money you make on e-bay to the IRS as income? I've asked a couple of people at work and I'm getting all kinds of answers.

Legally, yes, you have to report any income from $1 on. Whether or not you'll owe any taxes, depends on your income. Most people will owe taxes. We actually discussed this a lot a month or so ago. If you fill out a schedule C with your income taxes, you will have an oportunity to subtract your cost of item (you are suppose to have a receipt), and any other selling expenses. If you don't fill out a schedule C and just claim it as misc income, you will have to pay income taxes on the total you sold the item for. eBay makes no secret of the fact that they will hand over all of your sales records if asked to, to the IRS.

The only taxes that may have been paid on an item you already have, were sales tax. eBay sales (profit) would be income and what you would owe on your profit is income tax. You may also owe sales tax, depending on your state, and if you acquired the item to resell it.

While the government seldom comes after you for tax on income derived from garage sales, they legally could. They assume you are reselling items from your attic, garage, etc, and chances are that you are not making a profit, as you prob paid more for these items than you are selling them for. However, try to have a bunch of garage sales, which would then prob be considered a business, and they will say you will have to prove you are not making a profit..and you may have to show receipts..which most of us don't have.

 

[Robinrs]

The IRS allows for one garage sale per quarter, if you have more it's best that you have it as a part of a multi-family type sale or at someone else's home.

 

[avdeane]

Thanks DMRick!!

That will save me some money on relisting fees if these items sell, which I believe they will if I group them together!

Thanks again!
Vicky

 

[DMRick]

The IRS allows for one garage sale per quarter,

This is new info for me..I know our city allows for one per quarter before they consider you a business..but they don't get involved in if you owe income tax from the sales..they are more interested in sales tax. We have to get a permit..that's how they keep track. I'd be interested in seeing the tax code about this from the IRS site. Can you send that info over to me via PM? I assume this is something new this year's tax code? Do they also list their reasoning, or say if everything needs to be used items? I can see how something like this could be profitable for someone who does antiquing....hard to believe the IRS would forgive income for them..but how would they differentiate? This would be very good info for me to have for a tax board I frequent..but i have to show the code. Thanks.

 

[Robinrs]

I went to a meeting last week for Financial stress at the Georgia Dept of Labor given by Wachovia Financial and the Consumer Credit Counseling Service. They went into detail about this and you know my ears were open because this could be very important for me. My family gave one in January, then we're giving one in a couple of weeks. It was news to me, also!

 

[DMRick]

I think that may have been their opinion..sort of like when the IRS bothers you and when it doesn't. I've been all through my books, on the site, and called a gal who is much more active than I in income taxes (enrolled agent) and this just isn't mentioned, and she couldn't find it either. The IRS doesn't give up income. Can you imagine people who do flea markets twice a year getting ahold of this news?

I'll admit I'm wrong (and very happy to do so) if you can find it in writing..but I just can't find anything to substantiate this. I do agree that the IRS doesn't bother you if you have a couple a year..but I still believe they can if they want to.

Is this the place that gave you that info? I'll give them a call if so and see if they can give me more info where they got this information from, since I'd like to be able to use it.

(edited)
Can you give me the phone number of the place in a PM?..I don't think it's the place I originally posted.

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

I've found a new source of merchandise, and wow, it's going great! Have you bought perfume, or received it as a gift, and tried it once then never used it again? Or, have you gotten cosmetics GWPs (Gifts With Purchase) that you never really touched? They sell really well! I made $45 today cleaning out my bathroom cabinets - a $10 BIN for 3 perfume sample sizes that were untouched, and a $35 BIN for a perfume and bathgel gift set - the bath gel was unopened, and the perfume had been sprayed once or twice. I stated that in the listing and that it was still 99% full, and BANG! Neither listing was up more than an hour!

 

[dg39]

I think I'm the slowest of everyone to get this ebay selling started. This is what I done so far. I washed, ironed and took pictures of the clothes to sell. I took pictures of them using a disposable camera and got the disc back today. I have to say they came out so good, I think they look better in the picture than in real life. I searched & searched for an inexpensive digital camera for days on ebay, always losing the bid, til this morning the one that I wanted I finally got with a buy it now, cheaper then what the others went for. So I have to wait for that to come, but thats ok, cause I have all the pics I need with the disposable. I already have a seperate checking account, but I have to wait a few more days for the debit card to come. Once that comes I just have to sell. In the meantime I've been looking for info about shipping charges. I'M SO CONFUSED about that. I can't over charge for shipping, but I don't know what to charge. I'd like to do a flat fee, but I don't want to cheat anyone. When I buy, I always consider the s/h charges & if there too much I don't bid. Is there a site on the usps that has all the zip codes and the zones, I can't find it. I've been searching & searching & searching to no avail. I don't even understand how it works, so I'll have to keep reading it. How do I know what zone I'm in? Anyway, I'm thinking about sending out by priorty mail, this way they get there items quick. Is that a good idea? Anyway, sorry this is sooooo long. Thanks for listening...Can you imagine how long my post will be when I'm about to set up on e-bay. I'm already anticipating problems trying to get my pictures up........But, really thanks so much, all these posts have been more than helpful to a pre-ebay seller dummy like me....

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

I can't over charge for shipping, but I don't know what to charge. I'd like to do a flat fee, but I don't want to cheat anyone.

Hi dg39... Sounds like you are off to a good start if your photos came out well - that is a big factor! Here is what I do with shipping:

I'm in NH, and I figure the most I'll spend is to ship cross-country. So, I go into USPS Calculate Postage - Click Here for a shortcut - and plug in my zip and 90210 as the destination. Yeah - Bevely Hills - LOL - haven't sent ANYTHING there yet, but at least it gives me a good estimate across country.

Of course, you need to know the weight of what you are sending, and I got a postal scale with the Stamps.com trial promotion - you may want to look into that... and if you do sign up, they give you a month free and $20 free postage, but you have to stay signed up for at least another month after, and then it costs $15.95 per month. But if you think you'll do much selling, it might be worth it. Feel free to PM me if you'd like more detail.

So, plug in the weight, and see what the various rates are. If you ever sell books, videos, software, or anything that is "media" with no advertising, you can use the Media Mail rates which are very low, but it is also very slow. And if you are quoting a Media Mail rate, do note that in your listing where you quote shipping cost.

If Parcel Post is within a few cents of Priority, I then use the Priority rate and state that in the auction, too ("shipping is blah blah for Priority Mail"). I so sell some very small light items in padded mailers and Priority would be a waste of money, unless the buyer was in a SUPER hurry.

A few thoughts - sorry so long. HTH!

Stay confident, dg39 - you sound like you are really on the right track!

 

[disneychrista]

Originally posted by dg39
How do I know what zone I'm in?

You are always Zone 1 regardless of where you live, Zones are based on where you the seller/shipper live. Go here and put in your zip code, you can then print a zone chart. I always calculate shipping based on Zone 8.

Anyway, I'm thinking about sending out by priorty mail, this way they get there items quick. Is that a good idea?

Priority Shipping on a 5# box of clothes to a zone 8 is $2.72 more then Parcel Post. However, you can get your box, tape and shipping labels free. I have found that most of my buyer would prefer to pay less in shipping then to get the item quicker. I always give the buyer the option of Priority and so far have not had anyone request it.