The old ebay VAT trick...

ALLI

ALLI

ALLI

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Was close to buying a Samsung 20" screen off ebay. Seemed cheap and reasonable p&p price.

Just had a scan of their large page ad... Hmmm...

Please also Note.
Vat will be charged on top of the final price @ 17.5%

Surely, if it says X price buy it now, then that's the price you pay? It doesn't say, "Buy it now, and we'll also add on a bit more!"

GRR.... Why do ebay allow this to happen. Surely it's breaking some terms and conditions?
 
Its similar to what ocuk do, advertise a big price in bold and then the +VAT price small in brackets. Surley people who claim the vat back can work the vat out.
 
Yea but it does state in the AD cleary that VAT would be added at the end. I think they have a right to do that.

Hence why you should read the AD's very carefully. Usually I find when the AD is huge and pretty much has pointless information thrown on there, it usually has a catch in there somewhere.

Most large companys that operate on ebay ad VAT at the end. I guess its one way of getting sales. Luring people into buying what ever they are selling.
 
Buy it now : £159

that's the buy it now price.

Simple.


I know ebay won't care. Not one bit.
 
People buy empty boxes of ebay even when it is clearly stated in the ad that it is an empty box. I don't know who these idiots are but people buy stuff without reading the description at all.
 
I nearly bought a Wii game earlier today where they were doing this, it seems to be getting more and more common. Luckily I noticed in time and bought the game from a different seller for the same price, but including VAT.
 
RobH said:
People buy empty boxes of ebay even when it is clearly stated in the ad that it is an empty box. I don't know who these idiots are but people buy stuff without reading the description at all.
Click to expand...

I know, I know, you're cool. *rolleyes*

But "buy it now" price should be exactly that.

It does not say "buy it now, and add VAT" does it?
 
I know, I bought a DS game for £25 and VAT was only added when paypal came up, it should be in the final price because everyone who buys the item will have to pay it so why not include it? It's like charging silly price for P&P to try and get out of paying eBay a higher % for fees.
 
dont they have to be vat-registered or something along those lines to be able to do that?
 
I think on ebay, and new products, it's a moral issue.

eBay seem to let is slide, and I understand the whole "read the ad" thing. Personally, I wouldn't be happy doing it when I sold stuff. It's like selling the item £30 cheaper than everyone else and adding £30 for postange and packing.

Meanies.
 
You should know by now that "Buy it now" is rarely the price you pay on eBay. Unless the seller is being particularly generous with free postage of course. Before buying anything I always look at the other charges. The time I don't will be the time I get stung.

Another trick is ridiculously cheap buy it now and steep postage. An example of something I recently bought - £0.99 for an item and £3.01 for the postage. I got it because even at £4.00 it's a bargain (clearance stock from a company that went bust).

The reason they all do it - final value fees. Simple as. If they included VAT in the "buy it now" they'd have to pay fees on the VAT. That also makes it surprising that eBay let it slide.
 
Yeah, but you can see the buy it now price, and the postage price nice and clearly at the top of the auction ad.

eBay should have VAT registered accounts and normal home user accounts, displaying the + or - VAT option for the type of user you are. Shops don't show -VAT prices on their price tickets and then include it at point of sale, so why do it on eBay.

It's just crafty - but it seems it's one of those eBay foibles that people are so used to they don't complain about.

Next time I buy something I'm going to include a purchaser tax reduction. Around 30%. I might even start a new user name calling myself "If_I_buy_from_you_then _you_sell_it_to_me_for_free_2k". Possibly. It's clear enough, isn't it? :)
 
They do (show tax-exclusive prices) in the US, and eBay was originally a US company. They do to a lesser extent in the rest of Europe as well.

The UK is not unique in showing primarily VAT-inclusive prices, but I suspect we are in the minority.

As with shopping anywhere - caveat emptor - buyer beware.
 
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Indeed....

I emailed the seller, telling him he was naughty.

His reply...

Hi,
Thanks for email. I think so you don't know about the VAT.
VAT is always is not part of the actual item price. It is a TAX which is not for us it for government.
If you are not agree about the terms please leave it we don?t a customer like you.
100% online web site advertising prices with out VAT and did state the price with VAT with little writing.
Its better for every one to first read all the listed information with open eyes and decided to buy the item if you are not agree with the sellers Terms & Condition better to leave it and don't need to leave any comments.
Regards,
Bigbrother.2007
 
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