Mego Museum Poll: Will You Stop Using Ebay Now?

[megocrazy]

DHL is owned by Deutsche Post World Net (which used to be the state owned German postal system, now privitized). They are the world's largest transportation/logistics company (bigger than UPS and FedEx), I don't think ebay would be able to purchase them any time soon. The idea of ebay aquiring a courier company isn't a bad one, but they would have to set their sights lower than DHL.

Actuall ebay probably couldn't buy UPS or FedEx either. I have heard DHL is considering ceasing the US stuff and staying international only. The CEO recently reported DHL Express US has been averaging 1.3 billion in losses annually. They actually have a plan in place to work with UPS to keep the US branch operating, but our government has cited concern over approval of the deal, I guess because it would make UPS even bigger and closer to a monopoly if they could cripple FedEx further. DHL will still have an address in the US but will basically be dealing with US to the rest of the world if they decide to make the change. Apparently, to my understanding, UPS would be delivering stuff for DHL in the US as well as themselves for a fee. The DHL Express US platform may be abandoned entirely if the deal can not be reached. That structure exists and could be adapted to ebay's needs is what I meant by acquiring, not the parent company but the US division. Truthfully if shutting the US operation is the decision, DHL would be smart to sell it off and not have to worry about lay-offs and closings and the costs associated with them. UPS is great inside the US but are kinda pricey when it comes to international stuff, which DHL and FedEx seem better at, they're roughly double what USPS prority Intl insured with sig conf. costs. Intl. is the one area I rely on USPS vs. UPS for day to day shipping. FedEx tried to become a bigger part when they acquired Roadway (FYI That's why some FedEx trucks have the logo in Orange and Blue, and some are green and blue) two different divisions created when they were merged, but really haven't affected UPS for the effort. The final question would be could ebay keep the delivery reliability that UPS has when DHL couldn't? If they invested the money and failed it could be crippling financially even for an ebay sized company. But if it succeeded I think it could supply enough packages to support a delivery structure and add additional revenue to what is already becoming a self supportive giant.

[ScottA]

I will be hard pressed to buy anything as my paypal is empty 95% of the time. No new toys for me.

[Brue]

I will be hard pressed to buy anything as my paypal is empty 95% of the time. No new toys for me.

You don't have to have anything in Paypal to buy stuff. It will take funds from whatever account you used to set up Paypal. Of course you are wise if you mean you are only budgeting what you take into paypal through sales to spend.

[ScottA]

You don't have to have anything in Paypal to buy stuff. It will take funds from whatever account you used to set up Paypal. Of course you are wise if you mean you are only budgeting what you take into paypal through sales to spend.

That - and it keeps the wife in the dark about how much I really spend on toys. The last thing I need is paypal withdrawls showing up on bank statements.

[Jeff1967]

Not only do you have to worry about using paypal only there, the IRS will start tracking sales there. Using paypal is a good way to track it. I don't sell much there. I usually buy. But I prefer paypal anyway. So it doesn't have much impact on me.

[megoat]

As far as the IRS is concerned I claim all of my eBay earnings anyway. So let the IRS track eBay sales, it does not affect me at all.

Also, the taxation of profits earned on eBay is not "new". Current tax laws already include eBay sales. If it is income then it is taxable! People who do not claim their eBay profits are already breaking tax laws by not reporting taxable income.....

[Brue]

As far as the IRS is concerned I claim all of my eBay earnings anyway. So let the IRS track eBay sales, it does not affect me at all.

Also, the taxation of profits earned on eBay is not "new". Current tax laws already include eBay sales. If it is income then it is taxable! People who do not claim their eBay profits are already breaking tax laws by not reporting taxable income.....

It gets to be a quagmire though. If you are paying taxes on the sales then you are also entitled to deductions for items that are required in order to make that money (like your computer and internet fees). I also figure that I often spend as much on the product as I make on the sale. Often it is a matter of upgrading the collection so the piece you bought for $50 and sold for $50 has a profit of 0. Taxes on business take into account losses. So I am pretty certain most of us casual ebayers incur a reasonable cost that would be deducted from the "income". Some of the sales if low enough can fall under garage sale type tax laws. Obviously if you are collecting sales tax on items that must be turned over and if it is your primary source of income it would be hard to say that it was like a yard sale.

At any rate - pay what you owe. Don't try to cheat. If you a person who isn't paying now - keep track of expenses. That way you cover yourself.

By the way - don't take this to be legal tax advice. I'm not an expert -I only pretend to be. Ask your tax preparer or read tax laws.

[LadyZod]

My issue as an ex-seller was paypal supposed "safety" and seller protection bull they try to lay on us.

Quite frankly, the only way paypal protects you as a seller is if the buyer in the United States and has a verified address.

I had a buyer from Canada buy about $200 worth of stuff from me. I shipped it by post office, return receipt, signature confirmation, the works... They then filed a claim with paypal saying the shipment never arrived.

Paypal took MY money away and gave it back to the scam artist.

When I provided proof of not only shipment, but receipt, do you know what the guy on the phone told me? (Yes, I got someone on the phone after a week's worth of emailing, faxing, FedExing documents...) The guys says, all this proves is that SOMEONE picked up the item. And since paypal does not have the ability to verify user's addresses outside of the USA, THEY cannot verify that the BUYER was the one who received the goods...and signed for them, and paid custom fees, etc.

THEN to add insult, the guy says to me "Just don't accept paypal from outside the USA; there's a setting for that."

Gee, thanks for nothing buddy!

You think I would have learned. About 9 months later, a German buyer pays by paypal, for a computer system I had for sale. He receives it, emails and says he got it, I have all the proof he got it. Then a month later, same thing. Paypal claim stating he never received it. After a month of fighting with paypal I actually won, but it involved submiting emails where he claimed he got it, along with headers provided by his ISP... and just not worth it for so little money.

After that, no more paypal for international bidders. Money order drawn in US dollars only. Euros and pounds were returned without a second thought.

It cut my sales somewhat, but not problems after that.

Other than not allowing international sale, how does ebay plan to deal with their own inability to protect the seller using the paypal format they are now forcing?

[megoat]

It gets to be a quagmire though. If you are paying taxes on the sales then you are also entitled to deductions for items that are required in order to make that money (like your computer and internet fees). I also figure that I often spend as much on the product as I make on the sale. Often it is a matter of upgrading the collection so the piece you bought for $50 and sold for $50 has a profit of 0. Taxes on business take into account losses. So I am pretty certain most of us casual ebayers incur a reasonable cost that would be deducted from the "income". Some of the sales if low enough can fall under garage sale type tax laws. Obviously if you are collecting sales tax on items that must be turned over and if it is your primary source of income it would be hard to say that it was like a yard sale.

At any rate - pay what you owe. Don't try to cheat. If you a person who isn't paying now - keep track of expenses. That way you cover yourself.

By the way - don't take this to be legal tax advice. I'm not an expert -I only pretend to be. Ask your tax preparer or read tax laws.

Yeah, if you are only netting a small amount each year, I'm sure you're fine. Casual sellers need not worry. But if you routinely sell items and are pulling in multiples of thousands, you need to rectify this with your tax return. Obviously keeping track of all your expenses is a must. My biggest write off is my car/mileage.....

[cjefferys]

Actuall ebay probably couldn't buy UPS or FedEx either. I have heard DHL is considering ceasing the US stuff and staying international only. The CEO recently reported DHL Express US has been averaging 1.3 billion in losses annually. They actually have a plan in place to work with UPS to keep the US branch operating, but our government has cited concern over approval of the deal, I guess because it would make UPS even bigger and closer to a monopoly if they could cripple FedEx further. DHL will still have an address in the US but will basically be dealing with US to the rest of the world if they decide to make the change. Apparently, to my understanding, UPS would be delivering stuff for DHL in the US as well as themselves for a fee. The DHL Express US platform may be abandoned entirely if the deal can not be reached. That structure exists and could be adapted to ebay's needs is what I meant by acquiring, not the parent company but the US division. Truthfully if shutting the US operation is the decision, DHL would be smart to sell it off and not have to worry about lay-offs and closings and the costs associated with them. UPS is great inside the US but are kinda pricey when it comes to international stuff, which DHL and FedEx seem better at, they're roughly double what USPS prority Intl insured with sig conf. costs. Intl. is the one area I rely on USPS vs. UPS for day to day shipping. FedEx tried to become a bigger part when they acquired Roadway (FYI That's why some FedEx trucks have the logo in Orange and Blue, and some are green and blue) two different divisions created when they were merged, but really haven't affected UPS for the effort. The final question would be could ebay keep the delivery reliability that UPS has when DHL couldn't? If they invested the money and failed it could be crippling financially even for an ebay sized company. But if it succeeded I think it could supply enough packages to support a delivery structure and add additional revenue to what is already becoming a self supportive giant.

Interesting, I didn't know that DHL's US operations was in that much trouble. Now I understand what you were getting at, ebay just trying to aquire the US part. I also wouldn't be surprised if FedEx or UPS tried to buy them or work out some kind of deal (if possible). I work in the customs brokerage side of the business, and have watched all three of these companies buy out or merge with various other brokerages and transportation companies over the years (I didn't know that FedEx bought Roadway, interesting). Are you in the biz?