Chinese sellers posing as UK sellers??

[mirza93]

It seems like every time I find a product with a good profit margin, a chinese seller swoops in and sells it outrageously low.

The worst part is they are now posing as UK sellers, showing delivery times according to Royal Mail 2nd class and writing 'UK' in their item title. But if you look at their contact details, it says a chinese address with a chinese number. Also, their buyer id gives it away too.

How are they doing this?? Import charges should have not allowed these items to be profitable at their price. Are they lying?

This is becoming a horrible fad on eBay and they don't seem to care that Chinese sellers are taking them over..

[rsot]

This is problem across the board - they are always testing and trying new techniques.

[JamesNorth101]

Import charges only apply to items over a certain value.

Its also possible that while they are based in China that they are using a fulfilment centre in the UK, or even just within the EU

[mirza93]

Originally Posted by JamesNorth101

Import charges only apply to items over a certain value.

Its also possible that while they are based in China that they are using a fulfilment centre in the UK, or even just within the EU

Hmm..they're probably importing small amounts at a time then..
The other reason makes sense, they're selling it just a little above supplier prices so could be it.
It's crippling us UK sellers :(

[Play]

Like James said, many of them have fulfilment centre's in the UK. This gives them a supreme advantage over UK sellers as they don't pay VAT on sales. Hence why they can undercut you very easily.

[e2free]

Not agree does not matter what the using when they bring goods into uk they need to pay 20% vat does not matter if they using fulfillment centres


I beleive the only way they doing under value goods

[MM78]

Originally Posted by e2free

I beleive the only way they doing under value goods

This is mostly what they do, don't forget guys...Chinese sellers can get their stuff a lot cheaper than those not in China. Even for US, they constantly undersell the U.S. sellers by a massive amount.

I personally use their biggest weakness....Time it takes for buyers to receive their item and I use patriaticism to emphasize the fact that they are buying and supporting a local seller.

[mirza93]

Originally Posted by MM78

This is mostly what they do, don't forget guys...Chinese sellers can get their stuff a lot cheaper than those not in China. Even for US, they constantly undersell the U.S. sellers by a massive amount.

I personally use their biggest weakness....Time it takes for buyers to receive their item and I use patriaticism to emphasize the fact that they are buying and supporting a local seller.

Yea but they have like 99% feedback so I can't rely on the delivery time it seems..
Also, I do put a little "UK Seller" badge on my item pictures. Do you put that on your description or do you put "local seller" on your title?

[richie2065]

Yes but the point here is that they are now shipping stock already based in the UK so delivery time is Royal Mail time...making your patriaticism and UK shipped irrelevant.

[e2free]

It's totally not understand able they running very big business on even single account and one seller got many accounts

How can they do this seems hmrc not interested at all

Undervalue invoices on that big basics..... don't know and then avoid vat or don't know how they get away
Love to hear from someone how they operate

I don't think anyone here will tell you how to cheat the taxman.

You're speculating, really. No evidence they do it.

[e2free]

Originally Posted by peghmeypong

I don't think anyone here will tell you how to cheat the taxman.

You're speculating, really. No evidence they do it.

Yes agree I belive 95% sellers are xxxxx The taxman they way they selling soso cheap
I get goods direct from factories in china and can tell this they prices on ebay are amazon seller selling no way they can sell at these prices if they pay just even proper vat

Leave tax that's next thing

Selling expensive items iPhone I pads Samsung phone etc and not even vat register so how they doing their accounts right

[Bradd]

Try finding heavier items then you can under cut them

[frazze2]

Building up my eBay feedback I was buying a a load of chinese crap a 0.1p auctions, How the hell they made money sending me this rubbish at around 20p on avg was beyond me.

[Play]

Originally Posted by frazze2

Building up my eBay feedback I was buying a a load of chinese crap a 0.1p auctions, How the hell they made money sending me this rubbish at around 20p on avg was beyond me.

Those particular items aren't there to make them money, thats they technique of building feedback and reputation.

They would have other big sellers making them money. This technique also helps dilute the impact of negative ratings Chinese sellers face as a result of their despicable shipping times.

[ukuser]

Dog eat dog out there. I bought £10,000 stock only for Chinese seller to undercut me making it impossible to trade on eBay.

You need to find another market. No other choice.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by Bradd

Try finding heavier items then you can under cut them

Therein lies one issue - trying to find something new to sell...

[UKGiftWarranty]

Originally Posted by ukuser

Dog eat dog out there. I bought £10,000 stock only for Chinese seller to undercut me making it impossible to trade on eBay.

Or forcing you to focus on listing quality & succeeding through sheer exposure...

[Wes0951]

A lot of other sellers will always try to compete by underselling you. Just make sure you do all the little things right and it will add up. Have great photos and a listing description. Also make your title bold/add 2nd category. And try to offer same day shipping. I offer it and most buyers can't resist it!!

[sax4]

Sellers pretending to be someone they are not - disgraceful, goes against principles of stealth

[jayne dunn]

I know how Chinese sellers operate

[spindoctor]

Originally Posted by jayne dunn

I know how Chinese sellers operate

Care to share your knowledge?