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Frequently Asked Questions
To qualify as a Registered eBay Drop off Location, you must also offer a staffed storefront drop-off location with posted business hours and must also abide by specific customer service standards and other requirements with regards to insurance and bonding as outlined in the Registered eBay Drop Off Location User Agreement If you meet these requirements, you can create a profile in the Trading Assistants Directory by clicking the "Sign up now" link on the right navigation. You'll be able to describe your specialties, fees, terms, contact information, and drop-in hours (if any). Your profile will appear in search results when people look for Trading Assistants in their area Including yourself in our Trading Assistants' Directory is a lot like running a classified ad for your services. Each Trading Assistant or Registered eBay Drop off Location runs his or her own independent business. Trading Assistants and Registered eBay Drop off Location are not employees or independent contractors of eBay, nor do we endorse or approve them. The ability to join the directory is a privilege, not a right, and eBay can remove your ability to post a profile to the directory. This is something we might do, for example, if clients have serious complaints about your service as a Trading Assistant. What are the benefits of becoming a Trading Assistant? When you join the Trading Assistants' Directory, you tell potential clients that you are willing to sell for others. Many Trading Assistants or Registered eBay Drop off Locations charge fees for their services. Selling as a Trading Assistant allows you to leverage your selling expertise without having to find products yourself-clients provide the items, and you are compensated for your efforts on terms that you decide. Many sellers already do this as a way of making money on eBay, and profit margins can be significant for higher-priced items. In addition, you can reap the rewards of any eBay marketing efforts that drive traffic to the Trading Assistants' Directory. How much does it cost to become a Trading Assistant or Registered eBay Drop off Location? Currently the program is free. eBay reserves the right to charge a fee for inclusion in the Trading Assistants Directory, or for access to additional Trading Assistant benefits. Should this change, all Trading Assistants will be notified well in advance so that they have ample time to adjust accordingly. What's a Registered eBay Drop Off Location? How do I qualify as a Registered eBay Drop Off Location (REDOL)? A Registered eBay Drop Off Location is a Trading Assistant who meets the following additional requirements:
Clients can search for Registered eBay Drop Off Locations specifically, and Registered eBay Drop Off Locations may receive priority consideration in the lead system. Also, Registered eBay Drop Off Locations are displayed with a special icon next to their User ID within the directory. If you're a Trading Assistant who also meets these additional requirements, you do not automatically qualify as a Registered eBay Drop Off Location until you agree to the terms of the Registered eBay Drop Off Location. Are there any legal considerations related to being a Trading Assistant or Registered eBay Drop off Location? Legal requirements and regulations for Trading Assistants vary based on the city, state, or region in which you operate your business. You are responsible for ensuring that the services you provide to clients are legal. Please see the section below "More Information About Trading Assistant Responsibilities". Further, to qualify as a Trading Assistant or Registered eBay Drop Off Location and list your services in the directory, you may not use the term "Auction" in your business name or marketing materials. You may use "Auction-style" instead. How are Trading Assistants or Registered eBay Drop off Location presented in the directory? By default, search results in the directory are sorted by distance to the client. On the search results page, clients can also filter results by REDOLs, category specialties, services, and other criteria. This helps them quickly find the Trading Assistant best suited to their selling needs. What if I just want to sell items in certain categories? That is completely your choice as a Trading Assistant. When you create or edit your profile, you can select your categories and specialties, or you can indicate that you sell in all eBay categories. This information is displayed to clients and affects your appearance in search results. Can I promote the fact that I am a Trading Assistant or Registered eBay Drop off Location? Absolutely! The more you promote your services as a Trading Assistant, the more business you're likely to generate. Here are some things you can do:
How can I remove myself from the Trading Assistants' Directory? You can remove, edit or hide your profile from the directory by logging into the Trading Assistant Portal and making the necessary changes there. Who sets the rules for how I work with my clients? When you sign up as a Trading Assistant, you are essentially advertising your own independent service to potential clients. You and your client are in charge of negotiating all the terms. We do recommend, however, that you negotiate all details in advance before you begin working with your client. Refer to the Trading Assistant or Registered eBay Drop Off Location User Agreement to make sure you are within the proper codes of conduct outlined. Make sure you both agree on what the starting price of the item will be, who pays eBay selling fees, who ships the item, what happens if an item doesn't sell, etc. What kind of fees should I charge as a Trading Assistant or Registered eBay Drop off Location? The fees you charge are up to you and the client to negotiate. Fees can vary by item type, item size, and item price. Perhaps you will want to set some sort of minimum fee or charge secondary fees for additional services you offer. The key point is that fees are in your control, and you should negotiate up front how you are going to handle them with each client. Another point to remember is that regardless of your agreement with the client, you are ultimately responsible for all eBay fees because you are the official seller from eBay's perspective, and these fees will appear in your eBay invoice. Do all normal eBay trading rules apply with Trading Assistants? Yes, when you agree to sell items as a Trading Assistant, you are responsible for accurately describing the item and ensuring the item adheres to eBay's Listing Policies. When you list the item, you are the seller - you communicate with buyers, manage the sale, receive buyer feedback, and pay eBay selling fees. What happens if someone brings me an item to sell and it does not sell? Again, that is up to you to negotiate with the client. You can give the item to a local charity, or return it to the client, or work out another arrangement that is agreed to by both parties. The key is negotiating all these details in advance of any work with the client. Who pays the eBay fees if I sell for someone else? eBay will charge the fees to the seller of the item - the Trading Assistant. You may choose to pass eBay fees back to your clients, but the Trading Assistant is ultimately responsible for paying the eBay fees. This is an issue you should discuss in advance with clients. When an item sells, who gets the feedback from the buyer? The Trading Assistant who sells the item gets any transaction feedback - positive, neutral, or negative - that the buyer chooses to leave. For feedback purposes, the Trading Assistant is the seller. When you sell items for others, make sure you accurately describe each item and ensure its authenticity because you are ultimately responsible for the transaction. Is eBay Customer Support available to Trading Assistants or Registered eBay Drop off Locations? eBay Customer Support is available to Trading Assistants in the same way that it is available to any other eBay member. You can contact us to ask a question or report an issue about using eBay. However, eBay will not mediate between Trading Assistants and their clients. Can a Trading Assistant or Registered eBay Drop off Location sell motor vehicles on eBay? Each state has different laws regarding the sale of motor vehicles; however, eBay has a single policy that requires all Trading Assistants to have a motor vehicle dealer's license if they sell any motor vehicle (other than their own) on eBay. Trading Assistants or REDOLs not licensed as motor vehicle dealers may not list vehicles using their eBay User IDs, unless they have an auto dealer's license and the vehicles they list are part of their business inventory. If local laws allow, they may however, sell parts and accessories on eBay Motors. Can a Trading Assistant or Registered eBay Drop off Location list real estate on eBay? Trading Assistants may not post real estate or time share advertisements on eBay on behalf of third parties unless the Trading Assistant is a licensed real estate agent. Can a Trading Assistant or Registered eBay Drop off Location sell for charities? Trading Assistants are responsible for evaluating all local laws relating to proxy selling on eBay and must also comply with the following eBay specific guidelines: Trading Assistants must not reference the name of a charitable organization in a listing as a beneficiary of the proceeds of the listing unless the Trading Assistant has obtained the advance written consent of the charity. How do I receive feedback comments from my clients? You can ask your clients evaluate your services by directing them to the Trading Assistant directory web site www.ebaytradingassistant.com/findone. From there they can click on "Evaluate your Trading Assistant". They will need to know your eBay User ID and have a valid email address to ensure unique comments are attributable to a specific TA. Initially, comments will not be available to anyone but the Trading Assistant who was evaluated; however, we plan to make these testimonials (both good and not so good) publically viewable in the near future. More information about Trading Assistant responsibilities. Trading Assistants and Registered eBay Drop off Locations come from all over the country in many counties and municipalities. Since each Trading Assistant and Registered eBay Drop off Location is responsible for setting their own fee structure, we also expect a wide range of fees and services to be offered. Some local authorities have laws and regulations that may cover the types of services that Trading Assistants or Registered eBay Drop off Location provide to clients. eBay does not track the laws of all local governments. Just as sellers on eBay are responsible for determining local tax laws related to selling on eBay, Trading Assistants and Registered eBay Drop off Locations are responsible for evaluating all local laws relating to proxy/consignment selling on eBay for others. As a Trading Assistant or Registered eBay Drop off Location, please take particular care in connection with the sale of real estate, cars, or other regulated items because some government agencies may require you to first become licensed as a broker or dealer, to assume obligations to inspect or make disclosures about the condition of the items, or to comply with other legal requirements when selling this type of item for clients. Just as you are responsible on eBay to ensure items you sell are legal to sell, you are responsible for ensuring that the services you provide to clients are legal. A consultation with an attorney may help you clarify questions you may have. Trading Assistants and Registered eBay Drop off Locations may not use the term "auction" or "auctioneer" in their Business name or advertising to describe their sales on eBay unless they are licensed under their state laws as an auctioneer or auction business or in the traditional auctioneer business in a state that does not license traditional auctioneers. Trading Assistants may use the term "auction-style" instead. Please read and print the Trading Assistant and Registered eBay Drop Off Location User Agreements to understand all of the qualifications and responsibilities of a program member. To discuss Trading Assistant issues, concerns and ideas with other Trading Assistants, visit the Trading Assistant Discussion Board on eBay. |
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