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eBayer buyer wants receipt?
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 7:42 am
by fetch
I was confused when he demanded one.
The auction had already finished, I clearly listed it as used and mentioned all the things that were included...
I assume it's for tax deductible reasons but I'm definitely not a business and never been asked for one before.
I'm confused and rather reluctant to do it as there were plenty of other bidders that wanted it without a hand-written receipt

Re: eBayer buyer wants receipt?
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 7:52 am
by tommasters
Is it going overseas?
I often get asked to include one as proof of purchase for customs. I just print out the ebay invoice and thats fine.
Otherwise, maybe the guys just a dick?
Re: eBayer buyer wants receipt?
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 7:57 am
by fetch
He's coming to pick it up apparently or at least sending his girlfriend over and lives about 3 hours away. I tried to find something to print off of eBay but there's absolutely nothing aside from the order form which he can access too.
I really don't know what to say. It's annoying because I -really- need the money but I'm afraid I'm going to have to say no to the receipt if I don't get a good enough reason as to why I should vs. anyone else who doesn't ask for one? Why doesn't eBay make this mandatory? Arghhh

Re: eBayer buyer wants receipt?
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 8:38 am
by CBA
What about Paypal? You can print stuff from Paypal... I've done that. I would do a combination of a Paypal payment receipt and whatever e-mails you got from eBay when the item sold.
Basically just print off everything you can and give him those.
C
Re: eBayer buyer wants receipt?
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 9:56 am
by ryan summit
if there is a dollar store near you they usually have receipt books in the stationary section
rite aid,cvs and supermarkets have them too but they aint a dollar
what a pain in the tookus
thats like askin for a receipt at a yard sale
Re: eBayer buyer wants receipt?
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 10:35 am
by Mike
Receipts used to be written by hand, you know. I have bought and sold cars with hand-written bills of sales.
Just offer a hand-written receipt. Let them know that they are welcome to bring a bill of sale that you will gladly sign, provided it is accurate.
Or, Google for "general bill of sale" and print one.
My bigger concern would be that you will have NO proof that he picked up whatever you are selling. The item is being picked up by a third party. I would get him to authorize his girlfriend to pickup the item via official Ebay communication, and make sure he includes her full name and drivers license number. If she shows up without the matching license, she doesn't get the item.
Protect yourself, and don't do anyone any favors.
Mike
Re: eBayer buyer wants receipt?
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:08 am
by bigchiefbc
Yeah, a receipt doesn't have to be some official government-issue form, it can be anything. I bought a used car off of some guy and I wrote out a bill of sale for him to sign, which he did happily. There are a whole bunch of reasons why a buyer might want a receipt for something, it's really not that big of a deal.
And it could protect you, too. Write out two copies of a bill of sale, have whoever picks it up sign it, and now you have proof that they buyer received the item, in case he ever tries to screw you with eBay or Paypal.
Re: eBayer buyer wants receipt?
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 8:25 pm
by fetch
Thanks guys but I think you guys are slightly confusing matters here...
CBA wrote:What about Paypal?
ryan summit wrote:thats like askin for a receipt at a yard sale
Mike wrote:Receipts used to be written by hand, you know. I have bought and sold cars with hand-written bills of sales.
bigchiefbc wrote:Yeah, a receipt doesn't have to be some official government-issue form, it can be anything.
I already knew of hand-written receipts. My family used to do factory-kinda work at home when I was like 5.
The part where I am really confused is where/why/how am I even responsible for this?!?!
Everyone keeps mentioning "doesn't have to be an official form" that wasn't what I was worried about. What I am worried about is knowing 100% that
it will be used as an official form. So whether or not a receipt is an official... he's obviously going to hand that in to the Tax Office, try claim it back from tax... which in the end I'm going to have to pay I'm guessing? That's the part where I get confused. Why am I the only individual seller basically letting the government know what I'm buying/selling? That's b/s and no one does that in Australia (I know in the US you all have to provide receipts but here, especially as a student, no chance). Because I know tax-offices even accept hand-written/signed forms it's up to them to chase it up but in all my years of purchasing I haven't got shit and ESPECIALLY when it comes to used, second hand items, sold on eBay, whereby at the conclusion of the auction all of their "wants" pretty much go out the window. By the same token: isn't eBay a signed form once you're the winning bidder? So whether or not I supply him with a receipt he has to take it?
Oh well I guess we'll see in 4 hours...
Ate breakfast for the first time in years. Needed the extra joy.

Re: eBayer buyer wants receipt?
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 8:35 pm
by tommasters
The way I understand the Aus tax system, he's claiming it as a business expense which means you're not liable in any way.
Essentially if he uses the ?pedal? and he's a session musician then it is a necessary expense to do his job.
As a result he can remove the cost of the pedal from his taxable income. So say he had to pay $6000 tax due to his earnings and the pedal went for $500.
If he then claims the pedal as a business expense he is then liable to pay less tax, could even be $500 dollars less.
You do not have to make up the difference.
You have no liability at all, sellers are not responsible for covering tax write offs by individuals.
You are however probably selling the item to either a session musician or an accountant, so eww.
The more you know
Re: eBayer buyer wants receipt?
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 8:44 pm
by fetch
^ Cheers mang.
I failed accounting in school so yeah
Never selling to someone like that ever again

Re: eBayer buyer wants receipt?
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 8:45 pm
by tuffteef
yeah id guess its for tax, I just gave em paypal receipts last time they asked
youd be surprised how much random things you can claim for as a "professional musician"

love my jerb fuel my habits
Re: eBayer buyer wants receipt?
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 12:04 am
by fetch
Well looks like that was easy
Break down in communication or something but she didn't bring it up.
If the dude asks for it via Private Message then I might ask my uncle for advice but I'm pretty sure I don't have to give anything ever. I mean if I did why aren't I being reimbursed for the pens, pencils, paper, computers, clothing, cleaning products, etc. I've had to use today I wouldn't have otherwise used if someone wasn't picking the amp up?
On a serious note: I'm just happy I didn't have to ship the bloody thing (Mesa Boogie Lonestar)

Re: eBayer buyer wants receipt?
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 12:08 am
by tuffteef
pens pencils everything counts as "tools"
i even claim tickets to shows as research
Re: eBayer buyer wants receipt?
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 12:12 am
by fetch
tuffteef wrote:i even claim tickets to shows as research
Brilliant! Made better by your choice of avatar

Re: eBayer buyer wants receipt?
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 12:27 am
by Chankgeez
tuffteef wrote:pens pencils everything counts as "tools"
i even claim tickets to shows as research
Yeah, you've got a good tax accountant, tuffteef.