Is eBay Canada worth it?
Summary: 2cmd1 expressed concerns about selling on eBay Canada due to tax implications and tariffs affecting sales to American buyers. They considered alternative platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji, while discussing the impact of tax regulations on personal sales with marnotom!. Other participants suggested yard sales or donating items to avoid hassle, but 2cmd1 remained frustrated with potential financial losses and administrative burdens. They contemplated resorting to the underground economy for better profit margins.
I haven't sold a thing for almost 2 years now. When eBay Canada started to report sales data to the CRA, I stopped. I was selling things for a friend who wanted nothing to do with the computer and I told him I could no longer help him out given tax implications. I'm assuming things are still the same and anything over $1000 is flagged as 'taxable income' - is that correct? (I'm not a business, I'm a private seller who has a lot of trinkets to sell.. now I'm not sure what to do? Landfill?)
And, I understand with Trump tariffs, the American buyer has to pay market value + tariff, essentially killing any possibility of selling to Americans (why would they buy from me when they can get it domestically?)
Plenty has changed and I think eBay has become a place to buy, not so much to sell. Do I have that correct? I'm thinking my only options are facebook marketplace or Kiiji. Your thoughts?
**klondikemike**
·3 weeks ago... 𝘦𝘉𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘺, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭.
I have had the same thought as well. But, if sellers drop out ... whats left?
marnotom!
·3 weeks agoWhat’s left? Sellers who stuck around awaiting less competition.
2cmd1
OP3 weeks agoAgreed.. more Sellers are stuck with their merch and can't sell it due to tariffs and taxes. Everyone else stopped selling. The game is over.. governments kills business.
2cmd1
OP3 weeks agoI suspect eBay business has dropped off drastically for individuals (specifically Canadians trying to sell to rich Americans). About the only thing left for the Canadian Seller would be domestic sales and low sales figures (because of tariffs and the CRA). You have to take your goods to the underground economy.
transtraders
·3 weeks agoYou could have a Yard Sale and pocket the cash, avoid the tax man!
2cmd1
OP3 weeks agoUnfortunately, no one carries that much cash and stuff sells for pennies on the dollar at a yard sale. After Seller Fees and what tax the tax man wants, plus the headache/hassle of dealing with the CRA, it makes more sense to simply throw my $50 action figure in the garbage.
marnotom!
·3 weeks agoDon’t garbage it. Donate it to a charity that runs a thrift store. The major one in my town has silent auctions for collectables. Give another collector a chance to own it instead of having it disappear from history.
easoss
·3 weeks agoDon’t underestimate what cash people bring to yard sales. When I was actively doing them I carried at least $1500 with me as you never know what you may come across. I’ve also had yard sales in which I’ve sold $5000 plus over a weekend. It’s all in how you advertise.
2cmd1
OP3 weeks agoTrue enough.
byto253
·3 weeks ago3 second google search: eBay must automatically report your annual sales data to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) if you meet or exceed $2,800 CAD in total sales or complete 30 or more transactions in a calendar year.
marnotom!
·3 weeks ago · EditedNo matter where you sell, you're expected to report your income to the CRA. Where you sign off on your tax return is a statement that you've declared your income from all sources.
This has been the case even before eBay became a thing.
2cmd1
OP3 weeks agoIn other words, throw it in a landfill, buy nothing because what's used will be considered income, taxable when I decide to sell it.
marnotom!
·3 weeks ago · EditedSince you’re operating as a business, the taxable portion of your sales would be the amount above and beyond what you originally paid for the items you’re selling, minus anything you can reasonably deduct as business expenses.
If you don’t want to operate as a business, there’s no need to dump your goods at the landfill when you could donate them to a charity for resale or the charity’s own use. If it’s the latter, you might even be able to get a tax receipt for the donation.
Disclaimer: I’m not an accountant or financial advisor and this information shouldn’t be interpreted as professional financial advice.
2cmd1
OP3 weeks agoThe point is, is if I want $50 for an action figure I would have to ask $65 + shipping + tax + tariff. No one is going to pay that when the figure is only worth $50 to begin with. Who wins? (eBay, the government). Only real way to get $50 is a yard sale and hope someone has $50 cash in their pocket. You can't do anything in this country without Revenue Canada beside you. I'll have to investigate 'alternative methods' for resale.
marnotom!
·3 weeks agoIf you’re willing to landfill your action figure and all those trinkets you have around, it seems to me that you’re willing to get little to nothing for them.
Quite frankly, I can’t figure out what your motivation for selling this stuff. Are you trying to clear out your home? Are you trying to find worthy new homes for this stuff? How important is getting market value for this stuff?
And, most importantly, have you checked to see how much demand there is for the stuff you’d like to sell? While collectibles are still a very strong niche on eBay, there are some things that don’t sell the way they used to.
2cmd1
OP3 weeks agoWell, of course I'd like to get a few bucks (market value) but when eBay and Rev take a big bite out of the action, my idea of market value is suddenly diminished. I'm better off trying a yard sale. I have more than a few action figures and model trains to sell and if it means increased scrutiny from the CRA, I begin to ask myself is it really worth it? I can't prove a loss or gain for the CRA as much of what I have does not have original receipts. I'm being "raked over the coals" for tax on property that in many cases was gifted to me or acquired as used to begin with. It's being taxed 3 and 4 times that kills my motivation... I paid tax to earn my $$$, in some cases I paid another tax to acquire the items, then I'm being asked to pay a tax to sell the item (Seller Fees) and then another tax on the "profit" from the sale of used goods. The message is clear, don't buy a thing, spend your $$$ on experiences and vacations. Now I'm 'stuck' with all this stuff and the headache.