eBay UK to launch 30-day payment holiday for all 300,000 UK businesses registered on the site.
With SMEs struggling to keep their businesses running through the coronavirus crisis, eBay UK has pledged a major cashflow boost by offering payment holidays for all sellers and any new businesses joining the site.
No business joining eBay UK will have to pay fees to list or sell until May 31 2020. The offer will apply to 250 product listings each month – expected to help 99% of every new business-to-consumer seller listing on the site.
Existing sellers will also benefit from a 30-day payment holiday on all fees, with a commitment to consider a further holiday at the end of April.
“Small businesses are the backbone of Britain, but now more than ever, they need our support,” commented Rob Hattrell, vp of eBay UK. “If we don’t help them now, we risk losing a generation of successful SMEs and entrepreneurs.
“We recognise that the challenges are vast and wide-ranging for SMEs on Britain’s high streets, but while the offline world is on lockdown, a shift to online spending should represent a real growth opportunity and a vital lifeline.”
Rob continued: “These are unprecedented times, but we must rise to the challenge to help ease the pressure that small businesses currently face. Now’s the time to be there when small businesses need us most, so that they can continue doing what they do best – safely, responsibly and fairly.”
At the same time, eBay has been cracking down on sellers listing items at unreasonably inflated prices – banning anyone except pre-approved whitelisted vendors from selling facemasks and hand sanitiser items, and restricting sales of toilet roll, baby formula, nappies, baby wipes and tampons by anyone except registered business sellers.
It has also set up a dedicated webpage setting out support provided to buyers, sellers, charities and communities across Britain during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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