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Thu Apr 30 2026 16:56:51

Seller Says He's Exempt from eBay Requirement

By: Reader

Dear Ina,
I just received rather demanding instructions from eBay that because of the INFORM CONSUMERS law (ebay.com/sellercenter/resources/inform-consumers-act) I must change to a physical address: "If you're a high-volume seller with over $20,000 in annual eBay revenue, you're required to share your name (or company name) and your physical address with the buyer in the purchase confirmation email and order details, unless you meet one of the exceptions."

I wonder if EcommerceBytes contributors have any good suggestions about what to do? I meet more than one exception - but I'm being threatened with them holding payouts, and they're giving me no direct way to explain the law does not apply to me (the way eBay itself is defining it).

I should be EXEMPT from this because I am not a "High Volume" seller: eBay ITSELF states: "A high-volume seller is someone who has sold 200 or more new or unused items totaling more than $5,000 in a 12-consecutive-month period over the last 24 months on ebay.com."

I have not made $20k in annual eBay revenue (including ALL my sales regardless of condition) since the law took effect (I was not making that much before, either). And (2) I have never listed as many as the 250 listings at which point I would have to open a store !

I do not sell "new or unused" items. (I may have sold less than a dozen New or Unused items since I began in 1998 - I haven't kept track - and certainly nowhere near a $5,000 value, in the 28 years I've been on eBay.)

So I clicked to apply for an exemption - but unfortunately the only exceptions eBay provides are:

- Your address is a residential address.
- You use a different address for product returns.

Are others who don't meet the definition of "high volume seller" selling New/Unused items getting this demand? What are they doing?

Thank you Ina for addressing this issue.
Kind regards,
J.

Comments (4) | Permalink

Readers Comments

Seller Says He's Exempt from eBay Requirement

by: etectra

Thu Apr 30 21:00:02 2026

"you're required to share"

Not what it says according to that link you provided.

It says "If you reach an annual total revenue of $20,000, we’re required"

"we're" required is not "you're required".

---

A high-volume seller is someone who has sold 200 or more new or unused items totaling more than $5,000 in a 12-consecutive-month period over the last 24 months on ebay.com.

That is $5,000 in a 12 month period - not simply a calendar year.

Does that $5,000 amount also include shipping?

eBay considers shipping to be sales.

Sounds to me that it will be automatically put into practice when you reach the said threshold - i.e., eBay will be providing the information to the buyer.

That said, eBay's so called rules are as meaningless as what a eBay customer service representative tells you.

Seller Says He's Exempt from eBay Requirement

by: shoppingguru

Fri May 1 15:09:56 2026

Just pick residential - that is all you have to do, that will exempt you.

Seller Says He's Exempt from eBay Requirement

by: clarkphilatelics

Mon May 4 09:11:39 2026

How can sellers who are required to use a post office box to receive mail respond to eBay's request? Where does eBay mention "residential address" exception? Was that omitted from the email?

However, eBay.de already displays a street address. I wish that eBay would stop relying on artificial intelligence instead of real intelligence to solve problems.

Seller Says He's Exempt from eBay Requirement

by: rpocovers

Mon May 4 13:39:07 2026

Use the Street Address option for PO Boxes if it's offered at your Post Office.

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