BBE - Abrupt and unjust (indefinite) restriction of my eBay account - No explanation given
Summary: The discussion revolves around concerns about eBay's evaluation methods, specifically regarding sellers facing indefinite restrictions without clear explanations. ovidiu-adrian questions the fairness of holding different sellers to varying standards, implying a bias towards large retailers. luckythewinner suggests that eBay's decisions might be based on transaction statistics, though this is debated by others. amsportscards shares their frustration over having their account restricted despite maintaining excellent feedback, attributing recent issues to shipment problems and criticizing the lack of a manual review process for reinstatement. Participants discuss the challenge of retrieving funds and consider alternative selling platforms.
I have been selling on eBay for 27 years with approximately 8,000 positive feedback ratings and no negative feedback. Currently, I live and sell out of Denmark but am registered on the US eBay site.
The events described below took place in 2026.
On January 8, I was informed that my BBE ratings were slightly elevated due to 2 returns out of 38 sales over the past 90 days, resulting in a “significantly not as described†ratio of 5,3%. I immediately contacted eBay and was assured the following: “Please do not worry, there is no item removal, and no limitation on your funds in your account.â€
I continued corresponding with eBay and explained that of the two returns, one item was repaired, subsequently repurchased by the buyer, and ultimately received positive feedback. The buyer involved in the second return left false feedback, which was removed by eBay customer service on January 23.
During my continued dialogue regarding BBE, I was further reassured by eBay customer service representatives Uday P on January 15, and Priyanka P on January 20, who both stated: “Firstly, I assure you that your account is not limited or restricted. You can continue selling your items with ease. Also, you are among the best sellers we have on eBayâ€.
I responded respectfully and professionally to both messages. However, on January 28, and without any prior warning — and with no returns at all in January 2026 — my selling privileges were restricted and my 200 Buy It Now listings were ended. In response, I expressed my concerns, only to be told by eBay customer service representative Dhyey that my “business may not be right for the eBay marketplace,†despite the fact that I have successfully sold rare Bang & Olufsen items for over 20 years. I have a large and loyal following and consistently communicate graciously with my customers. This is well documented in my private messages, which I asked eBay to review.
Additionally, I noticed that a recent transaction was added to “seller fault unfulfilled transaction,†despite the buyer never opening a return. The buyer purchased a set of newly sealed white earbuds which, over time, had slightly faded in color. She chose to return them at her own expense. Since then, I located three similar sets, all of which the same customer purchased from me this week. What could have been a disappointing situation was ultimately resolved positively, resulting in a satisfied customer and an ongoing business relationship. I believe this reflects the very essence of the eBay seller–buyer experience when challenges arise.
In conclusion, the eBay BBE specialized team has declined to speak with me or explain why the sudden decision was made to restrict my account. From my perspective, I feel shunned and bullied, and this situation has had a significant emotional impact on me.
Based on just 2 returns out of 38 sales, I am now unable to list, sell, or receive my €1,600 payout currently being held by eBay. I am also unable to speak with a member of the BBE specialized team responsible for this decision. Nothing has changed since January 1, 2026 — during this period, I have sold 19 items totaling approximately €2,500, with no returns.
I feel deeply unsettled by this outcome and struggle to understand how I was told twice in January 2026 that I was one of eBay’s best sellers, with no account restrictions whatsoever, only to experience this sudden reversal without explanation. My communications with customer service were always cordial, direct, and professional.
This has been one of the most perplexing and distressing experiences I have encountered in my many years on eBay. How can I get respectable guidance, clarification, and a fair review of my account from an eBay customer assistant? I am left completely in the dark and have NO idea what to do.
Thank you.
2cyord
·yesterday at 6:07 PMI am in same boat.Totally shameless of ebay and inhumane ,I was burnt bad lost the payment as I refunded and asked them to keep items and ebay still banned me for 2 cases
amsportscards
·1 month agoHi there,
I am now in the same situation with this horrible way to evaluate a seller. I wrote this but ZERO response:
1. I've been a member since 2010, and never had issues whatsoever with you or anyone else on the eBay community;
2. I have made several sales, and everything ended with a 100% excellent transaction;
3. At the moment, until I had my account with seller restrictions, I have 100% positive feedback, with almost 1000 votes;
4. All the buyers were satisfied with my products, and I don't have any kind of disputes;
5. Recently, due issues with shipments to some countries, I was forced to cancel 4 deals, because I couldn't ship the product to buyers. You can confirm that. I refunded all buyers immediately and sent messages to explain the reason.
6. Therefore, with this new evaluation method (BBE), my selling privileges have been permanently discontinued.
That is very unfair to me.
7. So, as you do not have a manual process of reinstatement at the moment to review my situation, my question is: How can I get my funds on hold before closing my account, and start selling on other platforms?
Or, for some kind of miracle, is it possible to sell again on eBay?
Like you, I don't know what to do now...
Cheers
inhawaii
·3 months agoIt is not worth discussing indefinite suspensions as they are indeed, indefinite..
ovidiu-adrian
·3 months agoAny updates on the issue? I'm facing a similar thing.
mondex
·6 months agoThat's crazy. It sounds very frustrating and I hope you resolve things or move beyond it. I don't know why several other posters seem to be trying to justify it. A company's customer service representatives shouldn't be telling you everything is fine if they don't have access to the right information. Also, long-term loyalty and consistent good feedback shouldn't be overlooked, but that pretty much always happens with big companies now. 6 returns out of 163 sales is fairly high, but it depends on the item category too, and I don't know what you sell. Also, anyone can run into a spate of bad buyers or just people who change their minds on an item. Unfortunately, 1 return represents a higher percentage of your items since you don't sell at a higher volume, and the numbers likely surpassed some automated threshold. Maybe there is a way to appeal it. In any case, good luck, I hope things turn out well.
stuff4divas
·8 months ago@mr.hancock1
hello, i read just the title of your lengthy post so i am supplying this ebay link that may help give answers (explanations) to your situation>
https://export.ebay.com/en/fees-regulations-policies/ebay-policies/bber-2025/
i hope u recover from this with ebay, in the meantime, try to find another venue to sell from so u don't get stuck with your current inventory
Good Luck
mr.hancock1
OP8 months agoHi,
I am well aware of the link - it just didn’t apply to me. I’m an American in Denmark and my accounts switches back and forth. I’m in the US now where BBE isn’t used, so it’s ridiculous the entire episode. My sales weren’t “international†so to say but rather all within the EU. ABSOLUTELY No chance for redemption despite it mentioning that in the link so already there, it’s nonsense and hogwash. So, I’m banned even as an American seller. If you truly read my post then you’d be aware of my frustration. 27 years, no negative feedback on two accounts and probably one of the most loyal, sincere and honest ebay’ers according to my one time and many returning customers.
Regards,
trae
jonathanbrightlight
·8 months agoYou're registered in Denmark, so you're treated like any other seller registered in Denmark. You could have opened a new account registered in the US, though since you have been restricted on the other account, that would no longer be an option.
alb-deal
·8 months agoWelcome to the New and Ultimate Ebay Punishment for International Sellers.
As far as i know The Hold Amount will be available.
*** I would like to share that the payout will be auto released after 60 days if no new claim or dispute open or in process.***
The Question is Why is not a manual Evaluation of the Store or an Appeal for the Current State of the Store?
mr.hancock1
OP8 months agoSeems that way. I guess it's time to find a new site. I feel your pain / frustration. Thank you for your input.
alb-deal
·8 months agoI think it does not make Sense, for 2 Returns, Returns are Part of the Trade,
I do not think Buyers are Perfect that Ebay with this new BBE Rules Pretend to be Perfect Sellers.
Anyway im sharing my Perfect Buyers and Perfect Shipping Service.
1 INR Case on 2 September Item Delivered But the Buyer Open the Case I did not Received It, Refunded Immediately,
2 INR Case 24 September The Buyer did not Picked Up the Package Still Buyer open the Case, Refunded Immediately, Got the Warning
3 INR that was the One that was the Final, The Postal Service Returned the Package in Transit, meaning Higher % than the Peers.
I think this % is not a fair to be compare with the Peers, Not all Sellers have the same volume of Sales,
and Delays, INR, Damaged Packages, SNAD, Postal Service Errors are part of the Trade, because we Both Sellers and Buyers choose to Buy and Sell Internationally.
Hope for some good news form Ebay this new Year or an Reflection for Sellers that have been Closed their Store and no Appeal: Hope we get an Email that you know what we hope... a Reinstate.
mr.hancock1
OP8 months agoApproximately 95% of my sales from Denmark are within the EU on eBay.de and not international (e.g., the U.S.), so I rarely deal with what would typically be considered “international†transactions.
The figures referenced above relate to two returns out of 38 EU sales during the period October 17, 2025 – January 17, 2026. These were European transactions, not international ones.
My reference to the mr.hancock account was solely to reiterate my 27 years as an eBay seller. Nothing more than that.
Once again, my account has been restricted without any explanation, without guidance on what to expect next, and I am being refused direct communication. At the same time, eBay is withholding funds for transactions where positive feedback has already been received, which is both confusing and deeply concerning.
All I am requesting clear information on is the specific reason for the restriction, what steps, if any, are required from me and when the withheld funds will be released.
I have always worked proactively with buyers and resolved issues professionally, and I expect the same level of transparency and communication in return.
kensgiftshop
·8 months agoSorry, but the BBE policy is pretty strict and a permanent suspension is just that.
Nothing you can do but find another place to sell your items.
As far as the funds being held, you'll get paid, but might be a little while before you receive the funds.
mr.hancock1
OP8 months agoThanks for your message.
The suspension was described as indefinite. Seems extremely hardcore based on 2 returns in the last 3 month.
My sales / returns
2026 - 19 sales / 0 returns
2025 - 163 sales / 6 returns
inhawaii
·8 months agoHere's your justification:
Poor BBE.
tobaccocardyahoo
·8 months agoAlthough you are probably an honest and caring seller, your feedback is irrelevant to whether you are a desirable seller.
FB is not used by Ebay to evaluate US based sellers because it is subjective. It is used in the BBE calculation for offshore sellers because it is intended to increase actions taken against sellers who are harming the site and its image.
Your total number of sales on an account is similarly not used. Sales over a shorter period of time are used because many seller accounts experience a decay in performance with time.
Your Mr.Hancock account has been inactive so long that it is irrelevant to Ebay.
You have received misinformation from Ebay Customer Service. The BBE measurement is beyond the knowledge of many of the CSRs, and you have all the information presented to you that is used, and access to the seller help information. There was no reason to contact them.
Whether it is fair or not depends on whether you ox is being gored. The large influx of international sellers to Ebay.com has made it necessary to protect the site by higher standards, in part because the unavoidable dissatisfaction associated with longer delivery times makes buyers less tolerant of other transaction issues.
A lot of buyers find international transactions to be undesirable, and will not buy. It is not in Ebay's interest to have them go elsewhere, so the burden on international sellers has become greater. Your relatively low recent sales volume has clearly hurt you.
ovidiu-adrian
·3 months agoShouldn't all sellers be held to the same standards? Why only a few countries which don't even sell to the US for the most part? Do you reckon American sellers are special in some way? Or are you very conveniently creating a narrative to excuse the fact that small sellers are purged out in order to make way for Chinese retailers who sell in the thousands. Mind you, China isn't on the list either. Maybe they are American too. :)
luckythewinner
·3 months agoWhat you think should happen and what eBay does are entirely unrelated.
I suspect that eBay has statistics based on billions of transactions that shows that sellers with USA accounts that are based outside the USA have a higher rate of incidents that USA sellers registered in the USA site and thus are subjected to stricter metrics. I have no idea whether that fits your definition of "special in some way".
ovidiu-adrian
·3 months agoYour assumption about their methodology is just that, an assumption. I guess we can agree Chinese accounts are as American as they get.
mr.hancock1
OP8 months agoME:
mr.hancock positive feedbacks - 6,355
mr.hancock1 positive feedbacks - 1,551
alb-deal
·8 months agoHi Again
Just for Curiosity
Was the mr.hancock1 Store that got the BBE and it has Affected the First Store mr.hancock ?