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How Can EBay Keep Stealing Peoples Money?
Since Jan of this year I’ve started earning a part time income buying storage unit auctions and selling the unit’s contents on Fb marketplace and offer up. Selling large items and furniture is easy to sell in these market places, but to liquidate all of my smaller items tech items, video games, controllers, that kind of stuff I turned to eBay. I use eBay when they first came out back in the early 2000s and was pretty successful on it and so I figured I would come back. With ample inventory to upload, I managed to make about $1200 in my first week on eBay. Despite every single shipping label being purchased from eBay and currently showing delivered to the customers and despite the consistent positive feedback, I’ve been receiving from my buyers eBay thinks I’m a scam and has now restricted my account. After 11 different days that I contacted eBay via phone. They have yet to unrestricted my account and release my money. First they demanded that all tracking information was uploaded and showed as delivered to my customers and then once that was already uploaded they demanded that I waited 72 hours for them to review it. Every 72 hours I contacted eBay 11 different times until I finally got an email telling me that I need to upload proof of manufacturers purchase of all of my items sold on eBay as I mentioned I have bought these items and I’m on large storage unit auction. They are used items and I do not have anything other then my invoices from my online storage unit. It’s been over a month that eBay has held my $1200 hostage despite me saying I don’t even want to use your eBay services anymore. I just want my money for the items that I no longer have because I’ve mailed them off and the customers have successfully retrieve those items and are happy. But I can’t just turn around and sell those items on Facebook marketplace today because I no longer have them and therefore eBay has caused a dramatic hardship on my overall life. And I’m just sitting here wondering how do I sue eBay or how do I get my money from these people because the customer is clearly have received your item they were giving me positive feedback, but eBay won’t release my money. I’ve given them drivers license. I’ve given them bank statements. I’ve given them invoices for my storage unit auctions. I will **bleep** you’re give them my left arm because I’ve got to be in serious financial hardships even more so than I already am if I can’t get this money soon, I will be homeless. I need eBay to give me my money or unrestricted my account. If they don’t want me to have an account with them anymore fine but give me my money and now I’m looking through the blogs and I see I’m not the only one eBay is doing this too and I can’t figure out how they’re still in business like how is this OK?
kh-stanley1
·1 year agoHi everyone,
Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread HERE if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.
Thank you for understanding.
pickapaper
·1 year ago@heaande-25 said "Since Jan of this year I’ve started earning a part time income buying storage unit auctions and selling the unit’s contents on Fb marketplace and offer up."
You said "part time income"; does that mean you have another job?
... "I will **bleep** you’re give them my left arm because I’ve got to be in serious financial hardships even more so than I already am if I can’t get this money soon, I will be homeless."
Homeless? If your financial status is that you "will be homeless" if you don't get this money soon, you shouldn't be gambling with buying storage units. What do you do if you buy a storage unit and it has nothing of value in it? It's always a crapshoot if you buy a storage unit as to whether the stuff inside will have any value or even be resellable. Sometimes what looks good from looking in the doorway doesn't always turn out to be good; sometimes you lose money on them. And even if you do find things to resell, that doesn't mean you will be able to sell everything immediately; sometimes turnover takes time.
soh.maryl
·1 year agoOriginal message from 07/30/24.
OP no longer listing on eBay under this ID.
femmefan1946
·2 years ago@heaande-25
Stay away from the phones.
The phone reps have a terrible reputation for getting you off the phone as soon as possible even if that means giving you the advice you want to hear instead of the advice you need to have.
Here are your options for contacting Ebay Customer Service. Please be aware that for social media CS, you send them a Private Message and briefly explain what your problem or issue is. Feel free to leave your Name, address, phone number and/or your email address in this message. It is private and secure and it may help to speed up the response for you.

https://www.facebook.com/ebay— Message button in upper right on landing page.
#204760888466
https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/How-do-I-contact-Customer-Support/m-p/32016431#M1783851 -> Automated Assistant, type AGENT -> enter. You will then get more options.


The social media Chat accounts are covered by trained eBay employees with some authority.
And you get a transcript so you can compare what you heard with what you were told.
bonjourami
·2 years agoUnfortunately,the social media reps are unable to help with a restriction or suspension.
toysaver
·2 years ago"I’ve given them drivers license. I’ve given them bank statements. I’ve given them invoices for my storage unit auctions."
What about your SS# and checking account number? Did you just jump in and start selling or did you join managed payments.
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 years agobonjourami
·2 years agoAnd dont forget the 'smash and grab' thieves whose items end up for sale on Ebay.
2bon4u
·1 year ago@bonjourami is just as annoying any AI can be GEEEZ
@2bon4u
You dug up a year old thread to be disrespectful to responders who, by the way weren't even speaking to you to begin with.
The only one who appears to be annoying is you.
bonjourami
·1 year ago@bonjourami is just as annoying any AI can be GEEEZ"
Id stack AI intelligence against yours any day.
bonjourami
·2 years agoI dont think any of us have to be apologetic or defensive about just stating the facts to an op.Hopefully, we are all adults,and not subject to hand holding,and offering pie in the sky remedies when none are available or even make sense.
2bon4u
·1 year agoyou are a joke move on
fbusoni
·1 year ago@2bon4u
In fact, the data indicates, fairly unambiguously, the complete opposite:
 
 
fab_finds4u
·1 year agoZombie post from a year ago,,,, ! believe you are the one that should have moved on.
bonjourami
·1 year ago"you are a joke move on"
Ditto.
theteamsetguy
·2 years ago@heaande-25 ,
It is not hard to sue anybody. All you have to do lawyer up.
theteamsetguy
·2 years ago@heaande-25 ,
Congress has passed new laws requiring all online market places including eBay to make sure sellers are not selling new or used stolen goods. I believe the law allows marketplaces to hold funds for up to 90 days for new sellers like yourself.
The new Inform Consumer Act requires online marketplaces like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Mercari, Offerup, Bonanza, and Amazon to track high-volume third party sellers to collect and verify their identities and bank account information.
The legislation, sponsored by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), is meant to combat the sale of stolen goods online.
"We had to put this change in the law that if you're going to regularly sell on the internet, you have to be prepared to disclose your identity. The word has to get out, there's a price to pay," he said.
ltldpr
·2 years agoI'm curious as to the point of holding funds of new sellers for 90 days.
I assume eBay is doing something with regards to the new account during that time, but what?
I know that they're earning interest on the funds - and if they pool all the funds into one account, it's going to accrue some nice interest.
But what is eBay actually doing during that time? Does anyone know?
stainlessenginecovers
·2 years ago$1000 worth of Video Game stuff sold in 7 days and nothing for years before will raise a flag.
I am surprised since the items are NOT new as usually stolen goods are, but who knows exactly what 'flags' the bots.
You'll just have to be patient, the whole "72 hour" thing is just a number that maybe worked in the past but with all the 'new ways of stealing' are now shown on social media etc. that the 72 hrs is probably 'old' and may really closer to "72 days'...
monroe67
·2 years ago"I finally got an email telling me that I need to upload proof of manufacturers purchase of all of my items sold on eBay as I mentioned I have bought these items and I’m on large storage unit auction. . . . . .
I’ve given them invoices for my storage unit auctions."
You see, though, that's not actual proof that the things in that storage unit were not stolen from a store.
When eBay says they need, as you say, "proof of manufacturers purchase", that is precisely what eBay needs.
gurlcat
·2 years agoHow and why should a seller have to provide those for USED items, which they sold as used items? We would all be in huge trouble if we had to prove we paid for everything we sold, including things we didn't pay for because they were gifts we received years ago, things we inherited, etc. not to mention things we bought at garage sales. Even thrift stores only give receipts with vague wording of itemized purchases.
fbusoni
·2 years agoBingo! Which is precisely why I think there is something going on here that we don't know about.
In 25 years of selling I have never -- not once -- been asked to supply a receipt of any kind.
Of course, I do not misrepresent the items I sell as "new."
And even if an item is in fact "new" (i.e., still wrapped in its original packaging and unopened) I will never list it that way for the simple reason that I do not have a manufacturer's receipt for same.
NOTE: I should hasten to add that I do not and will never sell in categories like video games, phones, electronics, etc. that are known to be filled with goods of uncertain provenance.
gurlcat
·2 years agoSo are you just not going to answer my question from yesterday in that 'fee for relisting' thread? I'm disappointed. You are usually more thorough, and you went back and forth with Mam just for her misunderstanding what you said. I asked for an explanation of what you said (to me) and get nothing?
monroe67
·2 years ago"How and why should a seller have to provide those for USED items, which they sold as used items?"
Let me repeat my response with some added color for emphasis:
"When eBay says they need, as you say, "proof of manufacturers purchase", that is precisely what eBay needs."
Like it or not, here we are on Community discussion pages provided by eBay for discussion of subjects about eBay. eBay has conveniently organized the forums (fora?) into topics such as Returns, and Buying, and Selling -- on eBay's platform.
I also want to point out a few words from the original post: " . . . . to liquidate all of my smaller items tech items, video games, controllers, that kind of stuff I turned to eBay."
In contrast, eBay has never asked my selling ID to provide proof of original purchase from the manufacturer for anything she has sold, which include: vintage sewing patterns I bought in the 70s, a Bundt cake pan I bought from QVC and never used, a 1950s pink hand towel from my grandmother's home featuring a chenille flamingo, my father's small-town Iowa 1935 freshman-year high school annual that featured a senior that graduated that year who went on to fortune and fame (or infamy) as a producer of B-movies in Hollywood, and any number of embroidery and/or needlepoint materials.
The point is that none of the things I listed that I sold have the high risk factor for theft like "tech items, video games, controllers, [and] that kind of stuff." eBay wants to limit its own potential liability for allowing higher-priced stolen items to be sold on its platform. There may be legal issues at play for eBay that we individual sellers don't necessarily need to know about. So, eBay asked the OP for additional documentation. eBay is allowed to do that.
The bottom line is that this is eBay's platform. eBay makes the rules, the policies, the procedures. eBay owns the sandbox. Nobody is required to play in eBay's sandbox if they don't like the rules.
ittybitnot
·2 years agoWhen eBay says they need, as you say, "proof of manufacturers purchase", that is precisely what eBay needs.
@monroe67
In that case, eBay needs to inform sellers IN ADVANCE that they should not sell anything (new or used) for which a receipt is NOT available or included on the the eBay website. eBay could pull this stunt on ANY seller at ANY time, but it seems in most cases they wait until there is sufficient money to be held. To let one sell, collect the money, and when it is time for the money to be dispersed, to pull this additional requirement seems unconscionable.
I sold here for 22 years. If I had to provide commercial receipts for all or even any of the products I sold I would have been gone the first week. Live auction houses, yard sales, estate sales, locker sales, house cleanouts, and pallet sales do not give manufacturer or even a third party itemized bill of sale.
Have any of you even looked at what the OP sold? They are all used items, that don't appear to be the result of a snatch and grab theft unless they hit up a pawnshop or a flea market table. How many of you that sell pre-owned items could pass the "receipts" requirement if it happened to you?
We often warn newbies: "Don't sell anything you cannot afford to lose." I suppose we need to extend that statement to include "Don't sell anything for which you don't have a manufacturer's receipt, because you may lose your item and get your money snagged by eBay."
bonjourami
·2 years ago"We often warn newbies: "Don't sell anything you cannot afford to lose." I suppose we need to extend that statement to include "Don't sell anything for which you don't have a manufacturer's receipt, because you may lose your item and get your money snagged by eBay."
Ebay has tightened up on the mgfr's receipt criteria for sure.
inhawaii
·2 years agoEbay is not stealing your (or anybody else's) money.
kensgiftshop
·2 years agoThey can hold your funds for 30 days.
If they restricted your account, they won't release the money until you provide the information they ask for.
After awhile, the funds will be turned over to your states unclaimed property and you can get it from them.
With all the theft going on lately, Ebay is cracking down on sellers and making sure they actually own the items they are selling.
jerseyboymusic
·2 years ago@heaande-25
What I am gathering from this run-on paragraph is that you started selling on Ebay and they are holding your funds?
Yes, that is what happens when you start selling on Ebay.
Make sure your bank checking account and SSN are uploaded as well
ittybitnot
·2 years agoWhat I am gathering from this run-on paragraph is that you started selling on Ebay and they are holding your funds?
@jerseyboymusic
The OP has been selling and likely is aware of the new/returning seller holds. Now eBay has added an "extortion" clause saying they want receipts for all those products as well. As a seller of storage locked finds and palate returns for years, these do not come itemized. Therefore, they can never be provided, and that means the seller may be in for the six-month send it to your state scenario.
This same thing could happen to anyone that sources through locker sales, pallet sales, or bulk auction lots.
jerseyboymusic
·2 years ago@ittybitnot
How did you find THAT in the OP??? Dang, you're good!
ittybitnot
·2 years agoHow did you find THAT in the OP???
@jerseyboymusic
It was in the first sentence. "I’ve started earning a part time income buying storage unit auctions and selling the unit’s contents"
Some people I guess actually read those "walls of text" rather than call out a new poster for paragraph formatting.
jerseyboymusic
·2 years ago@ittybitnot Yeah, I saw the storage unit part, but not the receipts/extortion part in the OP
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 years agoIf you do not use paragraphs you will not see all of your post taken seriously or read,
If you are selling storage lots, you cannot prove that the goods you are selling are not counterfeit or stolen.
Ebay has lots of knowledge in trust and safety issues based on its and law enforcement's past experience with Ebay sellers.
Insuring the legality of transactions on this site if more important than your cash flow and your sad story. The seller agreement you have accepted gives them the tools to do what they feel is appropriate.
You have entered into a business which you clearly were not prepared to be in if you are surprised by holds and other restrictions.
gurlcat
·2 years agoPlease edit your text wall into paragraphs, I'm begging you.