You are unable to purchase this item due to restrictions from the seller

[thegobio]

I've been bidding and buying electronic components from seller1 and seller2. Then, in one combined package an item was missing but reported as delivered. I reported to seller1, seller was polite and resent the item. A month later the same thing happened with a different item, same seller1, again, the seller was polite and resent the item. Few days later I noticed I cannot bid with seller1, I get this message when I try to put my bid in: "You are unable to purchase this item due to restrictions from the seller. Please contact the seller for more information. (3008)". Like it says, I try to contact the seller - I get not replies. The two missing items were with seller1 but the same error now shows up with seller2 - I presume they are the same entity as they have near identical items to sell. My question: what did I do wrong and what can I do to be able to buy from them again? Honestly, if I knew they'd ban me I would eat the cost of the missing item, it was so minor.

[mr_lincoln · Accepted solution]

Hi @thegobio 

It sounds like you were added to the Blocked Buyer list and yes, some Sellers have numerous accounts selling the same or similar items.  eBay allows Sellers to have 5,000 members on their Blocked list.  eBay does not require any reason for Sellers to add members to that list AND Sellers have a setting that also blocks all communication from a Blocked member.

There is no reason for you to eat the cost of something just to buy from someone ... it is their responsibility to get their orders right.  

[thegobio]

Thank you for the answer! eBay error message implies that I can contact the seller but you're saying it's misleading and the seller may have blocked all the messages.

Is there any recourse for this restriction or that's it, I can never buy from that seller?

[mr_lincoln]

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@thegobio wrote:

Thank you for the answer! eBay error message implies that I can contact the seller but you're saying it's misleading and the seller may have blocked all the messages.

Is there any recourse for this restriction or that's it, I can never buy from that seller?

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@thegobio 

Here are some scenarios

-In basic terms you are blocked from Buying from them and the "restrictions" message might be one that eBay uses to cover more than one situation where a Buyer could not purchase ... either temporarily or indefinitely.

-If you are on the blocked list you cannot bid or purchase

-If the Seller forgot to check the box to block your communication your messages go through but they might just ignore you and delete them unread

-Sellers have an "Exemption" list they can add customers to who get blocked for other reasons ... like having 2 Unpaid items on their account.  Sellers have a setting to automatically block Buyers with 2 or more Unpaid items.  Those can happen intentionally or accidentally (like a Buyer goes on vacation and comes back to learn they did not pay for 2 auctions they won from a Seller and the transactions were cancelled giving them 2 Unpaid item strikes.  Those take 12 months to roll off an account.  I added a repeat customer to my exemption list where this happened to them with another Seller while they were away.  

-Sellers also have a setting not to allow a Buyer to purchase more than "X" number of items in a "Y" number of days period.  The values can be set to different amounts.

Sorry about diving into all of that detail but you might be surprised to learn all of the settings Selling accounts can have for people to run their business ... whether that is hobby type Selling or serious growth business.