30 Day Selling Restriction. I Need Help

[needalittlehelpsometimes]

I just got a 30 day selling restriction because:

The listing or product that was removed appeared to violate eBay policy. Please remember that you are responsible for the quality and authenticity of the products that you offer on eBay. It is against eBay policy to sell any counterfeit items.

- Past violations of policy- Photos are unclear or otherwise fail to represent the item.

Notice the word 'Appeared to'. I was NOT selling counterfeit items. 

The photo was of a lipstick and I thought it was pretty good. 

It is obvious to me that ebay is trying to get rid of me.  

I don't know what to do anymore. It looks like I am finished because the next step is permanent and I have no idea how to stop it from happening. I have done nothing wrong, absolutely nothing.

Here is the email in it's entirely if anybody cares.

After reviewing your eBay account, we've taken the following actions:
- Selling privileges have been temporarily restricted. You won't be able to list new items or revise current listings for 30 days.
- Violating listings have been removed. A list of items that were removed can be viewed at the bottom of this message.
- We have credited all associated fees except for the final value fee for your listing(s). 
The listing or product that was removed appeared to violate eBay policy. Please remember that you are responsible for the quality and authenticity of the products that you offer on eBay. It is against eBay policy to sell any counterfeit items.

For more information please see our Replica, counterfeit items, and unauthorized copies policy:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/replica-counterfeit.html

If you have more questions, contact our policy experts:
http://ocsnext.ebay.com/ocs/cusr?query=1336&=PTB1208

- Past violations of policy- Photos are unclear or otherwise fail to represent the item

During this restriction you can still:
- Send email
- Obtain shipping addresses
- Leave Feedback
- Perform other administrative tasks

After 30 days, your account will no longer be restricted. However, please be sure your current and future listings follow these guidelines, keeping in mind that additional violations could result in the suspension of your account.

Here are the listings that were removed:
303100601763 - Urban Decay Lipstick in NAKED Travel Size NWOB!


We appreciate your cooperation.

Thanks,

eBay

[needalittlehelpsometimes]

Now that I have had a few minutes to calm down and think, I wonder, does ebay think I was selling something prohibited because I used the word 'Naked" in my title?

I clicked on their 'Contact our policy experts' link and it took me to a page that listed prohibited items. My lipstick was not on there.

[castlemagicmemories]

Very sorry you are in this situation; I know you are upset and concerned.  You are right that permanent sanctions might be the next step.

I looked for your completed listing in question but did not find it.  I then looked for other listings for your title and found active listings.  

By your OP, this has been an issue before~photos are unclear or otherwise fail to represent the item.   I don't know what that concerned, but this sanction seems to be an extension of that.  It may be that they wonder if your pictures are unclear because you are selling counterfeits.  IOW, unclear photos are causing doubt as to the authenticity of your items.  No offense, but you need to be absolutely sure your items are authentic; many come to this Board absolutely convinced only to find out that they are selling counterfeits.  Otherwise fail to represent the item could mean that the pictures do not accurately reflect what the item is, condition, etc.  such as damage being in pictures but not described, or photo shopped pictures that portray the item as better than it really is.

I don't think Ebay is trying to get rid of you, although a competitor might be.

You might want to contact the experts as they suggest.  Good luck to you.

[dhbookds]

Violation is because they believe the item is counterfeit:

It is against eBay policy to sell any counterfeit items.

The photo thing is a reiteration of past violations: 

Past violations of policy- Photos are unclear or otherwise fail to represent the item.

Op......... ebay says they think it's counterfeit.......

If you have more questions, contact our policy experts:
http://ocsnext.ebay.com/ocs/cusr?query=1336&=PTB1208

[castlemagicmemories]

@dhbookds 

I see your point.  My interpretation was that they thought it was counterfeit because the pictures were unclear, but I can see that it could mean what you say, and the two may or may not be connected~they could be separate issues as you state.  

[pburn]

Considering the thread you started in February about your seven-day restriction for the same problem with Lime Crime items, and the thread you started in March about a situation with Dr. Denese products, I would say your account is under some pretty intense scrutiny from eBay. Or someone . . .

[needalittlehelpsometimes]

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@pburn wrote:

Considering the thread you started in February about your seven-day restriction for the same problem with Lime Crime items, and the thread you started in March about a situation with Dr. Denese products, I would say your account is under some pretty intense scrutiny from eBay. Or someone . . .

---

The Lime Crime products was a situation where I had NO IDEA I wasn't supposed to sell them. Once I was told I could not sell them anymore, I took them all down and never relisted them.

The Dr. Denese items were taken down by me and never relisted also. Ebay never got involved in that situation

This time it's for an Urban Decay lipstick, where I took my own photos, which I thought were very clear. They removed the listing and I can no longer see it or I would love to show it to you.

I have never had a problem in the past about unclear photos. I have had VERO takedowns because I wasn't aware I could not sell those items until it was too late. If there is nothing in the policy about it and there are others for sale I assume it's OK to list.

I don't know what else I could have done

[needalittlehelpsometimes]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

I looked for your completed listing in question but did not find it.  I then looked for other listings for your title and found active listings.  

By your OP, this has been an issue before~photos are unclear or otherwise fail to represent the item.   I don't know what that concerned, but this sanction seems to be an extension of that.  It may be that they wonder if your pictures are unclear because you are selling counterfeits.  IOW, unclear photos are causing doubt as to the authenticity of your items.  No offense, but you need to be absolutely sure your items are authentic; many come to this Board absolutely convinced only to find out that they are selling counterfeits.  Otherwise fail to represent the item could mean that the pictures do not accurately reflect what the item is, condition, etc.  such as damage being in pictures but not described, or photo shopped pictures that portray the item as better than it really is.

---

No, this is the first time I have received and email stating that the photos are unclear or otherwise fail to represent the item. 

I am not selling counterfeit items. ALL of my items came from Ulta or Sephora. Every single one. I know that they are not sending me fake items.

I have attached a photo of what my lipstick photos look like. I don't know what I could have done differently with that photo. Someone please explain it to me

[lsislanders]

unfortunately you have entered something of an ebay twilight zone. ebay customer service does not understand policies and they can provide just about zero assistance. you will likely never find anyone who is willing to listen to your case, or who is smart enough to understand it.  customer service starts giving bad advice before you can even explain the problem. then they repeat the same useless **bleep** after you have explained. you can set up another ebay account if you don't care about your selling history or other important data. but, unless you are bringing in a significant amount of money to ebay, you don't matter, i don't matter, we don't matter. I am in the same boat, 30 day suspension for some a very minor violation. and i can find more than 100 of the exact same violation currently at auction on ebay. just like everything else in life, if you don't have lots of money, ebay doesn't care. good luck

[needalittlehelpsometimes]

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@dhbookds wrote:

Violation is because they believe the item is counterfeit:

It is against eBay policy to sell any counterfeit items.

The photo thing is a reiteration of past violations: 

Past violations of policy- Photos are unclear or otherwise fail to represent the item.

Op......... ebay says they think it's counterfeit.......

If you have more questions, contact our policy experts:
http://ocsnext.ebay.com/ocs/cusr?query=1336&=PTB1208

---

Contacting policy experts link took me to a page that lists restricted items. Mine was not on there. It makes me wonder if the word "Naked' in the description has anything to do with it.

[needalittlehelpsometimes]

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@dhbookds wrote:

Op......... ebay says they think it's counterfeit.......

---

The may think it is but I guarantee it's not. Unless Ulta is in the habit of sending fake items, which I highly doubt.

Now, how do I prove it's authentic?

[pburn]

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@needalittlehelpsometimes wrote:

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I don't know what else I could have done

---

You seem to have inferred that I was accusing you of doing something wrong. I wasn't. I simply meant you seem to have a target on your back, based on the problems you've described in this and other threads.

Like someone's paying very close attention to everything you list.

[mg152]

The one thing I notice and it’s probably unrelated but your pics are very dark and not on a white background. Get a white sheet and a couple cheap lamps for now.

[needalittlehelpsometimes]

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@lsislanders wrote:

unfortunately you have entered something of an ebay twilight zone. ebay customer service does not understand policies and they can provide just about zero assistance. you will likely never find anyone who is willing to listen to your case, or who is smart enough to understand it.  customer service starts giving bad advice before you can even explain the problem. then they repeat the same useless **bleep** after you have explained. you can set up another ebay account if you don't care about your selling history or other important data. but, unless you are bringing in a significant amount of money to ebay, you don't matter, i don't matter, we don't matter. I am in the same boat, 30 day suspension for some a very minor violation. and i can find more than 100 of the exact same violation currently at auction on ebay. just like everything else in life, if you don't have lots of money, ebay doesn't care. good luck

---

No I am not bringing in a significant amount of money, mainly because ebay has gone so far downhill over the past decade. I can have 100 auctions going and 3 may sell, and 2 of those will be non paying bidders. 

Ebay should know I am not selling fake items because my feedback reflects that I am not. Both of my accounts have 100% positive FB and the other account is right at 5000 FB. 

I can find numerous sellers with 95% or less FB with hundreds of negatives for selling fake items. Yet they still continue to sell. I just don't get it.

I feel like they are weeding out the good sellers in favor of the bad.

If ebay wants to keep all of the counterfeit sellers and lose all of their buyers then so be it.

The mass Chinese sellers are the ones selling fake items. It is reflected in their feedback. I don't have the know how, nor the means to manufacture fake items. Even if I did I would not do it. I actually care about my customers and I like to sleep well at night.

I know where my items come from, that's how I know they are authentic. I do not buy from ebay to resell because I don't know where those items come from. 

I am sorry you are going through this also and you are correct in saying that we don't matter. That has been obvious for years.

I am off to the River. I've always wanted to try swimming across that river. Now I have the time and motivation to take the plunge. 

Good luck to you in your future endeavors and thank you for taking the time to respond to my plight.

[needalittlehelpsometimes]

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@pburn wrote:

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@needalittlehelpsometimes wrote:

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I don't know what else I could have done

---

You seem to have inferred that I was accusing you of doing something wrong. I wasn't. I simply meant you seem to have a target on your back, based on the problems you've described in this and other threads.

Like someone's paying very close attention to everything you list.

---

I am sorry if you took it that way. I certainly did not mean to imply that.

You are 100% correct about that target though. I have been super careful, or thought I was, because I am terrified of being banned. I don't use stock photos, even if they come from ebay. Now I am scared to use my own photos and I can't use no photos.

It's -bleep- if I do and -bleep- if I don't.

I'm in a no win situation.  I don't see a way out.

The only thing I know to do is just quit. At least until the violations roll off.

How long is that? 3 months? 6 months? A year?