Account Review

[soccerman22]

Hello, I've been selling on eBay for almost 4 years now and just got my account permanently restricted. I have over 85 reviews on my account, with 3 negative reviews. eBay is the platform that I use. I still hold thousands of dollars' worth of inventory. In the past year, I haven't been able to sell much on eBay due to school and work commitments. Recently, I decided to take a trip to San Diego Comic Con and sold some items I didn't want. Unfortunately, the buyers chose to cancel their orders shortly after purchasing because they found cheaper alternatives. I agreed to the cancellations, and my account was marked with MC11.

When my first account received MC11, I was informed that an account can only have one such incident in its history. Naturally, I appealed the decision and explained my situation. I submitted my ID and all relevant information. I clarified that for some of the items I acquired at SDCC, I obtained them with a badge, so I couldn't provide invoices. Instead, I shared the invoice for the badge. After nearly a month, I received the decision that my eBay account has been permanently restricted.

I don't engage in selling scams, and this activity is an integral part of my income. Yet, I now find myself unable to sell on eBay ever again. I'm left wondering why. The customer support team wasn't of much help. Despite my repeated inquiries about the issues with my submissions, I received generic responses. It's puzzling that a "specialist" took only 5 minutes to review my documents, effectively determining the course of my eBay selling career. I'm at a loss regarding what steps to take next. My goal isn't just to regain access to my account, but to understand the reasons behind this decision.

[stainlessenginecovers]

When they ask for receipts and you don't provide, you're out.

Done. 

They don't want to hear about badges, excuses, reasons etc. 

Receipts or you are done. 

You'll have to sell elsewhere. 

[ckimodog]

@soccerman22 

I'm very sorry for your situation.  However new sellers who start out selling high dollar "Multiple" items will always raise a red flag.  There is so much stolen merchandise on this platform, (not saying this is your situation) eBay and other internet sites are cracking down because the law is cracking down on them.  They want to know who your vendors are with receipts and if you have no receipts,  it's a done deal.  You're done.  

Good luck with future opportunities.  

[soccerman22]

I sent receipts which is why this is so frustrating. 

[soccerman22]

I am not a “new” seller. I provided receipts for every single thing BUT THE ITEMS that came with the SDCC badge. I sent proof of the invoice of the badge and a screenshot of what it says is included on the website. Clearly the people reviewing my account did not understand this.

[ckimodog]

@soccerman22 

Have you tried reaching out on social media via FB?  Here's a link:

https://www.facebook.com/ebayForBusiness/

Let them know what you are posting here on this forum.  These are actual US eBay employees. Many positive posts here on this forum with their ability to be helpful.

Wishing you a positive outcome

[soccerman22]

Did not “ease” concerns. They were very nice but again not clear indication on why. They can’t do anything about it. They approved of the documents I was sending. I only sold 9 items in 90 days. I sent them 6 invoices for the products I sold. The last 3 items were the funko pops I got from the SDCC FUNDAYS event. 

[ckimodog]

@soccerman22 

Again, sorry.  Just trying to help.  That's what this forum is all about.  Help and advise.  

Have a great evening. 

[toomuchstuffagain35]

Yet they LOVE sellers who sell stuff you can only GET at the Cons, but they don't want to acknowledge the way those are acquired.

From what I've hear they won't even accept receipts from retail outlets.

[mam98031]

You don't have 3 negative feedbacks, you have 1 negative and 2 neutral.  That does make a difference.

I don't know what the sales you had when you were at Comic Con has to do with Ebay at all.  Nor why you would need to cancel orders on Ebay.  Unless you sold them in San Diego and also sold them on Ebay but you had to cancel the sales on Ebay because of the you sold them elsewhere.  Now if that is what happened, that can be a problem.  And if that is what happened, that is one of the most serious no no's on Ebay.

Simply having to cancel a sale for a legit reason, like the buyer asked to cancel or there was a problem with the address will NOT get you an MC011 violation.

When you buy stuff with the intent to sell it on Ebay, especially brand items, you should always get a receipt of some sort.  Ebay is NOT going to take your word that you aren't going to scam anyone, they don't know you any better than they do the other 17 million active sellers.

You also had not sold anything on Ebay for awhile and started selling expensive brand items.  That will flag your account with Ebay security right away.  You may not be doing anything wrong, but it is your responsibility to prove that to Ebay.

"When my first account received MC11..."  Your first account???  You have another account that had issues?  Was that account restricted by Ebay?

[mam98031]

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@soccerman22 wrote:

I am not a “new” seller. I provided receipts for every single thing BUT THE ITEMS that came with the SDCC badge. I sent proof of the invoice of the badge and a screenshot of what it says is included on the website. Clearly the people reviewing my account did not understand this.

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Ebay treats sellers that have been away from seller for 90+ days as new sellers.

[mam98031]

They were clear, you just don't agree, there is a difference.  They tell you that you didn't include enough documentation.  And by your own admission you did not have receipts on everything because you didn't get them when you bought them in San Diego.  Those missing receipts are likely the problem.

They did not consider the documentation you sent them as enough.

[rugerskick]

This is a key thing for sellers to keep in mind.  I don't personally agree with it, as they have your past selling history and feedback, which should and needs to be factored in (because you aren't a brand new, green ebay seller).

[mam98031]

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@rugerskick wrote:

This is a key thing for sellers to keep in mind.  I don't personally agree with it, as they have your past selling history and feedback, which should and needs to be factored in (because you aren't a brand new, green ebay seller).

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There is good solid reasons for this.  When a seller has been away for awhile, the account is at risk for being pirated, sellers may even change perspective, any number of things could change.  So for Security reasons a little closer eye is kept on new and returning sellers.

Over the years I've seen Ebay catch returning sellers that start off misbehaving and for good reason shut them down.

Not that every time Ebay shuts down a seller it is justified, I'm comfortable in saying they likely makes mistakes.  But I believe this rule is a good one overall.

[fashunu4eeuh]

This is a tough occurrence, @soccerman22 . Everyone here in the forums feels for you.

Hope you are not put off by the “straight from the hip” responses to your post, because your experience is not singular. The community hears about this same scenario happening every few days, if not more often. 

I know it deprives you of closure and feels unfair not to know exactly why they ended your selling privileges. But eBay is not going to offer an explanation or give any details about why or how they came to the decision to restrict you permanently. The primary reason for the guarded generic explanations is that they are protecting their process. Detailed information could potentially give scammers an advantage in how to better go undetected in their own unscrupulous behavior online. 

From here, my advice to you is to find another venue to sell on. You are done here.

I wish you well.

In the eBay User Agreement (that all sellers gave their ok to when listing that first item) there is a clause that states this (Sect 3 entitled “Using eBay”):

“…we [eBay] reserve the right to refuse, modify, or terminate all or part of our Services to anyone for any reason at our discretion.”

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/member-behaviour-policies/user-agreement?id=4259#3