Ebay has flagged me as a drop shipper in error what can I do?

[glennsgoodscompany]

I have been on ebay since 2017. The first few years, I mostly sold garage sale and estate sales items. I have noticed a long time ago that was limited to $25K in listings. I figured this was because I did not have a store yet. I have also been doing more resells from outlets, one in particular. I know for a fact that several Top Rated Sellers here buy from the same outlet.  Over the last few months this has been increasingly the bulk of my business.  The other day I went to upgrade to a store and was having issues. I spoke with a CS rep who informed me that I was flagged as a drop shipper from back in 2018 (news to me). I have always owned my inventory and shipped from the house and have NEVER drop shipped. The only time I send something from outside my area was once (not sure if in 2018 or not) I had a sale that happened right before we went on vacation and I mailed as soon as we got to Orlando at post office there. The CS rep took all this info but didn't seem to care at all and said that he would file an appeal but that they were usually not approved. What can I do? I have several hundred more items to list.

[ittybitnot]

 I spoke with a CS rep who informed me that I was flagged as a drop shipper ...

@glennsgoodscompany 

So what were your consequences for this "flag"?   Simply denying you a "store" doesn't seem right.  Ebay stands to make more money if you get one, since you own that monthly fee whether you sell anything or not, and eBay is not likely to pass on that opportunity.   You still have active listings.  Have they started asking you for delivery confirmation for your all your sold listings, or receipts from where you purchased the goods? Are they holding your payouts? 

Drop shipping is allowed on eBay.  What is not allowed is posting listings, and then purchasing the item to have it shipped to your buyer by the vendor.  

Do you have permission to use those photos from the Brighton website?  That is often an indication that you do not have the goods in hand, though bots are often not that smart and the regular outsourced CService reps are not much better at giving valid answers or advice. 

[simba6]

Does not seem right.  Drop shipping is allowed on eBay so why it would prevent you from opening a store?

Try this link

https://www.ebay.com/help/account/account-restrictions-suspensions/account-restrictions-suspensions?...

[ckimodog]

@glennsgoodscompany 

Nice shop!  However you are using stock photos & that may have set off the red flags.  Are you shipping from your home and are these items in your possession? If you are that's not drop shipping. 

I would take pictures of your merchandise yourself & and steer clear of the stock photos.  Just a suggestion.

Hope you get your situation worked out for the positive on your behalf.

Good luck!

[gloryglorygifts]

Did you talk to an agent on here? If you did, I suggest that you speak to someone that actually knows eBay policies and works for them by contacting eBay for Business on either Facebook or Twitter. They are more knowledgeable and helpful than the agents, or even chat, on here.

Good luck to you!

[reallynicestamps]

I spoke with a CS rep who informed me that I was flagged as a drop shipper

Spoke? Orally?

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.


https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness/ — Message button in upper right on landing page.

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.
 

AND

As others have said, dropshipping is not a problem.

Retail arbitrage, where the seller does not own the goods (or have a contract with the supplier) but buys only when they get a sale, is not allowed.

Which is where having a transcript would be useful.

Both for your own understanding and to keep the clerk's information and advice accurate.

I've shipped from other provinces from time to time and this has never been a problem. Which is why I wonder if the phone clerk just needed to get you off the phone to get a pee break.

I would agree that stock photos can be questionable. Since you do have the goods in hand, take a picture that shows you really have them, like on the kitchen table or in the backyard. Neat and  clean obviously and then make it #11 of your 12 photos.

[glennsgoodscompany]

Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, all of my inventory is in my possession and ships from my home. Ebay is not withholding any payments. The rep seems to be saying that even if I opened a store they still wouldn't let me exceed the $25K in listings so I would think until that's resolved the store doesn't help much. I guess I'm kind of in limbo until I hear from Ebay on the appeal. It just really sucks. 😞

[brightlightbookseller]

Just a note, upgrading to a store will not increasing the dollar value you're allowed to list.  That's your Listing Limits, which you can request an increase to from your Seller Hub.  Usually if you have a good history it'll be auto approved. Look for the link that says "Request to list more". You'd be wasting money on a store if that was your primary reason for upgrading to one (it has other advantages, don't get me wrong, just be sure you understand what purchasing a store subscription does and doesn't do).

[ckimodog]

@glennsgoodscompany 

Wow so sorry!  i would do what the others have pointed out & reach out on social media via the Facebook link that @reallynicestamps provided for you;

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

These are US CS agents who are employed by eBay and may better serve you.  Reach out today if you can.  Many positive posts on this forum with their ability to be helpful and solve problems.  They helped me a few weeks ago and all was good.

Again, keeping positive vibes for you! Hope the situation will work in your favor!

Hang in there!

[gamersbaystore]

Actually, drop shipping is only allowed if you're a manufacturer or licensed distributor of your products, and you need pre-approval from ebay to do it. Without that approval they will suspend your account.

I know how this works because my family's account had to get approval to drop ship our pet supplies.

ebay gets it wrong too sometimes. They once accused me of drop shipping from this account, which I wasn't. Just shipping from alternate post office locations used to get my account flagged for this crap.

[reallynicestamps]

There are thousands of dropshippers on eBay.

You may be thinking of the supplier end.

Most dropshippers are on the reseller end.

They have contracts with suppliers who provide pictures,descriptions, packaging and shipping.

All legal and aboveboard.

I suppose the contract makes the reseller a "licensed distributor" but the bar is pretty low.

[glennsgoodscompany]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions, especially the facebook one!! Going that route today. 

[slippinjimmy]

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@gamersbaystore wrote:

Actually, drop shipping is only allowed if you're a manufacturer or licensed distributor of your products, and you need pre-approval from ebay to do it. Without that approval they will suspend your account.

I know how this works because my family's account had to get approval to drop ship our pet supplies.

ebay gets it wrong too sometimes. They once accused me of drop shipping from this account, which I wasn't. Just shipping from alternate post office locations used to get my account flagged for this crap.

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This is not correct information. Dropshipping is allowed if you follow the policy and being a licensed distributor isn't one of the requirements.

[dhbookds]

have you tried to increase your limits via this page?

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/listings/selling-limits?id=4107&st=3&pos=1&query=Selling%20limits&...

[gamersbaystore]

Again, you need to be pre-approved by ebay to drop ship here. You need to prove you are a either a manufacturer or licensed distributor and they will ask for documentation to prove it.