Just had my account suspended for listing "prohibited items." Nothing fits that description.

[the-fan-van]

Just had my account suspended for listing "prohibited items." Nothing fits that description. The message says:

"We wanted to let you know that you can no longer sell on eBay because of ongoing activity that doesn’t follow our Prohibited items policy. Please know that this decision was not made lightly, and that steps like this help keep our marketplace safe for everyone. Learn more about how and why accounts can be restricted"

There hasn't ever been any "ongoing activity" that even remotely fits that description, none of my listings are for prohibited products of any kind, almost all of my 250+ listings are computer fans that I've had for sale on here for years with no problem, and they're all legit products that came directly from authorized distributors and manufacturers. I haven't even added a listing in a long time.

Problem is I can't get a hold of anyone to check this out, the "help" channels here on ebay just spin me in circles.

Can I get an ADMIN PLEASE?

Review

[caldreamer · Accepted solution]

I would suggest that you contact Ebay for Business on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for the Customer Service Rep in the USA.

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://twitter.com/askebay

https://www.facebook.com/eBay/

https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/

[janet9988]

Just be aware that ebay does not ban your store subscription....so you will still be billed for the every month unless YOU cancel. And, that is purely a way for ebay to continue to make money off of you.

[toysaver]

I found listings that look like problems.  You can't use the business names Intel or AMD when the product is not Intel or AMD.  

Lot of 25 NEW 50mm x 10mm 3 pin CPU Fans for Intel, AMD | eBay

EBay may also not like the picture of a URL you add to most listings.  EBay does not allow images to watermarked. You can link to eBay from your own site but not to your own site from eBay, there is a difference.   

Evercool 80mm x 80mm x 25mm 3 Pin RED LED Fan includes 4 pin adapter and screws! | eBay

[mam98031]

I think @toysaver may have identified your problem.  It is called Keyword Spamming or Search Manipulation.  You can't use brand names in your title unless the item you are selling IS that brand.

However usually Ebay issues a warning or two about this.  Did you get any and if so what did you do?

On each Ebay page there is a link to contact Customer Service at the top of the page and again at the bottom of the page.

I would suggest that you contact Ebay for Business on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for the better trained CSRs.

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://twitter.com/askebay

https://www.facebook.com/ebay

https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/

Your options will be on the left. If you use the link below you can only get to the Automated Assistant or Chat box type AGENT in the box and hit enter. You will then get more options. Not all options are available 24/7. It will depend on staffing available. So sometimes you can request a call back and sometimes you can't. Sometimes you have the Chat option available and other times it won't me. If it is important to you to use one of those options, just try back later.

If you use a cell phone or other mobile device, you may need to turn off your Spam filter so that Ebay can call you.

If you are a seller outside of the US or Canada, you will need to use the Chat Option.

https://www.ebay.com/help/eua?id=5275&mkevt=1&mkpid

https://www.ebay.com/help/home

[the-fan-van]

I can't find any tab on the eBay Facebook page to message anyone or ask a question.

[rosszonebricks]

---

@the-fan-van wrote:

I can't find any tab on the eBay Facebook page to message anyone or ask a question.

---

https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness It's not a tab.  Look above the tabs.

[kabilab]

FanVan, 10+ yrs. ago, shortly after I began selling through my current account, I received notice I needed to move a few "R" rated DVDs to the adult category. I did, but sales dropped to zero. so I returned them to the category I had been informed I was not to use. Shortly thereafter, I received a sterner and more concise warning; I adhered and have, over the yrs. received two other warnings concerning a different problem: counterfeits. Although I knew the items were genuine, I did not, in the slightest, consider a re-listing.

ALWAYS adhere if you wish to remain here. Your volume of sales is a testimony e-Bay's resolve to not alienate either big business or the government.

[mam98031]

The Facebook for Business and the other Ebay Facebook page have merged.  This is the new Facebook Link.

https://www.facebook.com/ebay

[the-fan-van]

Appreciate the response, but I've never been sent any warnings, so "adherance" isn't/wasn't an issue. Like a I said in my original post there hasn't ever been any "ongoing activity" that even remotely fits that description.

[the-fan-van]

Your answer is the best answer. This issue is clearly a mistake or glitch so the only way I'm going to get any love is if I can get someone who understands the problem to not hose and close me.

[the-fan-van]

You state that "You can't use brand names in your title unless the item you are selling IS that brand"  which is incorrect.

• Manipulating search results to gain unfair visibility of a listing is not allowed
• Using keywords that are not directly related to the item for sale is not allowed. All the words in the listing need to be accurate and refer only to the item for sale
• If the item is an accessory for or compatible with another item, "fits", "for" or "compatible with" should be stated before the name of the compatible item. However, "fits", "for" or "compatible with" is not allowed before the brand names of jewelry, clothing and accessories, or universally compatible items
• Listings that make comparisons with other products are not allowed
• Listings that promote other listings are not allowed
• Listings can't include keywords with question marks, as this can be misleading for buyers. If any item details are unclear or unknown, they should be left out of the listing
• Offering a choice of different products in a single listing is not allowed. This includes:
  • Selling different brands or models in the same listing (for example, an iPhone 6 and an iPhone 7)
  • Selling different items with different conditions in the same listing (for example, "new" and "used" items)

[the-fan-van]

"I found listings that look like problems. You can't use the business names Intel or AMD when the product is not Intel or AMD. "

Appreciate the response but that isn't ebay's policy.

[penguins_dont_fly]

---

@the-fan-van wrote:

"I found listings that look like problems. You can't use the business names Intel or AMD when the product is not Intel or AMD. "

Appreciate the response but that isn't ebay's policy.

---

@the-fan-van 

The policy says that if it "fits" something you can use it ... I don't see the word "fits" in those listings.

Maybe replace "for" with "fits"

Also .. you need to get rid of the URL in your profile pic and in the pictures.

That is most definitely a policy violation.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/payment-policies/offering-buy-sell-outside-ebay-policy?id=4272

and

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-policies/links-policy?id=4248

[meekamaye]

I ran into this problem when I listed golf balls advertising "Cenex" . When I renewed them I added that they were Titlest brand balls. eBay took it down because they considered them conterfeit when I added the name of the company that manufactured them. I was selling them for $9 and looked at what I needed to do to get them back on board.  They had been a promotion during an ag golf tournament that my husband golfed in. He never opened the package. (He died 4 yrs ago) I shrugged my shoulders and decided it wasn't worth the hoops I needed to jump through to relist them. I gave them to my son who golfs.