eBay

chumz111 · ‎03-31-2020

Hi,

So I'm incredibly frustrated. Over the past little while, I've been selling on eBay. Recently I sold a lot of items in a short period of time. Although I would think eBay would be happy with this (as they get a nice cut of my profit), instead they restricted my account.

After a week of trying to get through to an eBay representative (due to covid) they finally responded to an email I had sent. The email I received was very poorly written and did not explain a lot. It basically said that my account was restricted because I sold a lot more than usual and I therefore had more cases opened against me than usual. Also I should upload tracking numbers to all my items.

A) I don't have any cases opened against me

B) All my transactions have tracking numbers on them as I've purchased the shipping labels straight from eBay.

So I responded to the email saying that I've corrected the issues and please let me know what else I can do. And their response?! Please wait 24 to 72 hours until we can get to you.

I am VERY frustrated as this is devastating to my growing business.

Anyone who is able to help me, please respond. Thanks!

twinkling.smile · ‎03-31-2020

@chumz111

Sorry this happened.

Advice: check your Seller Dashboard. There you can see which problems eBay has with you.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/seller-performance-policy?id=4347

If buyers has complaints, like a faulty item or item not received, you need to solve this within 3 business days. Before the buyers can ask eBay to step in. If they can and do, you will receive a nasty strike for a case closed without seller resolution. Even asking advice from eBay is risky for sellers.

Page about returns: https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/handling-return-requests?id=4115

chumz111 · ‎03-31-2020

@twinkling.smile thanks for trying to help. At the time that my account got restricted I didn't have any cases that eBay had go step in. Also I was (and still am) rated as a top rated seller so this whole restriction is completely unexpected to me.

twinkling.smile · ‎03-31-2020

And how about the other minimum performance standards?

chumz111 · ‎03-31-2020

I just looked and it currently shows as:

Transaction defect rate is at 0%

Late shipment rate is at 1.16%

"If we evaluated you today Your seller level would be Top Rated"

bar-29368 · ‎03-31-2020

It was basically a form letter, none of which had anything to do with your account except for the part where you recently had an upsurge in sales.

ebay has been known to restrict sellers who have a sudden increase in business under the guise of "protecting' you from being unable to keep up.

chumz111 · ‎03-31-2020

@bar-29368

Well that seems unnecessary of eBay to do that. So after they "protect" me, how do they suppose I'm able to prove that I'm able to keep up?

bar-29368 · ‎03-31-2020

Was your restriction just a limit on listing/selling?

Usually they just want to see you chugging along doing all the right things. Shipping on time, uploading tracking, no customer complaints.

After a bit of that you can ask for the restrictions to be lifted (that's if you can get a response these days by email).

a*river*runs*through*it · ‎03-31-2020

@chumz111

I don't think it is helps that you are selling expensive items and numerous Nintendo Switch items using stock photos.

They are protecting your buyers by restricting you from listing anything else.

chumz111 · ‎03-31-2020

@a*river*runs*through*it

Thank you for explaining this to me.

The only way a platform like eBay can exist is through sellers like me being able to do our job. Right now eBay is making it extremely hard for me to be able to continue selling on this way.

While obviously buyers need to be protected, by not allowing me to sell my products they are not allowing buyers to buy my products. Now for eBay that doesn't do much to their expansive platform. But I'm sure I'm not the only seller restricted for selling "too much at once".

chumz111 · ‎03-31-2020

@bar-29368

Yes the restriction is only on selling. And the way to get rid of the restriction is by appealing to eBay which I have done but now need to wait 24-72 hours for a response.

tamarindmonkey · ‎03-31-2020

Did you get an MC*** notice message or simply a restriction placed on your account limiting you to a certain number in gross sales per month?

Are you drop shipping? I.E. If I ordered something from you, would the package enter the custody of the shipper (USPS, FedEx, UPS) in Brooklyn, New York where your account says you are located?

I have avoided eBay for years aside from buying due to the awful customer service and the ridiculous level of scumbags gaming the system. It's almost like eBay has turned a blind eye to it when it's so painfully obvious what the shysters are doing on here. Last year I decided to drop back in a bunch of listings and subscribed to the second most expensive store membership, paying eBay about $500 in subscription fees alone.. not FVF's or listing fees.

eBay issued an MC051 to my account within about 5 days of listing and selling things. Everything sold by that point had been confirmed delivered prior to them restricting me, which I found hilarious. I really love the people who have the gall to quote "protecting buyers" in cases like that. Out of sight, out of mind, huh? It's another story when it happens to you as a completely honest, trustworthy seller with a 20 year old account but I guess those of you who haven't had the pleasure will be in for a treat when this nonsensical, inexplicable experience happens to one of you out of the blue.

It took over a month to untangle the mess they created for me. Their customer service is about as useful as a room full of Google Home mini's telling you "I'm sorry, I'm not sure how to help with that." The bulk of their CS couldn't understand a word of English to save their lives, so it shouldn't surprise you.

The best advice I can give you is to keep hammering them with emails/messages and phone calls (when phone support resumes) until they eventually invoke someone with an English comprehension level greater than a 3 year old would have. In the meantime, don't make the same mistake I made.. if you were subscribed to any services, cancel them for the time being. You don't want to have to deal with the same imbecile customer support to try to get a refund back for that later too.

usgamecollector · ‎03-31-2020

@a*river*runs*through*it wrote:
@chumz111

I don't think it is helps that you are selling expensive items and numerous Nintendo Switch items using stock photos.

They are protecting your buyers by restricting you from listing anything else.

they can do this by giving the seller a listing limit, even if it's only a few items a month, not completely suspending him.

mam98031 · ‎03-31-2020

It is highly likely that you just met your selling limit for the month of March. You should be able to see your selling limit on your Seller Hub. If you don't find it, email ebay and ask them what your selling limit is.

You are a newer seller. So there are limits on your account. Good news is that tomorrow is a new Month. Your selling limit is fresh for the new month.

As long as you keep your account in good standing, you can request a sales limit increase once every 30 days. Keep doing that until you have it well above what you would ever need.

Good luck and happy selling.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999