eBay

1stmobileuk · ‎09-16-2018

I'm not a regular on forums, it's not something I generally have the time to get involved with, but I was intrigued to read an article on another forum about eBay suspension. I'm no allowed to post a link to the article on here (as far as I'm aware) but it's on a forum called WebRetailer and is entitled "eBay Account Suspended? Why It Happens and What You Should Do

This is from a guy in the US who is selling help to get people reinstated after a suspension. He is adamant that not uploading tracking details can lead to eBay suspension, but he has been challened by a couple of people who say it's not the case and have challenged him to prove it, which he is unable or unwilling to do.

But I'm curious to know if this is true, as in most cases I don't upload tracking details. So can you be suspended for not uploading tracking? I mean in general, not as part of a claim. I've never heard of it and can find no reference to it anywhere.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎09-16-2018

@1stmobileuk wrote:
... can you be suspended for not uploading tracking? ...

No. There are many sellers of small items who always use First Class letter or flat shipping without tracking, for thousands of items.

1stmobileuk · ‎09-17-2018

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Just seems odd that this guy is so insistent that you can.

grumpus_otter · ‎09-17-2018

While I've never been suspended, ebay did take note of the one time I shipped without uploading a tracking number--it's part of the percentages on my seller dashboard. That fact makes me wary of ever doing it again. so now I always charge for shipping and put even skinny and light things into proper packages. Costs more, but I don't want to take the risk.

emerald40 · ‎09-17-2018

Practically none of my keychain puzzles have tracking uploaded.

I have 5 on their right now - not one has a tracking number.

southern*sweet*tea · ‎09-17-2018

I have two other accounts on which I sell small booklets. I ship them in a regular envelope with a stamp or two. No tracking. My tracking upload percentage is zero, my on time is 100% and my seller status is above standard.

Tracking is not required and has never been required to sell here. You cannot get suspended solely for not uploading tracking. Something else would have to be going on. Tracking is only required if one wants TRS status.

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell

1stmobileuk · ‎09-17-2018

Yes that's pretty much my understanding of it. I've never heard of it (being suspended for not uploading tracking) and couldn't find any reference to it anywhere, either on or off eBay.

That said, having read the post on that forum again the guy makes various claims and refuses to answer any questions anybody asks him, so I'm kind of taking it with a pinch of salt now. Everybody's input on this is much appreciated.

castlemagicmemories · ‎09-17-2018

Some sellers ship without tracking. Ebay doesn't required tracking as mandatory, so I doubt they can suspend anyone for not providing it.

fab_finds4u · ‎09-17-2018

It is true. eBay requires all sellers to upload tracking for at least 5% of their sales. Top Rated sellers are required to upload 95% of the sales. If you don't meet seller requirements you can be suspended.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/seller-levels-performance-standards/seller-levels-performance-stan...

look for

Tracking uploaded on time and validated.

Find out more about our Seller performance policy.

a_c_green · ‎09-17-2018

@1stmobileuk wrote:
Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Just seems odd that this guy is so insistent that you can.

The article (here) starts off well-intentioned, but then makes some slightly dubious claims (the tracking upload question in particular) in the course of itemizing things that can affect one's performance metrics:

> 2. Late tracking number upload or validation

[...]
> eBay validates the tracking number, and shares it with the buyer, and

> this is critical. Failure to submit tracking information quickly raises one

> of two flags. Either poor seller workflow, or a failure to ship by a tracked

> service. Both are unacceptable, and compromise the trust with the buyer.

> Convincing eBay otherwise can be an uphill battle.

Ref: https://www.webretailer.com/lean-commerce/ebay-account-suspended/

The arguments that break out in the comments section between readers and one of the authors are a hoot.

southern*sweet*tea · ‎09-17-2018

@fab_finds4u wrote:
It is true. eBay requires all sellers to upload tracking for at least 5% of their sales. Top Rated sellers are required to upload 95% of the sales. If you don't meet seller requirements you can be suspended.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/seller-levels-performance-standards/seller-levels-performance-stan...

look for

Tracking uploaded on time and validated.

Find out more about our Seller performance policy.

No.

Tracking uploaded on time and validated
Transactions where you upload tracking details within your stated handling time, and the carrier scanned the shipping label either before or after your handling time.

Unless something has drastically changed, if you do not upload tracking AT ALL, those transactions DO NOT COUNT toward your shipping statistics UNLESS the buyer marks the shipment as arriving late.

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell

1stmobileuk · ‎09-17-2018

Yes that's what I thought, it only counts if you upload tracknig but if you don't that's fine, there's no metric to judge you against.

pjcdn2005 · ‎09-17-2018

As other posters have stated, tracking is not required for any transaction unless you want to be a top rated seller.

A seller who has too many late shipments may have their handling time increased but they don't get suspended and as southern mentioned, a transaction without tracking does not get counted as late unless the buyer checks off that it was late when they leave feedback.

rixstuff · ‎09-17-2018

Usually the tracking auto loads once you print the label from MyEbay. I would never NOT print the label from here or upload the tracking. Without it it is too easy for buyers to claim you never sent it or they never got it and get the item AND the refund. Also the INR dispute counts as a defect and enough of those get you suspended. BUT not using Ebay labels alone isnt enough to get you suspended. Using them though and providing tracking or proof of delivery will go a long way towards saving your bacon in a dispute and prevent the defects.

It sounds like either the suspended seller was careless about answering disputes (by providing tracking) or had to many complaints about non-delivery that he couldnt defend without that tracking. But not using it is not an Ebay crime in itself.

rixstuff · ‎09-17-2018

I use FC almost exclusively (jewelry is tiny and cheap to ship) but I always use an Ebay lable with tracking to cover myself. Yes I have gotten purchased items in plain envelopes and COULD have claimed they never arrived and my sellers would have been stuck.