Will eBay protect sellers against a user using multiple accounts to circumvent being blocked?

[invinciblecards1]

I have had user {username removed} cause me issues for nearly a year now. Eventually I blocked him, after his refusal to respect anything eBay related. I've seen on message boards where he causes other sellers issues too, by not respecting their selling practices and often resorting to name calling and taunting.

When he gets blocked, he uses account {username removed} to circumvent the block.

I see from the eBay multiple account policy that while eBay allows multiple accounts, it doesn't allow using a multiple account to: 

"avoid buying or selling restrictions or limits"

Support full agrees that using a multiple account to circumvent a block a seller has placed on a buyer is in clear violation. As it is pretty self evident.

My issue is that this buyer actually bought an item from me using his secondary account, and then he left a negative for me and wrote that the reason he was leaving it is because I block buyers.

Now, eBay has removed the comment as there was a curse word in it, but they are completely deaf to the fact that this buyer is breaking eBay policy, and that the comment has no merit. They seem to care not at all about his harassment towards me and other sellers, what he wrote in the comment, nor that he was using a multiple account.

I keep being told simply, the feedback will stand because that was their "overall experience".

I am really at my whits end with eBay as I feel they do absolutely nothing to protect sellers in these instances. 

[wastingtime101 · Accepted solution]

You need to block every ID they reveal to you.

Circumventing the block is a violation and sellers can cancel those sales and report the buyer:

When you report a buyer there is no specific reporting selection for buyers circumventing blocks. I usually select a reason that ties to why I blocked them in the first place, even if it's not an exact match, or go with 'demanding something not included in the listing' since that's most closely related to buyer demanding to make a purchase when their ID is blocked. There are real people reading these reports so it's fine if the reason code is a bit off. Once you drill down and select a reason the comment box will appear where you can explain why you're reporting them.

I put ID [id # 1] on blocked list, buyer attempting to circumvent block with new ID [id #2]. Did not find a specific circumventing a block selection under the report flow so I selected the option that most closely fit the situation.

Edit to add: As for the feedback - if you've been going through the overseas chat reps, send a DM to one of eBay's social channels (eBay on facebook, askebay on X or ebayforsellers on insta) and ask them to take another look. If it's eBay's social teams that told you they won't remove it, not sure there's anything you can do other than leave a professional reply.

[invinciblecards1]

I had no idea that it was a duplicate account until after he received it and left me negative feedback for having blocked him.

It's wild to me that eBay support is agreeing that he violated eBay terms, yet they will not remove the negative feedback.

It is frustrating going back and forth with support. They don't seem to understand the most basic of things.

[invinciblecards1]

Thanks for what you added re: reaching out to them on X

I am doing that now. I think making it public and posting the buyers personal information might give them the necessary push needed. As I've now wasted 5 days and about 10 phone calls and 10 email responses from them only to hear the same tone deaf responses each and every time. 

[iamalwaysright]

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@invinciblecards1 wrote:

My issue is that this buyer actually bought an item from me using his secondary account, and then he left a negative for me and wrote that the reason he was leaving it is because I block buyers.

Now, eBay has removed the comment as there was a curse word in it, but they are completely deaf to the fact that this buyer is breaking eBay policy, and that the comment has no merit. They seem to care not at all about his harassment towards me and other sellers, what he wrote in the comment, nor that he was using a multiple account.

I keep being told simply, the feedback will stand because that was their "overall experience".

I am really at my whits end with eBay as I feel they do absolutely nothing to protect sellers in these instances. 

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I hate to kick you while you're down. But you know what sucks about this issue too? In hindsight, I'd much rather have that feedback comment not removed from my feedback page if the feedback itself is to remain.

If the comment stayed at least many buyers would read it and know the guy is a total idiot and buy from you anyway. The comment would invalidate the negative in many buyer's eyes. But now it's just a neg with a -, which leaves the future buyers to guess why the buyer negged you in the first place. That can put you in a bad light with them.

[invinciblecards1]

Diane from support on X:

I completely understand that. If I'm being honest, I'm not sure why the feedback as a whole was not removed. You have every right to block any buyer as you see fit. I have just removed the entire feedback. You should see the negative rating come off within a few minutes. ~Diane

Thank you so much wastingtime101. You saved me a lot of grief. 

[invinciblecards1]

Could not agree with you more. Also, my reply was not showing because the comment was removed.

No need to worry about kicking me while I'm down as now I'm standing again. eBay removed the feedback.

The buyer has had multiple people complain about him doing the same thing. Harassing him on his main account, and then after they block him he then offers from ******.

With the harassing messages he sends sellers and his obscene requests (asks sellers to put false $ amt to pay less duty charges and leaves negatives when they don't), I really hope eBay will look into the nature of his accounts and take appropriate action.

I reached out to him on IG following the negative he left me and all he had for me was tell me I'm a baby and continually taunt me. These are the type of eBayers that really make selling on the platform a true headache.

Anyhow thats my last post for this thread. Thank you for the help. 

[fbusoni]

@invinciblecards1 

Thanks, added this misfit to my BBL.  

[reallynicestamps]

If the comment stayed at least many buyers would read it and know the guy is a total idiot and buy from you anyway.

True.

And while the buyer's ID is anonymized in Your FB it is not anonymized in Their FB.

Most sellers never see FB until the purchase is made, but we can read FB Left for Others when they are bidding on an Auction or making  Best Offer.

It's not much but it helps.

[reallynicestamps]

It won't stay up long - but I took advantage while I could too.

[invinciblecards1]

eBay support is actually insufferable. 

They just wrote me back to back emails, this first one being a lie:

"

I have reviewed the details of the negative feedback on this item that you sold and I'm happy to let you know that this meets the criteria for removal based on our Feedback Policy as you able to resolved your buyer's concern by refunding them. As such, I have already removed the negative feedback from your account.

Please note that it may take up to 24 - 48 hours for the feedback to disappear from the website.

I am confident that I have resolved your concern and that the information I have provided has been helpful and will strengthen your trust on our site. Thank you for being the best part of eBay.

Kind Regards,

Ryan A.

eBay Customer service"

No Ryan A. You didn't remove anything. Diane on X did it earlier. 

Followed by Tala:

"We do still recommend you use this negative feedback as a stepping stone to improve your service and to advertise your after sales care and customer services. "

Yeah okay Tala, thanks! I'll make sure to use the negative feedback that the buyer left by circumventing eBay policy as a stepping stone for ME TO IMPROVE.

I have no idea who hired these people but they make matters so much worse. They aren't even useless. They are detrimental.

[albertabrightalberta]

@invinciblecards1 

Sellers do sympathize with you but the feedback you left for the buyer violates policy both because you name the buyer and also show his real name. You know you can't do that. 

[invinciblecards1]

Wow, thank you so much for sympathizing with me. 

The ONLY reason I left the feedback that I did is because eBay support was not understanding anything. I needed to spell it out for them as much as possible. 

Leaving the feedback was one of the only ways I felt that someone on the team would take seriously and investigate the issue of this buyer using both accounts.

So yes, I know exactly where the line is. 

[brightlightbookseller]

Tone it down, please.  @albertabrightalberta  is a long-time member of these threads, and besides, they merely pointed out policy.  Getting hit with sanctions to your account would not have been worth it, right?  Like if eBay had permanently suspended your account for a major violation?  Don't snap at other sellers who are just trying to help you.

[ateta1643]

I want to disappoint you! There are free opportunities to change the "footprint" of a computer with all other parameters. Free opportunity to create several dozen accounts with "different" computers but in fact on one computer. And there are no methods against this. Apparently the person who is doing the dirty work does not understand all the possibilities. And there is hope that he will not understand them.