eBay Listing Tool almost impossible to use with VPN

[thekulamoa]

I use a VPN service for all my internet use. For most sites, it works just fine, for eBay however, it makes the listing tool break. Almost every time I go to list something, it starts out working, but navigating away from the page (e.g. opening a new tab to any other page on eBay) comes up with an error page. Using tools inside the listing tool - description input, postage calculator, etc - does work at all while it's like this.

The only way out of it is either to turn the VPN off completely, or switching servers two or three times during listing. If I make the mistake of not changing the server when it's bugging out, pressing 'List It' will create an endless loading screen, and I have to start all over or salvage what I can from my drafts. I feel that all internet users have the right to privacy and thus the right to use a VPN, and should never be forced, whether intentionally or through the site being completely unoptimized for VPN use, to disable their VPN.

This has turned the already straining, stressful chore of navigating the convoluted new listing tool into a completely time draining, awful experience.

Has anyone else experienced this? Is there any way out of it, aside from disabling the VPN? Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. It's possible that it's an issue with my browser, but I only started experiencing this issue in the past few months. The number of captchas I have to navigate through have also skyrocketed, probably due to the VPN. I know the company is awful at listening to feedback and changing things that help sellers out, so maybe it's pointless complaining about this. But along with the endless Captchas that eBay insists I do just to go to pages like my feedback score, this site MIGHT just drive me totally insane soon. 😵

[44012]

I believe, though I could be wrong, that you can't use a VPN because in essence it is hiding your location and perhaps your identity. Therefore, I would say, you cannot use a VPN with eBay.

I am under the assumption that eBay has been cracking down on issues of fraud and such, perhaps items stolen and sold, or perhaps a seller who was removed from eBay decides to sign back up with a new id, perhaps shipping from a country outside the US but claiming that you are inside the US etc....

I'm not the smartest in the crayon box here but someone else will chime in soon. Good Luck to you.

[ckimodog]

@thekulamoa 

I don't believe you can't use a VPN here on eBay due to the fact that you need to divulge where you are located as well as who you are.  I have read several threads here from overseas sellers who try to implement VPN's only to be told they can't do it.  Sellers need to be straight forward with buyers as to where their items are being shipped from and where that seller is actually located.  Sorry for your frustration, but it does make sense where seller info is concerned.  It's important. 

Happy Selling

[thekulamoa]

That makes sense for when you're setting up an account. But I've been on eBay for over a decade, and signed up without a VPN, so eBay is very clear on where I live. I also have a home address set and buyers can see where the items are coming from, so there's no need for the website to know where I'm signing in from every single time.

This is not an issue of fraudulent practices, this is an issue of eBay's site being broken/unoptimized.

[thekulamoa]

I suspect that as per usual, eBay is probably using a sledgehammer to drive a nail. Instead of optimizing their site so that it's usable for the ever increasing number of people who use VPNs for privacy reasons, they're making it unusable for ANYONE to use a VPN, instead of just the people who use it for fraud. It makes sense to take precautions when someone is signing up to the site. It absolutely does not make sense when it comes to established users who have sold and shipped from a verified physical location.

[slippinjimmy]

---

@thekulamoa wrote:

That makes sense for when you're setting up an account. But I've been on eBay for over a decade, and signed up without a VPN, so eBay is very clear on where I live. I also have a home address set and buyers can see where the items are coming from, so there's no need for the website to know where I'm signing in from every single time.

This is not an issue of fraudulent practices, this is an issue of eBay's site being broken/unoptimized.

---

What if the person logging into your account is NOT you? How easy do want it to be for hackers?

[thekulamoa]

That's not how VPNs work. I still have to go thru 2FA while signing in, so I'm not worried about someone else signing into my account. The site breaking while I'm already signed in is not preventing hackers from doing a thing, it's just aggravating, to put it lightly.

[toysaver]

Have you tried a Premium VPN service.  I hear they're faster.

[thekulamoa]

Yes, I use Proton VPN.

[mybigsale]

@thekulamoa 

My experience is that eBays bots and AI are very loose in interpreting situations and quick to jump to conclusions. Conclusions that are final in the eBay world. eBay support has stated in past communications that eBay doesn't have the means to override a bots decision.

When I have used a VPN in the past, eBay has warned me that my account had been hacked. I needed to change my passwords or eBay may need to block my account for my protection. 100% my account was never hacked. Only had issues with VPN with eBay.  Using VPN, continual captchas and warnings from eBay my account has been hacked. No VPN, no captchas and no hackers. Hmm, I think it is eBays crazy bots - not the VPN.

I just access eBay from my home computer with local IP or on my phone now. Not waiting for eBay bots to permanently ban my account and then have eBay block my ability to contest the decision for the safety of the eBay community. 

20+ years on eBay

[tobaccocardyahoo]

WOW

A VPN might just be the reason why some threads have been posted about Ebay instabilty and crashes.

[sassykzt]

I used Nord  (onion over VPN) ,  2 FA , with Firefox and have no issues listing.   I do have to go through a captcha before 2FA  or when checking my OWN feedback.   Yes,  the capthas are a royal pain but now at least they have cute animals instead of that walkway or traffic lights.

You don't mention your browser.  Try a diff one and maybe that will help.

[bimm_corp]

Have been using a VPN successfully on eBay for at least 10 years, probably longer if I bothered to check. Some things to note,

1) Always use a computer, not a phone or tablet. 

2) Always use the same browser. Currently using Opera but have used Chrome, Edge and Firefox      successfully in the past.

3) Log off when done every day. Clear EVERYTHING from your browser cache before next logon. eBay will often require a "Captcha" when you  logon. Bear with it as eBay will eventually quit asking after a while.

4) NEVER use eBay's listing page to list items. Pick a current or closed item that is somewhat similar to the item you're listing and use "Sell similar", then edit the old listing to match the new item's parameters. The plus with this is your item get a new item number and it gets flagged as a "new listing".

5) Learn to use eBay's 2FA authentication and make sure you have a backup phone to quickly clone from your regular phone just in case your phone stops working, lost, stolen etc.

6) Get a reliable VPN and pay for it. The free VPNs bundled with browsers aren't worth bothering with. Also learn the habit of changing you VPN address daily.

[thekulamoa]

Hmm, I do all of these things already, except for signing out every day. Suppose I'll try that and see how it works.

[bimm_corp]

AND clearing everything from your cache. with most browsers it's CTL-SHIFT-DELETE, use the "Advanced" tab and click ALL the boxes. You may want to use whatever browser you choose for eBay only.

PS  Use "dnsleaktest.com" to make sure your VPN is returning only one DNS server. If not use a different VPN.  "myip.ms" will give you more info and has a good eBay blacklist.