Does Anyone Have Any Experience with a Suspended eBay Account?

chrisl123 on 14/12/2020 - 15:13

Hi all,

I made my main eBay account a few months ago because I thought it would be fun to fix some old electronic devices – bought and sold a few items with no problems at all.

Christmas break was coming up and I thought that I should declutter the house … so I created five new accounts. Excessive? Possibly, but I thought that it would be useful to have separate accounts for selling different categories of items (clothes, books, homeware, stationery). Nevertheless, I definitely thought this was allowed, as eBay’s policy apparently ‘understand[s] that eBay members might want different accounts for buying or selling, or to focus on different product lines.’

A few days later, two of the new accounts were suspended, although I had not used them at all yet. One of them was reinstated after I went to eBay’s live support - I just had to tell them what I was planning to sell and when I would send them out. The other account was not so lucky - when I contacted live chat…

Why was my account suspended? Your account poses a risk to eBay.
Okay… can you tell me more? No, because if we did, then others could circumvent our security.
Can I do anything about the suspension? No, the decision is final and there are no appeals. [despite what happened to my other account?]

What I was wondering about:

  • Do I have any recourse? [I assume not since it’s ultimately down to eBay’s terms of service, right?]
  • Was I wrong in this situation? [Not looking for validation, but I am surprised at how capricious and ruthless eBay is at suspending accounts.]

For those who have had an account suspended:

  • Were you able to have your account reinstated?
  • Do you think they will suspend my other accounts? [This is what I'm most worried about, but it’s been about a week and they haven’t done anything else yet. Fingers crossed!]

Thoughts are appreciated!

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Comments

  • MS Paint on 14/12/2020 - 15:16
    +9

    Why so many accounts to sell?

    Selling is all about feedback and experience. With that many accounts it will take forever to establish a reputation.

    • chrisl123 on 14/12/2020 - 15:29

      Thanks for the reply! I didn't really think about that aspect - I guess I was mostly thinking about making all the accounts I would ever need now so that I could slowly build my reputation over time. Definitely a reason why eBay would be suspicious, though.

    • pharkurnell on 14/12/2020 - 16:18
      +5

      Easier to up bid your own stuff with 5 accounts.

      • chrisl123 on 14/12/2020 - 18:56

        Thanks for the response. I always sell my items as buy-it-now to avoid non-paying buyers.

  • [Deactivated] on 14/12/2020 - 15:23
    +4

    so I created five new accounts

    How do we spot you people IRL

    • chrisl123 on 14/12/2020 - 15:35

      You don't - I've been mostly staying inside since March as someone who lives with people that have pre-existing medical conditions. What better way to social distance, find a new hobby, and clean the house simultaneously than to sell on eBay? ;)

      • [Deactivated] on 14/12/2020 - 15:48
        +1

        find a new hobby

        Oh no, this is an illness

        • chrisl123 on 14/12/2020 - 18:59

          You're right, maybe I should just stick to reading OzBargain?

  • Hithere on 14/12/2020 - 15:26
    +5

    Tell eBay that you are Chinese, some of them have dozens of accounts under different names.

    • MS Paint on 14/12/2020 - 15:38
      +10

      And then make sure the item location is set to Chullora but is actually drop shipping from HK

      • Forfiet on 14/12/2020 - 17:16
        +1

        Extra points for Darwin and if you write the location IN CAPS

    • chrisl123 on 14/12/2020 - 15:40

      Haha, yeah, I've definitely seen quite a few accounts selling the exact same thing with the same pictures and description. I wonder how they can even keep track of stock between accounts?

  • Hithere on 14/12/2020 - 15:44
    +1

    If you don't mind the BS too much have you considered Gumtree OP?

    Specify all sales cash and pickup only.

    No fake INAD or INR claims or fees and commissions to pay eBay and PayPal.

    • chrisl123 on 14/12/2020 - 16:10

      If I do end up getting banned from eBay, I'll definitely turn to Gumtree. I've only been preferring eBay up to now because of the wider market of buyers and so I don't have to physically interact with the buyer, although I agree that eBay fees are pretty steep. Thanks for the advice!

  • picklewizard on 14/12/2020 - 15:45
    +2

    I've been on eBay since 2001(weird flex but ok) - young enough that I didn't have a credit card to pay my own invoices.

    My account was associated with that of a mate's who did have reason to be kicked off (no recollection as to why now) and they saw that the same card had been used on both accounts, so suspended mine too.

    I had to send over ID details, but eventually I was reinstated.

    • MS Paint on 14/12/2020 - 16:03
      +1

      Looks like your magic wand got you out of that pickle

    • chrisl123 on 14/12/2020 - 16:23

      Interesting to see that you were able to get your account reinstated - did you send your details over the phone? eBay's closed all of their call centres due to covid, but I wonder if a little more persuasion can help get my account back. The thing is that the online chat history is linked even after logging out, so the following agents probably just read what was previously said and repeat the same spiel about suspension.

      Thanks for sharing your experience!

      • picklewizard on 14/12/2020 - 18:24
        +1

        One thing I should have added was this was over 10 years ago, so my memory of the exact process is a bit hazy sorry :(

        • chrisl123 on 14/12/2020 - 18:50

          All good - thanks for giving a relevant reply anyway!

  • WreckTangle on 14/12/2020 - 16:04
    +3

    You trying to artificially inflate auction prices?

    • chrisl123 on 14/12/2020 - 16:16
      +1

      Haha, no, I'd probably use a VPN if I wanted to do any shady shenanigans. Although that might explain why eBay is so trigger-happy with the ban hammer nowadays…

  • gnarlyman on 14/12/2020 - 16:48
    +2

    The trick is to buy something on each account first. They tend to suspend accounts if it is just opened and you start selling.

    • chrisl123 on 14/12/2020 - 18:49

      Thanks for the tip, although I should note that I hadn't even done anything before they suspended my account. Definitely something I'll keep in mind for my other accounts if they're not suspended too.

  • blitz on 14/12/2020 - 17:17
    +4

    Yeah, all of this is sus.

  • Italkdigital on 26/12/2020 - 04:26
    +1

    I got over 8 accounts with eBay maybe more lost count actually

    I had the same issue when I built up my second lot of accounts, im guessing you did not complete the whole process for the accounts, my guess the security check up parts

    Anyway I just called them and sorted it out over the phone

    But my new suspending accounts never effected my main or previous active accounts

    Edit: oh yes they ask you why do you need multiple accounts, told them as what your doing with yours, want too sell different items on different accounts, really I have them too to get all the special deals my main account doesn't get cause of its past heavy use

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