Can I have a rant please about Ebay seller stuff?

ribenagirl

Is it just me that's feeling a bit persecuted by Ebay at the moment? They seem to have introduced lots of 'policies' in an effort to raise seller standards and my listings, apparently, keep breaching them - not deliberately, I should add - and today Ebay suspended my seller account until I take a tutorial... has someone got it in for me and keeps scrutinising my listings?

I've got a rating of 687 positive feedback and minimum of 4.72 on all of my 5 stars but apparently that is not enough to make you a good seller :mad:

I understand that Ebay are trying to make the process of buying straightforward, and I don't disagree with that - but they make me feel like a criminal who is trying to defraud people by doling out words in their notices like 'violation' and 'manipulation' as if they were sweeties.

For example:
- I put 'like (brand name)' in a title as I thought my item was very like this brand - not allowed
- I let buyers know that I was also advertising an item in the local paper - not allowed
- I asked to please not have any Echeques - not allowed.

Maybe the best way to do it is to request that all sellers take a policy tutorial so then at least everyone knows what is what, as none of this has been a problem in the past? I've just been left really disheartened as I honestly do my very best to make buyers happy and Ebay have made me feel like I'm a thick idiot.

Also - Top Rated Sellers - why is it only business sellers that are allowed to be 'top rated'? I more than meet all the criteria, apart from the fact that I am not registered as a business - hardly seems fair? :mad:

Ok, rant over. If you're having a bad Ebay day, and want to let off some steam, please feel free :j

mrcol1000

ribenagirl wrote: »

For example:
- I put 'like (brand name)' in a title as I thought my item was very like this brand - not allowed
- I let buyers know that I was also advertising an item in the local paper - not allowed
- I asked to please not have any Echeques - not allowed.

Also - Top Rated Sellers - why is it only business sellers that are allowed to be 'top rated'? I more than meet all the criteria, apart from the fact that I am not registered as a business - hardly seems fair? :mad:

Ok, rant over. If you're having a bad Ebay day, and want to let off some steam, please feel free :j

All the stuff you listed is agasint Ebay rules and rookie mistakes that they let you get away with a few times.
I think business sellers are only allowed to be top rated because if your selling that amount of volume to be a top rated seller then your obviously a business. Unless your a hoarder who has decided to sell off their stuff!

cyberbob

ribenagirl wrote: »

'

For example:
- I put 'like (brand name)' in a title as I thought my item was very like this brand - not allowed

keyword spamming always been against the rules

ribenagirl wrote: »

- I let buyers know that I was also advertising an item in the local paper - not allowed

Against the rules

ribenagirl wrote: »

- I asked to please not have any Echeques - not allowed.

You have to accept paypal. echeques are a Paypal payment so you have to accept them.

These are not new policies and someone with 600+ feedback should really know better

ribenagirl

cyberbob wrote: »

keyword spamming always been against the rules

Against the rules

You have to accept paypal. echeques are a Paypal payment so you have to accept them.

These are not new policies and someone with 600+ feedback should really know better

Wow. Do you work for them by any chance - the patronising tone seems familiar?

As I said not disputing what they are doing, but there is nothing to stop them sending you a message that uses words with a less punitive undertone. I am neither a naughty schoolgirl nor a petty criminal, just a mum selling outgrown baby clothes.

shoppo

They are definately going a bit off track. Was awarded silver powerseller status last month but no discount was given due to a low delivery DSR... 4.55 because of RM strikes in the area.

Emailed their 'powerseller' depot to explain my delivery times hadnt changed at all and i was in the hands of RM. Was told to emaill ALL buyers to explain and if I wanted to take it further, I would need to provide postal proof for every item I sent, with tracking numbers.

Thanks for that mr eBay

juju11_2

Hi Ribenagirl

I had something similar with eBay at the start of this year. I was listing lots of similar stuff (all old PS2 games) and some I gave a Buy It Now Price and the rest a Buy it Now Price with Best Offer; as I wasn't convinced the latter items would sell as well as the Buy It Now only items would.

I kept using the same listing template for every item and just changed the titles and prices, etc. I accidentally left a line in the Buy It Now (without best offer) items to the tune of: 'Make me an offer and grab yourself a bargain' and eBay suspended my account until I took a Seller tutorial and passed their online test. Their reason? I was in violation of their terms and guilty of fee avoidance! I assume they thought I was hoping people would contact me and offer to deal outside of eBay.

When it happened I had (and still have) 100% positive feedback and had never done anything like it before but was totally p***ed off at being made to feel like a criminal. The only upside was that I got my original insertions fees back and was able to relist after taking the tutorial.

Ames

I have to say, keyword spamming really annoys me, and I've reported people for it in the past and would do again.

ribenagirl

juju11 wrote: »

Hi Ribenagirl

I had something similar with eBay at the start of this year. I was listing lots of similar stuff (all old PS2 games) and some I gave a Buy It Now Price and the rest a Buy it Now Price with Best Offer; as I wasn't convinced the latter items would sell as well as the Buy It Now only items would.

I kept using the same listing template for every item and just changed the titles and prices, etc. I accidentally left a line in the Buy It Now (without best offer) items to the tune of: 'Make me an offer and grab yourself a bargain' and eBay suspended my account until I took a Seller tutorial and passed their online test. Their reason? I was in violation of their terms and guilty of fee avoidance! I assume they thought I was hoping people would contact me and offer to deal outside of eBay.

When it happened I had (and still have) 100% positive feedback and had never done anything like it before but was totally p***ed off at being made to feel like a criminal. The only upside was that I got my original insertions fees back and was able to relist after taking the tutorial.

Hi Juju, I think you've understood exactly what I was trying to say - that mostly it happens through error (or in my case, just not being fully aware of the policy because you haven't been picked up on it before) - and especially if you are a great seller otherwise, it's quite unpleasant to be sent a message with words in it like 'violation', 'breach', 'abuse' and 'suspension'. Feel slightly reassured to know it isn't just me that takes some offence at this :T

They could easily send a message which says 'Hi, we've reviewed your listing and we've noticed that you've done A, B or C. We've temporarily taken down your listing as we need you to change it. This is because we have a policy which says X, Y and Z. We think it would help you with future listings if you took a look at our tutorial on this. Once you've completed the tutorial we would be happy to have you relist this item.'

I would then probably have thought it was fair do's and would have been happy to take the tutorial, rather than feel I was being punished.:o

shoppo I think that Ebay's rules are getting more and more complex - it feels like a minefield :rolleyes: especially if it's something outside of your control like that was!!

chja

"Keyword spamming" has always been against the rule, but the trouble is it's not always obvious that you can't do certain things. For example I used to use "as new" in listings, for no reason other than my genuine belief that it was the true condition - ended up with a slapped wrist. The reasoning makes perfect sense when you think about it but you are right that it would be must more pleasant if eBay sent a "did you realise that.... and here is the link" email the first "offence".

Didn't know that you were not allowed to say "also listed elsewhere" seems to be a fair few listings that do.

It has always been against the rule to refuse eCheques, although it really is about time the eBay put them out of our misery.

To be fair, they are also making some improvements for sellers, such as the automated unpaid item process, but there is a lot more that could be done.

DaveAshton

shoppo wrote: »

They are definately going a bit off track. Was awarded silver powerseller status last month but no discount was given due to a low delivery DSR... 4.55 because of RM strikes in the area.

Think yourself lucky you're not a TRS. Silver PS status has no benefit over Bronze if you are, the discounts are the same.

Take the link out of your signature, or the forum team will do it for you.

chimmo12

juju11 wrote: »

Hi Ribenagirl

I had something similar with eBay at the start of this year. I was listing lots of similar stuff (all old PS2 games) and some I gave a Buy It Now Price and the rest a Buy it Now Price with Best Offer; as I wasn't convinced the latter items would sell as well as the Buy It Now only items would.

I kept using the same listing template for every item and just changed the titles and prices, etc. I accidentally left a line in the Buy It Now (without best offer) items to the tune of: 'Make me an offer and grab yourself a bargain' and eBay suspended my account until I took a Seller tutorial and passed their online test. Their reason? I was in violation of their terms and guilty of fee avoidance! I assume they thought I was hoping people would contact me and offer to deal outside of eBay.

When it happened I had (and still have) 100% positive feedback and had never done anything like it before but was totally p***ed off at being made to feel like a criminal. The only upside was that I got my original insertions fees back and was able to relist after taking the tutorial.

A very similar thing happened to me. I had listed an item buy it now or best offer and put 'make me an offer' in the listing, I decided to change it to just buy it now and left in that line by mistake. Within 5 minutes of doing this, ebay had suspended my account and made me take this quiz. It annoyed me as it was a genuine mistake and an email could have told me that.