Interesting chat at eBay20...

[toml3030]

had a Q & A session with one of the higher ups at the security department at eBay. Confirmed that eBay is aware of stealth accounts but basically said eBay can only react when a stealther screws up, and eBay does not actively hunt and shut down stealth accounts, even though it had the capability to do so if it wished. Said it was a million to one shot that a stealth account will be shut down unless he did something stupid to out himself.

[Dmshark25]

Of course they are aware that's why we need to operate in a way to avoid linking accounts

[toml3030]

The feeling I get from that talk is that eBay will tolerate quite a bit from stealthers as long as you don't sell ⊗⊗⊗⊗ or shoddy merchandise and ship on time. I would even say that the point from eBay's point of view is to weed out bad sellers and if you can turn yourself into a good seller after being banned, eBay is somewhat prepared to look the other way.

[glacier922]

Did you use the specific word "stealth?"

[swbluto]

Of course ebay wouldn't mind keeping around someone who's causing no troubles and is making them money.

[empirestate]

not actively hunting down.... interesting

[jeffweico]

This has always been eBay's policy. If they tried to go after every stealth account, it would cost them a fortune, both in actual costs and lost business. Not to mention, they would end up closing a lot of accounts that have REAL PEOPLE behind them. So, they simply focus on ALL problem sellers, stealth or not.

That is not to say that eBay WON'T ban an account they come across that they are reasonably certain it is a stealth account. But they are not going out of their way to look for them.

This is why it is so important that the accounts are created properly and the stealth rules followed. Everything we do here is designed to keep UNDER their radar. The last thing we want is to have a human being reviewing our accounts. So, the stealth rules were written to prevent that from happening.

Once your account is established, as long as you are not causing problems for eBay, they will generally leave you alone.

[toml3030]

Originally Posted by glacier922

Did you use the specific word "stealth?"

The specific question was about Chinese sellers faking being US accounts.

[Samtheman]

Originally Posted by jeffweico

This has always been eBay's policy. If they tried to go after every stealth account, it would cost them a fortune, both in actual costs and lost business. Not to mention, they would end up closing a lot of accounts that have REAL PEOPLE behind them. So, they simply focus on ALL problem sellers, stealth or not.

That is not to say that eBay WON'T ban an account they come across that they are reasonably certain it is a stealth account. But they are not going out of their way to look for them.

This is why it is so important that the accounts are created properly and the stealth rules followed. Everything we do here is designed to keep UNDER their radar. The last thing we want is to have a human being reviewing our accounts. So, the stealth rules were written to prevent that from happening.

Once your account is established, as long as you are not causing problems for eBay, they will generally leave you alone.

perfect way to put it

[yaBeh8ater]

so how does one stay "under" the radar if they are being shady?

[secret storm]

This is not new news Ebay has known all about stealth accounts for a very, very long time and they cannot police everyone that sells on Ebay.

[dan_ebay]

they don't even go after obvious 'stealths', guy in my niche selling the same product with the same water marked image and same description on 5 accounts, all with address in the same town and same telephone number

[Bunneh]

Originally Posted by dan_ebay

they don't even go after obvious 'stealths', guy in my niche selling the same product with the same water marked image and same description on 5 accounts, all with address in the same town and same telephone number

Ive seen this a lot to lol.. clearly the sellers behave like they have nothing to lose.