Well, it's been a while since I gave back to the community, so here is my guide for avoiding the new 0/0 restrictions being placed on accounts when they're listing their first items.
What I'm working with:
I have a storage drive with over 500 dormant buyer accounts. So all the accounts I am using are between 6-9 months aged buyer accounts with non-existant phone numbers with an area code in my area.
All my PP account profiles are 80% complete. I use VBAs for instant-verification and I do the $1.95 CC confirmation with a VCC that has money left over on the card for the $1.00 soft hit that eB puts on it when you list an item. Everything is done except the mobile verification.
These are the steps I take to "wake up" my dormant accounts. I have messed around with this a lot, and now that my account graveyard in the triple digits here's what has been working for me on a pretty reliable basis:
Steps For Waking The Dragons -
1. Obtain a phone number. People are hyping tracphones like they're the new stealth-Jesus, but I do not subscribe to this belief.
2. Log into PP and add the new phone number to your dormant PP. Also, go into the PP Wallet and click your card. I don't know why but it will ask you to confirm the address even if you already have. I believe this is due to the site switch-over. My accounts were created on the classic site while the new site was still an optional beta. Confirm the address. You will receive an email from PP with "You have added a card to your PP account" as the title, even though you didn't add a new card. I don't know why this happens.
3. Log into your eB account and click the ACCOUNTS tab, then click "Addresses." Add the address that is on your account to your eB account, and add the new (active) phone number that you just added to your PP as a 2ndary number.
4. Log into another PP account and send your new account some money. Anywhere from $7-10. This will bring your balance to about $9-12 because you've already added $1.95 from your VCC.
5. Wait 1-3 days.
6. Log into your eB account do two things: (1) Bid on an item. Personally I like to go to the automotive section and bid $500 on Porshes and Ferraris that have a reserve that is obviously much more than $500. (2) Do a search for an item that is similar to the one you are interested in selling, and add that item to your watch list.
7. Let both auctions, the one you bid on and the one you watched, end. (AKA wait 3-5 days)
8. Relog into your eB account and open both auctions. On every single relevant link in each page, right-click and open as new tab. Feedback, seller info, "Me" page, view more pics. Literally everything. You should have like 30 tabs open.
9. Find another item, and ask the seller a question. Doesn't matter what the item is and what you're asking. It can be a blue shirt, and you can ask the seller if it is red pants or if it comes with a complimentary pelican tattoo done by a Hells Angel biker. It really doesn't matter what you say, as long as you say something.
10. Start selling the item you want to sell, but DO NOT LIST IT. At the end, hit SAVE FOR LATER.
11. Here's where my methods diverge, and I'm not sure which is better but they've both been working for me:
11A. Wait for the "Hey come back!" email from eB. When they notice you have an item you didn't complete the listing on they will send you this email in 48-72 hours. Follow the links in the message.
11B. With the item you want to sell as your "saved listing" you start a 2nd listing and list your starter item. This is that used book you picked up from the garage sale for 10 cents from that girl down the block. Standard rules apply - do not use the Advanced Selling Tool, include 3 or more pics, and do not start your auction for .99 as is suggested.
12. This is actually very important. After your listing is complete
STAY ON-LINE AND CONTINUE TO BROWSE eB FOR ANOTHER 10-15 MINUTES. SERIOUSLY. I don't know why, but this step is often the deal-breaker for my accounts. Personally, I have YouTube open in another tab and I'm streaming music or a podcast to make the time pass while I do this.
Thank you for selling on eB! Your monthly selling limits are 10/1,000!
Goozle