eBay account suspended for Miscategorization of Digitally Delivered Goods policy

[amirw]

Hello,

my 5 year old eBay account was suspended 2 days ago indefinitely for Miscategorization of Digitally Delivered Goods policy.
I had a store with a few categories including eBooks.
I never made real money selling ebooks and recently I started to market successfully "websites for sale", ready to use websites I sell, that I set up and host with 2-3 income sources.
The ebooks have been listed in my store "good until cancelled", with no online auctions. I rarely sold ebooks. During the last month I sold no more than 3 ebooks for a total of $5-$6 dollars, and this was a "good month"...
Shortly, I didn't keep the ebooks in my store to make money or manipulate feedback.
I was negligent, I didn't remove these listings, but I am not a "criminal".
I was thinking to select a few ebooks and list them as physical items on CD, but didn't have the time and I didn't expect my account will be suspended, otherwise I would have removed them instantly. Why risking my business for a few ebooks that don't sell?

For the last 2 weeks ebay have sent emails telling me they removed various listings for miscategorization, but again, I decided to do something with the ebooks when I have time. Not very clever but not a criminal.
Eventually they suspended my account indefinitely.

I had 1238 feedbacks, 100% positive. Never had any complaing against me. eBooks haven't been my line of business. No money from them, almost no sales, no feedbacks. So I didn't do anything actively for my own benefit. I didn't list new items, I didn't replace deleted items, I just didn't do anything.
To summarize: one with a clean record, 1238 feedbacks 100% positive, violate a new policy introduced 30 days ago, and for this they suspend my account not for 7-30 days, but indefinitely?
I appealed and got the reply that the suspension is correct. I don't say it is not. But a suspension for the first time, for the violation of a new policy, forever? Why? By the way, they could have removed all the listings at the same time, in which case it could have been considered as a one time offence, with no suspension, but maybe they were looking for a reason to suspend my account, I have no idea why.
The live help representative checked it and told me to send a second appeal and gave me a few tips about the way to do it. I don't know if they'll accept it. I haven't appealed yet.

Do you have any tips for me? I've been trying to make money online for years, and now that I was so close to success, it happened...

Thanks for your help.

[jscan]

Take a look around the forum, spend some time reading and you will find the answers to your questions. this forum is packed with information which is what keeps most of us on ebay.

I dont understand why you would be selling ebooks if as you said "No money from them, almost no sales, no feedback " ...

theres no point carrying drift wood which would harm your business.

[ebayaintstupid]

do all you can. Demand to speak with someone. Do anything you can to get your account restored.

If not, then forget it and move on.

EBAY is out to suspend everyone. New policy.

If you want to list a freakin garden hose in your basement you have to fax documents to Paypal and EBAY, probably give up your SS# and then get suspended indefinitely for abusing EBAY.

Why? They don't care about you. They want the big fish. Little fish don't fry up well.

[Sammi007]

I guess they probably thought that you were manipulating feedback....eBay is like an old man...you can't change their mind....If they said you are indefinitely suspended, then you are indefinitely suspended...get as many tips as you can from this forum and open a new account...or if you have the money I suggest you buy the auction stealth eBook, it really helped me...

[411guru]

Whats up dude. I too was suspended for the same reason. I sold a software program that sold like crack, some ebooks, and gaming guides. You have to research which ebooks sell well and which don't and at what price. I sold a certain gaming guide that sold ok for $2.99 but I sold like 30 a month so its ok money. But my main product, I made $200 a day alone from it.

I've appealed 5 times already and they said the same thing to me they said to you. Good thing I have another account. What was funny was my older account which violated this policy like 15-20 times was only temp suspended for 1, then 3 days, while my new account got killed without temp suspension.

I've posted various comments on here about my story, just search via my profile. Also I suggest you read up on here too. Good luck

[amirw]

Hi again everybody,

I would like to thank you all for your posts and great information.
I joined yesterday and I think this is a great forum.
When reading posts in this forum, I wonder if I can trust eBay to be my partners and if I can rely on eBay as an income source.
If they suspend accounts so easily and treat eBayers like criminals, I can have a great eBay business, quit my job and then find myself one day with nothing.
I know myself. I know I conduct my business honestly, but if eBay have their own dictionary and their definition of "honesty" is different, I can never be sure they will not suspend me even if I'm the most honest eBayer.
Don't they understand that even EMPIRES disappear one day because they consider themselves to be GOD and don't care about people?

Anyway, as I mentioned, they suspended my account.
About 10 hours ago I sent my second appeal and now I'm waiting for their reply....They'll probably let one of their "machines" reply, a formal mechanical reply...

I wonder how they decide about the suspension.
One member of this forum has been suspended for 30 days for feedback manipulation. In eBay's eyes it's a serious offence, something done actively against their rules, and his account has been suspended for 30 days.
Another member has been suspended for 1-3 days for the same violation as mine (miscategorization). This relates to his 6 year old account.
And my account has been indefinitely suspended for miscatogarization.
I haven't done anything to promote the digital items in my store. They have been there for more than one year. And when I decided to promote 2 digital items, I listed them online as physical items shipped on a cd, so I did respect eBay's policy.
My account is 5 years old, no previous suspensions, no problems, 1238 feedbacks 100% positive, so why did they decide to get rid of me? How do they decide about the suspension periods? I just wonder...

[amirw]

Just one more point.
My PayPal account has been charged today "the eBay Seller Fees Recurring Billing Payment".
They charged my account 3 days after suspension.
This is exactly the amount as per their invoice for the period from March 16, 2008 through April 15, 2008.
It means I still owe them for the activity from April 16, and I had a few listings + my store subscription after April 15.
I know that when they suspend you they charge all the fees immediately, but they continue as before, charging the monthly fees, leaving an unpaid balance, and they didn't charge immediately. And still, when I log into my account, there is a nice red line: "Your account has been suspended"...
(As this is my first suspension, I don't know if this is the sentence they use for all types of suspension, or they have a sentence like: "Your account has been suspended for X days", or "Your account has been indefinitely suspended" etc. ....)
Still waiting for their reply to my second appeal.

[ebayhateluv]

HI:
Have you been warned for same offense previously? if yes-- they will take that into acct--also:
If you were a Power seller- you have so many violations per 60 day period-- then they pull your PS logo for 30 days---have you went through this already?
IF youve already been warned/already had your logo pulled before, then this time is serious..
Maybe call your acct manager-she if she can help you

[laurapalmerwashere]

i am so glad to have found these boards.
this exact same situation happened to me over the last two weeks or so....ebooks...that i make about $.19 each on after all the fees.
today i got the 30 day suspension notice....Immediately After paying my monthly ebay bill.
the battle begins...wish me luck!

[Lisa B]

Good luck Laura and welcome!

[411guru]

30 days? You should consider yourself lucky. How many times did you violate the policy?

[laurapalmerwashere]

i suppose i could after seeing all the other troubles between ebay and it's "customers"....but in my own little situation 30 days is anything but lucky. honestly i do not see that i "violated" any policy...especially what they are accusing me of, which is the "artificial inflation of feedback". Per their description of that violation, I did nothing to justify being suspended.
The problem now is even worse considering what I have now found out about eBay "customer service", which is that it is non-existent. Unless of course you are a powerseller making them bunches of $...they get the CS. Which is screwed up b/c of the fact that being a powerseller is an invite only program...so really the "regular" customers...the thousands of small businesses, online businesses and regular joes selling their crap...eBay was built on, don't deserve customer service...well, b/c we obviously are not important customers to them.
The item numbers they have listed are of ANY item that I sold priced at $.50 since I think Oct of last year. They even included a cd that sold as part of a combined order from a buyer who bought Several Used cd's i was selling as one of the "violations". It's a freaking computer error of sorts really and b/c i can't get a freaking competent human on the phone, live chat or at least to respond to an email I am stuck.
I did file a complaint with the BBB as soon as I found out about the absolutely HORRIBLE customer service they claim to have. The chat agents are incredibly rude and in most cases uninformed and come off as just plain stupid. They are little minions taught to frustrate the customer to the point of giving up on receiving the service we should receive as paying customers. i've been tossed around between so many of them at this point, i've had three or four blatantly lie to me and one "supervisor" terminated our session with no waring...the chat equivalent of being hung up on by a CSR.
Like the OP of this thread, they also tried to charge me for more fees after the suspension. Luckily I have never set up an auto charge there for fees (didn't trust them to begin with) so it's just an automated billing email that they are sending. HA! no response (WELL over the "24-48" hours they state) to ANY emails I've sent about this problem....yet the billing emails have no trouble. big shocker.
I really do not know what the hell to do here. It pisses me of so much b/c i was only using ebay (i've been using since 99 so i already knew it sucked ass but what option is there) to help recoup money from toys (i've got two kids...we all know ebay is a perfect way to sell and buy well cared for kids stuff) and other new and used random things. PLUS..the main reason is to help in building my online presence, I make and sell crafts....again, a HUGE benefit ebay provides for artists...the ability to market and offer their pieces worldwide. i Hate ebay.

[laurapalmerwashere]

Originally Posted by Lisa B

Good luck Laura and welcome!

oh and it's Kat.
(the username just refers to a tv character)

[411guru]

30s IS nothing. What about the rest of us who got killed forever and have to make fake accounts, hide ip, make fake paypal, bank account, fake credit card info. Then every time you log in, you have to remember your fake info???

You are lucky. Just wait 30 days and get on with your life. Once you are back on, I suggest forget about selling ebooks at all. If you do, make sure it is on CD and price it like $7.00. Good luck.

[laurapalmerwashere]

Originally Posted by 411guru

30s IS nothing. What about the rest of us who got killed forever and have to make fake accounts, hide ip, make fake paypal, bank account, fake credit card info. Then every time you log in, you have to remember your fake info???

You are lucky. Just wait 30 days and get on with your life. Once you are back on, I suggest forget about selling ebooks at all. If you do, make sure it is on CD and price it like $7.00. Good luck.

okay then...um, well sorry if i guess i offended you in some way by posting what IS a problem for me (and others).
i understand that in your situation, you would consider someone like me lucky. i do not. "getting on with my life" is not really the issue at all, but thanks for that.
the first thing i said was, yeah compared to the stories i've seen here, and elsewhere, i am obviously not in the same boat as many others. but again...this is the first time i've had any trouble on ebay, maybe that's why it's only 30 days, rather than more serious action due to it being my 5th or 6th or more violation.
the ebooks are out for sure, they were out when they told me to take em down. but that's why i've said my problem is one of being accused of something that i never did...and then not being able to have it rectified. take care.

[Lisa B]

Would that be laurapalmer from Twin Peaks? loved the show!
I always suspected the Dad had done her in and I was right.

[laurapalmerwashere]

Originally Posted by Lisa B

Would that be laurapalmer from Twin Peaks? loved the show!
I always suspected the Dad had done her in and I was right.

yes! me too, one of the Best shows ever. yeah, ever since Ray Wise has totally creeped me out, any role he's ever done...just creepy. there was a book, The Diary of Laura Palmer, such a demented read....ah, gotta love David Lynch.

[kimjihun83]

New poster here. I am sharing your frustrations. Im a sportscards seller and have been making enough money for food, bills, and trying to save for next semesters tuition. i thought hey let me use my head and think of something. so i thought of a plan and posted information. it sold pretty decently too. unfortauntely i got an email getting those listings removed, suspended indefeinately for miscategorization blah blah. im a power seller with over 1470 feedback. they said something about how it violates increasing feedback?

i got 2 calls about this where someone calls and does a follow up. i coudlt get the calls both times. they leave a voicemail but say NOTHING about how you could get suspended. i call the number back but its just automated when you call back and you cant talk to anyone.

anywyas i appealed, and am waitingfor a reply. im very worried right now and without ebay i cannot make a living for the time being so i am very worried. this situation is horrible and it is stressing me out. i will keep reading but i am hoping you guys can give me some reassurance some how. i would appreciate that so much.

also the LIVE Help was HORRIBLE. no help at all. wont answer simple questions and keeps saying the saftey or whatever department needs to and will take care of it. so live chat SUCKS.

[411guru]

Whats up dude. Same thing happened to me on my one account. After I emailed them about why other people get temporarily suspended and I get indefinite, They said its because they aren't doing temporary for digital sellers. They didn't even let me do the appeal process to fax info etc. I said what if I faxed it anyway, they said it won't be looked at.

Anyway, its been 3 months since I was killed and I'm still killed. Too bad cuz I was making in the thousands a month. So now I am on iOffer selling the same thing making hundreds a month. Better than nothing. In any case. You can try but don't expect to get your account back. I do have another account that is a powerseller, which is still active however. Always good to have multiple accounts. Just make a fake account.