Stealth vs Legitimate Accounts

[vetman90]

I have to start off with saying I sincerely value all of the information and effort that many of the long-timers here provide helping suspended eBayr's to get back in the auction game again. I know for many of us eBay income is crucial to making ends meet each month.

With that being said, I am at a loss as to what the facts really are when setting up an account as either a new-to-eBay member account or a new stealth account.

Ebay advertises on TV late at night every now and then how they want you to join them and start making money off all those things you don't want or can't use anymore.

When you open a new account whats the first thing eBay starts sending you after they say "welcome" ?

They start send you messages like " why not start listing items immediately and turn those unwanted items into cash today !!"

And then "good news, you qualify for 10,000 free auction listings. Lets get started today !!"

How could it not be normal for someone to join eBay strictly for the reason of selling a car, a boat or maybe an RV ??

How is it not normal to sign up just to get rid of many items you have laying around that you don't need anymore like a laptop, smart phone or maybe tools that could add up to thousands of dollars ??

Why would anyone signing up for an eBay account think " lets see, first I should browse eBay and get established then I better just buy small items for the first month or two and before I start listing anything of value I think I'll list a coffee cup and a roll of toilet paper or maybe a 2-pack of 100 watt light bulbs."

I think it is not normal to start off with eBay this way.

Lots of folks join when they see something of value that they really need and it is available on eBay at the best price (and it's not a coffee cup).

So now for their first buy on eBay they just purchased a used 55kw generator for $950.00. Now that they became a member and bought something on eBay and lets say the sale went fine and the generator was as expected they think " hey, this was easy so I'm going to list two small air compressors I don't use and I'll make almost enough money to cover this generator."

So now in the past 2 weeks this guy joined eBay, bought a $950.00 item the same day, waited to get it and then listed and sold his two compressors for lets say $600.00 total a week later.

If all this is not a typical scenario then what good is eBay?? They do not publicize any restrictions at all until you join and even at that point many new members are going to try to push the limits until eBay raises their limits just because they want to get rid of their stuff.

It seems to me that the only ones that have to hide in the closet and hope eBay doesn't open the door is us stealth members.

Is it because times have changed ?

I don't know anyone new to eBay that is legitimate so does a "real identity" account go through the same restrictions and repeated confirmations ?

6 years ago I helped my dad at age 71 set up his own eBay account and then we started listing approx. $3,500.00 worth of garage and shop items. Some were auctions starting low and others were fixed price. No repercussions then.

I would think it looks more obvious that something is not right with a new member when they start out by doing nothing with the account for 2 to 4 weeks but browse and then start buying recipe's for 12 to 99 cents for another month before they starting selling by listing things that almost cost more to ship than what they sell for.

So why in the world is eBay advertising to get new members when apparently they are at the same time head hunting and suspending new members for reasons that many of us do not know setting aside the obvious phony address thing??

Why does eBay allow a new member to sign up and open an account with minimal information that they require only to stop this same member 2 or so months later while in the middle of buying and selling and MC999'ng them ??

Even PayPal does not require a SS number to open an account and get started but all of a sudden when you run money through this account they want picture id's, an SS#, a copy of a utility bill and a phone bill and on and on.....

Personally I feel led on by PayPal and eBay because they don't want any of this detailed info when you become a member and then once you get going with your account they start the calls and the MC999's needing to confirm more and more info.

Why not just get it over with and demand all info up front ??

Granted it would place all new challenges on joining as a stealth member but it would eliminate all the bs causing these suspensions right and left.

I'm also afraid all this also leads me to wonder how it's worth the time and money to buy or fabricate a stealth account when it's all going to come to an end soon due to not enough info from the go?

Does it not seem like eBay and PayPal are closing in on us ??

[glacier922]

As strange as it sounds, sometimes I think eBay is helping us by allowing us to get back on. They can shut us out in no time. Their stupid rules could be a blessing in disguise because it gives the people who want to work on it an edge because not many are willing to do it, thus eliminates the competition de facto

[jeffweico]

First off. let me say that we have seen - over time - many posts about the days of stealth being over, or the days of stealth being numbered. It has not happened yet. And it probably won't happen. eBay/PayPal/Amazon can make it more difficult for us, to be sure, but unless they are going to fingerprint everyone and demand that you come into an eBay office - in person - to open an account, there will always be loopholes.

I think the OP is confusing what is "normal" vs what works for stealth. This might be the fault of forum users. We are certainly guilty of making statements like:

The account should look normal in every way

And that is only partially true. The fact is, we are not trying to make the accounts look "normal" so much as we are trying to avoid sending up any red flags that would bring scrutiny on our accounts. We are trying to make them look as "low risk" as possible. This is just the way it has to be with stealth accounts.

A new account that has some history and then starts selling items that cost a few dollars is less risky to eBay than an account that is new and tries to sell a $3,500 item on the first day. YES, those accounts DO survive, but eBay/PayPal are much more likely to run a credit check on them, or to verify the information given in more detail than they would with a less-risky account.

You also have to understand that the people who make TV ads for eBay are NOT the same people running their risk management department. The TV ad people are trying to bring as many new users to eBay as possible. The Risk Management people are trying to shield eBay/PayPal from any undue risk.

It is just like the car commercials you see on TV:

Lease a brand new Accord today for just $209 a month!

In tiny print at the bottom of the screen, it tells you that this payment is based on a rate of interest available to "well qualified" purchasers and that your actual rate may vary. In other words, that $209 monthly payment is only available to 2% of the population. The 2% that has perfect credit with not a SINGLE late payment AND has been at their job for 10+ years AND that owns their home, etc. Most people will pay $300+ per month for that car. Of course, they are not going to highlight that in their ads.

[vogeltron]

Originally Posted by glacier922

As strange as it sounds, sometimes I think eBay is helping us by allowing us to get back on. They can shut us out in no time. Their stupid rules could be a blessing in disguise because it gives the people who want to work on it an edge because not many are willing to do it, thus eliminates the competition de facto

I have to agree. As much as of hassle as eBay has been has been over the years for most the members on this site. The fact that we can actually get back on and sell some items is great.

Everyone who wants to complain forever about eBay. I understand I could probably write a 20 page term paper on why eBay sucks. But when it comes down to it. They have helped me make a great deal of money that I do not believe any other venue would have done.

It is getting more difficult to run stealth accounts than in the past. But if you can get them going and you do your best to prove trustworthy for the most part it seems like they leave you alone. You just have to learn how to play their game.

[Sandy D]

I have both my real account and a nice chest of stealth accounts.

When they originally screwed me over with my main account it caused me to learn stealth and therefore they handed be a golden opportunity to have it all.

Now I have my real account back and more then enough stealths that will last me years if I stopped making any today.

I thank them for allowing me or should I say forcing me to think beyond their crazy ways.

I created what I believe is the first stealth account ever in 2003 but back then did not know what it would be today. Still have that account today and it has been a real money maker for me. Just messing around I created a stealth account.

eBay Stealth I dont think is going anywhere, they change things up all of the time and we just have to adjust.

Do not forget they hired a consulting firm to show them how to be more friendly to sellers. ( LOL )

Shows they know they are weak and need sellers like us to grow, even though they work us we always find a way to defeat their next moves.

[tmastermind]

Also ebay is on the destruction path anyway...

Platforms like eBay and Amazon should now be looked at as a short term money making opportunity in my honest opinion. Stealth is becoming harder and even without, many are finding it harder to make a decent profit on these platforms due to Chinese sellers (no offence to the Chinese) who can sell far more cheaply than any UK or USA seller can offer.

This is where a long term solution is needed for survival. I would recommend SFB which has been created by Aspkin, the owner and creator of this forum and stealth guides.

Yes ebay can still make plenty of decent money and is still doing so for the likes of myself and many on this forum However, many on this forum also recognise, like stealth, never put all your eggs in one basket. The true potential in earning lots of money is diversifying and being in total control of your financial future lies with you and not someone else's platform!

[rsot]

Platforms will change policies and tactics - stealth methods can be tailored and revamped to deal with the change.

[bruce37]

Originally Posted by rsot

Platforms will change policies and tactics - stealth methods can be tailored and revamped to deal with the change.

I agree with all what was writing here..A new ebay member actually do not have any chance to sell serious at least few months..To bad for ebay business..
But the last post make me a little ...
I will launch a challenge here,on this forum with all best stealth specialists in the world.
Can anyone from here create an ebay account in Germany?Ebay.de?
Few clues..they have a real database who put together address,name of person and phone..Sound scary??
Ebay already did that in Germany..when US come??Or actually they started?
Just think at USPS database..

[vetman90]

Few clues..they have a real database who put together address,name of person and phone..Sound scary??
Ebay already did that in Germany..when US come??Or actually they started?

Bruce37, you just hit the nail on the head.

Based on the way Sergeant Friday at Trust & Safety handled my interrogation yesterday I got a strong feeling that T&S is simply using information that any of us can retrieve for a small fee if not for free such as address verification, phone numbers linked to the address and names linked to the address and phone number.

I'll also bet on the probability that T&S enjoy's reading these forum's and seeing how they are doing judged on the basis of misery they are causing.

I know if I worked there I sure would, especially just to try and see if someone's sob story (like mine) shows up and I could think " I'll bet this is one of the guy's I nailed today".

[bruce37]

Yes..i think that this will be the way for ebay evolution..
I want to say that on ebay.de this system is implemented in a automatic way..
You do not talk with anyone..they simply post a message and tell you that their database refuse the combination that you try to assigned ..
Name,address,phone number..of course IP..
Actually you will never can made an ebay.de account even if you want to buy something..
Can this be the stealth accounts end??

[vogeltron]

Originally Posted by rsot

Platforms will change policies and tactics - stealth methods can be tailored and revamped to deal with the change.

For the most part this is true. If politics in certain countries do not get in the way. I have listened to people bitch about eBay and someone giving them real competition for years. Basically unless you are not a half.com seller you probably aren't on Amazon in the US. eBay has its specialties even today. A much as I disagree with certain aspects of eBay/PP policy. Just have to be thankful for what I can do using there service.