eBay called...

[user3657]

Today eBay called me. They call me once a month about 3days in a week and leave messages about their great listing promos and how great everything is.

Well today's phone call was kinda odd...As it was ringing I said maybe I should pick up, I mean I just sold 3k in 24 hours, just pick up and listen to their speech. I couldnt though, because I was with a customer...

Not even 5 mins later, I get an email saying that my 15year old ebay account now is limited to xxx/xxxxx. Not a big deal as they did give me a nice limit, just kind of hurts the ego I guess.

Maybe they were calling to ask about my future sales, who knows. But if ebay is calling you, pick up!

This message is to notify you that in order to assist you in building a strong foundation for future transactions on eBay, we have placed a selling limit for your listing activity. These limits are not in place as a consequence, rather as a preventative measure to help our seller's keep from becoming overwhelmed with large increases in account activity.



Many members already have limits placed on their account. Account limits allow us to learn about your selling activity and make sure you're adhering to our selling practices policy and performance standards. Limits vary by seller and can change over time.



During this time, we want to confirm you are continuing your positive history by ensuring you are keeping focused on creating great transactions for your customers. Doing so will greatly increase the chances of an ongoing successful eBay business and help to avoid any future account issues that may arise. These limits will allow you to continue selling while also allowing us to monitor your incoming Feedback, Detailed Seller Ratings, and any customer complaints. Please understand that the actions we have taken do not mean your account performance is not good, but we do this to help all eBay sellers further improve their selling history and account performance.



Because you are doing well at selling at these volumes, you should not hit your selling limit unless you dramatically increase your sales. However, if you do wish to grow your business, we will gradually increase your limit as you show that you are able to successfully handle the higher sales volume. The selling limit on your account is based on the number and dollar amount of open (active) items and successfully sold items per calendar month.



You can now sell up to 100 items monthly or up to $15000.00 monthly.

(Keep in mind that this includes multiple quantity listings which can greatly influence this number.)



If you do reach one of these amounts during the course of a month you will be unable to list additional items or increase the price or quantity of your active items until some of your items end without a winning bidder or until the 1st of the next calendar month, (If you are still exceeding the selling limit at the first of the next calendar month your selling activity will continue to be blocked.)



We believe that your limit is flexible enough to allow you to sell any current items and is in accordance with the volume you may have listed in the past. If you do reach the selling limit on your account and want to increase your sales, please work within the amount for at least 30 days. Once that time frame has expired on 12/16/2013, please reply to this message and we will conduct a review to see if adjustments are appropriate.



We hope that you will use this selling limit to your advantage and focus on succeeding with your current sales. We value you as a seller and hope to work with you in order to continue to establish a strong selling history and successful business relationship. It is in our best interest to help our sellers succeed so that we can have a positive trading environment and eliminate bad buying experiences on the site.



Thanks,

eBay

[glacier922]

I was curious, when eBay calls, is it a real person that calls? Also, couldn't you just select eBay not to call you under preferences?

[zoneout]

Basically takes them 12 paragraphs to tell you they don't trust your aasss after you have been together for 15 years. I cannot find words to describe how pathetic they are.

[golden_monkey]

they took enough time to look at his past sales and give him a limit reduction that would not hinder his business or money.

I wouldn't exactly call that a d!ck move........

[glacier922]

I didn't want to start a new thread for this, but just wanted to ask again and bump this thread,when eBay calls you out of the blue, is it a real person calling you? Thanks!

[user3657]

Originally Posted by glacier922

I was curious, when eBay calls, is it a real person that calls? Also, couldn't you just select eBay not to call you under preferences?

I think that is for marketing calls, not sure if this was a marketing call or something more but its just funny. phone rang, then 5mins later get this email.
Yes its a real person.

I suspect its just the time of year.

[glacier922]

Originally Posted by user3657

I think that is for marketing calls, not sure if this was a marketing call or something more but its just funny. phone rang, then 5mins later get this email.
Yes its a real person.

I suspect its just the time of year.

Hmmm, I have google voice. What I usually do is change my greeting to my own personal voice saying my stealth name. What would happen if eBay calls and get that? Leave a message? Hang up? Give you a mc999?

[nerdydood]

gv appears to be an issue now ?

[joesshooze]

I have a strong feeling the call & the email were coincidental & from 2 different departments. But I wish you the best of luck.

[jeffweico]

I receive these calls on several of my accounts as well. I always pick up if at all possible. The calls always take EXACTLY 7 MINUTES. They just go through the BS about their new promotions and offer suggestions on how to improve your listings and sales. I think a secondary goal for eBay is to make sure the phone on file exists and is still attached to the seller.

As to the limitation, I think that is pretty much normal if your sales spiked significantly as opposed to rising over time. In ANY business, whether it is online or offline, spikes in sales can be a mixed blessing. YES, everyone welcomes the extra business and the extra profits, but sometimes the business is simply unable to handle the volume. It happens all the time. It could be a manpower issue, or a working capital issue, but either way it sounds like eBay is just trying to protect themselves here.

[user3657]

Originally Posted by jeffweico

I receive these calls on several of my accounts as well. I always pick up if at all possible. The calls always take EXACTLY 7 MINUTES. They just go through the BS about their new promotions and offer suggestions on how to improve your listings and sales. I think a secondary goal for eBay is to make sure the phone on file exists and is still attached to the seller.

As to the limitation, I think that is pretty much normal if your sales spiked significantly as opposed to rising over time. In ANY business, whether it is online or offline, spikes in sales can be a mixed blessing. YES, everyone welcomes the extra business and the extra profits, but sometimes the business is simply unable to handle the volume. It happens all the time. It could be a manpower issue, or a working capital issue, but either way it sounds like eBay is just trying to protect themselves here.

agreed completely. Although, in the past I have had large random spikes and no issues. I have a feeling I will never get an increase if I ever need it and they could lower me even more since they put me under a radar.
I am rated sliver powerseller and 5stars with 100%.

But yes, I do see eBays side on it.

[BigCJ]

Most likely due to the holidays. Which is annoying. But thankfully, they did not outright ban you from selling like they have done with a few of my accounts that have been perfect.

Perhaps once the holidays are over the limits will go back up to what they once were.

I have an account that has been selling for 5 months now and the limits have not budged. Doubt that they will until after January.

I agree with cjmixers, ebay/amzn always get tougher around the holiday season. Shouldn't have happened to a 15 year old account, hopefully your limits will go up soon

[jeffweico]

Originally Posted by Speeder33

I agree with cjmixers, ebay/amzn always get tougher around the holiday season. Shouldn't have happened to a 15 year old account, hopefully your limits will go up soon

This COULD also be two separate issues. We need to be careful of blaming EVERYTHING that happens in November and December on this Christmas season. I doubt that a 15 year old account was limited or suspended simply due to holiday security.

[zoneout]

Originally Posted by golden_monkey

they took enough time to look at his past sales and give him a limit reduction that would not hinder his business or money.

I wouldn't exactly call that a d!ck move........

I would.

How do YOU know it won't hinder his business? What if his kid was in a car accident and he doesn't have enough insurance to cover the bills? Maybe they have to start selling expensive paintings and antiques worth more than 15k.to keep her alive. What do eBay apologists like you do in that situation? Either you work for them or are drinking the Kool-Aid.

What you said is laughable at best. "...they give him a limit reduction that would not hinder his business". Who are you kidding??? They gave him a limit reduction to protect themselves. They could give 2 ****s about this gentleman that has been loyal for 15 years!!!

Just unbelievable ... Makes me want to puke.

[user3657]

Originally Posted by zoneout

I would.

How do YOU know it won't hinder his business? What if his kid was in a car accident and he doesn't have enough insurance to cover the bills? Maybe they have to start selling expensive paintings and antiques worth more than 15k.to keep her alive. What do eBay apologists like you do in that situation? Either you work for them or are drinking the Kool-Aid.

What you said is laughable at best. "...they give him a limit reduction that would not hinder his business". Who are you kidding??? They gave him a limit reduction to protect themselves. They could give 2 ****s about this gentleman that has been loyal for 15 years!!!

Just unbelievable ... Makes me want to puke.

Well, I am pissed, yes. I mean, ive done nothing wrong. I can only see the hoilday around and the increase in selling caused it. But, as I said, im a 13(checked) yr silver top rated user with 5/5 across the board.

These spikes are normal for me, and with my perfect account, wth ebay? Why not see if I spike more first?, have any issues, etc.
At the same time eBay is a biz and they are trying to be like amazon and have a good word of mouth this xmas season, I get it.

BTW, I just received another email from Ebay, asking me to rate my CS experience with "Hannah". So I can bet money "Hannah" was calling me about my future sales with eBay, and just decided to give me that limit. Im ok with this, since this is my old old address

[rsot]

Originally Posted by jeffweico

This COULD also be two separate issues. We need to be careful of blaming EVERYTHING that happens in November and December on this Christmas season. I doubt that a 15 year old account was limited or suspended simply due to holiday security.

There could be other issues involved - competitors, maybe weird spike in activity, etc. - just saying.

[zoneout]

Originally Posted by rsot

There could be other issues involved - competitors, maybe weird spike in activity, etc. - just saying.

The "other issues" are that the small and long-time eb sellers have been totally brainwashed by big brother. Eb is a multibillion dollar behemoth. They got that way long before putting great users like user3567 under wraps. So what if he takes the $15k and runs? You think eb loses one penny? They are either insured against large losses or will pass the loss on to everyone else in higher fees. I don't care what anyone says - it is a slap in the face . I trade on 5 other venues and none of them dole out this **** even to new users - let alone one for 15 years.

[jeffweico]

Originally Posted by zoneout

I would.

How do YOU know it won't hinder his business? What if his kid was in a car accident and he doesn't have enough insurance to cover the bills? Maybe they have to start selling expensive paintings and antiques worth more than 15k.to keep her alive. What do eBay apologists like you do in that situation? Either you work for them or are drinking the Kool-Aid.

What you said is laughable at best. "...they give him a limit reduction that would not hinder his business". Who are you kidding??? They gave him a limit reduction to protect themselves. They could give 2 ****s about this gentleman that has been loyal for 15 years!!!

Just unbelievable ... Makes me want to puke.

I AGREE with your philosophy, but we all know that business no longer works that way. It DID, at one time, back in the day. Bankers would give long time customers some slack in an emergency. Police would give the benefit of the doubt to citizens they knew. Businesses grew by innovating and creating new products and services.

Back then, they had two things that have vanished. They had ETHICS classes and CIVICS classes. Ethics taught you how to operate in an above-board, honest manner. Civics taught you the importance of being a good citizen, that we are all in this together since we are all Americans, residents of Mayberry or whatever.

Nowadays, it is "every man for himself". Rather than create new products and innovate, businesses bring in consultants to tell them how to squeeze more fees out of their customers. New businesses are set up with the express purpose of trapping people in situations and extorting money from them. A recent example of this is a porn producer who could no longer make money since porn is free all over the internet. They came up with a new business model - create a porn movie, write a great description of it and then seed it on the Pirate Bay. Gather all of the information on others in the same "torrent" and then sue them for copyright infringement. Nice business model, huh?

But we, as a society stopped doing what was RIGHT a long time ago. Now, the only standard left is doing what is LEGAL and even THAT is falling fast. Corporations routinely violate the law, knowing that by doing so, they will have to pay a penalty or a fine, but that they will make a lot more money than the fine will cost them.

Our politics used to be relatively civil, at least in the first half on the 1900's. Now, it is accepted practice for both sides to use negative campaign ads against each other and even to outright LIE about their opponents. Voter suppression techniques are routinely used. Again, anything that they can LEGALLY get away with. And they wonder why the average person is SICK of politics!

It is no longer enough for ME to WIN, YOU HAVE TO LOSE AND LOSE BIG!

THAT is what we have become.

OK, stepping off of soapbox now....

[nyc]

Originally Posted by jeffweico

I AGREE with your philosophy, but we all know that business no longer works that way. It DID, at one time, back in the day. Bankers would give long time customers some slack in an emergency. Police would give the benefit of the doubt to citizens they knew. Businesses grew by innovating and creating new products and services.

Back then, they had two things that have vanished. They had ETHICS classes and CIVICS classes. Ethics taught you how to operate in an above-board, honest manner. Civics taught you the importance of being a good citizen, that we are all in this together since we are all Americans, residents of Mayberry or whatever.

Nowadays, it is "every man for himself". Rather than create new products and innovate, businesses bring in consultants to tell them how to squeeze more fees out of their customers. New businesses are set up with the express purpose of trapping people in situations and extorting money from them. A recent example of this is a porn producer who could no longer make money since porn is free all over the internet. They came up with a new business model - create a porn movie, write a great description of it and then seed it on the Pirate Bay. Gather all of the information on others in the same "torrent" and then sue them for copyright infringement. Nice business model, huh?

But we, as a society stopped doing what was RIGHT a long time ago. Now, the only standard left is doing what is LEGAL and even THAT is falling fast. Corporations routinely violate the law, knowing that by doing so, they will have to pay a penalty or a fine, but that they will make a lot more money than the fine will cost them.

Our politics used to be relatively civil, at least in the first half on the 1900's. Now, it is accepted practice for both sides to use negative campaign ads against each other and even to outright LIE about their opponents. Voter suppression techniques are routinely used. Again, anything that they can LEGALLY get away with. And they wonder why the average person is SICK of politics!

It is no longer enough for ME to WIN, YOU HAVE TO LOSE AND LOSE BIG!

THAT is what we have become.

OK, stepping off of soapbox now....

Wow is all I can say @jeffweico. That is some real a$$ sh**.

[stanislav]

Just wanted to say <3 jeffweico!