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Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

I don't know what happened to the original post here, but it must have got too carried away and deleted. So lets try and keep this civil? I'm not worried about hurting anybody, just saving my accounts or protecting my investments.

So a friend is trying to order my products to copy and sell. What I do not know is if there is any intention of leaving negative feedback. But I suspect so because we had a deal gone bad a year ago, where I was the victim but he no longer had the opportunity to invest in my business.

Tonight I received 2 more orders for different parts in my product line, purchased from a friend of his dads. Linked them on facebook. His dad made a purchase yesterday for 2 items. Neither one of these accounts have been active for years and have 1-3 feedback. Almost all of my customers buy only one product and I have one defect in 600 transactions this year.

If he continues this behavior and they all leave negative feedback or open cases will ebay make the link and take it all down? All these accounts are registered within 30 miles and a couple of them even linked in 2 states together because they lived together obviously. If he lists exactly the same product I am selling will ebay do anything about it since it's blatant he is manipulating feedback to take me down?

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

Do you perhaps have another ebay account you can list on so that you can let this one cool off??

Take completely different pictures and write different descriptions.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

I do, however my items are fairly distinctive so he will search and find me. And taking new pics is a huge ordeal. It takes me an hour plus for each product. I have a huge advantage in my niche because of my photography skills.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

1hr is nothing when you consider losing a TRS ebay account.

I personally would do anything to save an account..

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

You also can make your buyer requirements very strict so that people with his amount of ratings find if very difficult to buy from you.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

So are you saying that ebay won't do anything if there is a reasonable link?

I can't hide my account without selling completely different items which I am not setup to do. I have a certain industry I work in and have economies of scale etc. I'm good at what I do.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

Requiring buyers to have 10+ positive I guess could be a good start. But if he has any friends at all, it doesn't take too many to really screw up my account.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

He cannot have that many friends with such feedback and requirements that would waste there time on such antics...

Make it so even the lowest feedback can only buy 1 item so that if he willing to destroy you, He will have to work for it.

Increase your prices if you have to.

Can you not block his location from buying ? ( no idea where he is of course)

Eventually he will run out of bank accounts to add to PayPal..

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

First up, ebay is not known to give a toss about former friends who have fallen out.


Your immediate aim is to take all urgent steps to defend your account.

10+ feedback might be a bit high.

Take 10, and consider as many option as you can think that will hinder any damage.

Then come back & post them....

Can you let the account cool off?

Have you other items to list?

All options.

You are at battlestations now. Be ready for war.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

I don't think the account can "cool off". My percentage of defects vs transactions won't change by sitting idle if/when he decides to leave negatives and create problems. As soon as I relist my stuff he will be on top of it. I can't hide it and still sell effectively. It's not going to just go away.

I do have cheaper items I can list a lot easier, but I would take quite a hit in income if I pull the others down. And that doesn't keep him from bidding on those either. He will find me and see what I have listed.

So I guess my steps look like this.
-block hawaii (where he and his dad reside and at least a few of his friends) DONE
-block buyers who have bought an item in the last 10 days and have feedback <5 DONE
-add as many of my cheaper / faster selling items to build sales faster
-sell some items at cost
-if I get any negatives or any more items purchased by his friends, raise prices on items he wants to buy.
-call 911
-turn myself into ebay so I close it before he does :)

Honestly I don't see how to avoid the wrath if he wants to hammer the account. Unless ebay will at least consider the links and protect me as a seller like they should.

I guess I sit and wait for a defect at this point. And perhaps call him if it happens and see if we can clear the air.

I would like to be able to block another state where we are from and almost all of our friends are. But I can't find that. I also can't find where you can block based only on their # of feedback.

Is there small things I can do to help like require signature confirmation on shipments and stuff like that. If they decide to send the items back for a refund and keep the parts, that's going to suck!

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

as I said in the last thread, why are you not just canceling the transactions?

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

Because even if I cancel the transactions they can leave feedback after they have already paid.

If I cancel the transactions and they leave a negative, it looks like I provoked it. If I carry on like any other transaction, at least I have a chance of ebay looking at it like I didn't deserve it based on my past performance and the links of these accounts.

If he just wants to copy my product and leave no feedback, I'm ok with that. I would rather him think he is pulling one over on me and flying under the radar so he doesn't leave any feedback.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

You cant block people that have a feedback score of "X" and under. If you could, id have done it long ago. All you can do is make it to where people with less than "X" feedback can only buy 1 item from you every 10 days.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

I just had 2 more orders from one of this guys' best friends. I went to school with him, but I wasn't really friends with him.

Maybe I should have one or two of my mutual friends call these people placing orders and see if they can talk them out of leaving bad feedback.

In the meantime, do I shut my auctions down and make a lot less money on another account that he will eventually find, or play it out and hope ebay makes the link?

That's 6 orders now in 2 days.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

Keep us posted

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

Can you not post on other platforms in order to let this rest a bit?

I have dealt with this on Cra.igsL.ist and immature competitors. They are simply immature and childish and eventually they will stop. Either they get bored or they see they aren't phasing you.

This person clearly has no life to be able bother friends and family just to harass you into submission. Dealing with psychos is a pain in the a$$, but most are simple minded. Take a break and let this person think they won and come back later. Again, there is no way this person could keep this up forever and you just have to wait it out because EB will not give a d@mn about your personal problems.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

Critical to understand ebay will NOT do a thing.

Expect no help from them.

:typing:

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

So do you recommend just shutting the account down now to save it. I could only end up with 8 defects in about 700 transactions if they all leave negative. Just wait and let those clear? At what point defect rate wise does ebay limit an account?

I'm just a little afraid since I used a variation of my name that if I call in and try to get ebay to do something, they might ask for docs and/or my ex friend is able to piece it together for them.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

I've canceled items before they were shipped and never had any recourse for it. it just asks why you want to cancel then says its going to wait on the buyers decision, however also gives you the option to immediately refund the purchase and end the transaction... never heard anything back or got bad feedback... also remember that bad feedback from a competitor is against ebays TOS. If this is a legit account have you tried calling and explaining the situation? Live chat maybe?

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

I'm the A$$hole that would probably take 30 or so stealth accounts and purchase from his main account and hold those 30 feedbacks hostage until all mine are made positive first... j/s

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

It's a stealth with an EIN attached with name variation. It was my first stealth attempt and I thought the name needed to match for bank purposes. The problem is my friend knew it was me for sure lol. But all stealth from here on out. This is $5-7k a month off the table. But I guess it will give me time to create lots of stealths! I'm definitely looking to diversify my products and also my avenues to sell.

Is there anyway to have my girlfriend call in as the business owner and say the registered name was a sales manager and no longer works here? Because I think it would go over better with a woman on the line and somebody that isn't banned and can send in paperwork. I do have invoices of course because it's a legit business.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

When you updated your buyer requirements settings did you tick the box near the bottom of the list that says ' apply these settings to CURRENT and future listings' ??

Are you sure he isnt creating these other accounts himself??

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

I worked for a man that was suspended from ebay. Because I had logged into his account a few times to work from home, when he was suspended MY personal account was suspended as well. They linked it thru IP addresses. I called, explained the situation and they reinstated my account. If you think this is the case, call ebay and document it! That way if they leave negative feedback as retaliation ebay will remove it.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

Yeah I did click that. I know who all the buyers are. They are all people from my home town. This last one I graduated with. We weren't really friends. It's kind of putting a target on their back because they are supporting this criminal. It's not right.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

Put a ridiculous shipping amount for the people you know are buying from you / setting you up for bad feedback. Once they cannot or will not pay, open a case against them, then block and get your FVFs back.

And I mean like....$500 for shipping.

For other legit purchases, place in your auction (MOST shipping in the USA free) or something to that affect.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

How can I do that? These are all buy it now auctions and they pay right away.

I do have the opportunity to cancel these last 2 transactions because they asked me to ship to another address. I kindly explained to them we would have to cancel the transaction and them update their information for me to do that and they are willing. I already blocked them so I assume they couldn't re-order.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

:grin::twisted::grin:

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

You would have to change it temporarily.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

Do you mean change all the auctions so shipping isn't free and it's calculated at the end of auction? Then they can't pay before I send an invoice?

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

For an update. He has purchased 10 items. I decided to end all auctions that he has NOT purchased yet. Of course I have blocked all of those buyers. If he decides to purchase items he has already purchased, then I know for a fact that he plans to do more than copy my products. If it happens even once I will probably shut the entire account down and save the account and/or possibly talk with eBay. It's very likely that his account, which he plans to compete with, is clicking all over my auctions which should be strengthening the link. These aren't random ⊗⊗⊗⊗ accounts he is using, this is an amateur using all of his friends'.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

Actually You could threaten to sue him for fraud. You have the proof. Running stealth isn't illegal. You could also press criminal charges for obstructing business. Or you could take matters into your own hands. Up to you.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

On what grounds/

When did you get a law degree?

Need a hellava lot more proof than a few posts here.

dont give advice that suxs.

:ballchain:

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

My girlfriend happens to be a licensed lawyer here in my state and that is exactly what she wants to try and do. I don't know what exact laws he is breaking, but that is her job. :) Perhaps the best course of action might be a letter from my attorney that details exactly what is going to happen if he damages my accounts. It would be very easy to show lost income, that is for sure.

All of the packages he has ordered will be delivered to the buyers today. So I would imagine I will start to find out what his intentions are.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

Be practical. You've got a lot invested and a lot to lose. Take time to think it through from all angles so you can make good decisions.

Bottom line, you can't stop this yourself, and EB won't care.

Of course an attorney thinks suing or threatening to sue can solve every problem... when your best tool is a hammer every problem starts to look like a nail. :)

You want to explain your stealth business to a judge? Good luck with that. No matter how honest you are it's going to sound questionable.

Even better, let her threaten this guy - you may find yourself explaining stealth to the IRS, along with that name variation you used for the EIN, and whatever else they SUSPECT you may be doing. Tax enforcement is known for a real great sense of humor about strategies that look like they could be used to evade paying taxes, I'm sure they'll get a good laugh out of this story! The truth won't save you from an audit.

This account may or may not be toast. I'm not sure even you are clear how much damage is already done or coming down the pipe at you.

Play for the long term. Give things a few weeks rest. Nobody can pursue this at this level of involvement for very long. His friends will get tired of messing with this in a while.

Take new pictures, write new descriptions, open other accounts and spread sales around. Pick an origin location somewhere other than where you are now.

The bitter truth is, nobody on EB is safe - ever. If this doesn't take your account down, in time something else will.

Everybody at EB has a target on their back, and the clock is always ticking. A run of bad weather that slows down packages, a bunch of buyers that give you three stars at Christmas, anything - the question isn't if you will be shut down, but when.

I made twenty accounts when I started 4 years ago, I only have ten of that first batch left.

And NEVER share any information with anyone again about what you do or how you do it, so it can't be used against you.

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

FALSE. There is no "buyer requirement" in ebay that says anything about transactions or feedback except one....that a person does not have a total of negative feedback.

I think there are 4 possible screens in the listing system. One has to do with unpaid item strikes, one has something about buying 4 items from you in the past (time period? that have not been paid for, one is about feedback, and I think the last is living in an area you do not ship to.

You can put a requirement in your listing but it is not really recognized as a screen. The person can still buy it if they have red hair even if you write that redheads may not buy. Or any other screen....

Re: Update RE: Friend / Competitor trying to ruin my account.
 

OH, I FORGOT TO MENTION.... you can block buyers. Yes, you will have to find out their ebay name first and that may mean having a sale to the Dad's friend and THEN screening. Sorta like closing the barn door after the horse gets out.

If it is not a stealth account then get with ebay and be upfront and let them know your concerns.

If it IS stealth, get your ducks in a row adn then wait...and then see if ebay can help you out of that jam. If you are going to lose the account you might as well go down swinging.