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Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

So I created a fully verified PayPal account and create an eBay account and bought two items. I waited about 10 days before listing my first item, and with that I listed a dollar store screen protector for lower than ebay's suggested price and shipping (It suggested $2 w/ 2.54 shipping but I started at 1 cent with reduced shiping). But after I listed, I got hit with 0/0 limits and was told to call in to discuss my selling goals. Seems that eBay doesn't think I'm an everyday "new seller from home", which is absolutely right, so I have this. I first suspected it was my phone, but I thought I'd try a different experiment.

As calling eBay is not exactly my best option, I thought I'd create a new seller under the same PayPal account (same browser, IP, address, everything). I logged out, clicked 'sell' and registered a new user (Under a new email), created a listing linking to the same PayPal account, and I used eBay's suggested values and shipping costs (Yes, eBay, I'm a completely clueless new user and I need all the guidance you can provide...) and my item is for sale with 5/$500 limits. Hooah!

Sure, in time, this account might get limited but I had nothing to lose in experimenting. If they let me sell one, I don't see why they'd limit me later to "discuss my goals".

So, it seems that if ebay thinks you're an experienced seller, you get 0/0 limits to "discuss your goals". If you seem like a complete n00b selling an everyday college book or 'around the house' item (Not anything electronic related, including screen protectors.), they'll give you a chance to prove yourself a worthy seller.

(Btw, it's obvious they use algorithms to assign 0/0 limits as they make the decision in 5 seconds or less. Item category, starting prices and shipping seem like the biggest factors.)

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Calling on 0/0 limits you have nothing to lose.

Was a thread here the other day on how to work the system - use the search function it will help you a LOT

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Already read the thread. Can't call in, won't discuss.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

You cant call in or dont want to call in?

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

I guess he has low confidence being someone else. Nothing wrong with knowing your limits.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Ah OK, my question was genuine though I wasn't sure if it was a case of couldn't or wouldn't. Fair play to you OP, make more accounts. Account creation does come into play.

What's your current setup like? Could you improve so you don't get 0/0...

What phone?
Which CC / VCC?

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Well, it's more due to my phone number looking something like '15-315' on caller id. Decidedly not a California number.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Then that will be your 0-0

Pretty much REAL PHONES or at least real phone numbers are needed to not get 0-0 If not, you will have to call in.

I use an app on all my accounts I want high limits on right from day one. I do this because I will get 0-0 limits instantly even if selling in business industrial that have NO selling limits.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

They can't tell if they call me, but they can tell if I call them. So, it's not the phone number - Using the same phone number on both accounts, they let me list the average priced book with 5/$500 limits, but the 1 cent screen protector got 0/0 limits.

Mystery app sounds intriguing.

I'm getting a cellie next week, so I'll try again to see if it improves.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

What type of number did you add to that account that had 0/0 regardless of caller IDs. Where did you get the number from?

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Exactly.
The number is the issue.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

People using cell-phones are getting 5/$500's all day long. Obviously, it's not the phone in my case since I got the same exact kind of account cell-phone users are getting. It's the starting item.

If it was "the phone" (Such as Google Voice), I would've got 0/0 with both users. But, I didn't - I got 5/$500 with the college textbook.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

I use net 10 phone numbers and I have been getting 1000/25k accounts all week long. I am up to 36 accounts made this week out of 70 on the list. Around 80% of the accounts made are 500/5k or 1000/25k accounts, I'm not kidding. About 5 accounts are 5/500.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Are you using 'creative' names/addresses or more or less "authentic" ones? Is your paypal 100% verified and you put both a bank account and credit card on ebay? I'm getting a strong feeling there's more to it than your phone number. Something in your account creation method must be 'highly validating'.

Then again, I know paypal/ebay has direct access to the cell networks (That's why numbers not on those networks can't receive their texts), so they can tell which service provider your cell is using, and might adjust ratings accordingly. I'm guessing net10's networks doesn't have a lot of 'stealthers' using it unlike Tracfone's networks.

It looks like net10 uses 4 different networks (Sprint, verizon, t-mobile & AT&T). Do you know which network your cell is using?

There's a way to tell at How to Tell Which Network (AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint or Verizon) a TracFone, NET10 or Straight Talk Phone Uses | Prepaid Phone News .

Edit: It seems that TracFone prefers T-mobile & Sprint (The discount networks, a natural favorite of stealthers), while net10 has phones on t-mobile, AT&T and Verizon. It appears prepaid/numbers on the AT&T and Verizon networks would probably be the 'best' phones.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

I used tracfone with att network. The results seems not quite positive (most of them are 5/500), but it may be due to other reasons. Just FYI.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Thanks for the headsup. I just noticed AT&T is on the GSM networks (Older, cheaper technology), so it'd make sense it wouldn't be a 'great network' assuming it has cheap "stealth-friendly" offerings (Thru vendors like tracfone). It appears Sprint and Verizon have CDMA networks, so those are probably 'good' (But, probably not GSM-sprint... if it exists...? Basically, if it has a SIM card meaning a GSM network, probably not "great").

The thing with CDMA is that each phone number is tied to a phone (minimum investment) and they are typically higher cost per month. But, heh, I guess that makes sense - you get what you pay for.

Edit: It appears sprint has both GSM and CDMA networks, while verizon is also on both GSM and CDMA. Can they tell if a number is on a CDMA vs. GSM network? So much data I need to acquire, lol.

Interesting. Carrier lookups: International Numbering Plans, © 2001-2015

Seems that with a tool like this, you could /probably/ detect a tracfone number. I don't have a tracfone, though, so it's an open question.

According to How to detect a type of network GSM/CDMA by phone number - Quora, and from what I've seen of carrier lookups, it doesn't seem like you can determine a GSM # from a CDMA #, only the network provider. Still curious what the 'provider' looks like for an AT&T tracfone with the above tool...

I'm guessing T-mobile and AT&T are blackballed by ebay. Sprint is an open question (Tracfone uses it), and verizon generally seems good.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Surprise, surprise, got the suspension email on the new user. Original user stands intact with 0/0 limits with no email yet. Time to call this one a loss and write it off; still learned a valuable lesson in the 'starting item' factor.

Seems like they really want me to call them... Since when did ebay all of a sudden have an accessible phone crew? lol.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Fairly certain there's more to it than the Net10 vs Tracfone. Care to explain your account creation process?

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

eBay limits new accounts after the first item is listed at random. That is all that the OP experienced. These are fairly easy to overcome. You just call in and they ask a few questions, such as what do you plan to sell, how are you going to ship the merchandise and where you bought whatever it was you listed. 75% of the time, they will restore the account.

So, the OP created the second account and was NOT hit with the random check where eBay wants you to call in. But he WAS found to be opening multiple accounts, so that one was closed and I am guessing that the first one - the one that got the 0/0 limits - will be suspended soon, if it is not already.

It is great that the OP is trying to be analytical here, but the problem is that he is making too many assumptions about how the process works by GUESSING that A causes B when he really does not know for sure that A really DID cause B.

How do I know that the limitation is random, commonly referred to as the "New MC999"? Because some of my accounts get hit with those sometimes. I have called eBay several times when that happens. Once, I asked sheepishly "what did I do wrong?" and the rep told me flat out that this is a random check for new users and that I did nothing wrong to cause this to happen. It really IS an easy call to make. But the OP is correct that you have to be able to use the number you created the account with, because eBay reps DO have caller ID.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

I assumed it wasn't random because the screen protector had the brand name in the title, "IPhone 5", and the ebay listing guide had product options that directly indicated it thought I was listing a cell phone. ("Features" had options like anti-glare, anti-scratch, voice recognition, etc.) So, I assume I was limited because the 'first listing' bot decided I had a high-risk item. But, it /could/ have very well been random.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Most new account call-in notices or "new mc999s" are random. However, listing a high risk item will move you to the top of the list, and you will be asked to call in/suspended. Try low-risk household items. Anything with the word "iPhone" is just begging for trouble.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Maybe every 10th account i make ebay calls me 30 minutes after putting my listing up. 2 times it was for listing a ps3 game. They just ask a few simple questions and its all good.

If you make the account after ebay phone hours maybe you get the 0/0 until you call in and answer the same simple questions that they ask me?

I am in Canada so it might be different there. Dont be afraid to call with any number, worst case they don't up your limit and you make another account 10 minutes later.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Speeder and jeff are 100% right in my experiences.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Wow, valuable insight! I don't remember the exact time but it was probably around 7pm california time, so it was 'off hours'. So, having learned so far.

1) Don't list the first item as electronics
2) Don't initially list items that has the name of electronics in the title
3) List at least 2 hours before the end of ebay business hours in case they want to talk.

Hopefully that should improve it a bit.

Now, as a side question, would a disney brand name be considered 'risky'? I have quite a few things I bought from the dollar store for selling, don't want it to go to waste.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Here's a simple test for anyone asking "Is this product 'high risk'?"

Ask yourself the following questions:

Is it counterfeited? In other words, can you purchase knockoffs of the product on Aliexpress, DhGate, etc?

Is it expensive? I.e. High end phones, laptops, etc.

Is it name brand? Apple, Disney, Dr Dre, Logitech, Pokemon, etc etc etc.

If the answer to all 3 is "No" you're in the clear. If any of them is "Yes" proceed with caution.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

I remember when I created 6 stealth accounts on same day, different IP and different computer.
The first one got 0/0 but the rest were 10/£650.
I honestly doubt it has anything to do with the price, your price was below $5 And so was the suggested, that really shouldn't impact your selling limits.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Awesome! Thanks.

Just realized something. I don't think it was the fact it was a "screen protector" that was the problem, I think it was the use of the word 'iPhone' in the title. eBay's search seems to be title oriented (It detects duplicates via the title), so long as you avoid the blacklisted words in the title (And, since they seem to do manual review on new listers sales (No other reason why it'd take 10-24 hours to show up in search, but longtime users show up immediately.), in the description as well to be safe.), I'm thinking it'd probably be OK. Just so long as the item category isn't a risky one (Like electronics).

So.

1) Avoid blacklisted words in the title (Brand names, etc.)
2) Avoid risky categories.

I think that should do well to avoid getting auto-flagged by the "first listing" bot.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

you should avoid risky items PERIOD. Should not even be bringing them up.

Risky items = Risky accounts.


Please create at your OWN RISK.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Just follow the above guide. No need to complicate it further.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

selling disney knockoffs makes Dumbo cry

https://timeentertainment.files.word...0&h=320&crop=1

:focus:

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

It boils down to the original setup - names / address / type of phone number used and then what you decide to watch and list on the account.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

And that's as close to a hand-holding as you're gonna get. So take notes people.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

The dollar store disney products are all licensed by disney. They aren't knockoffs? (The importing companies are in Hollywood)

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Read my entire test. Posted earlier:

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

If it is a counterfeit"ed" item then ebay will assume yours is also until you prove otherwise.

If you are a new seller, you have a better chance of pulling a rabbit out of your ass than convincing ebay yours is legit.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Yeah, but eBay doesn't know that you got it from the dollar store. They have no idea where you got it from, and with their shoot first, ask questions later mentality, you're an easy target if you list something branded, or high risk. They are more than happy to lose a new seller while keeping the big business copyright holders happy, and also protecting themselves from lawsuits.

In my opinion, the way the account is handled while it is still new (especially in regards to listing your first item) is the most important thing.

Yes, things like the type of phone, address, etc is important as well, but as GhostOfAmazon has proved, it is entirely possible to talk your way out of 0/0 limits due to using less-than-perfect tools such as Google Voice. You could probably even talk your way out of using a made-up address (not that I would ever suggest doing so, but just saying) - there are various reasons as to why eBay's database may not have recognized the address. It could be a newly created home, a rural location that isn't well documented on maps, or just a simple typo.

But talking your way out of listing a VERO or otherwise high risk item while the account is brand new? Almost never happens. If you're "lucky", you'd be able to reinstate the account with documents, but at that point it would be easier to just start over.

Anyway, I think that you're overly complicating things. What you said in your original post is very important:

And that summarizes the "first item suspension". Yes, at times the suspension itself is random, but the actual type of suspension is not. If you listed some random used item that no one would want to counterfeit and you got a temporary restriction/suspension, then yes that is more or less random (though it seems to happen more frequently at certain times of the year and has died down lately). If you listed brand new Beats then it wasn't random and the suspension won't be temporary.

eBay's bots can be annoying, but they're just that - bots. They are programmed to fulfill a specific task and look for specific things. You can all but avoid them (or at least avoid an indefinite suspension) by blending in with all of the "real" newbie sellers, and otherwise following proper stealth procedures as found in the stealth guide and around the forums here.

Also one thing to add about calling them - you don't have to do so from the original phone you used to create the account with. You can honestly use any phone just as long as it isn't actively tied to a suspended account (or ideally no other account at all). Any texting app works fine in a pinch, but any new cheap prepaid phone you could get your hands on is great if you somehow don't have or otherwise can't use the original number.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

I dont do anything special. I still make the accounts the same way I did last year. The paypal is at 80%, everything minus a bank account attached.

I might be that I moved from NV to OK and I have tons of fresh IP address. And I mean tons, 3 lines of numbers change on the address vs only 1 or 2 lines in NV. Overall top speed is lower but the connection is much better.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Maybe PP is geographically segmenting their users? The midwesterners are more trusthworthy than those desperate/scammy western coastal people with their crummy economy.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

Move to OK, the unemployment rate is around 3.7%. I have never seen so many "now hiring" signs in my life like in OK. Dont mind all of the churches on every corner.

Your theory might have some truths to it.

Re: Starting item, price and shipping cost determines 0/0 limits
 

I drew an unemployment rate map of the USA in my past job searches. Turns out both of the coasts are horrible, while the oklahoma/texas/kansas area has been doing great since the beginning of the "great recession". Probably due to the oil fields in that area, just like north dakota. (Oil prices have been high since the great recession started; money moving away from the housing market into the commodities, like oil, pushing up oil prices.)

Not too long ago, I was in Charleston, SC (Nuke school). Man, that place was awesome! It's like the great recession never struck there. Used cars on craigslist were late 2000 models with less than 100,000 miles; compare that to the coasts, where you'll typically find 90's models with 200,000+ miles. Signs that people can't afford to buy a new car every 5 years anymore, like they used to.