It seems that paranoia got out of hand. Even if me saying that is a bit hypocritical. One thing is being careful and NOT SLIPPING EVEN ONCE and another being paranoid, the latter is the bad option.
People that say that you can't buy or sell within the first few days don't know what they are saying. I've witnessed accounts that bought items within the FIRST HOUR after being opened and are still going today. I HOPE THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION.
While I can't say the same for selling (only because I'm not 1000% sure about it), but did we forget how eBay makes its money? They want people to sell their stuff.
Even though the following has been written a hundred times, here's what I've absorbed so far from contributions in this forum:
1) Watch out for cookies, temp files and beacons. Don't open anymore emails related to your suspended account. Unles you do it in a text-only client. FOR GOD'S SAKE DON'T OPEN ANY LINKS. Erase all your cookies, temp files and history on your browser before logging into your account. Don't use your email for eBay communications, use ebay's messaging to do it.
2) Get a new credit card. The more legit the better...there is a difference in my experience between getting a Walgreens VISA registered to HAPPY SHOPPING and a Simon card from redflagged METABANK and one from a real bank, like a reloadable gift card registered to YOUR NAME and with an address of your choosing. Guys, cheking accounts nowadays are FREE, get 50...OK NOT 50, but get 3. They can send the cards to your real address, then just call the bank to change your mailing address, wait a week or so and you can use the card to confirm your address. Then call again to stop paper statements to avoid suspicion.
3) IP and MAC Address are not as important as one may think. But if you're paranoid like me:
If you have cable (Comcast, Cox, TimeWarner, Adelphia): You're in trouble. It's nearly impossible to reset a IP address for these devices because these IPs are assigned based on the MAC address of your modem (which is burnt into the device and it's not 'spoofable' unlike your network card) and even if your ISP reps are kind enough to do a network release, it'll get back on with the same IP. Go to your friends house. Or better yet steal your neighbor's WiFi and save gas.
If you have DSL, you caught a break. Just reset your modem.
And the best option: Get a Dial-up service, and milk it for all it's worth.
Obvious ones: Get a new email, one NOT based on a domain you own please!
Registered address, one within your area, never one that can be traced to you. Different phone number, Vonage or Skype or convenience store cheap-o-phones will do.
Things I'm unsure about, but should be kept in mind just to be more effective at isolating the problem if you get suspended again.
Modify your listing style as much as it is practical.
First items you sell must be different than what you were selling when you got suspended (i.e. garage junk).
I probably forgot something, but last thing to remember: Be greedy, but not TOO greedy. The day I decided to start selling to Canada to 'expand' my reach my entire operation got floored. Why? As expected its way easier for people that want to hurt you to do it through the Canadian website, for some reason unkown to me. And someone who wanted to hurt my business cleverly sniped me. The rule may apply differently in other cases, but the principle is the same.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, NOTHING LAST FOREVER, AND AS EVIDENCED IN THIS AND OTHER FORUMS YOU CAN BE A 6 YEAR 99.9% +FB PS AND EBAY WILL SHUT YOU DOWN. SO PLAN AHEAD AND THINK SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM. I'D RATHER HAVE 3 ACCOUNTS WITH 300 FB EACH THAN ONE WITH 1000.
IT I'LL COST YOU SOME TIME AND MONEY TO SET THIS UP, BUT IT IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE SALES YOU'LL LOOSE IF YOU GET SUSPENDED AGAIN, AND YOU PROLLY WILL.
|