Is it common to have ONLY 1-3 Stealth Accounts?

[tbpatel2]

I'm looking to have MAX 3 stealth accounts to serve me for a very long period of time. I don't have any high risk items, nor do any VeRO re-lated items.

I want to get up to 500 listings per account with ~ 35k in sales per month (basically what I did before). I'm Low Cost/High Volume, so I'd rather focus on a few accounts if it's at all possible.

Any Advice?

[JamesNorth101]

You are going to get SSN/EIN requests at that volume so you will need to research that if you have not already

[tbpatel2]

Originally Posted by JamesNorth101

You are going to get SSN/EIN requests at that volume so you will need to research that if you have not already

I plan to get a EIN when I hit 10k in sales, in your experience would eBay ask for them sooner?

[yankee]

It is paypal, not ebay that needs tax info.

Virtually all accounts will get asked at around 170 items or less.

[JamesNorth101]

They ask for them on projection, so if you shoot out the stall and hit $4k and 50 items within a month on a single PP then your going to get asked for it

[yankee]

I would start with one account. Get the ball rolling. Then start with the next account in a few days or a week. Then every week add an account until you get the sales volume you need to maintain cashflow.

Keep in mind most new accounts have a 5 item selling limit. It is going to take a couple months to get an account decent size. You might need 20 or more accounts to safely and comfortable handle the volume you are talking about.

[rsot]

@OP, aim for 7-10 accounts

[empirestate]

5-10 accounts is decent.

[tbpatel2]

For full disclosure, I bought a 1k/25k limit account from aspkin, so limits won't be much of an issue.

[yankee]

Originally Posted by tbpatel2

For full disclosure, I bought a 1k/25k limit account from aspkin, so limits won't be much of an issue.

You will not be able to sell to those limits right away without being asked for invoices from ebay and an SS, photo ID, Proof of address and invoices by paypal.

You will need to spend a few months SLOWLY growing the account if you dont want to supply docs.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by tbpatel2

For full disclosure, I bought a 1k/25k limit account from aspkin, so limits won't be much of an issue.

If you're going to try to sell at this volume again, buy a few more accounts and spread sales.

[tbpatel2]

Originally Posted by yankee

You will not be able to sell to those limits right away without being asked for invoices from ebay and an SS, photo ID, Proof of address and invoices by paypal.

You will need to spend a few months SLOWLY growing the account if you dont want to supply docs.

That was my intention, and from what I've read in the Stealth Book I can't really list 15 low priced/high quality items a day to start like I did on my original.

In your opinion, would 1 item a day starting the second week be pushing it? (7 items a week after I establish my device trust?)

[MM78]

You can do 15 low risk items with no problem.

[tbpatel2]

Originally Posted by MM78

You can do 15 low risk items with no problem.

Per day or per week??

I'm currently on week 1 just watching and bidding on random items and intend to list items starting next tuesday.

Thanks for the response!

[Retailer77]

You COULD try going big right from the get go with a stealthshop account that has higher limits, but just be ready to provide "docs"...you might get lucky and pass if the docs are well done enough..then you could potentially start selling to limits right from the get go.
However, the downside is if you don't pass you just blew $250 down the drain..its risky..your call.
If you DID want to try the above strategy, I recommend doing it with a $1000 limit account, that way if you don't pass the doc requirements you know you were only out $40 or whatever instead of $250.

Other users on here have stated that even with a higher limit account if you start selling high risk items or to the accounts limit right away ebay can immediately just ban you stating that your too high of a risk to do business with....which I have a hard time believing but I guess its possible..

[yankee]

A LOT of being deemed high risk is in the details of the account, how the account is made, telephone number along with address. But docs is not at all uncommon.

[tbpatel2]

Originally Posted by Retailer77

You COULD try going big right from the get go with a stealthshop account that has higher limits, but just be ready to provide "docs"...you might get lucky and pass if the docs are well done enough..then you could potentially start selling to limits right from the get go.
However, the downside is if you don't pass you just blew $250 down the drain..its risky..your call.
If you DID want to try the above strategy, I recommend doing it with a $1000 limit account, that way if you don't pass the doc requirements you know you were only out $40 or whatever instead of $250.

Other users on here have stated that even with a higher limit account if you start selling high risk items or to the accounts limit right away ebay can immediately just ban you stating that your too high of a risk to do business with....which I have a hard time believing but I guess its possible..

Great point. I won't be selling high risk items at any stage of my business but it does make sense to test this strategy with an account that doesnt cost $247


Is there a good explanation somewhere of what a "High Risk" item is? I have looked through the forums but I couldn't really find one. My main reason is due to the my strategy, if I find an item that is high risk I could avoid listing it.

[Retailer77]

Originally Posted by tbpatel2

Great point. I won't be selling high risk items at any stage of my business but it does make sense to test this strategy with an account that doesnt cost $247


Is there a good explanation somewhere of what a "High Risk" item is? I have looked through the forums but I couldn't really find one. My main reason is due to the my strategy, if I find an item that is high risk I could avoid listing it.

Basically any well known branded item

[rayraymond1218]

Originally Posted by Retailer77

You COULD try going big right from the get go with a stealthshop account that has higher limits, but just be ready to provide "docs"...you might get lucky and pass if the docs are well done enough..then you could potentially start selling to limits right from the get go.
However, the downside is if you don't pass you just blew $250 down the drain..its risky..your call.
If you DID want to try the above strategy, I recommend doing it with a $1000 limit account, that way if you don't pass the doc requirements you know you were only out $40 or whatever instead of $250.

Other users on here have stated that even with a higher limit account if you start selling high risk items or to the accounts limit right away ebay can immediately just ban you stating that your too high of a risk to do business with....which I have a hard time believing but I guess its possible..

Why not just make your own account for 20$ or less

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by rayraymond1218

Why not just make your own account for 20$ or less

For certain low-value niches it's just easier to start out with a high limit account. They can be bought for a whole lot less than $250... lol.