23 Ways To Get Suspended By EBay! And How to Avoid It!

[aspkin]

So why does it happen? You think you have a bulletproof eBay account and out of no where, you're suspended! Why?

It's complicated, but what I can tell you is how other people have been suspended and some advice on how to avoid following them.

How to get Suspended/Limited:

1. Trademark Misuse - Selling counterfeit/bootleg/⊗⊗⊗⊗ items. A warning is usually issued before you become suspended, if you continue selling, you'll be suspended indefinitely.
   
   
2. Changing details of your account under a new IP address. EBay will sometimes limit your account, thinking it's been hijacked. Usually a short chat to eBay will lift your account.
   
   
3. Sharing a small network with a suspended eBay account (IP issues). This won't always link accounts, but if there are details between accounts that match, eBay may link and suspend your account as well.
   
   
4. Adding a previously suspended shipping/mailing address to your account, or giving out this information to buyers. If an eBay member recognizes you by your address, they can report you to eBay which then they'll investigate you for inconsistencies.
   
   
5. Having inconsistent information throughout eBay, Paypal, or any credit cards you use. For example using different names and addresses on everything. EBay doesn't like this.
   
   
6. Reusing the same Paypal account for multiple eBay accounts. This includes paying your balance. Paypal and eBay are linking the moment you pay your balance, send money, receiving money and other ways undiscovered yet. It's best not to use Paypal at all or create a new Paypal account per eBay account. Be sure to separate accounts by IP and cookies.
   
   
7. Using the same credit card with multiple eBay accounts. Remember eBay logs everything; you'll need to use a different credit/debit/gift card per eBay account.
   
   
8. Using the same IP Address/cookies for multiple accounts. You need to make sure before you log into your accounts, that your ip address and cookies have not been shared with other accounts. Keep a log of your IP address to make sure you don't reuse the same one. And use Firefox to automatically clear your cookies between sessions.
   
   
9. Too many customers complain about your auctions. If your feedback score is too low, eBay will place selling limits on your account until you can raise your feedback. You can remove negatives from your account, and work to increase your positive feedback to lift any limitations.
   
   
10. Using same information between accounts. An IP address alone won't usually suspend you. But if you have something else similar like a password, it's been known to link and suspend accounts. Make sure your passwords are all different for multiple accounts.
    
    
11. Using an old phone number with a new account. For one make sure your phone number is legit, and second never reuse the same phone number from a previous account. You can easily find free phone numbers from this list of providers.
    
    
12. Listing within 1 minute of creating your account. Some say its okay, some say it isn't. I say give your self at least a day or two before you start listing auctions. Look like an eBay newbie, and your account might last longer.
    
    
13. Shill Bidding. It's never a good idea to shill bid, but if you've been limited because of it, you're usually able to get your account back after sending eBay some required information, but do it again, and you'll find your account suspended indefinitely.
    
    
14. Trying to buy feedback (penny auctions). No way around this, eBay knows what you're trying to do, don't try to buy feedback. You'll be suspended and won't have a chance for reinstatement 90% of the time.
    
    
15. Using some proxies, AOL. This is not confirmed, but there have been some instances where users have had bad luck with proxies. It's best to only use a proxy to setup your account, and use Auctiva to manage it. Don't make any major changes to your account using a proxy or you could find your account limited.
    
    
16. Reading old eBay emails (not confirmed). It's best once your eBay account has been suspended to stop reading emails from that account all together. Unless you're using a primary email address, change the password to that email account and never attempt to open emails from there again. Create a new email account from Yahoo, Gmail or another provider and start with a new eBay account. Some emails have been said to have beacons which read your cookies. Thus don't open/read eBay emails and you'll be fine.
    
    
17. Reusing the same auctions descriptions, image URLs and titles in auctions. Not all suspensions are automated. Some come from VeRO members, buyers who recognize your auctions, and even competition. If someone knows you've recently been suspended, but find you're selling under a new name. All they have to do is report you to eBay and you'll get shut down in a heart beat. Also reusing the same image URLs in your descriptions (exp. aspkin.com/images/test.jpg) with multiple eBay accounts is almost a given instant link and suspension. Change up your domain provider or subdirectory if you're using a 3rd party image host.
    
    
18. Logging into a suspended account and then to your new account. Self explanatory.
    
    
19. Selling VeRO Items. It's very hard to get past a VeRO, just about impossible. The only alternative is to convince the VeRO not to suspend you anymore, which rarely happens, or become the VeRO your self. Which only takes a few forms of paper work.
    
    
20. Listing too much from the get go. It depends heavily on what you're listing. If you try to list 20 iPods from day one, you can just about guarantee a limited account within an hour of listing. If you're selling something of less risk, then you're able to list more. The more risk an item has, the slower you should list your auctions.
    
    
21. Using Turbolister. It's a bad idea to use anything related to eBay unless you have to use it. The more programs and companies you deal with that are tied to eBay, the more risk you place on your eBay accounts. Auctivia is a better option to Turbolister.
    
    
22. Being rude to and sending insulting emails to eBay. The people working at eBay have the power to shut you down with a mouse click. Don't give them motivation to suspend your account. Kill them with kindness instead and you might be surprised at what information they give you.

If you have an account going for a month or two and you're not having any problems, you're usually clear of eBay unless you do something stupid like the above. It's also a good idea to have backups just in case you slip up. For the most part make sure you delete cookies often, change your IP address between accounts, list auctions relative to its risk, and be nice to customers. And maybe some wishful thinking!

Good Luck!
Aspkin

[Mr_Wolf]

Reading old eBay emails (not confirmed). It's best once your eBay account has been suspended to stop reading emails from that account all together. Unless you're using a primary email address, change the password to that email account and never attempt to open emails from there again. Create a new email account from Yahoo, Gmail or another provider and start with a new eBay account. Some emails have been said to have beacons which read your cookies. Thus don't open/read eBay emails and you'll be fine.

Images, images are on eBay servers, and they check IP of who downloads those images.. E-mail can not read your cookies.

[GreenBean]

Have you ever signed in to a suspended account because you were careless?
This way was a recommendation to help us not go under again. Technically you
are probably correct. But not all of us are, and this has been helpful.

[meowmix541]

If you have to sign in to an old account go to the libary or your parents house. Just stay away from using your ISP or your going to be a Crispy Critter!

[zzzz]

good advice

[rsot]

Post from June 2008 was the last.

[GTB]

ha another blast from the past

[SUVE]

very good information.

[niceneasy]

yes useful info

[jbluntz]

Here's another good way to get suspended, sell Tag Heuer watches lol

[GTB]

so you got limited JB

[jbluntz]

Got limited? huh???

[GTB]

thought you was saying you got limited for selling them

what you said in chat earlier

35k Tag Heuer etc

[GTB]

am out

[steve70000]

hi just a quicky.,,
the bit about opening e-mails from suspended accounts.
if you just open the e-mail form the say AOL mail and read it and not click and links in the mail.
do they know you have opend the mail and can they get the ip address.
just with opening the mail and reading it nothing eles..

[soto13]

hi..how about the computer name? i have 5 ebay accounts and 5 user accounts on my computer at this time...will ebay recognize that my ip changes but not my computer name itself?

[Lheonard]

^Hi, No they can't see your computer's name.

[rsot]

Agree with that - does not see computer name.

Better close this thread to have posts elsewhere.

[westcoast_d]

19. Selling VeRO Items. It's very hard to get past a VeRO, just about impossible. The only alternative is to convince the VeRO not to suspend you anymore, which rarely happens, or become the VeRO your self. Which only takes a few forms of paper work.

Can anyone be more specific about this? Most major brands are VeRO nowadays. Would it be a big issue to sell VeRO items?