Picked up an eBay phone call

[nyc]

Today I received a call today from an eBay representative on a stealth phone asking me if I had a few minutes to discuss my business on a recorded line. I said sure that’s fine.

The representative asks me what I’m selling and how I’m able to sell these items below market price. I told them that some inventory is old and that some inventory I’m barely making anything and in some cases loosing money.

He then proceeds to say that well some manufactures have complained to us regarding your prices and we are forced to take some type of action. The representative then proceeds to tell me that if they were to restrict my account today would I be able to provide invoices. I said possibly but it may take a lot of time to find these invoices.

When I heard this i automatically went into damage control mode. I then proceeded to negotiate with the representative. I asked the representative what if you don’t restrict my account and you just go ahead and end all my listings instead. Surprisingly the representative says well since you took the time today to talk to me today and were helpful I can do that for you.

A few minutes later i get the eBay email titled your listings have been ended but luckily no suspension email.

I asked the representative if I should ever sell in this category ever again and he said that he doesn’t advise and if I do the system will catch it and I’ll be permanently suspended.

Correlation does not mean causation but I feel like if I didn’t answer the phone the representative would have suspended my account as well as complete information request such as Id, invoice, etc.

My question to senior stealthers is, the representative asked me about a certain item I was selling and how I’m selling it for such a low price. That certain item was a new listing I created one day before the call at BIN and GTC and it was a major brand name. Do you think it really was the manufacturers that called or was it the system or competitors? My price range was $1.00 below market price and I had sold 9 items in about 24 hours.

Edit 1 - I’m sorry but I failed to mention this. The day before the call I had 5 old listings active and I also created a new listing for total of 6 active BIN GTC listings. For the 5 old listings i removed the old photos and uploaded new photos. I believe I forgot to remove exif data from my own pictures but do you think that’s a major/minor contributor to the phone call?

[phaz0rz]

I think the manufacturer is really who flagged you. There's this one brand we used to sell a ton of. Then one day the manufacturer went HAM on all of our listings and I haven't been able to relist that brand since. Every time I try the listing goes down within 24 hours. That particular manufacturer watches eBay like a hawk apparently.

I also think you answering the call saved your account, like you said, since the default action if you hadn't answered would have been a suspension.

I do not think the EXIF data the day before was a factor at all. Way more likely that a manufacturer called in on you.

[treysupreme]

So you guys are selling phakes? Because if you have a legit product and aren't using their verbiage/logos/fonts/description, you won't get hassled.

I've been selling a product from one of the most difficult Vero companies know to eBay without issue for 10+ years on my non-stealth account. Never an issue.

OP, that's an odd call. I get those "do you have a minute to discuss your business" calls all the time but its always tips/recommendations for taking advantage of some promotions or to notify me of the newest seller updates etc.