eBay AI taking down my listings for encouraging illegal activity?

[eBayguy916]

I have a legitimate account with thousands of positive feedback. 15 year account. I sell MDM bypassed iPhones, tablets, android phones and iPods. None of these are stolen. MDM is Mobile Device Management which means that it was owned by an organization that used it for work purposes and the features of the phone are limited. It is not possible to remove this, only bypass since the phone is connected to a server and the MDM software will be downloaded during setup.

Once the MDM software is bypassed, the customer can use it as normal.

In the description, I let buyers know they cannot factory reset the phone/iPod. It also HINTS that they are MDM bypasses but never says it directly.

Customers are fine with this and love them because they are cheap. I have sold these for two years with no issues from eBay or customers.

In the last month, I have gotten 9 of these listings removed and a three day restriction for 'encouraging illegal activity'. Yesterday, I changed the description from all the MDM bypass listings but one got taken down this morning after the change. How is this possible? Can they see the previous description? Is it better to start fresh with a new listing rather than only change the description? I do not see how eBay would tell the difference otherwise. I do not believe it is a competitor.

Please give any advice. Whether I stop selling these MDM phones/tablets/ipods or my account gets axed, the result is the same! I will not be able to feed my family and pay bills!

[agent006140]

better cancel and relist with new description.
it may not be competitor,it could be APPL
I would call EBAy and ask why is it illegal,talk to someone who understand what you are selling

[eBayguy916]

Originally Posted by agent006140

better cancel and relist with new description.
it may not be competitor,it could be APPL
I would call EBAy and ask why is it illegal,talk to someone who understand what you are selling

I have checked and it is not illegal. eBay is apparently just strict with electronics that have been modified because they think it is stolen. It is similar to jailbroken phones or game consoles. Again, not illegal. eBay just doesn't like it.

What is APPL and what does it do?

[agent006140]

AAPL is the stock symbol for Apple Computer
Why cant you do the MDM bypass before sellin them?

[murdered_by_ebay]

you need to spread out listings between multiple accounts , once those restrictions start you risk being kicked out , they have 3 days , 5 and 10 and after 10 they may suspend

[eBayguy916]

Originally Posted by agent006140

AAPL is the stock symbol for Apple Computer
Why cant you do the MDM bypass before sellin them?

Yes, they are bypassed before selling them to the customer. The issue is that eBay/Apple is catching on that they are MDM bypassed because of something in the description.

[mrgazer]

I have similar issues with car products i sell. from what i feel, as soon as they have removed your products for encouraging illegal activity, it is almost impossible to relist it without issues even if you change description, your account is now red flagged, everytime you relist the same item, so long some of the details matches with the original item that got removed, ie. serial number, listing name, images, category etc, it will be removed by the AI. I have tried all sorts to re list it but you are risking having your account suspended and eventually banned. The only way i found it works by bypassing the AI is if you list it using freish details and in a completely not related category.

[eBayguy916]

Originally Posted by mrgazer

I have similar issues with car products i sell. from what i feel, as soon as they have removed your products for encouraging illegal activity, it is almost impossible to relist it without issues even if you change description, your account is now red flagged, everytime you relist the same item, so long some of the details matches with the original item that got removed, ie. serial number, listing name, images, category etc, it will be removed by the AI. I have tried all sorts to re list it but you are risking having your account suspended and eventually banned. The only way i found it works by bypassing the AI is if you list it using freish details and in a completely not related category.

The problem is that all listing that were taken down had the same description template. One sentence was the same in all of them which basically told the buyer they were MDM bypasses without actually saying it. eBay did not catch everything. Some MDM bypass listings are up but did not contain the template description or that one sentence.

Do you think I would be in the clear if I simply do the same as those listings and just not give any indication that they are MDM bypasses?

[SaiJin]

Originally Posted by eBayguy916

I have a legitimate account with thousands of positive feedback. 15 year account. I sell MDM bypassed iPhones, tablets, android phones and iPods. None of these are stolen. MDM is Mobile Device Management which means that it was owned by an organization that used it for work purposes and the features of the phone are limited. It is not possible to remove this, only bypass since the phone is connected to a server and the MDM software will be downloaded during setup.

Once the MDM software is bypassed, the customer can use it as normal.

In the description, I let buyers know they cannot factory reset the phone/iPod. It also HINTS that they are MDM bypasses but never says it directly.

Customers are fine with this and love them because they are cheap. I have sold these for two years with no issues from eBay or customers.

In the last month, I have gotten 9 of these listings removed and a three day restriction for 'encouraging illegal activity'. Yesterday, I changed the description from all the MDM bypass listings but one got taken down this morning after the change. How is this possible? Can they see the previous description? Is it better to start fresh with a new listing rather than only change the description? I do not see how eBay would tell the difference otherwise. I do not believe it is a competitor.

Please give any advice. Whether I stop selling these MDM phones/tablets/ipods or my account gets axed, the result is the same! I will not be able to feed my family and pay bills!

Ok, so you have a grandfathered 15 year old account and a 3 day suspension.

Your account is worth a lot more than a few thousand dollars right?

If I were you, I'd pull out all these listings and delete them. Do not reuse them.

Grab a stealth account for now and use those to try and resell so if something happens , your old account won't get banned.

Preserve this account at all cost.

Use the stealth guide to make new accounts also. Do them now.

[eBayguy916]

Originally Posted by SaiJin

Ok, so you have a grandfathered 15 year old account and a 3 day suspension.

Your account is worth a lot more than a few thousand dollars right?

If I were you, I'd pull out all these listings and delete them. Do not reuse them.

Grab a stealth account for now and use those to try and resell so if something happens , your old account won't get banned.

Preserve this account at all cost.

Use the stealth guide to make new accounts also. Do them now.

It is not just a few thousand. Last year I sold almost $300,000 worth of stuff.

[SaiJin]

Originally Posted by eBayguy916

It is not just a few thousand. Last year I sold almost $300,000 worth of stuff.

YOu didn't get my point.....

You wanna keep making that money with this account or do you want to lose the account and not be able to do that anymore?

Because right now you're on the way to get eother the 5 day or the 7 day suspenson. THen it'll be a permanent ban

[agent006140]

whoever sold you those items,have you tried asking him to help you,he could have sold to other Ebay sellers or sellers who sell elsewhere?
Etsy is no longer a handcraft or collectibles,see if you can list a few there,or MERCARI

[bluefin02]

ebay basically wants you to stop selling these mdm bypassed devices. Apple intended for the devices to be dead if the mdm is not removed, and bypassing the MDM and using THAT device is against the terms that the organization signed with apple for THAT device. So just because you obtained the device legally from the organization or another vendor, as locked, it doesn't mean the agreement for that serial number from apple to the original sale party is being broken here. If apple has an agent reporting these listings, then you won't be able to keep listing them. You may need to try selling non MDM locked devices rather than using the bypass to make your money.

[agent006140]

Originally Posted by eBayguy916 View Post
It is not just a few thousand. Last year I sold almost $300,000 worth of stuff.
------------------------------
Well,take some of that money and start a new business

[rsot]

Originally Posted by agent006140

Originally Posted by eBayguy916 View Post
It is not just a few thousand. Last year I sold almost $300,000 worth of stuff.
------------------------------
Well,take some of that money and start a new business

If only so simple for OP...

[eBayguy916]

Originally Posted by agent006140

whoever sold you those items,have you tried asking him to help you,he could have sold to other Ebay sellers or sellers who sell elsewhere?
Etsy is no longer a handcraft or collectibles,see if you can list a few there,or MERCARI

I am banned from both Mercari and Etsy. Etsy needs SSN but how can I get back on Mercari? I was banned in 2019.

[eBayguy916]

Originally Posted by bluefin02

ebay basically wants you to stop selling these mdm bypassed devices. Apple intended for the devices to be dead if the mdm is not removed, and bypassing the MDM and using THAT device is against the terms that the organization signed with apple for THAT device. So just because you obtained the device legally from the organization or another vendor, as locked, it doesn't mean the agreement for that serial number from apple to the original sale party is being broken here. If apple has an agent reporting these listings, then you won't be able to keep listing them. You may need to try selling non MDM locked devices rather than using the bypass to make your money.

If eBay/Apple don't know, then there is nothing they can do, right?

[murdered_by_ebay]

Originally Posted by eBayguy916

It is not just a few thousand. Last year I sold almost $300,000 worth of stuff.

if you sell that much you should have known better , such a turnover should have been spread among 10-20 accounts at least

with such a large account it is only a question of time until you get taken down

[agent006140]

Originally Posted by eBayguy916

If eBay/Apple don't know, then there is nothing they can do, right?

How could they not know?
Ebay/vendor are known to buy an item and examine it,eg Nike,Tiffany,designer handbag manufacturers/
The fact that you are selling them cheap is one reason either APPL or Ebay would like to know more !

[degsey69]

Perhaps the OP should go back to basics when relisting the phones without MDM being mentioned, do not use previous images, take new ones, do not use the previous descriptions, do entirely new ones.

Also recommend another stealth account to list these as your existing one is too valuable to spoil

[agent006140]

if he uses the same account,suspicious mind will take closer look at what he lists as Ebay knows too well you have leftover MDM inventory to dispose.
so use a different account .
try ETsy or Mercari,Etsy is 20 cents for 3 months,5% FVF
If it does not sell,all you lose is 20 cents plus your time

[degsey69]

Originally Posted by agent006140

if he uses the same account,suspicious mind will take closer look at what he lists as Ebay knows too well you have leftover MDM inventory to dispose.
so use a different account .
try ETsy or Mercari,Etsy is 20 cents for 3 months,5% FVF
If it does not sell,all you lose is 20 cents plus your time

Good point!