eBay Untouchables. How do they do it?

[nicomambo]

There seem to be sellers on eBay that are untouchable. How do they do it?

I sell the same stuff as them, e-liquid (non-nicotine), but my posts get removed within 3 days, while their posts remain active with a long "sold" history.

I even word my posts like theirs. I'm pretty sure that I'm being reported, but I'm sure they report each other too.

Here are my other observations:
1. Seller rating are high: 500-1000+. I'm 100+
2. They don't rotate accounts.
3. They don't sell other products.
4. They have duplicate posts but change the quantity: 1x 2x 3x, etc.

[rsot]

Lots of trial and error, back-up accounts, probably get taken down/suspended but they have multiple stuff going - can never be 100% certain

[MM78]

You literally answered your own question in your rant.

[Hercules]

Originally Posted by nicomambo

There seem to be sellers on eBay that are untouchable. How do they do it?

I sell the same stuff as them, e-liquid (non-nicotine), but my posts get removed within 3 days, while their posts remain active with a long "sold" history.

I even word my posts like theirs. I'm pretty sure that I'm being reported, but I'm sure they report each other too.

Here are my other observations:
1. Seller rating are high: 500-1000+. I'm 100+
2. They don't rotate accounts.
3. They don't sell other products.
4. They have duplicate posts but change the quantity: 1x 2x 3x, etc.

Basically it's the big seller getting you 'flagged'. A process only few know how to do.

[nicomambo]

Thanks for the replies guys!

Just want to be clear, I'm not ranting (or am I? Lol!), and I'm past the "If they can sell it, why can't I" stage as commonly seen in the forums.

I actually admire them- that they were able to grow despite all the competitors that are determined to bring them down, and want to know how they did it...success stories...HOW DID THEY BEAT THE SYSTEM?

Mind you, some of these sellers' listings are all prohibited stuff. They're not even hidden among other legit items.

[Play]

It all comes down to selling history. They most likely have built it up over a year or so selling lower risk items, so they can get away with higher risk items now. Doesn't make them untouchable though, if there's strong reasoning, they can have their listings taken down, but its just less likely.

[BigCJ]

ebay fees.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by nicomambo

Thanks for the replies guys!

Just want to be clear, I'm not ranting (or am I? Lol!), and I'm past the "If they can sell it, why can't I" stage as commonly seen in the forums.

I actually admire them- that they were able to grow despite all the competitors that are determined to bring them down, and want to know how they did it...success stories...HOW DID THEY BEAT THE SYSTEM?

Mind you, some of these sellers' listings are all prohibited stuff. They're not even hidden among other legit items.

Trial and error - good luck - feel free to post your observations

[starengine]

i have a different opinion to others.

i think there's a magic switch in the ebay system. when turned on, you have automatic immunity to most reporting.

i helped a friend setup an account to sell a brand item. listing got pulled after a few days for being ⊗⊗⊗⊗ (which it wasn't). i contacted ebay on chat and said what the f*** are you doing??? (said in a polite was though - but complaining and fuming at the same time). they said sorry. they said that they had changed something and now i would be allowed to sell again.

not had any trouble since. we undersold all other sellers to get sales. i'm sure if there were 'untouchables' they must have tried to get the listing wiped out.

just a theory of course.

[nicomambo]

Originally Posted by starengine

i have a different opinion to others.

i think there's a magic switch in the ebay system. when turned on, you have automatic immunity to most reporting.

i helped a friend setup an account to sell a brand item. listing got pulled after a few days for being ⊗⊗⊗⊗ (which it wasn't). i contacted ebay on chat and said what the f*** are you doing??? (said in a polite was though - but complaining and fuming at the same time). they said sorry. they said that they had changed something and now i would be allowed to sell again.

not had any trouble since. we undersold all other sellers to get sales. i'm sure if there were 'untouchables' they must have tried to get the listing wiped out.

just a theory of course.

Hmm interesting post Starengine, and thank you for sharing. I'm curious to know if you have tried selling high risk items to test the "immunity" you are currently enjoying.

From what I understand, it is a relatively new account?

As others have pointed out, a lot of the ones with "immunity" are the old built up accounts. I also wonder if upgrading to a store will help. Something that I will try next.

[nicomambo]

Originally Posted by rsot

Trial and error - good luck - feel free to post your observations

Happy to share my other observations & my current trial & error in trying to avoid detection, so I can slowly build up my account:

1. This is not something I do, & certainly not worth my time under normal circumstances, but did this as a part of my "experiment". I strongly believe in an open market & I welcome competition.

I focused on 1 seller & reported his items using 3 of my accounts. Did this for 2 weeks. NONE of his listings got removed. It is a built account (400+ rating) with a store. I have stopped reporting since I established that he is pretty immune.

In contrast, my seller rating is 100+ & listings get removed within 3 days.

2. Listings, even after they have ended, can still get "removed". I had 2 prohibited items up. When I got the restriction notice from eBay, they included the past items that have ended & I even deleted from my unsold list.

3. I'm currently experimenting on listing practices that will prevent detection. Longest I've done so far is 6 days, so nothing conclusive yet.

[dachilla]

Originally Posted by starengine

i have a different opinion to others.

i think there's a magic switch in the ebay system. when turned on, you have automatic immunity to most reporting.

i helped a friend setup an account to sell a brand item. listing got pulled after a few days for being ⊗⊗⊗⊗ (which it wasn't). i contacted ebay on chat and said what the f*** are you doing??? (said in a polite was though - but complaining and fuming at the same time). they said sorry. they said that they had changed something and now i would be allowed to sell again.

not had any trouble since. we undersold all other sellers to get sales. i'm sure if there were 'untouchables' they must have tried to get the listing wiped out.

just a theory of course.

There might be some truth to it... If you can prove to them that you're not selling ⊗⊗⊗⊗ the account will probably become fairly strong. However this is only one end of the story, as Paypal might pull your account pretty soon for being high risk. Thus I think building trust over time on both ebay and paypal will eventually lead to a strong account where you can list higher risk items and are almost untouchable. Just a theory tho.

[newjerseymax]

Start selling with big brands right off from day 1. Get limited. Provide all the documents requested and then sell what you want. This is not for everyone and requires quite a bit of extensive knowledge on what they require.

[starengine]

Originally Posted by nicomambo

I'm curious to know if you have tried selling high risk items to test the "immunity" you are currently enjoying.

From what I understand, it is a relatively new account?

As others have pointed out, a lot of the ones with "immunity" are the old built up accounts. I also wonder if upgrading to a store will help. Something that I will try next.

Not thoroughly tested to be honest. But will do in due course.
High risk items - you have to know where to buy the real thing at the right price.

Wasn't a new account. Was old. Not sold much until now.

I had old accounts. Many years old. I sold on those. Sooner or later... you get them pulled.

[Jennifer91]

I've had an account with 2k feedback TRS. Got sold history of 500 then taken down, doesn't mean nothing. If it's an illegal product that shouldn't be sold, chances are it will go down with time if someone reports it. Doesn't really matter on your feedback or account, if it's got to go, it's got to go. Just like mine or anyone else. If I want to, I got to rotate, chances are your competition reported you to get rid of you and make all the sales.

[Sunspot144]

Originally Posted by Play

It all comes down to selling history. They most likely have built it up over a year or so selling lower risk items, so they can get away with higher risk items now. Doesn't make them untouchable though, if there's strong reasoning, they can have their listings taken down, but its just less likely.

As in changing the item for sale on a listing with sales history for another item?