The half-dead newbie from Aust.

[Davidboy81]

Good day to all members of the forum. Hooray Ebay!! (Not…)

I’m an Australian rookie ebayer

I’m the newbie here having only purchased the ebook yesterday and started to go through it and found it quite valuable. However I do have some questions to which I need answers that weren’t written in the book. If any of you thinktanks who have the time to help me it would be very much appreciated.

On my old account(The one with my real name and real details), I’ve been MC198 Selling Restriction twice(The 7 days finished yesterday) and MC019 eBay listing removed 4 times(On 2 occassions caused the MC198). I’ve taken the tutorial and now back on track(This happened yesterday). Current stats I’m on 87 positive feedbacks at 100%.

But before this happening yesterday I was very very very stupid. I should have bought the book long before yesterday!! Damn me. Anyway, last week, I tried to open up a new account under my partner’s name, with a ⊗⊗⊗⊗ address and a ⊗⊗⊗⊗ landline number(Not a stealth number but a BS number I made up) but I put in my real credit card details in and that. And then I put in a risky listing(phone, that’s really the only item I have for sale). The next day the account is suspended. Tried to write to Ebay asking why they suspended me and they didn’t reply. I used my home computer to do all this because I wasn’t aware they track IPs.

Last week(after my partner’s account got suspended), I’ve asked a friend to create and account for me using her real details and real accounts(We applied for the new account at her house, landline phone verified). Its only 1 week old account with 0 FB and Paypal is not yet verified. But I have accessed it using my home computer. I suspect the possibility of the two being linked(My old one and this one). Last night I tried to list my risky item using this account. I’ve followed the “under the radar” instructions and changed the descriptions and etc.. Then I listed it for 3 days. I have a habit of checking whether my newly listed item is searchable, so I got on to ebay and did searches in my category to see if I can find my item. Four hours after the listing I still couldn’t find my listing, so I decided to end the item early because I didn’t want to leave it there for ebay to pick it up.

Here are my questions.

1) If I go home tonight to use my old account to list my item for 1 day only, what’s my odds of not getting picked up?

2) If I ask my other friend to list a random item so I can buy it with my new account so I can get it up to a feedback score of 1, and then list my item, would my item be searchable?

3) I’ve ended my item early with the new account. Would Ebay have already put this account in the quarantine zone?

[TigerLord]

Originally Posted by Davidboy81

1) If I go home tonight to use my old account to list my item for 1 day only, what’s my odds of not getting picked up?

It's been almost proven that eBay does not like 1 day listings at all, and they seem to be more heavily scrutinized than others. If you have ACTIVE violations on this account already (you can see this by going to your seller's dashboard) I would let the account sit idle or sell very non risky items for 90 days (or until ALL violations have expired).

Originally Posted by Davidboy81

2) If I ask my other friend to list a random item so I can buy it with my new account so I can get it up to a feedback score of 1, and then list my item, would my item be searchable?

Your item will be searchable with even a feedback of 0, and you could easily do this to get your first feedback, but keep in mind the IP tracking. You really need to get a mental checklist of things to do to make sure your daily eBAY routine and activity is safe.

Originally Posted by Davidboy81

3) I’ve ended my item early with the new account. Would Ebay have already put this account in the quarantine zone?

Unlikely, though some items can be removed even AFTER they ended and you could still get hit with a violation.

Greenbean knows more about eBAY AU then here, but if you are going to use Paypal anyway, I'd VERY VERY strongly advise you verify it BEFORE you start selling. Have it fully verified and ready to go before selling. In the US and Canada it pays off to have a fully verified paypal link to your ebay account, it lowers the risks of limitation significantly.

Hope this helps!

[Davidboy81]

Thanks for your quick reply Tigerlord.

"You really need to get a mental checklist of things to do to make sure your daily eBAY routine and activity is safe."

Is there a standard, cookbook follow the steps style daily checklist available(viability proven) anywhere for me to download? I ask this because this wasn't part of the ebook....

[GreenBean]

Welcome to the forum,David.

Each of us run accounts differently so it would be difficult to create a 'standard checklist'. However, the basic steps to run an account are the same and can by utilised by use of excel. You take the tools and use them to be an ebay player. (as in Call of Duty player)
What has happened need not be repeated if you follow guidlines here.
You become a new person in all respects to fool ebay. Right now don't list anything. Regroup first. Trust me there is NO ITEM that you need to hurry to list, none. Try to avoid using friends' accounts & computers. At all costs you need to avoid linking accounts. LINK is bad.
Any problems feel free to send me a pm

[Davidboy81]

I wonder if the ebook had the Australian version?

Going through it and realised that most things are targeted at US ebayers.

The system over here is a bit different.

Does anybody have the Australian version of the book?

[philly387]

Any questions you have, GreenBean is from Australia and she definitely knows her stuff. Feel free to shoot her a PM with some questions.

[Davidboy81]

Hi Greenbean,

Just wondering if you have read my PM?

[oompaloompa]

Originally Posted by Davidboy81

I wonder if the ebook had the Australian version?

Going through it and realised that most things are targeted at US ebayers.

The system over here is a bit different.

Does anybody have the Australian version of the book?

the way it works right now is the e-book is as you say for US, but is 90% usable for all nationalities, once you have the book you become a subscribed member. You are able to fine tune your method for your area by reading and asking questions, especially in your country section. Becoming subscribed gives you access to the subscribers area.

The US is 5 times bigger population than UK and the UK is 5 times bigger population than Aus (or something like that!), so the main version is always going to be the US one.

[Davidboy81]

Thanks oompaloompa.

Understand that US has a massive population in contrast to AU.

But 4 weeks ago I posted about 7 of my items up for sale in Eboy US,

All of them were sold(to people with less than 10 feedback), but

NONE have paid!! I have very bad impression of US buyers.

I didn't want to report them for non-paying coz my items are questionable

to start with, so reporting them might be kind of a suicide.

Anyway as a result of this, I suffered about $120 AU as the final value fee

and that.

What strategies do you guys have to fight the phantom bidders?

[oompaloompa]

apart from stopping zero feedback buyers, you have been unlucky, it happens from time to time but never seen it on all items in one go, unless they are all same item and its a competitor or someone (eg vero owner related) trying to hassle you. I would say you should simply enter an unpaid dispute and it gives you options, go for you and buyer agreed not to go through with transaction, and you will get your fees back...

[Davidboy81]

Do you think its safe to start an unpaid dispute? My items are not genuine.
I mean, I'd love to have my money refunded but,
hate to risk dobbing myself in you know what I mean?

[oompaloompa]

the unpaid item disputes are pretty much automated, if the seller pays up all well and good, if they do reply and agree it is a void transaction they dont get a strike and you get refund of fees, and if they dont reply you get fees back after a time period normally.

As for vero copy goods, I see your point, but I think it is still in your interests to do it..

Mind my point about all of them being unpaid is not normal, you may have a stalker on your hands...

[Davidboy81]

Thanks mate.
Think I will follow the instructions in the eBook and 'get rid of all stalkers'.