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Best set-up when selling volume
 

Hi all,

Been reading various threads over the past month. Just can't find that solution that makes things tick along nicely.

I started a new ebay store recently. Bought an older account from someone with what seems unlimited listing potential. This was coming off the back of our last account being banned. Sales have increased quicker than I was expecting on this account but also had a couple of violations (brand name in keywords/ vero image). Basically, with sales taking off quickly over the last couple of months and mc999 I reckon this new account is already heavily flagged. Sales are heading toward $45k / £30k per month right now which was more than the older account. I was planning on building up slower and opening more accounts but suddenly sales picked up.

I want to add more accounts to spread sales but avoid the linking. Most of this looks straight forward but the IP part is giving me a headache. If we are selling a couple of hundred items a day then it takes quite a bit of work to manage and is time consuming. Just not sure on the best way to keep IP's from linking accounts but at the same time being able to run 3 or 4 accounts efficiently. We would realistically be login in and out of the different accounts many times through the day.

We keep customers very happy so feedback is always good and top rated, just "some" of our designs are based around the riskier areas.

Thanks

Ross

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

If your volume of business is that high on on 3 or 4 accounts, you could take into consideration to have more than one PC (maybe 3 or 4) and each of them equipped with a different dongle for interent connection.
Ip will not cross if you use different providers.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

If you are opperating at that level then looking into a dedicated VPS per account and then use a a desktop/laptop ect per account may be a good viable solution for you.

Instead of a VPS you could also have each PC connected via a different ISP to prevent IP crossover

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

Multiple PC's / Laptops was the route I was heading. I just want to pick the right option for non IP linking without having to spend too much time when we want to be on different accounts.

Dongle or additional isp's would be okay if that is the best route.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

VPS is looking a good option. Hadn't considered that before. If I have them on laptops does it hold the same IP regardless where they are accessed from?

Sorry for all the questions but just don't want to make a mess of things. Looks like I am heading down the full stealth mode route. Thought I could play by ebays rules up until recently.

Thanks for the help!

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

VPS IPs are static - they won't change. They're great because you'd be able to access them anywhere you have a computer and internet connection.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

Thanks, sounds like the right way for me. So I still need one separate vps per account and each on it's own pc? Or...... can I have multiple pc's through one vps or the opposite, one pc using multiple accounts with multiple vps?

Learning a lot today so thanks.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

My god what are you selling to be doing that much volume and revenue?

That kind of business I'd find a way to go full legit with all docs in order.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

VPSs are self-contained, meaning whatever you do on them stays within them. Ebay/Paypal wouldn't be able to know anything about the computer you use to access the VPS. So you can connect to multiple VPSs on the same computer.

You need 1 VPS per 1 account. And considering the amount of volume you're doing, I would not stick with just 1 VPS company. Use more than one company to not have to rely on just one.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

I was fully legit and registered for everything tax wise etc. You can still fall on the naughty list that way and end up calling on you good people for guidance :help:

Started up after the longer term account went bang. This new account I picked up suddenly went up in sales quickly in 2 months and I have paypal giving me trouble as well now. Think I have been flagged quickly. Older items I have been selling with no problem are suddenly pulled.

Anyway, learnt my lesson in that I need to go down the stealth route correctly and not just pick the easy bits to do.

"VPSs are self-contained, meaning whatever you do on them stays within them. Ebay/Paypal wouldn't be able to know anything about the computer you use to access the VPS. So you can connect to multiple VPSs on the same computer."

Would it not be safer to have different computers with cookies and everything else that goes on. VPS is the way forward but just want to be 100% right before jumping on new accounts. Just need some more good selling limit accounts now.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

Warning here.

Take time to do stealth carefully. Always spend the time to do everything correctly.

It's those special touches to stealth accounts that allow them to mature.

Do not operate in a rush.

:ranger:

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

Totally understand. It just means I have to hold back sales a lot to let it build which goes seriouly against the grain. On the run upto Xmas there would be a few hundred sales a day averaging $15/£10 if I were on my original account. Would stealth let me run at this level? I am looking to buy more established accounts with higher limits and run 3 or 4 at a time. It is quite a bit of work involved in keeping on top of things. Many ebay customers are as dumb as you get and asked the stupidest questions or make wrong purchases which we end up running around in circles to keep them happy. Our customer service keeps us near 100% and TR so don't want to spend less time on this.

Any feedback always appreciated. I can tell I am going to be spending quite a bit of time here ongoing.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

A stealth account can work just as well as a non stealth account.

It takes a while to build up the trust with eBay and PayPal though so you cannot just in and start selling £1000's worth of stock a month right away. It will take 6-12 months to be able to opperate at that level.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

You bring tears to my eyes.:tears:

If I find an existing seller account that is active, shouldn't that let me jump in at a much higher trust level? Are there additional risks to heading down this route?

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

You would still need to build cookies into the browser.

I would also advise againt buying an account from anyone who is not an approved Aspkin seller. It will just lead to issues.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

I had been looking into the much older accounts. 2007 and older where there are often no selling limits. Picked one up recently which got my sales back up quickly..... but a bit to quickly I am thinking. It was an active selling account which I took over and hit the ground running. Think I might have run out of steam though as haven't handled it like I should i.e. full stealth.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

Overdoing the rush factor here, Overdone.

(soz, could not resist).

You may have no guarantee any existing seller account is viable.

Big risks then.

:ballchain:

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

If you have the resources, then it wouldn't hurt to use multiple computers, but that wouldn't help you with cookies if you go down the VPS route. When using a VPS, the cookies on the computer you use to connect to the VPS doesn't matter as Ebay/Paypal does not interact with your connecting computer at all. The cookies on your VPS is what matters.

VPSs, dongles, multiple ISPs.. all are different methods that work. It all depends on how you want to operate.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

Yeah, I know. It's just hard to let the Xmas period go by without making the most of it. Short term gain against longevity. It's just hell of a lot of gain during the next few motnhs waiting for me. The temptation is pulling me in to the darkside!

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

Here's where I am a bit worried, plumskate'

The OP is in the UK.


VPS should be a last resort for a UK user. Dongles are better options.

ebay UK is not quite as tolerant as ebay USA regarding VPN/VPS.


:ranger:

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

Just when I thought I knew what I was going to do.

So, to recap......

I need to be logged onto all active accounts regularly through the day to provide decent customer service.

I need to sell over £1000 and 100 items a day.

Some are high risk items but I try to limit these.

Don't mind buying separate computers.

and in my dream scenario I want to do it all tomorrow :eek:

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

Sorry to tell you but that is just never going to happen.

If you have say 10 account after 5/6 month or so you will may able to sell £100 a day, but that is pushing it.

When you say high risk, what sort of item are they?

No need to buy a seperate computer. You can reply to all messages via email on on laptop. You can also manage all the accounts via 1 laptop. Best option in your situation I would say would be 10 or so account with 2/3 laptops all running off a different ISP.

That means you will be able to manage 2/3 accounts at once before swapping over to the next set of 2/3. You will still need to track the IP's for the accounts that share the same ISP.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

I need Liverpool to win Barclays Premier League too.

I want Liverpool to win.

What I want, and what I need very often do not match.

Relate that scenario to your new ebay stealth career.

You need to refine your dream(s).

Trust me, I love paypal.

:ballchain:

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

So could I just not get a few current selling accounts from people I know where decent limits are in place. It would be like you picking a decent team to support that are going well instead of Liverpool ;)

I know of various sellers moaning about ebay and ready to quit as the seller has all the power (the usual moans). I am sure I could buy out a couple of accounts and integrate my stuff over. Is that not a good way if I know a fair bit of history on what that seller has been doing?

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

Are they also going to be givng you access to their bank account and their PayPals?

As I said before, buying from anyone who is not Aspkin approved is generally not going to end well as they are not purpose created stealth accounts. It will just lead to issues.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

I do understand what you are saying. Just trying to workout both a long term and short term strategy. I plan to build on Amazon further which will help the losses on building stealth accounts on ebay as all is fully legit on there. No problems thus far and playing it safer on there. It's missing my Xmas sales which I am going to struggle to let go on. If I need to burn a bank/paypal/ebay account then that would be okay if I get the expected turnover. The other side of Xmas I can build slowly.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

Yes, but I know my Liverpool.

You appear to not be grasping what to do with ebay and running stealth accounts.

There's no easy fix, regardless of the amount of money you want to make.

An account being used by another person will raise big flags with paypal/ebay.

IP differences, access to addresses, bank accounts are but a few of the issues.

:ballchain:

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

If I was OP I wouldn't deal with a VPS. I had 45 of these and got rid of them this month. When a problem comes it's crappy, at times down for 3 to 12 hours. With as much money as you making OP I would not invest in a dongle either or tethering with a phone. It's time consuming at times to load pages, at times faster etc. Also if you want a newer IP just turn off the modem for 30 seconds+ or reset it and voila good to go with another IP. But keep it simple try not to rely on cheap things. Just my advice. Like I said for the money your making on one account don't go cheap on it. Or get an expensive VPS 30 pounds per month or 20 at least. And not the top companies in the search results that are known and flagged by others.

I would just call up the Internet provider you have and get a 2nd line, or get another company with another line and a cheap laptop 15 inch screen for dirt cheap brand new these days. Just use it to print postage, or answering emails. Keep it clean no other websites to log in just ebay and paypal. NOTHING ELSE! Maybe Auctiva as a 3rd site, and the one you use to upload your pictures online for hosting. THATS IT! keep it virus clean.

And put Thunderbird on one computer you run daily when online so you know when you got questions and orders up to the minute without opening up each laptop.

VPS - when they are slow or down it's terrible. When you got orders to process, or open cases, or questions it can be very stressful etc. Can result in so slow that it will take you half hour to do a simple 10 second task at times.

Don't go cheap with the amount of money you make, plus you don't want to risk these accounts with reused IP that might be flagged already and take a big risk.

So pay for another line mate.

This is based on 3 accounts you wanted to do.

Or turn on and off the router modem to get a newer IP used firefox portable on a memory stick. Probably cheaper way to go. But if I had figures like yours and the account was used by someone else and has so many red flags don't add on to it.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

Follow tips of the other posters on your account setup. As for your selling of high risk items....that could be the kicker that will do you in

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

Some are high risk items but I try to limit these.

Try to limit these? Why not get rid of it for another stealth account don't risk your 30k to 45k a month bro, not worth it! Unless this is 60% of your income on the account then you got a HUGE problem cause once it goes down you'll need 20 to 40 accounts just to make up for it and a lot of work. Since you are from the UK.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

At the level the OP is trading he should be considering the use of selling tools that works via API

I am sure Linnworks should sort out the OP's problem

Open a number of Stealth accounts and manage them using Linnworks.

Linnworks could be used for Order Management, Shipping Management and Inventory Management across all the stealth accounts.

Then you can use Reply Manager or Xsellco Unity to manage customer service / queries.

You rarely have to log into the stealth accounts if you have such a set up in place.

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

@ Dini

Nice one.

Sound advice which is so practical.

:thumb:

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

XSellco Unity is a wonderful utility. The steps you have described dini may not last long for OP if he sells high risk

Re: Best set-up when selling volume
 

@Overdone - Been reading all your posts and my advice to you is this... forget this holiday season, start preparing for the next!

You rush into this one, you could create a catastrophe.

Be patient, stealth takes time, start building your knowledge on stealth, and start preparing slowly for next year.

A successful stealth account(s) requires patience and perseverance.