eBay account suspendend for "Feedback Manipulation"..whatever

[becca073]

I had my long time account today suspended for "feedback manipulation" or what eBay considers it. I had done a BIN on several 1 cent auctions, 8 to be exact over a period of 3 weeks. Yah they consider that frickin manipulation. And to top it off, they suspended it for 12 months. Anyone had luck getting theirs reinstated when this happens or am I **** out of luck? Any input is greatly appreciated.

[thelizardking]

All you can do is try, you might have a good chance..did they give you 7 days? its not a good idea to buy 1cent auctions..

[becca073]

The message eBay sent said 12 months. That is BS. They even cancelled my bids on several template auctions I had bought that were $1.50. So I guess anything BIN under say $3 is not allowed? I mean thats ridiculous but its eBay and they make the rules. About the $.01 auctions, why can sellers sell them if buyer's cannot buy them? Doesn't make sense. I was checking the listings, 5 of them eBay pulled (meaning cancelled on the seller's side). But they penalized me for buying them.

[becca073]

Originally Posted by savahaganda

I think it is a moronic question to ask... why can sellers sell them and buyers can not buy them??? simple answer... It is an ebay bot that is selling them... Ebay patrol puts them up, and if your new to ebay, you would not know about them, if you buy them, then your obviously out to pull some tricks on ebay---- best call yourself a "John"

Excuse me but your comment was rude. I was asking a simple question that I honestly didn't know the answer to. So you are saying all the big time sellers who sell the eBooks, and cheap like listings at $.01 are eBay bots? Well if thats the case I had no idea and I don't care if you believe that or not. Some of us don't know all the tricks and trades of eBay. So NO I don't feel it was a moronic question to ask.

[mantisinc]

Becca, don't worry. Savahganda is just recovering from a brain transplant

I've also had the boot for buying 1p auctions. I've managed to get away with buying 10 a day for about 3 days in a row before, so they must have REALLY cracked down on it.

I would think you're going to have to start with a new ebay account.

[BooMer]

I just got the Boot from Ebay also about an Hour ago for the Feedback manipulation. I was a buyer and a seller but they suspended me for the seller part. They didn't even give me a warning. They went straight to the point. I am really Ticked Off. I sent them a email to the Appeals Department just now and hopefully they reinstate me. I had my listings starting at 1 cent and they usually have bids up to $.75 . Yeah I make couple cents profits after paypal fees every now and then LOL.

This was the message I got:
"This email is to notify you that your account has been indefinitely suspended from eBay for violating the following policy:

* Feedback Manipulation - Feedback left or received where the feedback’s primary value is to artificially enhance a member’s reputation rather than provide commentary on genuine transactional experience is not permitted. Taking actions that may unduly influence whether a member leaves or withdraws Feedback is also prohibited. In addition, taking actions that limits or attempts to influence the type of Feedback left are also not permitted.

This action has been taken as a result of the following:

160220289773, 160220290754, 160220291393, 160220291935, 160220292532, 160220292959, 160220293543, 160220293870, 160220294943, 160220295248, 160220295515, 160220295810, 160220296118, 160220296344, 160220296907, 160220297700

The above was found to be in violation of the following feedback policy:

Feedback Manipulation - Artificial Inflation of Feedback

More information regarding eBay's rules for leaving feedback can be found at:

Feedback Manipulation

Please be advised that you are prohibited from using eBay in any way, including using other existing accounts or registering new accounts. Please be aware that you are ineligible to apply for reinstatement for a minimum period of 12 months, after which time your account may be considered for reinstatement.

Please note that any seller fees due to eBay will immediately become due and payable. eBay will charge any amounts you have not previously disputed to the billing method currently on file.

Regards,

Safeharbor Department
eBay Inc."

[becca073]

Some new rule must have gone into effect in the past couple days. But what I don't get is I know other sellers who do the same thing, buy a few $.01 about twice a week to help with their feedback. Their accounts aren't suspended yet. So maybe eBay is working their way done the line. Who knows. I did send an email to the Appeals department but I doubt that will go anywhere. But worth a shot.

[aspkin]

It's been going on for awhile now. Feedback Manipulation happens when you sell a lot of cheap items under $1 or buy a lot of cheap items. Simple don't do it.

becca073 you have a chance to get your account back, read this is you haven't already: http://www.aspkin.com/forums/faq-ind...ement-faq.html

[Ballsack]

What exactly were you selling?

[becca073]

I've been searching the threads for the info on getting reinstated and I found the form needed along with fax numbers. Now if I understand what is being said I need to fax that form along with a copy of my DL + a ultility bill right? Now considering this happened yesterday, should I wait before faxing or send it now and see what happens?

I wasn't suspended for selling anything, I was suspended for buying the cheap $.01 auctions.

[BooMer]

I was selling Photos of Flowers that I took personally while on vacation in Hawaii as Desktop Digital Wallpaper starting at 1 cent. At least they could give me a warning. My New Account was up and running for about 3 weeks as well. I've been using ebay over 6 years now and this was the first Feedback related violation/suspension I got from them.
Ebay don't allow 1 cent buy it now listings anymore, but those listings that are still out there in the Ebay Store with the "30 days Good till cancel Listing" were grandfather in since the change. If Ebay don't allow 1 cent buy it now then they should eliminate the Live Auction starting price from 1 cent and change it to 99 cents. Selling any item on ebay starting at 1 cent cost 15 cents in ebay listing fees. And when the bids go up to 30 cents and ends then you pay 3 cents in final value fee. And when the buyer pay you 30 cents through paypal you net "ZERO CENTS" Because paypal takes the whole 30 cents as transaction fees.
In the end you will only be out of your pockets 18 cents and Ebay is up 18 cents and Paypal is up 30 Cents. You see why Ebay should eliminate the 1 cent starting price and bump it up to 1 dollar.

So the point I am making is that I should not get suspended if I am losing money even if buyers are willing to buy and pay right away and we both leave each other Positive feedback.

Anyone else agrees with me?

[becca073]

See I knew about the change and no more $.01 BIN but like you said they were still out there so being stupid I thought I could still buy them as long as they were there. Big mistake obviously. Learned the hard way.

[GreenBean]

I am convinced that there are rules for some and rules for others with the
ebay/beast. I guess we have to get through as best we can.

[ebayhateluv]

Boomer- we hear ya.. but everythings changed..
Just start over- a fast start would be to get the latest ebook, called eBay Stealth--at bottom of page, its jam packed with all the tips--organized, and to the point..

[iclyde]

Has anyone got reinstated yet from this?

I've also just received the 12 month suspension for "feedback manipulation" The most horrible thing is that it is my new account, created 1 month ago with only about 80 fb. I sold eBooks starting at 0.01 c

Has the appeal been successfully?

[GreenBean]

I have not heard any good news about reinstatements after this type of
suspension. I can only concur with ebayhateluv, get the book eBay Stealth regroup and restart.

Reading all the posts about the different reasons for suspension, I think that
the better way to go is to recreate yourself.
I also suspect that if ebay get a flood of appeals for reinstatement after this
type of suspension, there will be harsher requirements down the line.

These are my feelings and I would, of course, hope that you have good luck
whichever way you go.

[iclyde]

eBay has definitely changed its rules

I can sell ebooks at 0.01 cent auction prices for many years now

After the new management took over, BAM, you get suspended for 12 months for selling 0.01 auction eBooks

I will re-create a new account and try to appeal again.

Thanks for the advice

[GreenBean]

Well, Good Luck. You do know to use new IP, delete cookies and all the other
ways?

[iclyde]

Yes I do mate.

I think i've got it all covered but I'm learning as I go along. Will create multiple accounts to prevent such incidents from happening again.

If eBay does not allow 0.01cent eBooks to be sold, then PLEASE THEN REMOVE 0.01 items with NO SHIPPING.

Why allow it to be listed, then penalise the seller for "manipulation". Why 12 months if it is a first offense? I think it is ridiculous.

[becca073]

I agree, 12 months for 1st offense is total BS. But oh well. eBay makes the rules.

[GreenBean]

That rule is that ebay is BS, really.

[gloria10]

I am having the same experience.why does ebay change its rules mid stream I was selling e books on ebay along with pricer items in order to get traffic to my ebay store. It worked for a while but then came this stupid policy about 1 cent items and I dont understand why its ok to sell them and not buy them. Paypal did and investigation of my account for a 2 cent transaction and about a week later my account got suspended. I am quite shure the 2 are linked. I also fell victime to the less than 10 percent buy dis satisfaction rule. This suspension is quite harsh and should be a waring along with a shorter suspension time frame. I have had great success on Ebay for the last few years especially with my ebay store only to find that all my work was destroyed in a day. I am looking for the pdf form to fax for re instatement does anyone have the link? Until some one has success with getting re instated for this action I guess we all have our hands tied be hind our backs. 1 cent auctions have increased traffic to my store to help sell pricer items an I made ebay a lot of money. ebooks are very profitable. I understand that ebay is using bots to sell 1 cent items such as desktop wallpaper if that is the case they should ban selling desktop wall paper all together. who makes the rules on ebay? I am about to create a bogus sellers account but who knows if ebay is running this forum. Most sellers that sell 1 cent items understand that it draws traffic to their auctions besides their are a lot of cheap skates on ebay looking for deals. changing my ip address is no problem and bougus information is no problem but i still think paypal and ebay are linked. In the mean time all I can do is wait. It has been 18 months since amazon closed my account and I dont miss them at all!