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Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

Hi Guys!

Account now below standard for delivery time consecutively for 2 months. This specifically was due to items without tracking and no way to proof they shifted on time.

Close to 1000 items have been sold on the account in the last 6 months. The limit was reduced from 1400 items and £48,000 to 450 items and £10,000 when it first went below standard last month.

Last month: 11.X%, this month 10.X%, still short of the 9%. So, I am wondering if its worth just closing the account straight away instead of waiting for them to restrict me. I dont wanna wake up to that inevitable restriction.

This is what I am thinking.
-Stop selling on the account all together. Wait for the pending fund to clear and never go back to it.
- End all listings and close the account.

It seems weird since couple of sales still coming through, yeah but I dont want to wait until I see, You are restricted notice. I can just concentrate on my other account and never sell low value, untrackable goods anymore.

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

Below Standard ratings don't mean your account is going to be suspended. All it means is you have to work on something to get it back to above standard. They lower your selling limits until you improve. They won't suspend you no matter how long you are in Below Standard status. Just keep selling and get the tracking uploaded asap. As long as you do not have any issues, you will be fine. I would not give up any account because it was below standard. It won't stay that way forever.

Not paying the seller fees only sends you to internal ebay collections. If you do not pay it for X amount of time, it will go to outside collection agency and then it can affect your credit report. They can send to outside collection agency any time after your account is suspended for non-payment.

I would keep any account that is up and running.

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

Well, it wont get it suspended but it will get it RESTRICTED. Its all same as suspended from selling. Accounts are restricted everyday due to below standard.

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

Chat of not paying your fees really irritates me, you used their services do the decent thing and pay them their dues. Why close the account? Just let the rest of the auctions run their course, ship on time and when funds are clear withdraw the money, then leave the account if thats what you wish to do with it. Getting advice to not paying fees is just stupid, if it was up to me people like who give such terrible advice wouldnt be on the forum.

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

No one is getting advice on not paying fees. This thread is about closing it yourself instead of waiting it it to be restricted. People are free to contribute as they wish. Its called Freedom of speech

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

You have your selling limits reduced. Is that what you mean by restricted?
I would still use the account and open other stealth accounts up.
You can sell the limit on this one while you improve it and also use other accounts.
I don't know why you would close one that's up and working.

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

There was only one comment about not paying fees. No advice was offered in not paying them.

My advice was regarding debt collectors and how to make them disappear. Not avoidance of fees.

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

Selling limit reduced is not restricted. I believe account below standard for 2 consecutive months will get restricted. Restricted means, you cannot sell on that account anymore. You can only use it to buy.

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

You are Right. Selling Limits does not mean Restricted.

My US account was below standard for 11 months, yes months. It was never restricted or suspended. I went below standard when the DSR were ridiculous. I had to wait until they fell off and the new seller standards started on March 20. I am now back to Above Standard. The only thing that happened was my account seller limits were reduced. I did not have any new issues with any transactions while below standard.

I'm not sure where you have gotten the information of a maximum of 2 months below standard = restricted, but I can tell you they did not restrict or suspend my account even after 11 months. Just don't get any more seller initiated returns or unresolved cases and you will be fine. As long as your account does not get worse, they will leave you alone for at least 11 months when you are below standard.

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

Been in a similar situation before.

Goood tip if you havent thought of this already.

Why not get a friend or family member to buy made up items in your shop you know wont sell. This will get the transactions up which can turn things around. It will cost obviously on fees but gets yout account good again :-)

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

On previous accounts in y ebay infancy, I found that when they got restricted because of below standard, they restricted them so far that you couldn't actually sell enough to bring it into average. I chatted to the clueless eBay rep about it, or continually said 'I have faith in you, you can do it!', this went on multiple times till she ended the call.

You need me to sell 100 items to bring it above average, but you have only given me an allowance of 50 items - how do I do that?

'Make nice photos, big and large, offer freepost blah blah'

I often wonder if they actually 'get it' and how they function in reality if they dont :)

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

Because ebay employ very smart people ;)

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

I believe that In the Uk the only rights a collection agency has is if they have been to court.

How does a collection agency find a stealth account user ?

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

Kind of depends on the amount owed - I'm not suggesting that you try to circumvent the fees owed or amounts due but it would take more than normal measures to find a stealth account user. But with a subpoena and legal investigation...a user can be found. Bank account for example can be explored...

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

Yes agreed my gut instinct is that a bank will only give data to the Police or tax people and i consider that will not be a quick process if its a civil matter of fees that could be contested in court. Time consuming and costs involved that will eat into a recovery companies costs.

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

you are you talking about just stopping selling not actually closing?
my advice is never ever close an account yourself - but I think you know that!!!
below standard can come back up if rested.
this happened to me. I am back selling on an acc, that I gave up on. It was not restricted, it just went below standard due to a batch of faulty goods that resulted in a bunch of returns, no bad feedback..
Even if you get restricted it might come back up, but I do not know for sure.
I just know I went back up to standard, by doing nothing.
it could be good to go again in 3-6 months....

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

By guile, deceit and being cunning.

:croc:

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

LOL true

mind you have you seen the debt collectors and tv licencing videos on you tube hilarious and very informative.

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

Don't EVER pay EBay fees, if they suspend you or you want to close your account.

Ebay do not pay tax to this country in agressive tax avoidance schemes and have loose morales. They allow buyers to rip you off, charge 10% on postage and have dreadful customer service. they raise fees and make you jump through hoops, then change the rules over and over again, before you've ebven adapted to the last set.

Just change your names and adresses before closing accounts, to a false account. Ebay don't send debt recovery unless its for a high amount and it doesn't affect your credit score.

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

You sir are an agitator and contributing factor to why eB is getting harder and harder on sellers.

This statement is pitiful.

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

they won't limit you for having 10% rather than 9% on postage time.

In regards to paying fees they just sell the debt to a collection agency who sends 2-3 emails and gives up, maybe different if its a big amount

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

I understand what you mean. Maybe Ill consider waiting until my arm is up my back before paying their fees.

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

How do they send them to a stealth address ?

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

They can't as long as you don't leave any footprints to your old address on your account.

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

They dont. It gets passed over to the agency, then they pursue it.

Finding a Stealth CAN be done, but if the account has been done properly, it would be difficult as the only genuine info will be a bank account - and they will need a court order to gain that legally - which seldom happens due to the extensive legal fees involved. However PI's/Debt collection firms are known not to do things by the book, so for example, they have a contact at Natwest, and they need to gain the info for that Natwest account the deposits went into it - they bung them a few quid (probably have them on the payrool), and they look it up and pass it on.

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

That was an option I was considering.. but whats the best way to rest an account. Do I close the shop in order to avoid the monthly £17 or so recurring fee and if I do, that means I will need to start from ground up relisting all the items.

Whats your best approach to resting an account?

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

Close the store, not the account, and wait a year.

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

Humm.. If I close the store, I suppose the listings will be falling off as ended after 30 days.

I think there is an option to keep your listing up but they are not shown to buyers. So in theory, I will mark all of the items as out of stock and they will remain active in my account but not displaying to buyers. So only money I will owe ebay would be the monthly store fee.

Better idea if it is possible. Will check and update you guys

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

I know I'm bringing this 4 year old thread back to life but I'm dying to know the answer.

What happened to your account in the end??

Did you manage to close it or rest it...

Re: Below standard - Is it worth closing it yourself?
 

Welcome to the forum - all the best as you master stealth :thumb:


Haven't seen this user active in ages :(