topic Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay in Selling

Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

clarry100 — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 21:44:08 GMT

We operate two basic stores.

In the past 24-hours we have been given a selling restriction on both stores. For 3-days we cannot make any new listings. This is for listing items in the wrong category.

We have some products that are a baby headband and matching set of barefoot sandals (foot flowers).

In the past week we have made up some new Xmas listings for these sets.

We were unsure which category to list them in. Either baby Headbands or baby Shoes since there is an element of both in them.

So we searched thru the categories to find out where other sellers were listing them.

It seemed that the Baby Shoes was the most common with somehere near 2,000 of these listed on ebay Australia. So we added them into this category thinking this would be OK.

Yesterday all our new listings were removed by ebay and the selling retriction slapped on us. We cannot relist into the "Other" category as they suggest since we are currently banned from making new listings.

We have looked thru the category again and find that all of the same 2,000-odd listings from other sellers are still there.

Wondering why they have targetted both our stores and not these other sellers?

Could I be smelling a rat here and somebody or a competitior has reported our listings?

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

harley_babes_hoard — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 21:52:57 GMT

what was the actual reason given regarding the listings being removed? was it just for wrong category? and how many warning have you had?

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

clarry100 — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 22:05:11 GMT

The reason given was listing in an incorrect category.

Several months ago we made a couple of "newbie" errors and put a couple of items into the wrong categories. They pinged those. Our fault and we corrected those. Maybe this error has been counted on our accounts.

But this time no warnings just BAM! Listings gone and a 3-day ban from listing on both our stores.

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

harley_babes_hoard — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 22:10:26 GMT

it does seem strange that if you have only had a few that it would affect your account like that. I have had a few so called wrong categories warnings (even though they weren't) and I haven't had a ban at all.

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

horizon1907 — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 22:11:48 GMT

I find it hard to believe that ebay restricts your listing, when you put them in the so called "wrong" catagory. Surely a polite message from "Top Dog" that we believe this catagory is best, would be appropriate. A bit of common sense from the powers that be, is just the case. IMO they let the scammers & fraudsters run amok, while the decsent guys have to be slapped across the hands like naughty children. Ebay, get a grip !!!

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

horizon1907 — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 22:19:03 GMT

eeeeekkkk best you not do any naughties soon clarry or else they may really beat you up. 🙂

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

clarry100 — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 00:28:19 GMT

Mwahh! That sounds ominous Horizon...

What's the next violation? jail?

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

i-love-my-sheep — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 04:18:33 GMT

This is absolutely outrageous. I have repeatedly reported our resident shill bidder for listing in the wrong category. She lists her Nepalese paintings under the Aboriginal paintings category. She also lists under antique art and then says the paintings are new and produced in the 2000's. You guess it, not one single listing has been removed, EVER.

She gets reported for putting links in her listings. They stay. She gets reported for keyword spamming. They stay. Maybe you need to flounce the rules and say to hell with it. The scammers seem to get away with constantly breaking the rules, maybe that's the road you should head down.

I'd set up a few new accounts as shilling accounts too, because it seems that shill bidding is acceptable these days.

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

2011.narelle — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 04:35:42 GMT

Oh i just saw how her auctions are all private now so that bidders can't detect the shill bidding now.god bless maria for that little change since she got caught out for shilling before.

Funny how an item like that needs to be a private listing.

O.P looks at where to list the item & puts it where many others are & gets punished while the other listings remain.Seems very unfair to me.

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

thecatspjs — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 04:53:53 GMT

I agree that there is inconsistent treatment by eBay in relation to listings - always has been, and will continue to be I reckon, if it annoys you report the other sellers listings, that is an option.

But .. clarry IMO i'd steer clear of listing those foot decoration thingos for babys feet in shoes

just because other sellers do it, does not make it the way to go on eBay, if you keep getting policy violations the selling restrictions will keep coming, and get longer in duration as well.

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

bsal6160 — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 05:41:17 GMT

Is this not the SECOND time you have been sanctioned for Miscatergorisation? A pattern appearing here.

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

i-love-my-sheep — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 07:08:04 GMT

I reported both her accounts again today for shill bidding, even though the listings were all private and within half an hour, all the auctions were ended from her god bless maria account. They didn't touch the love dalai lama account though.

I also reported her for listing her items in thte wrong category, on both ID's, under Aboriginal art and they haven't been touched either. I also reported her for artificially increasing feedback, which is blatantly obvious by the fact her other ID's show on each account. Those feedbacks remain.

I told eBay how disgusted I was with them that they continuously let her violate one policy after another, not to mention breaking the law....and they are allowing her to do it, while honest sellers are having restrictions placed on their accounts for far less. Of course there was no mention of that in their cut and paste reply.

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

clarry100 — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 10:01:12 GMT

As I said above several months ago we inadvertently listed some items incorrectly categorised.

They were pinged and removed at the time and we relisted them in the suggested categories.

But we have never been sanctioned or restricted for anything at all before this on any of our selling accounts.

It just seems rather sudden and savage especially when there are somewhere near to 2,000 very similar listings in the same category as ours were and they are still there today. So those sellers are not being targetted. Mostly Chinese sellers too. They seem to be a protected species.

In these cases we were unsure which of two apparent categories we should list them into as they had an element of two categories in them being a set of matching headband and barefoot sandals. So we looked at what other sellers were doing to help us make up our mind. But we did not even consider the "other" category they are suggesting.

I guess we have no choice but to suck it up. Just seems like very inconsistent treatment of sellers with a good track record really.

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

thecatspjs — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 10:08:42 GMT

I remain puzzled as to why would you not consider it when eBay have previously told you to use it for the foot accessories when you received policy violations for listing those in shoes ?

Relying on the categories chosen by Chinese sellers is gonna lead to tears and more restrictions IMO.

IMO if you are not sure, rather than rely on guess work, ask eBay and get them to confirm their advice via email.

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

phorum_junkie* — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 10:15:50 GMT

Why not list them under headbands (if there is such a category) with free foot accessories.

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

i-love-my-sheep — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 11:28:00 GMT

Yet here we have a seller who has listed items in 2 categories and both of them aren't applicable to the item 191348368748

1. They are NOT Aboriginal paintings and 2. Given she has dated them 2000-now, they certainly are NOT antique.

Yet, those listings have been repeatedly reported, including as late as today and they are allowed to remain. Go figure.

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

thecatspjs — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 11:35:36 GMT

@i-love-my-sheep wrote:
Yet here we have a seller who has listed items in 2 categories and both of them aren't applicable to the item 191348368748

1. They are NOT Aboriginal paintings and 2. Given she has dated them 2000-now, they certainly are NOT antique.

Yet, those listings have been repeatedly reported, including as late as today and they are allowed to remain. Go figure.

It is unfair, however to risk your selling ability because of what other sellers do is a bit of risk isn't it ?

Remember the OP is on a listing restriction for category issues. I don't think spamming this thread about an alleged frauduent seller is even appropriate TBH.

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

i-love-my-sheep — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 11:36:39 GMT

I was trying to highlight the double standards that are taking place. Some sellers get away with repeated violations constantly, others look in the wrong direction and have their account restricted.

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

mbselections00 — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 15:06:38 GMT

A bit off subject, but in the light of the Catagory Violations, it seems they have nothing better to do at the moment, I just had two DUPLICATED (not) listings removed. A load of B.S. Photos clearly show two completely different beads. Description states different Part Numbers . . . . . . . . grrrrrrrrrr

271626066494 - White & multi colour Lampwork Glass Bead - Suit European bracelets & necklaces
271626065195 - White & multi colour Lampwork Glass Bead - Suit European bracelets & necklaces

Wonder how else I can describe them - leave the 's' off bracelets & necklaces on one perhaps - how stupid

But I am soooooooo stupid, after commenting on another thread the other day, the Titles were the same and apparently it makes no difference what the photo is of !!!!! (I am summising here)

If only I was a scammer !!!!!! I'd be fine

Have messaged CS and am waiting for the usual Cut & Paste response in a few days, lol

Re: Inconsistent Treatment by eBay

thecatspjs — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 15:21:27 GMT

Well ... there are a few ways .... you just gotta mix it up a bit

White & multi colour Lampwork Glass Bead - Suit European bracelets & necklaces

White with multicolours Lampwork Glass Bead Best for European necklaces & bracelets

Lampwork Glass Bead White Multicoloured Best for European bracelet or necklace

Multicolour and White Glass Lampwork Bead best suit European bracelets or necklaces