I'd personally like to know how you're going to shut down your friend's, family and company accounts? I am seriously interested. If my husband died tomorrow, I'd have hell's own time closing his account down if I didn't know his password (which I do, and he knows mine, for that reason). Maybe your friend's, family and company are happy with their ebay experience.
As mentioned, ebay couldn't care less if you close your account. You aren't even a blip in the universe to them. You closing your account is not going to cause their company to close down, regardless of how important you think you are.
I'll take a bet. We can check your account again in 6 months, and guaranteed it will still be open and active. 99% of people threaten, but never follow through.
I'm amazed that you had 2 identical bracelets. Lucky you! I'm also amazed that in the space of 9 days, postage costs have doubled.
As for the hold, one of my accounts, I've been selling on for nearly 20 years. The last 2 years have been rather slow, because to be honest, I haven't been putting the work into my current listings and adding new listings, so only have myself to blame. I sold something recently, and yes, my funds were held for 28 days (I was expecting 30 days, so got lucky!).
Them's the rules. Ebay's sandpit, they make the rules. It's to try and stop scammers, and while it doesn't stop all of them, it's certainly slowed them down significantly from hijacking dormant accounts and ripping people off. Personally, I'm all for it if it makes for a safer trading site. You haven't given feedback as a seller for over 5 years, so yes, the new seller rule applies to you. Plus you randomly sold a high priced item.
If your buyers do get around to leaving feedback (which they haven't yet despite what you said), get onto ebay and they may release your funds sooner.
As for Marketplace and Gumtree with the 2 bracelets you sold, good luck with that. Gumtree you'd have been hounded with offers for $150. Marketplace you'd get getting the scammers asking you if you have PayID, then others offering you maybe $250. Threatening to use those sites is also not going to upset ebay. You just forget to mention Amazon to make the trifecta.
