eBay - 14 day BUYING ban and all negative feedback removed.

So in my further adventures on eBay...

I've bought 79 items in the past month. 18 individual pins costing about $1 each from one seller, 11 pins from another seller that cost from $1-$5, and 4 pin lots from another seller. These were my counterfeit buys, I reported them as not as described, counterfeit and eBay had me return them, and I had my money refunded. So all in all, 33 bad items which I promptly returned for refunds from 3 (THREE) sellers.

SINCE then, I've had dealings with 11 (ELEVEN) other sellers in that time. All GOOD pins. 46 good transactions. I became picky in which sellers pins I would bid on. One seller I bought 2 pins from seeing if they were real and just good buys, they were and I have gone on to bid on many more items from them.

Now because I had the misfortune to try to buy from unscrupulous people or people who just didn't know (which I doubt because going back to each of their profiles, I see they have either relisted the pins, or are selling more of the same), I have a 14 day ban from buying/bidding on ebay. NOT from selling, oh no.

I called eBay (since there are 3 pins that are coming up in the next 24 hours that I want) to straighten this out. Basically you get a code that is good for calling them within 15 minutes. The call however is not to anyone who can help, it is to a tier 1 person who just escalates the issue that will be dealt with after 3 business days. Not within, you have to wait at least 3 days (or 5 if you call on a Thursday or Friday).

The message from eBay with identifying info removed. I've bolded information we all should be aware of. The troubling parts.


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[TD="width: 100%"]"Dear X

To keep eBay a trustworthy place for all members, we routinely review buying and selling activity. In reviewing your account, we found:

An unusually high rate of buyer protection cases being opened for items not as described

Because of this behavior, we've:
--Restricted your ability to buy items or place bids for the next 14 days.
--Removed your account from the eBay Buyer Protection program indefinitely. You won't be able to open any cases in the Resolution Center.
--Removed from related seller profiles any neutral or negative Feedback and low detailed seller ratings left by you within the past year.

This restriction only affects buying, and will be automatically lifted after 14 days have passed. You'll still be able to sell on eBay and complete transactions for items you've already won.

Please be aware that if this activity continues, you may be subject to a range of other actions, including suspension of your eBay account.

For more tips on buying, go to:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/buying-practices.html

If you'd like more information on this decision, click the link below to directly contact eBay Customer Support.
X

We appreciate your cooperation.

Thanks,

eBay

Please don't reply to this message. It was sent from an address that doesn't accept incoming email."[/TD]
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So what does this mean? If you buy from bad sellers, eventually you will have no protection from them. And your feedback about bad sellers will be removed, meaning others will be buying from them not knowing that they are bad sellers. So their much vaunted "buyer protection" program won't help you if you use it "too much". Subjective to eBay decisions. This is... troubling...

Ebay is so frustrating sometimes. Sorry that this happened

Holy poop, wtf? this is outragous! you are not the bad guy, you didnt sell bad products, are these sellers being banned. i will write them now. i think everyone who uses ebay should. it only takes 5 minutes.,

FYI: Most of the scrapper sellers eventually become ebay power sellers that earn a lot of $ for ebay.

Holy cow!!!!!

That is way wrong! This is punishing the honest party for turning someone in, that should benefit many individuals.

I hope you are able to speak with someone and get this straightened out.

This is way too scary!

Vicki

The problem with the ban is there is a few auctions that I was watching on and was going to bid on if they stayed low. And now they will time out.

Writing them will do little good. I WOULD however be interested to see if this type of thing has happened to others, and possibly write an article or two about it. If we expose this practice, perhaps we can get it changed in a good way. I understand WHY eBay does it, but the result is protecting bad sellers.

You're in CA, so is eBay. You should take it to the politicians and let them know how a company is treating their constituents. eBay continues to plague the buyers and sellers with terrible policies. They don't care, they tell the pissed off seller it's the buyer that bids on their item so the buyer brings eBay proft but then they turn around and tell the pissed off buyers the sellers are their source of income. Shady business, always has been. They should send you an award for letting them know they are allowing counterfeit merchandise to be sold on their website. They should be charged in court for accessory. Emails like yours should be used as evidence.

This is absolutely absurd! The thing that is most disturbing is that you are now NEVER(!?!) again protected from the buyer protection? I say just start a new ebay account. It is a shame to resort to something like that but what else can you do?

Does this mean you are better throwing away counterfeit pins than trying to get a refund? Have others had this problem? Makes me think about not ever buying on eBay, especially with it protecting counterfeit sellers.

Oh my goodness, that is ridiculous... :facepalm:
Way to go eBay, shooting yourself in the foot... somewhat supporting bad sellers AND denying the honest eBayers who actually give a toss about the bad sellers and try to stop them I'm sorry this happened to you!

Ugh, your story is terrible! I was horrifed to read this. So sorry it happened! I think you are an unfortunate victim of eBay's complicated policies that keep changing--never for the better. I have heard horror stories of buyers working the system for refunds and scams (returning a different item than they were sent), and I think this ridiculous BS is in response to that. I am NOT saying this is what you did in any way at all, just I think this is the origin of their "protections." It is even MORE frustrating that you would get "busted" for doing the right thing!

I think you absolutely should follow up by phone whenever your escalation date is. In my experience, it's a pain to wait and go through their procedures, but when you get a supervisor, they should be able to reverse all this nonsense for you. Of course that does not help the auctions you are missing out in the meantime

Maybe we other traders can help by sending info. on fakes to whoever you reach, so they know it's a serious problem in the hobby? Please let us know if we can help corroborate somehow!

So sorry this is happening! Hang in there.

Laura

markheardjr said:

You're in CA, so is eBay. You should take it to the politicians and let them know how a company is treating their constituents.

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Problem with that... some of the eBay board members are in politics... (remember Meg Whitman?)

Lady Wolf said:

Does this mean you are better throwing away counterfeit pins than trying to get a refund? Have others had this problem? Makes me think about not ever buying on eBay, especially with it protecting counterfeit sellers.

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No, get the refund. Just don't buy a lot of single pins that are cheap. If you think a seller MIGHT not have real pins, buy one or two. Learn from my... mistakes?

Dalisair said:

Problem with that... some of the eBay board members are in politics... (remember Meg Whitman?)

Click to expand...

I remember she lost!!

what town are u in. Many News shows have a call in and ask for help number.(give us a free story) I would call and tell them u have a big story about e-bay scams and how the company is ok with it. im sure u can find sum help. and u seem to have the paper work to back it up.

Anaheim. Heh. AND I'm formerly employed by a network, so... I just hate doing it, which is why I'd rather collect many peoples stories and make it a big story, not just one of less than $100.

Maybe the bbb could be notified,that's horrible

If you really want the pins, I have no problem bidding on them for you as long as you pay for them plus shipping. It will take longer for you to get the pins but at least you know you have them. PM me if you want me to bid for you.

I've had a couple of offers. I think I am just spoiling surprise for gifts by having them bid for me. Of course I don't have to tell them it will be for them...

Before everyone gets all up in arms over this and at the risk of getting slammed myself, remember there are two sides to every story. I have a hard time believing ebay just blocks people who have a legitamate complaint and went through the proper channels to resolve it. I'm not saying this is the case here, but just because a person claims a pin is a scrapper doesn't always mean it truly is a scrapper. Cry wolf too many times and there are consequences.

But like I said, I don't know what the situation here is, just remember we're only hearing one side. There's no need to arm the villagers with pitchforks and torches to storm the eBay castle.

maybe contact the seller directly?

storm the ebay castle for sure!!!!! lol sorry cant find pitchfork mickey...

I am both a seller and a buyer on ebay (not of pins) there are many different ways to get around ebay, one of which is if you do have that problem, go through paypal they have similar policies and as they are different companies you should still have protection not only from paypal but from your credit card company as well.

you can also go through and report the item as fake (it has that right above item description) if they get enough reports the item is taken down and the money if there is any is refunded

I wish you the best of luck

I had horrible issues with both eBay and paypal....last night I was on the phone with paypal from 1030 until midnight because they took $149 out of my checking account that I NEVER authorized. I was pissed, to say the least...and tempted to close my eBay AND paypal accounts for good.

tiggermickey said:

Maybe the bbb could be notified,that's horrible

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If you look them up on BBB... you'll be outraged! It's crazy.