eBay, the business plan police

[OulOat]

I switched my family cell phone plan to T-Mobile in response to their ETF fee promotion. As part of their promotion, I had to purchase some cheap phones. I planned to keep my AT&T phones, so I sold the cheap T-Mobile phones on eBay at a loss (some $$ now > $0 and crappy phones). eBay promptly blindsides me, locks my account, and demand documentation on my identity and receipts. Although I'm pissed about being treated as a criminal, I sent them my license, CC statement, and T-Mobile receipt.

I get a response back saying that my business plan doesn't make sense and I need to explain to them a valid business plan. WTF, is getting rid of junk no longer a valid business plan? They also want my full drivers license so they can steal my identity and molest baby kittens. I just want to fax back my middle finger, but faxes cost me money and this isn't worth it.

-----------------------------

Hello,

I know this might seem confusing, so let me explain a little more. We're always looking for ways to improve the buyer and seller experience. As part of this effort, we sometimes restrict selling privileges, remove listings from our website, or suspend accounts until we can verify certain information. It is understandable that you do not agree with the action that we have taken to protect the community. Most people realize the steps that we take are necessary to keep the eBay Market Place a safer place to buy and sell.

For us to verify the inventory of sellers, we first need to be able to verify the company you are using as well as inventory on hand which is verifiable through invoices, receipts, purchase order, as well as various other forms of documentation.

Unfortunately, after reviewing the submitted documentation we noticed that it does not fully represent the items that you were listing. Also we were unable to verify the source of the items purchased that were listed for sell on your account. In the documentation you provided it states "___PHONE____" for $X+Y a piece. You are selling ___PHONE___ for $X a piece. With that being said, you are not profiting from this and we need to know your business plan. How do you plan on profiting from this if you are losing $Y on each item?

Also, your drivers license has been modified, we have to be able to read all information on your drivers license in order to accept your proof of identity. Please provide us with an unaltered drivers license.

Please fax the above requested information to:

eBay

Attn: SRM Appeals

Fax number: 801-880-7018

-- Important –

Write your user ID and email address on every document and remove your credit card number from any documentation before sending.

-- Note –

The information on all of these documents should match the information on your eBay account. If there are any discrepancies, please provide an explanation as well as any additional, relevant documentation.

Again, we appreciate your efforts to submit the necessary documentation to our office. We hope to have this situation resolved shortly. Once we receive your business plan and an unaltered driver license, we will be happy to continue with your appeal.

We appreciate your time in resolving this matter.

Thanks,

eBay

 

[KeithTalent]

I'm assuming people try to dump stolen merchandise at a lower price there all the time and Ebay does not want to be in the business of selling stolen merch/money laundering.

KT

 

[rudeguy]

Use Craigslist. I've bought and sold dozens of phones with no problem.

Ebay is for scammers now. Its their mecca.

 

[Red Storm]

Use Craigslist. I've bought and sold dozens of phones with no problem.

Ebay is for scammers now. Its their mecca.

This. Selling phones legitimately on Craigslist is as easy as pie, just meet buyers at a local carrier store and you're good to go.

 

[OulOat]

I plan on using Craigslist, but it's quite a hassle with the no-shows and the is-it-still-available?. Still going to do it now rather than deal with eBay's ridiculous demands. Guess that puts me in the "happy dance when eBay gets it hard" club.

 

[Ns1]

So what did they say when you told them "I'm not a business, I'm trying to sell stuff I don't need."?

 

[Red Storm]

I plan on using Craigslist, but it's quite a hassle with the no-shows and the is-it-still-available?. Still going to do it now rather than deal with eBay's ridiculous demands. Guess that puts me in the "happy dance when eBay gets it hard" club.

Yeah I stopped using eBay long ago cause of all the crap and fees I had to deal with. You still get some crap with Craigslist (so I've heard, I've personally never had a problem buying or selling) but at least there's no fees!

 

[DesiPower]

Use Craigslist. I've bought and sold dozens of phones with no problem.

Ebay is for scammers now. Its their mecca.

This

/thread

 

[Fritzo]

This. Selling phones legitimately on Craigslist is as easy as pie, just meet buyers at a local carrier store and you're good to go.

...and hope they're not rapist axe murders.

 

[OulOat]

So what did they say when you told them "I'm not a business, I'm trying to sell stuff I don't need."?

That will require me to pay to send them a fax since email is a new technology not available to them.

 

[notposting]

That will require me to pay to send them a fax since email is a new technology not available to them.

Bitch on Twitter/Facebook. Corporations usually* fix things real quick when you have the opportunity to smear them in front of the whole world.


* the MS Store is an exception, I think I hate them now

 

[nickbits]

That will require me to pay to send them a fax since email is a new technology not available to them.

if you want to email me a pdf/doc file, i can fax it for you. pm me if interested.

 

[halik]

I've never seen that before; odd.

 

[Ns1]

I've never seen that before; odd.

I'm guessing he's a new seller.

 

[Slew Foot]

I'm guessing he's a new seller.

Yeah, when youre a new seller selling easily stolen items they put up some roadblocks.

 

[OulOat]

if you want to email me a pdf/doc file, i can fax it for you. pm me if interested.

Will you fax them my middle finger ?

 

[OulOat]

Yeah, when youre a new seller selling easily stolen items they put up some roadblocks.

Which makes sense. However, I already sent them my receipt. Apparently that isn't enough, and now they want my business case, photo, dl number, hair color, address, DOB, SSN, blood type, race, and date when I first masturbated. Personal stuff I prefer not to share just so I have the privilege of paying eBay $5 to sell a $20 phone.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I plan on using Craigslist, but it's quite a hassle with the no-shows and the is-it-still-available?. Still going to do it now rather than deal with eBay's ridiculous demands. Guess that puts me in the "happy dance when eBay gets it hard" club.

I don't think I've ever gotten a no show and once I take it off Craigslist when its sold no one ever calls me anymore. I always turn to craigslist first to sell something and if I can't (usually computer parts) ill go online.

 

[SP33Demon]

Stop stealing phones and ebay will stop sending you letters asking for proof.

 

[jagec]

ebay is trying to transition from being an auction site to being an Amazon competitor.

That means that they only care about power sellers, not individual users. Sell it on craigslist.

 

[88keys]

I know a guy who works for a VZW in sales and he told me about this scam going on where people will find someone who they'll bring in to sign up for a cell service plan and get a free (or really cheap) phone to later be sold online at a higher price but significantly cheaper than no contract price. I don't recall much of the specifics but that's the gist of it, but I remember him saying the T-Mobile and Sprint stores are the most common targets because they are alot more lenient on their credit checks when signing up new customers.

He's told me that they have notified law enforcement about it, but because no fake identities are involved nor are any other laws being broken; the whole thing is out of their hands.

eBay could be watching cell phone sales closely in the same way they monitor software sales to circumvent things like this.

 

[Doppel]

This. Selling phones legitimately on Craigslist is as easy as pie, just meet buyers at a local carrier store and you're good to go.

Easy as pie if easy as pie is like getting raped by a spoon.

The problem with craigslist is the buyers are shit and waste your time. Ebay doesn't. I'm moving away from Craiglist on basically everything now. Items that are heavy and not worth much I still put up there, but anything else--like a phone--go online. If not amazon, ebay. The number of buyers is massively bigger and you don't field endless emails from completely imbeciles.

I love to bitch about craigslist. Currently I'm selling something for $70. Got an email asking if I'd take $50. I said sure. And guess what? Guy falls off the face of the earth. It's just aggravating.

 

[Red Storm]

...and hope they're not rapist axe murders.

I don't remember saying meet them in an abandoned warehouse.

Easy as pie if easy as pie is like getting raped by a spoon.

The problem with craigslist is the buyers are shit and waste your time. Ebay doesn't. I'm moving away from Craiglist on basically everything now. Items that are heavy and not worth much I still put up there, but anything else--like a phone--go online. If not amazon, ebay. The number of buyers is massively bigger and you don't field endless emails from completely imbeciles.

I love to bitch about craigslist. Currently I'm selling something for $70. Got an email asking if I'd take $50. I said sure. And guess what? Guy falls off the face of the earth. It's just aggravating.

I've sold more phones and tablets than I can count on Craigslist and have never once had this problem. It's pretty easy to spot the good buyers from the bad ones.

 

[rudeguy]

I don't remember saying meet them in an abandoned warehouse.



I've sold more phones and tablets than I can count on Craigslist and have never once had this problem. It's pretty easy to spot the good buyers from the bad ones.

Also knowing how to sell helps.

My ads are to the point but useful. Lots of pics and links. When I buy, I make sure they know I'm not kicking tires. I can usually get things sold within 3 days. Any more than that and I need to redo something.

 

[CZroe]

"listed for sell"
*facepalm*