How to get kicked off of eBay

alt.marketing.online.ebay FAQ

5.0 How to get kicked off of eBay
Unless you aren't paying your bill, eBay generally enforces their rules only in response to specific complaints from other members.

5.1 Shill bidding
Sellers who bid on their own auctions or have a closely related party bid on their auctions without any intention of winning are engaging in shill bidding. Shill bidding is done to increase the final price for auctions or to make an auction appear more popular than it really is.

With the changes eBay has made restricting access to email addresses and other member information, it is becoming increasingly difficult to detect this type of activity. If you see the same bidder in the bid history for many of a seller's auctions or a high number of bid retractions, these are indications (not guarantees) of shill bidding.

If you suspect shill bidding, but aren't sure, post the auction link to amoe and let the group help.

5.2 Bid shielding
Bid shielding is done by a buyer to keep the price high until the end of an auction to discourage other bidders. The high bid is then retracted leaving the buyer's second account as the new high bidder. Note that a buyer has to have two separate accounts or a partner to accomplish this. With eBay's new rules on late bid retractions, it is more difficult, but not impossible to shield low bids.

If you suspect bid shielding, but aren't sure, post the auction link to amoe and let the group help.

5.3 Don't pay for your winnings
Three strikes and you're out! If three separate sellers go through the NPB/FVF process, you are automatically banned from further activity on eBay.

5.4 Engage in keyword spamming
By adding keywords into your auction title or description that are totally unrelated to the item you are selling, your auction shows up on a much greater number of searches. The problem with this is that search results become unusable since potential bidders have to wade through pages of junk to find items they want.

First-time offenders are usually given a warning and have their auction cancelled. Subsequent offenses may result in account suspension.

5.5 Don't pay your eBay fees
Need we say more? You'll get an email if your payment doesn't post and will have only a limited amount of time to make the payment.

5.6 Link to your web site from your auction listing
This rule only seems to apply if you aren't a power seller. The official policy [http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-links-faq.html#1] makes most links illegal, but enforcement is not consistent.

5.7 Listing auctions with copyright violations
With eBay's VeRO program, your auctions can be unilaterally cancelled by eBay at the request of other sellers. The strategy employed is shoot first, ask questions later. Repeated violations can result in suspension of your eBay account.

5.8 Have a bad email address
If eBay receives a complaint that your email address is no longer valid, they will send a test message. If they confirm your address, nothing happens. If the message bounces, your account is automatically cancelled until you register a new email address and request to have it reinstated. Invalid email addresses can be reported to safe harbor.

5.9 Registering with invalid contact information
If eBay receives a complaint that any of your contact information is wrong, they will quickly cancel your account. Bad contact information can be reported to safe harbor.

5.10 Auction Interference
Auction Interference can take many forms. The essential elements necessary to constitute a violation, however, are that the interference occurs while an auction is running. EBay tends to be quite diligent about cancelling accounts, provided the party making the complaint goes through all the hoops and provides any requested information.