eBay

igot6strings · ‎02-02-2013

Good Day,

I am having a bit of an issue with my account. I tried contacting Ebay customer service but no matter who I end up talking too they don't seem to have a clue what they are doing. Very inexperienced. They almost sound like they are 16yr olds and its their first job. Dealing with Paypal is another story. Paypal customer service is fantastic, very professional. I feel like I'm dealing with my bank when I talk to Paypal but when I talk to Ebay its like dealing with my cable company the service is so bad.

My issue is that I'm a casual seller who has been with Ebay and Paypal since the dawn of both entities. I meet all the criteria to have any pending funds restrictions lifted from my account but when I try to explain that to the Ebay reps I speak with its like talking to a brick wall. The Paypal customer service understand me fine and well and are quite helpful but inorder to fix my issue they have to forward me to Ebay customer service and thats when I want to start stabbing myself in the eye with a rusty fork.

I have two Ebay accounts registered to me and listed with my Paypal account. My old account is no longer in use as I quit using Ebay for a period of time before coming back and opening a new account. Both accounts have near perfect feedback with only 1 negative on only one of my accounts. Ebay states its ok to have up to 2 Ebay accounts, which is what I have and like mentioned above both are registered to my Paypal. My account usernames are igot6strings and bopherkisdribble. With the statistics of both accounts taken into account I more than meet the required criteria to have my funds released at the time of purchase.

What I don't understand is why its so hard to talk to someone at Ebay who has any sort of clue of what I am referring to. If it were possible to e-mail Ebay customer support atleast I could explain my situation without being interrupted by an incompetent CSR constantly. I am very unsatisfied with how unprofessional the Ebay customer support is when I need them most. Its perplexing that such a great company has such poorly trained employees answering the phones. I don't mean to come off as rude but honestly I don't have anything positive to say about the CSRs I spoke to at Ebay.

I hope this message gets the attention of someone at Ebay who can help me. Please feel free to contact me using my contact information on my account. If you are unable to see that information please post here with some specifics on how I can contact you at Ebay or how I can have you contact me. I do not wish to leave personal information on a forum if it can be avoided.

Anonymous · ‎02-02-2013

I feel your pain.......in the eye. Been there done that. You are expected and required to wait one year, that's one year from your latest low DSR report You may have strikes against you that do not show up. This is what kept me from being a TopSeller. Maybe some Negative Feedbacks also added to your penalty time.

I am no expert by any means. I hope some other posters try to ease your sore eye.

pierrelebel · ‎02-02-2013

"With the statistics of both accounts taken into account I more than meet the required criteria to have my funds released at the time of purchase."

I do not know why the eBay customer service representative did not make it clear to you that your old account does not matter. All of us, including those with huge feedback, faced the same situation: when you open a new selling account, funds are withheld for up to 21 days until that new account meets the requirements to have the fund released immediately.

No customer service representative can change the policy. It is what it is and we all had to comply with it.

pierrelebel · ‎02-02-2013

PS - Until a few years ago, it was possible to "merge" two eBay accounts into one. That is no longer allowed.

igot6strings · ‎02-02-2013

Thanks for the replies folks. Much appreciated.

Pierre, good to know. The Ebay reps couldn't even get that far and struggled to even do the basics like open up my account to view my info. The 3 replies here provided much better info than any of the times I spoke to Ebay reps.

When Paypal checked my account for me they told me I only had to complete 3 more successful sales to have it unlocked. This still leaves me confused. I did complete 3 more sales since then and received my feedback from the buyers. I guess that info from Paypal was incorrect?

brandeentertainment · ‎02-02-2013

Come to the boards for help ebay customer support is a waste of time unless what you want to know is very very basic.. I have called them for many situaions throughout the years and unless it is basic they don't know or can't help etc.

I found an email once and now i just send anything to that email and they are always very helpful...

Ebay should not even say they have customer support to be honest..

One time i had to walk them through all the steps to help me ..

Another time Very broken english with their children screaming in the backround

90% of their support don't talk proper english so it is always the case where you listen to hear the important words..

As a business myself if my support was as bad as there I would be ashamed to tell people how good and helpful ebay is because if that is good and helpful that is just pathetic standards..

about 2 years ago someone had on the boards there is no more email or chat help..

Ebay troll wrote we are aware of the situation and are going to look into it .. 2 years later still NOTHING ....

you have to be a us seller to get any help from ebay ..

I have reported bootlegs and fraud with overwhelming evidence and had nothing done...

I hope people soon realize ebay is not the safest or the best and maybe another company will someday know what customer service is and take a bite out of ebays bottom line...

Just come to the boards for help my friend that is why ebay has them so other sellers can help you because their customer support is so bad and know very little

brandeentertainment · ‎02-02-2013

FYI AMAZON HAS AMAZING CUSTOMER SUPPORT... email responded to within 24hrs ... never poor english on the phone .. Every agent has always either helped or known who to transfer me to for help ...

Pierre,femme,puck, all know more about ebay then the best customer support ebay has to offer maybe just maybe they should start giving these guy a discount on fees for doing their jobs

mr.elmwood · ‎02-02-2013

Igot, feedback does not count. If you are talking about this ID, you have three sales with FB. Three. What do you think three qualifies you for? Does not matter how long you have been on ebay.

Other IDs do not count. Each ID stands on it's own.

There is no-one at eBay to talk to. All the brainpower ya need is on the boards.

You want restrictions lifted? Sell lots and regularly. eBay does not want casual sellers.

.
.
.

i*m-still-here · ‎02-02-2013

A tip with customer support................. ask to talk to a manager or someone in charge very early into the conversation.

It is the only way to talk someone who has any power to do anything.

igot6strings · ‎02-02-2013

Thanks folks. All good to know.
I had assumed since both accounts were registered with my one PayPal account that they would/should be combined. My assumption was incorrect. I am still also confused as to why PayPal told me I only need 3 more transactions for my account to "graduate" as they put it. I am not sure where they got that from now.

The whole thing wouldn't be such a PITA if they would allow you to spend the dang fee the Buyer pays for Shipping on Shipping! That I will never wrap my head around. It should be illegal to block those funds for their intended purpose.

Anyway thanks for the input folks. All is understood now I believe. Ebay owes you guys. If I ever have any more questions I'll come here first.

mr.elmwood · ‎02-02-2013

I thought that if you used Paypal Shipping, ya could use that money?

.
.
.

pierrelebel · ‎02-02-2013

" It should be illegal to block those funds for their intended purpose."

Back in the "real world" if you open a new "brick and mortar" store and request a credit card processing account you should expect some of the funds to be held for a time before being accessible. There is nothing illegal about that. It is part of your "contract".

The "system" has become obsessed with fraud prevention over the years. It is not a "PayPal thing". It applies almost everywhere. Why? Online frauds are increasing.

As far as "quality" of answers you get from eBay or PayPal customer service, it is not there. Some may be very friendly but it does not mean their answers are correct.

In most instances, if you are dealing with policy (as you are in this case), there is nothing the customer service representative or a supervisor can do about it.

Now, I have had the opportunity recently to deal with customer service at two large Canadian banks. They are very friendly BUT, at the end of the day, their knowledge is not there. Their ability to help is limited to the most easiest questions answerable from templates.

What do you expect from relatively untrained folks - with large staff turnover - earning $12 an hour ($2 in the Phillippines)?

If eBay and PayPal (who earned their fees from sellers) were to survey sellers and ask "Would you be willing to pay increased fees so we could upgrade our customer service?" the answer would be a resounding NO.

And life does go on.

By the way why do you think eBay-Canada closed their customer service department near Vancouver four years ago? Money - to cut expenses and increase profit.

http://www.marketnews.ca/content/index/page?pid=5343

mr.elmwood · ‎02-02-2013

I'll see the banks and raise you Service Canada. An aquiantance of mine is trying to apply for disability CPP. He has the wrong papers because that is what they sent him. They are not allowed to offer assistance. They are not allowed to ask questions to find out what you really need. They are not allowed to help you with filling in the papers. He was about ready to turn himself into a Polar Bear chew toy.

Fortunately, I have experience with beating my head against the wall.

.
.
.

bb_cool_stuff · ‎02-02-2013

So much for the "Service" in Service Canada.

igot6strings · ‎02-02-2013

You would think that but no.
What they do is when you use PayPal shipping and pay for the service with your credit card, existing balance or bank account they then release those funds back to you.

You have to pay for the shipping yourself in order to get access to the funds the buyer paid for the shipping.

There is no excuse for this. Its absurd on all levels. There is no reason I shouldn't be able to use the Buyers money on the Buyers shipping using PayPals own shipping service. All this does is discourage new sellers. In my case this a PITA as it takes a week for my funds to get into my PayPal account from my bank account as I am in Canada. Its also much more convenient for me to print my own labels and drop my packages in a drop box rather than go to the post office for the shipping. It just seems like theres a headache at every turn.