Ebay Wrongfully Temporary Restricted My Account Without Notice. What a JOKE.

[moviemerchmania]

I got a message from eBay restricting my account for 30 days from listing. I have the same PC computer game listed both are different conditions. One is Brand new one has a cracked case. Obviously a person with common sense would list these as two different items. Wrong....

According to the CS rep I spoke too I should have put both of them in the same listing... So basically according to her if I have two of the same item one is broken and one is brand new than according to what I am told by eBays customer service they belong in the same listing.........

And on top of this because the majority of the items I sell are in the DVD category, if have multiple duplicate listings since one DVD may be "Brand new" and another may be classified as "Very Good". And once again according to the eBay staff member these should be in the same listing...

So now my account is restricted for 30 days due to multiple duplicate listing violations...

[moviemerchmania]

Also as an update I spoke to another eBay customer service rep and he agrees with me that this is a mistake but there is nothing he can do.... I was told a manager would call me right away.. No surprise no call...

[moviemerchmania]

Just because I cant believe this is actually happening right now as it seems a bit ridiculous I decided to call back again..

Here is the wonderful customer service reps reply: "Sir, you need to understand. When you have the same items they need to be in the same listing to avoid having duplicate listings"

So if I was selling 2 iPhone 5's, one has a smashed screen and water damage and one is new in the box... If I follow what I am told these should be in the same listing... Quantity of two, and listed as either "Brand New" or "Not Working"

What a joke.

[pjcdn2005]

It sounds like they need to read ebay's duplicate listing policy. If I were you I would try phoning again on Monday and quote the policy to them. You really don't want to have this on your record.

http://pages.ebay.ca/help/policies/listing-multi.html

Duplicate Listing Policies

Allowed

• Separate listings for items that are similar but not identical, as long as the differences are clearly reflected in the title, subtitle, price, photos, condition, item specifics, or parts compatibility areas of a listing.

• One fixed price listing with variations.

• One fixed price listing offering multiples of an item.

• Two or more listings to sell bundles or "lots" of items, where the lots or bundles are very different and clearly satisfy different buyer needs. For example, a pack of 10 envelopes meets a different buyer need than a pack of 100 of the same envelope.

• Listings with more than one product number, product name, or brand in the listing as long as the item is specifically made to fit each product and the listing complies with our search and browse manipulation policy.

• Separate listings for items that are identical except for condition, such as 1 new, 1 used, and 1 refurbished item.

[moviemerchmania]

Thanks Pjcdn2005, I have already spoke to a supervisor about an appeal and they denied it as I was told the eBay automation detects violations and not negotiable. 

The listings that got me removed both have different conditions, different descriptions AND different prices but they fail to realize this...

I keep thinking they are playing a joke on me.. they seem to just be reading whatever it is on their screen and not actually physically LOOKING at what I am trying to say.

So frustrating.. I am trying to get in contact with someone with some type of knowledge and authority at eBay but do not know who to contact.

As for eBay customer service I better off asking my neighbours cat for advice. 

[mr.elmwood]

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@moviemerchmania wrote:

Thanks Pjcdn2005, I have already spoke to a supervisor about an appeal and they denied it as I was told the eBay automation detects violations and not negotiable. 

The listings that got me removed both have different conditions, different descriptions AND different prices but they fail to realize this...

I keep thinking they are playing a joke on me.. they seem to just be reading whatever it is on their screen and not actually physically LOOKING at what I am trying to say.

So frustrating.. I am trying to get in contact with someone with some type of knowledge and authority at eBay but do not know who to contact.

As for eBay customer service I better off asking my neighbours cat for advice. 

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Did they have different titles? Duplicate is determined by the title of the listing, nothing else.

[moviemerchmania]

Yes the title is the same.

For example same I am listing the movie Avatar. the when I list I use the ebay catelogue. So it prefills the all in the information.

One copy of the DVD is "Like New" the listing title would look like Avatar (DVD, 2013) 

The next copy of the DVD is "Good" the title still would be Avatar (DVD, 2013)

Ebay wants me to sell these in the same listing under one condition. To me that is wrong... 

[moviemerchmania]

I tried explaining to the eBay reps they just do not understand what I am trying to explain. 

Please tell me if you guys understand what I am trying to explain or if it does not make sense.

I have wrongly been banned and they cant comprehend why I have multiples of the same item with different conditions........

[mr.elmwood]

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@moviemerchmania wrote:

Yes the title is the same.

For example same I am listing the movie Avatar. the when I list I use the ebay catelogue. So it prefills the all in the information.

One copy of the DVD is "Like New" the listing title would look like Avatar (DVD, 2013) 

The next copy of the DVD is "Good" the title still would be Avatar (DVD, 2013)

Ebay wants me to sell these in the same listing under one condition. To me that is wrong... 

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Then, the listing is a duplicate. That is a policy violation. Does not matter that the rest of the listing is different.

The title, title of the listing alone, determines duplicate. If I have two of the same thing, I switch the words around in the title. That makes it different.

Same title  =  duplicate.

[tobyshitzu]

Nothing to with the title.  PJ cut and paste the policy a few posts above that clearly describes the ops situation as allowed

[mr.elmwood]

as long as the differences are clearly reflected in the title

[pocomocomputing]

When I have had an identical item but different condition, I have same title with new or used in the title to make title different and have actual pictures, different description, different price, etcetera.

I make sure title is different because duplicate policy bots look there first. So I would suggest doing that when possible. Better to try as much as possible to make title different as well as the rest of the listing.

I know what the eBay duplicate policy is but have read in ebay.com USA forums many similar horror stories about accidental re listing of items in duplicates and eBay shows no mercy on this. Sometimes I avoid listing duplicates with different condition until one sells just to avoid issue.

[mr.elmwood]

What are duplicate listings?

Listings are considered duplicates if they are for items that have no significant difference between them, or if the listings appear to be for the same item in search results. To avoid having your listings treated as duplicates, make sure you clearly show the differences in the title

Yes, I know, we have had this discussion before. At the end of it, there is ranting and raving that policy "allows". Well, at the end of the  day, those listings, with the same title, still get pulled and the seller still gets sanctioned.

[moviemerchmania]

What are the guidelines?

Separate listings for items that are similar but not identical, as long as the differences are clearly reflected in the title, subtitle, price, photos, condition, item specifics, or parts compatibility areas of a listing. One fixed price listing with variations. One fixed price listing offering multiples of an item. Two or more listings to sell bundles or "lots" of items, where the lots or bundles are very different and clearly satisfy different buyer needs. For example, a pack of 10 envelopes meets a different buyer need than a pack of 100 of the same envelope. Listings with more than one product number, product name, or brand in the listing as long as the item is specifically made to fit each product and the listing complies with our search and browse manipulation policy. Separate listings for items that are identical except for condition, such as 1 new, 1 used, and 1 refurbished item. The listings have DIFFERENT conditions, pricing and descriptions. I am currently on hold an eBay rep as we are still trying to figure this out. She keeps trying to tell me that if I have multiple of the same item with different conditions to only list 1 and when it sells list another. This is wrong...  Who can I contact that actually understands my situation because this is becoming pretty ridiculous.

[moviemerchmania]

For them to suggest for me to sell two items (one with a cracked case) and one without in the same listing is just asking for an Item Not As Described case, but apparently this is "the proper way" and the lady I am speaking to is convinced of this although I try to explain to her why this is not proper.

[mr.elmwood]

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@moviemerchmania wrote:

For them to suggest for me to sell two items (one with a cracked case) and one without in the same listing is just asking for an Item Not As Described case, but apparently this is "the proper way" and the lady I am speaking to is convinced of this although I try to explain to her why this is not proper.

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No, you are misunderstanding. You are getting Peggy who just wants you off the phone because she isn't going to do anything for you. Try to imagine how many times a day things are "explained" to them. They simply stop listening.

Forget what they said.

The two items are different. Make two different listings. Make the titles different. Make the item specifics different.

[pierrelebel]

"Make two different listings. Make the titles different. Make the item specifics different."

and preferably two different images.

[bb_cool_stuff]

Thirty Day suspension seems a little harsh.

Have you violated this policy previously ?

I have heard of warnings & seven day suspensions, but never thirty.

All due respect, but it is Duplicate Listing, however I can't understand why you were not informed of this on the last page before confirming your listing.

I have been absent minded at times & have tried listing an new item I have purchased previously & already listed, but always received the duplicate listing message on the last page.

I have also had two identical shirts, one new, one pre-owned, but always had two separate listings.

[moviemerchmania]

I have never had any ban or restrictions on my account and one duplicate listing violation lands me 30 day ban because I also have DVD's listed with the catalogue that hold the same title although have different conditions. 

Some DVDs I have multiple copies 1 brand new, 1 like new, 1 very good some acceptable. They tell me to list them all together in the same listing. Clearly I am not an idiot so I am not going to.

My appeal has been denied and I was instructed once my Ban is over to combine my listings of the same items (EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT THE SAME CONDITIONS) Into ONE listing.

[moviemerchmania]

I have never had any suspensions or violations on my account. But because they found I had hundreds of the same items ( same DVD movie 1 brand new, 1 like new, 1 very good etc) in separate listings.  

They gave me a 30 day ban.