What happens if your eBay account is suspended?
Suspensions can happen, even within eBay. Don't fret, you came to the right place. Follow this easy guide to help appeal your suspension and get back to making money on eBay.
An eBay account suspension means adverse effects for a merchant. It is eBay's job to protect both buyers and sellers from fraudulent accounts. eBay policy violations negatively impact the online marketplace and eBay will do whatever it can to maintain its purity. eBay can suspend an account for a variety of reasons including:
- Late shipping of orders
- Late upload or validation of tracking number
- A high amount of transaction defects
- Failure to resolve buyers' cases repeatedly
- Late payment of eBay fees
- Selling substandard, counterfeit or defective products
- Selling the same product using multiple eBay accounts
Suspension can also happen to a seller's account with good metrics. Metrics are tools that provide eBay with a general picture of an account's performance. However, it is difficult to know the meaning behind the numbers. Despite having great metrics, if a seller's account exhibits any policy violations once, eBay can suspend it if deemed appropriate. A deliberate attempt by a seller to manipulate their metrics will also lead to account suspension.
It is rare for eBay to suspend an account abruptly. There will often send repeated warnings with each instance of violation. It is easy to earmark an account for suspension as they all have two things in common: horrific seller form and unbelievably poor account governance. Every seller should take heed when hey receive a warning from eBay.
What First Happens After an eBay Account Suspension?
You will receive a message from eBay notifying you of the suspension. The reasons for your suspension or the evidence on which they based their suspension may or may not be included in the message. It may also be provided but it may difficult to comprehend it.
However, you will be provided with a recommended course of action and the terms of the suspension which will include the duration of the suspension. The suspension can be definite or indefinite. If definite, it will be a week, 10 days or a month which the message will clearly state. Your account should be reinstated immediately the suspension period is over. If indefinite, you will to contact eBay to plead your case.
An account suspension will affect a seller in a variety of ways. Most of it will be ripple effects spreading far and wide. The first effect will be a reduction in cash flow. If you are not selling, you are not making money. Lack of cash flow will seriously devastate the health of a business. Another effect will be personal problems for you and your employees. If you do not pay your employees they will soon start leaving which will affect them and your business negatively. An eBay suspension may also lead to a PayPal restriction totally eradicating your income. Therefore, it is in a seller's best interest to get his/her account reinstated as soon as possible.
How to Get a Suspended eBay Account Reinstated
There are several paths you can take to get your eBay account reinstated starting with the easiest:
1. Wait
There can be no easier solution to a problem than waiting. If you have been suspended and agree with the reasons why it would be best to accept your punishment and wait till the suspension is over after which you should be reinstated. For an indefinite suspension you should wait at least a year.
2. Ask for Help
If you are not sure about the suspension and reinstatement terms and conditions, you can contact eBay's customer care for clarification. You can also contact your Merchant Support Organization team if you are an eBay Store subscriber, at the Enterprise or Anchor level.
3. Contact eBay
Safety and trust are very important to eBay. When you contact eBay, give an authentic and detailed account of your suspension, providing a vivid customer-centric plan. Show that you are reliable and trustworthy. You can find eBay's contact information at GetHuman.
You can appeal to eBay if you have an indefinite suspension but it is almost impossible to overturn an indefinite suspension.
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