[2ndreign]

All I can say is WOW.

We've printed a couple dozen designs now and figured what simpler and quicker way to get them sold than listing them on eBay. Simple. Maybe even a good way to test the waters.... Not sure I've been more wrong about anything.

About a week or two ago we created our account. I added a t-shirt, with size options, and one other. We then got a message saying our limits had been reached ... two t-shirts . Ok. So I do some reading and see it's common now.

The other day I decide that I'll just go ahead, call, get the limits raised and add the remaining designs. So I call. Actually the process was not bad. I talked to a couple people, they asked about the business plan, verified information and increased my limit to 100 items. Nice. That'd be plenty for now.

So today I download turbolister. Spend a couple hours adding products and descriptions. Happy, I go to upload them. About half way through the upload, I get an error. Mind you half the items are now listed. The error says that I need to verify that I have a merchant account. . Why am I going to say I can accept credit cards if I can't? They want all this proof of whatever faxed to them. No way. So upset already, I disabled the credit cards and just choose paypal ( who'd of guessed, paypal is being required ). A few more uploaded and then - DING - another error message.

Your limit for this category has been reached ... you have to be kidding me. I'm selling t-shirts. I've got one category I list in. I'm not selling ovens, televisions and griddles.

Needless to say, I had enough. I removed what listings had posted and am in the process of having my account closed. I have no desire for my business to be associated with them.

I had read all the bad reviews, especially regarding the limits. But after talking with them and having the limits raised - I was hopeful. Ultimately though, everyone is right. They don't want small business sellers anymore. They don't want any new sellers. They have no interest in being an auction site anymore.

Save yourself the time and hassle and frustration. It's not going to be worth it. If you aren't already part of their "gang", then chances are you never will be.

 

[ryan barker]

so, your plan was to flood ebay with up to a 100 separate listings for t-shirts and take up pages and pages and pages for people to sift through, and you wonder why there's a limit? then you're upset because ebay is trying to protect its members from credit card thieves by requiring that you prove your ability to actually process credit/debit transactions by showing them your merchant account?

come on, now, these are protections you and anyone else would employ were it your site, no?

not sure, but your limit was probably raised to 100 for different categories, not 100 listing in a single category. lots of power sellers there with a wide variety of products, they're just trying to not have it be a repository for one guy's 500 bits of junk that takes up 25 pages in one category. and rightfully so, that nonsense was one reason i stopped going there. as far as faxing them your merchant account info, seriously? i've had to do a lot more to get into some of the wholesale t-shirt sites.

 

[2ndreign]

Hummmh... let me see. What is the purpose of eBay? My understanding was a place to, of all things, list items for sell. So by that logic, placing a website online, and offering products, will be "flooding" the internet with t-shirts. Therefore we should all remove our websites - we want the internet to be "unflooded" after all.

I wish I had 500 different items to sell. But think this through. If I list one t-shirt design.

I offer Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, 2XL, 3XL and then offer White, Black, Green, Red, Blue. That one design is now 24 items. Even though it is taking up one precious eBay page. So that means I can list around 4 designs.

How is that helping any body? Believe me, I understand the limits. I have no problem with realistic limits. But what is the point of being restricted to 4 t-shirt designs?

If they want to require proof of my Credit Card capabilities, they need to do that at the beginning of the registration process. Not at some random interval after I've already listed items without issues.

You argue that I'm going to be flooding eBay with 100s of shirts for people to weed through. However, how many people have multiple thousands of items listed? Is it that wrong to be able to upload my dozen or so designs? They do have search capabilities after all.

I'm really not sure I understand the criticism....

 

[sben763]

Understanding how to list things correctly would be to your advantage. First off when you place a listing take a design list S-XL and one for 2XL and up. Have them specify size on checkout You just cut down your 24 items to 2 per design. I don't sell tshirts on eBay or any other Internet site for that fact just don't have any need but I have helped a few clients in the past.

Some of ebays rules and regulations are for protection whether for you or the buyer. Others are just plain annoying but they do apply to all not if your already part of a click. Yes power sellers and the other higher ranking sellers do qualify for for more benefits. So start small, do your time. You just can't jump to the top or expect for them to change their rules for you.

 

[greattatee]

same thing happen to me. I called ebay about me hitting the ""limit" I said to them...... the more I sell the more money YOU make! ebay doesnt want money??????? F- ebay. no wonder craigslist is out beating them

 

[ryan barker]

while i think 2 items is pretty steep, a 100 is totally ridiculous, clogs the pages and makes going to ebay not an enjoyable business. and it's a business for everyone, not just one person.

specifically for t-shirts, some people have dozens, if not hundreds, of just designs. no one wants to go through all those, and it's not fair for others to be shoved back five pages because of it.

how does only having four designs up help anyone? it certainly helps the guy with only two designs who needs to be literally on the same page and is deserving every bit of the same opportunity for success for the same amount of money he paid just like the guy with 50 designs. someone with more designs can put up more when their current auction ends or is canceled.

if they require proof of your merchant account right out of blue, i agree, that's a situation they need to shore up. i can't say that you missed something because i just don't know. i agree wholly with the idea behind it, though, even if the execution is woefully lacking (which is hardly shocking considering ebay's greed and corporate mentality, so i'm hardly letting those jokers off the hook by any means. as far as i know ebay still owns paypal, so obviously they're going to push that service).

i'm not arguing that you specifically will flood ebay with designs, but how is ebay to know that? some folk here don't even produce t-shirts, they produce designs to be bought to put on t-shirts, and they have scores of designs that they could put up all at once (and before any limits, a lot of designers most certainly abused the limitless listings and ruined if for guys like you). besides, you can put up pics of other designs, too, and if anyone is interested in your designs they can always visit your web site to find more.

all i'm saying is that it's completely reasonably to limit designs. you may feel that four is too limiting, but i think four is fine. put up new designs next week, put more designs under one listing, or put them up again (because, you know, that's what people want to see, the same designs re-listed every week for a year). by limiting some people, they're encouraging others. it's simply a smart business move ~ people who want to do it are going to do it if the limit is four, two or ten, and they're not essentially locking out the smaller guys in the process.

it's reasonable to require information from people wanting to use their own merchant services, too, although i can see ebay making this burdensome as they have a $1.5B vested interest in you using paypal. that sucks for some people, but those people probably don't own any ebay stock.

 

[2ndreign]

Understanding how to list things correctly would be to your advantage. First off when you place a listing take a design list S-XL and one for 2XL and up. Have them specify size on checkout You just cut down your 24 items to 2 per design. I don't sell tshirts on eBay or any other Internet site for that fact just don't have any need but I have helped a few clients in the past.

Some of ebays rules and regulations are for protection whether for you or the buyer. Others are just plain annoying but they do apply to all not if your already part of a click. Yes power sellers and the other higher ranking sellers do qualify for for more benefits. So start small, do your time. You just can't jump to the top or expect for them to change their rules for you.

The problem I have with special requests at checkout, such as size and color information, is that a lot of buyers may not pay close enough attention. They then get confused and wonder why they have to send that information. Then if the sell is difficult, they leave poor feedback and your account is ruined for a while.... I prefer the KISS principle. Otherwise, I would have used that approach.

I would never anticipate being treated the same as a "powerseller" but ultimately it really makes getting started small not even worth while.

Granted: eBay may be right for certain people. I guess my reaction was more out of annoyance. I just know that I have used eBay a long time ago, and had no where near the issues I have now.

 

[ryan barker]

if ebay allowed you to bury everyone else with 200 separate listings, why would someone with one listing go there? and what if you don't sell a single item, and that one listing sells his for $100K and gives ebay their commission? who's practicing good business and making money then?

 

[2ndreign]

while i think 2 items is pretty steep, a 100 is totally ridiculous, clogs the pages and makes going to ebay not an enjoyable business. and it's a business for everyone, not just one person.

specifically for t-shirts, some people have dozens, if not hundreds, of just designs. no one wants to go through all those, and it's not fair for others to be shoved back five pages because of it.

how does only having four designs up help anyone? it certainly helps the guy with only two designs who needs to be literally on the same page and is deserving every bit of the same opportunity for success for the same amount of money he paid just like the guy with 50 designs. someone with more designs can put up more when their current auction ends or is canceled.

if they require proof of your merchant account right out of blue, i agree, that's a situation they need to shore up. i can't say that you missed something because i just don't know. i agree wholly with the idea behind it, though, even if the execution is woefully lacking (which is hardly shocking considering ebay's greed and corporate mentality, so i'm hardly letting those jokers off the hook by any means. as far as i know ebay still owns paypal, so obviously they're going to push that service).

i'm not arguing that you specifically will flood ebay with designs, but how is ebay to know that? some folk here don't even produce t-shirts, they produce designs to be bought to put on t-shirts, and they have scores of designs that they could put up all at once (and before any limits, a lot of designers most certainly abused the limitless listings and ruined if for guys like you). besides, you can put up pics of other designs, too, and if anyone is interested in your designs they can always visit your web site to find more.

all i'm saying is that it's completely reasonably to limit designs. you may feel that four is too limiting, but i think four is fine. put up new designs next week, put more designs under one listing, or put them up again (because, you know, that's what people want to see, the same designs re-listed every week for a year). by limiting some people, they're encouraging others. it's simply a smart business move ~ people who want to do it are going to do it if the limit is four, two or ten, and they're not essentially locking out the smaller guys in the process.

it's reasonable to require information from people wanting to use their own merchant services, too, although i can see ebay making this burdensome as they have a $1.5B vested interest in you using paypal. that sucks for some people, but those people probably don't own any ebay stock.

Believe it or not, I actually agree with your concept here. I don't buy off ebay anymore. Mainly because:

1) the Frauds
2) the people selling stuff and having hidden disclaimers, you will actually receive this and not this.
3) Finding items

It's a chore trying to fight your way through all the listings. Many times you see the same person selling the same item a doze times. And as separate auctions. They do so hoping to get exposure. I don't believe that should be allowed.

But as long as the items are unique, legitimate and within reason - I don't think it should be an issue.

 

[ryan barker]

i feel ya on that one. i used to sell stuff on feebay here and there, but anymore it's just a hassle compared to how it used to be. some things they've done i agree with, others i don't (don't ask for specifics, i don't remember, i just remember the puzzled feelings i've had over the years on why they would do some of the things they do).

 

[ryan barker]

i agree, it shouldn't be allowed. ebay used to be addicting, now it's not. and i don't think it's entirely ebay's fault, but when you have corporate committee thinking trying to solve your problems, the resolutions are what they are.

you hit the nail on the head: by limiting one seller's exposure, you're giving other sellers their fair share.

 

[ondalevel]

I was selling an article on e-bay and it was bid on and sold. The buy paid right away with paypal and his account name was visible. It struck me odd and i googled his name "flight2ord" and found it was a company in california "Shop America Airlines" that is a partner with ebay and puts our listings out to other countries to bid on also. My item was bought by someone in japan. Now I received all kinds of instructions to follow in the shipping of my item and forms to fill out???? When looking into them I found that a lot of sellers had problems with them and they had a lot of handles on e-bay....flight2nyc, flightlax, ect.... What happens is that you have to ship the item to a location in carson city CA, and it gets forwarded on a plane to the airport "ord" or "nyc" or Lax ect. Now if you have a fragile item and it makes it to california and signed for, it might take another 30 days on the slow boat/plane to get thru customs and to the person on the other side. They file a claim within the 45 days and ebay/paypal sides with buyer EVERY TIME and pulls the money back out of your account even though it was shipped to california without a problem. YOU ARE NOW responsible for the shipping to the third party and I don't know how they get away with it. The items are not even returned & the refund is taken. ITS a scam, even with non breakable items, they are claiming that the item is not as described in the auction, they keep the item and you also loose your money and shipping for the item. Its a triple wammy, but do not trust me, google it for yourselves.

 

[ryan barker]

yeah, that sucks. i never had any problems shipping anywhere in the world except for hong kong, and i don't recommend that to anyone. but, a lot of sellers refuse to sell outside the U.S. and i don't blame 'em.

 

[ryan barker]

here's a thread about them from a different site if anyone is curious enough to go through it all:

eBay Sellers Complain about Shop Airlines America Broker

 

[lben]

Wow, and I thought I was upset of eBay telling me my payments would be held for 30 days after the auction ends. If I remember right they said they would release $4 for shipping. Big deal. The items cost more than $4 to ship. After the hassle I went through just to sell some used books and a few unopened Nintendo games I don't think I would ever sell anything I had to pay for in advance like a shirt I'd printed. I also refuse to do international shipping, but wasn't aware of this scam. Now if you or I did this....

 

[Louie2010]

I thought you were allowed 50 free auction listing per month?

 

[timjones]

eBay is difficult. there's sooo much out there on the web about wrongful suspensions unfair vero actions. on top of that having to use paypal is another trap. it may be a good way to get going but in the long run i wouldn't try growing a business on eBay. one false move and your business will come to a halt. just my two sense

 

[sunnydayz]

What about opening an eBay store? Then you could list all of your items in your store there. I think the reason they asked for your merchant account after you signed up, is that you asked after you signed up for an increase of items to be listed separately, and maybe in their eyes you then became a business instead of an individual seller, therefore they wanted to verify that you had a merchant account for owning a business? Just a thought. It might be right or wrong, but I have a feeling that may be what happened.

 

[debz1959]

What about opening an eBay store? Then you could list all of your items in your store there. I think the reason they asked for your merchant account after you signed up, is that you asked after you signed up for an increase of items to be listed separately, and maybe in their eyes you then became a business instead of an individual seller, therefore they wanted to verify that you had a merchant account for owning a business? Just a thought. It might be right or wrong, but I have a feeling that may be what happened.

He wanted to use his merchant account for payment and ebay requires that you show proof that you have a merchant account. It has nothing to do with how many items he is selling. They do this because they don't want sellers using non-ebay approved cc processing services (such as Google Check-out).

They must have changes things over the past 4-5 years because I used to sell t-shirts there and would list 50-100 at a time with no problem. The only thing I can think of is that because he was a new seller they wanted a track record first before allowing a multitude of items.

I thought you were allowed 50 free auction listing per month?

Yes, you are allowed up to 50 free auctions a month, but that is separate form you listing limit.

 

[Bigmacatac]

ebay is what other buyers/sellers make it. for all the Honest people there are just as many dishonest people.

I have had 3 judgments against me in the 13 years we have bought and sold on ebay. Each issue i lost was something i sold and was delivered with insurance. all went overseas. ebay doesn't care if the seller has followed all the rules. there buyout of Paypal years ago only compounds the issue.

and because of this we no longer offer item unless the following are met:

1) shipping to a confirmed US paypal address only. If they want if forwarded to somebody, they can do it themselves, no 3rd party paperwork of any kind.
2) insurance is required PERIOD.
3) No sale/buying to zero ratings (new customers) (or large negative feedback recently). mostly scammer's here trying to rip you off.
3) shipping to US only, unless we have dealt with you in the past (typically Canada and Mexico).
4) They must leave positive feedback that they are happy with the item FIRST. I can't stress this enough.
if it's damaged or they are unhappy at least give the seller a chance to correct any problems before you go giving bad feedback or filing a claim. I always take pictures prior to shipping and print the auction page once the item is sold as proof for any claims.

and last thing hold the cash received until they submit positive feedback. i know this is hard but it's worth it.

we just recently sold a big ticket item (for us) an industrial embroidery machine. Had money from day 1, shipped it to Washington State. They left positive feedback friday 3-09-12. It took almost the entire 45 days of the waiting period but now i have my cash. sometimes it smooth everything clicks, other times it takes a while. just think of it this way,

HOW DO I WANT TO BE TREATED WHEN BUYING/SELLING!