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Thanks! I will keep searching for a way to get in contact with someone at eBay.
Thanks, I’ll look again for it. I went to ebay.com/sellerhelp and the only chat I saw was automated.
Warning: Major League Rant ahead.
Wow, this week has gotten off to an outstanding start. Got a message from eBay this morning informing me my account has been restricted for three days b/c of a Vero violation. Yes, I had two Vero’s earlier this summer. No, I don’t sell counterfeit goods and I’m not a scammer. On the two earlier Vero’s there were plenty of other listings/solds that used the same title. I almost always use a title from a previous sold item. I didn’t fight them b/c they were low dollar items and honestly I didn’t feel like spending the time to argue it. Just not a big deal.
Boy, was I wrong.
Anyway, the offending item that earned me the restriction was a TV remote control with the title ‘Lot of 2 Spectrum Remote URC-1160BC1 With Batteries & Covers URC1160.’ Apparently Spectrum (aka Charter Communications) gets heartburn seeing ‘Spectrum’ in the title. The Vero before this most recent Vero was also a Spectrum remote. So, yes, shame on me for not checking to see if I had any other listings with ‘Spectrum’ in the title.
OK, so here’s my beef with eBay: why are there 401 current listings with ‘Spectrum remote control’ in the title? Why are there ANY listings with ‘Spectrum’ and ‘remote control’ in the title if Spectrum just hates that? I’m not a software developer, but gee, there just might be ways to program it so any one using those terms in a title would get a warning message.
This is my litmus test in listing anything: do I see other listings that use the same model name/brand name of the item I have? If the answer is yes, that’s a pretty good indication it’s OK to list a similar item. Any reasonable person who sees hundreds of listings using ‘Spectrum remote control’ in the title would think that’s fine. I found in research that eBay has a Vero list of corporations that don’t allow their names in titles, but I also read that a corp doesn’t have to be on the list to get you Vero’ed. I get it — eBay will readily throw smaller sellers overboard to avoid litigation costs.
I understand just because that approach makes sense to me doesn’t mean eBay needs to agree. It’s their platform. But for god’s sake, eBay, could you just provide some clear guidance? The email itself is a masterpiece of legalistic mumbo jumbo. Not one mention of how to easily avoid going astray. Left unsaid is the threat that we’ll be keeping a real close eye on you, dear esteemed Top Rated Seller.
Good luck with trying to talk to eBay. Appears they’ve shut down phone support for sellers. I just need someone to explain the rules clearly. Right now my fear is I’m going to keep running into the same situation — that is, unknowingly posting stuff that gets Vero’ed until I’m banished permanently.
I’ve been selling on eBay for 3 years, and it’s this type of lack of transparency that’s making me hate the platform.
Please excuse the drama. I just needed to vent and feel this community is a safe place to do it.
Rant Over.
Listings in Store: 742
Items Sold: 15
Gross Sales (includes shipping): $286
Highest Price: $43 – Dyson vacuum handle/wand
Average Price of Solds: $19
Cost of Goods Sold: $15
Returns: 1
Cost of Goods Purchased this Week: $100
Number of New Items Listed this Week: 10Another sputtering week for sales. It’s what happens when it gets harder to source and buyers think hard before clicking Buy It Now.
Simon, congrats on your first week as a full-timer! You really crank out those hats. I saw an article (maybe CNN?) citing a study saying about 12% of families will cut back their holiday spending. I can believe it.
Thanks for the info! Just what I needed. Going to place an order today. Looks like it is always a buck or two cheaper than Priority Mail.
Listings in Store: 747
Items Sold: 14
Gross Sales (includes shipping): $469
Highest Price: $75 – Keurig 2.0 Brewer System
Average Price of Solds: $34
Cost of Goods Sold: $40
Returns: 1
Cost of Goods Purchased this Week: $41
Number of New Items Listed this Week: 12Thanks J&R for the podcast! The convo Ryan and Phil had about approaches to shipping was very interesting. Setting cost aside, lately I’ve put a lot of effort into streamlining my shipping process. Mainly by ordering a wide variety of box sizes and polybags. The results are that I’m getting my items packed faster and they’re packed better. Looking back a couple of years I was slapdash in my packing and things broke in delivery. I’ve also started using calculated shipping more, inspired by J&R. Next goal is researching the mystery of Regional Rate Box A shipping.
Welcome, Brigitte! Sounds like you’ve built a nice reselling machine. Look forward to seeing you on the forums.
Greg (aka Kentucky Picker)
Listings in Store: 749
Items Sold: 11
Gross Sales (includes shipping): $369
Highest Price: $106 – Cobra golf club
Average Price of Solds: $34
Cost of Goods Sold: $50
Returns: 0
Cost of Goods Purchased this Week: $30
Number of New Items Listed this Week: 15Jay and Ryanne, congrats on setting up your retirement accounts! It’s clear you have already have a nice portfolio of investments and businesses. So adding retirement accounts makes sense. I’m all for using a car until it’s ready for junking. Lot depends on how you use it. For someone doing a lot of driving, I think going with a newer model makes sense from a safety POV. Also, bravo for setting up Broad Porch on eBay. Not sure why but I ran into a glitch last time I tried to order on the BP site.
@Simon: Cheers, mate, on your escape from the corporate anthill! I’m sure you’re going to love every minute of your new independence.My eBay sales have been anemic the past month. I have a sense the economy is in worse shape than many people think it is. I see some sellers are having strong sales yet a good number seem to be down. When people are worried about jobs, they tend to stop spending on everything except essentials. Without getting political I think the stalled stimulus plan is a huge drag on the economy. I hope something is done soon.
Meanwhile I continue to work through my huge pile of industrial fall protection equipment. It may not be the best time of year to be selling these types of items, but sales so far are slow but steady. Bought a 4-tap soda dispensing machine at auction for $30. I’m seeing solds for around $400, so I’m excited about listing it.
Hope everyone has a safe and profitable week!
Listings in Store: 745
Items Sold: 13
Gross Sales (includes shipping): $308
Highest Price: $40 – 3-Pack 18″ Wall-Mount Safety Grab Bars
Average Price of Solds: $24
Cost of Goods Sold: $45
Returns: 0
Cost of Goods Purchased this Week: $0
Number of New Items Listed this Week: 30Thanks for another great podcast! The most rewarding part of reselling for me is that you have to figure it out mostly by yourself. Of course you learn from others. But there’s no one source. Finding better ways to ship items or re-arranging my work area to make it more efficient are almost as enjoyable as the payouts. But then I do this part-time so I don’t feel high pressure to produce cash.
Another meh week for sales. This has been a 3-week trend. Maybe this is normal and the spring and early summer were just Gold Rush days.
If I were in your shoes, I would politely decline. Say something to the effect that you have more than you can handle as it is right now. I get the sense that taking this stuff is just going to send your stress level through the roof. It’s a tragic situation your mother-in-law’s friend is dealing with, but that doesn’t mean you have any obligation to fix it.
Listings in Store: 728
Items Sold: 12
Gross Sales (includes shipping): $273
Highest Price: $37 – Cincinnati Reds Nike Hoodie
Average Price of Solds: $23
Cost of Goods Sold: $20
Returns: 0
Cost of Goods Purchased this Week: $84
Number of New Items Listed this Week: 18Gut Reaction to the Week: Another slow week. Very different from the boom days of several months ago where $500 sales weeks were typical.
Scavenge of the Week: Won a new Beseler 23C II photo enlarger at auction for $26. It’s missing two relatively cheap parts, so I listed it as Parts/Not Working for $400. I’m seeing comps on used ones at $550.
Thanks Ryanne and Jay for the podcast! Enjoy hearing the progress you’re making with the coffee biz.
@amatino: very impressive!
Lauren – you did a really nice job with your set-up!
My setup doesn’t fit in one photo — https://imgur.com/a/g8nUFBZ
Thanks J&R for another entertaining podcast. When Jay mentioned telling people at dinner about Ebay, it made me think about the reactions I get when I tell people I sell on Ebay. For all the interest expressed, you know it’s impossible to convey how challenging it is. That’s why I always inwardly groan when friends ask me to sell items for them. Thankfully it doesn’t occur often.
Listings in Store: 720
Items Sold: 10
Gross Sales (includes shipping): $213
Highest Price: $35 – Self-retracting lifeline lanyard
Average Price of Solds: $21
Cost of Goods Sold: $20
Returns: 0
Cost of Goods Purchased this Week: $800
Number of New Items Listed this Week: 28Gut Reaction to the Week: Lowest sales week in a very long time. A gut punch since I’ve been listing steadily. I try to remind myself how insane this year has been. When the covid started I thought that sellers with inventories in the thousands would steam along just fine. The smaller sellers like me would feel the dips.
Scavenge of the Week: Spent about $800 on a couple of SUV loads of industrial safety equipment; mostly fall protection equipment such as harnesses, rope grip hardware, self-retracing lanyards. It was a lot of cash but I felt the need to shake things up a bit.
