Why Lowered Selling Limits?

Whether your selling limits are zero’d out or your account simply becomes suspended… why does it happen? As we previously discussed, your selling limits are a representation of how much eBay trust you. And trust is the result of how you setup and use your account. It takes a number of red flags in the account creation process or managing of your account to take an account down. The higher the risk you pose to eBay, generally the lower your seller limits.

Note: Zero’d out selling limits means there is something major eBay did not like about your account. It showed high risk behaviors..

Next we’ll go over some RED flags and how you can avoid them…

A made up address generally does not work and will cause zero’d out selling limits. I do not recommend a made up address. If eBay is unable to verify your address, they will request that you call in for further verification. You will be told that there are no public records for your address and that you would need to fax in an ID and utility bill to restore your account.

Solution: Don’t use a made up address. This is especially important for US residents because eBay has a database of ALL addresses in the US and can easily determine a valid address from an invalid address. You want a real address that is reachable. Try one of the options in the address section of the guide.

Unfortunately FREE services such as ‘Google Voice’ have been used and abused. And while you can still use some of these service, if you have too many strikes against your account (other red flags) having a used and abused phone number may cause problems with your account.

Solution: I would recommend prepaid when it’s an option otherwise you risk your account with FREE services.

With a brand new account you have very little trust built up on day one. Now imagine listing a few high-risk items with an unverified and unconfirmed PayPal account. It’s an immediate RED flag and if you don’t lose your account right away you will be forced to call up for further verification.

Solution: It’ simple. Make sure your PayPal account is Verified and Confirmed before listing your first item on eBay. If you’re concerned about risking a bank account, use a virtual bank account.

An IP address can tell a lot about a person. If you’re connecting to your account from the Tor Network or ANY proxy IP address you’re asking for trouble. If you connect to eBay from a used and abused VPN network IP address, you’re asking for trouble. If your IP range has been used and abused (not an issue yet) it could warrant deeper checks into your account (yellow flag).

Solution: The BEST thing you can do for your account is to keep the same IP address each time you login. And to do that you either never change your IP address or use a trusted VPN service.

If you’re sloppy with creating and managing your account you risk losing it. That means not following the ‘New Account Rules‘.

Other then the risk factors listed above, account longevity shows to be a positive factor. The longer you have your account in a good standing the higher your account trust and selling limits. Account usage weighs heavy on selling limits as well. The more you use your account the higher the chance your selling limits will increase naturally. Selling limits are periodically reevaluated depending on your risks and selling habits. If you are flagged as a high risk seller (too many red flags), don’t expect your selling limits to increase naturally.

As you can see your selling limits have a lot to do with how you setup and use your account. The address you choose to use, phone number, credit card, personal account details, your IP address, the items you list and other factors all come into play to weigh your account for any risks. It’s a calculated algorithm that was carefully crafted (and always changing). The better you create and manage your accounts, the more eBay will trust you and the higher your selling limits.

Next we’ll discuss requested documents..