Power Sellers Unite

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 17240 Location: Texas

For the third time in about a year, PayPal has frozen the account of an independent developer for six months, presumably because preorder activity triggered red flags. PayPal rarely says why in this case, even to the account holder, leaving its actions to appear arbitrary and bureaucratic, if not portrayed as mean-spirited.

Minecraft had $750,000 frozen last September; the makers of Project Zomboid had their account locked in May, requiring a clever work-around to get the game to customers. Now Xenonauts, the X-Com remake, has had funds frozen for 180 days.

http://kotaku.com/5848062/frozen-account-further-sours-paypals-terrible-reputation-with-indie-devs

PatchDog · Joined: 28 Feb 2007 Posts: 3735

It might be because of the type of industry involved. In the last 18 months I had had 2 unauthorized payments done through Paypal and both to only gaming sites such as this.

The first was only for about 60 dollars but last weekend was for 200 dollars. I caught both within a few hours and immediately changed the password and reported to Paypal. Both payments were credited back to me within 12 hours.

Not sure how someone got the password. I dont fall for phishing emails or go to unsecure websites or do any other the other No No's that can put an account at risk.

things4u · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 1331

well Patch if you have your e bay page or any other page to any other site you sell in favorites or bookmarked on is where the problem comes in they are getting so good at hacking using cookies they add to the real pages and that gives them an in or they establish a key logger to your sign page that you have bookmarked and all the av and fire walls and anyother security you have ignor it because of the way they write the code for it
And it would be a good idea to change your e mail address with pay pal to a different address as they got it once and will keep trying again even though you changed the pass word the e mail addy is the same.
Yea it is a pain but nextime you might not catch it as quickly and they will drain you account and then the hassels really start trying to get your funds back it can take 30 days or more. I was lucky it took them 10 days to return my funds and it ended my sales for the year last year.
You should change you e bay password to as an extra caution

May L Bocks · Joined: 18 Apr 2009 Posts: 25

Several Years back , IBM was keeping employees in the dark on layoffs
and health issues. It was not until IBM employees and those laid off started using the internet to get an idea of how far reaching the problem was
and getting a tally on numbers did anything get accomplished.

I propose a head count with a time line, of how far reaching the problem is
with Paypal and assets being seized. Not as a condemnation of Paypal,
or anything Malicious, nor any class actions . ONLY and I mean ONLY,
for information. We don't know what we don't know, so lets get some
numbers and start to paint a picture of how much money at any given
time is being held by Paypal, When, (time line).

May L Bocks · Joined: 18 Apr 2009 Posts: 25

I think people would be interested to see some numbers. Some discussion has been bandied around which places blame on the account holder or paypal. That is not my intent whatsoever. My only interest is of an academic nature. Purely numbers.

My fear is that people will feel some kind of shame or fear some retribution
for coming forward. The other is false reporting. So the survey would have
to be constructed in such a manner as to get good raw data, without the
corruption of what I would call lobbyists, trying to sway the resultant raw
data one direction or the other.

seewhatimsellingnow · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 1254 Location: Ohio

Sounds like a great idea! There may indeed, be instances where Ebay and Paypal DO need to hold a seller's funds- if they're suspected of scamming, not mailing out their purchased items, having a flood of resolutions filed against them, etc. I could understand this.

But WHY would they hold onto my funds? I've never had a customer file a 'not received' or a 'snad' against me- Only this month- did 4 stars in my DSR get dinged in 'Not as described'- WHO left those? My feedbacks @100% show only happy customers... Why am I put on 'probation' so to speak- and the money in my Paypal account being held?

Is this supposed to 'teach me a lesson'? I'm told my funds will be released when I have 'improved' my performance- How do I do that? I'm doing everything in my power to be an excellent Ebay seller-

My hard earned money, sitting in my Paypal account- that I can't touch- could be earning interest in MY bank- instead, it's earning someone else interest? What a racket! Betty Lou

seewhatimsellingnow · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 1254 Location: Ohio

Even though I have been selling on Ebay for ten years now, I don't make it a habit of looking at my account. I closed my store a couple of weeks ago. Today- I looked at my account and was sickened when I saw how much Ebay is charging on my 'shipping fees', and how rediculously high the listing and picture fees are! On one $11.95 item I was charged a 50 cent selling fee and $1.31 on the shipping. I just HAVE to wonder HOW they have a right to take part of the ship fee that the buyer pays me to ship his item? This means I not only must pay for any insurance- but also part of the shipping fee. I really thought that Ebay had quit charging for pictures (up to 12) today I see that only the FIRST picture is free- I believe additional photos are 15 cents each. I decided today, to relist a few of my items and was being charged $1.25 for each listing BEFORE pictures (under $15 items) I think I've finally come to realize that I can't afford Ebay any longer (as so many others did long ago)

On a brighter side- I have been able to get my funds released, by Paypal, very quickly. (Ebay has them on hold since I am a 'Below-Standard' seller at the present moment) LOL- Top-Rated Power Seller one day- Below Standard the next) But I just call Paypal as soon as confirmation shows my items have been delivered- and they (Paypal) releases my money immediately. So, this is good.

I guess- if I want to stay with Ebay- I will be forced to re-open my Store.. where my listings (no matter what the price) cost only a nickle to run for 30 days and all of my pictures (up to 12) are free.
Betty Lou

things4u · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 1331

ask your self does the cost of the store pay for it self didn't think so and if you only list a few items at say 1.75 each including 4 pictures and they don't sell how much did you lose as versed using the store option as what ever that cost it to you for 30 days plus 0.05 each plus the FVF's with 1 or 2 sales total ??

seewhatimsellingnow · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 1254 Location: Ohio

I had to sign up for the Basic store- since I am considered a below-standard seller, until Nov. 21st. The cost is only $15.95 per month- without a store- I'd spend that much or more per day in listings and pictures. So, it's well worth it. Each listing cost me 20 cents to run for 30 days and up to 12 pictures free. I think it's the only way to go on Ebay- for me at least.

I don't list a lot- but normally keep around 200 listings going and sell one or two items per day. I do like the idea of having a listing run for 30 days for only 20 cents. Betty Lou

things4u · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 1331

that would seem like your best option.
as for not getting sales on other sites like e crator they are do it your self promotion sites you have to promote your store and submit to google products. and things like this are also a big help here is the link to the article here on psu http://www.powersellersunite.com/viewtopic.php?t=10851
and there is things like this linkscout.com a lto of sellers still use these to submit to the search engines
this what others do to make the sites like e crator and others work for them but your doing all the work to get it there where as e bay does all this behind the seens and that is where they justify the fees it takes a lot of extra work on your part to make a store or page on a ste like e crator or any of the independant sites to work.
just trying to be helpful I also sent you a pm please read it :wink:

seewhatimsellingnow · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 1254 Location: Ohio

Yes- on ecrater I had the google link and had a beautiful site- with the help of others- It really looked professional- The Google link did nothing for me on there. I will read the link you sent- Thank you so much- I could sure use some help. Betty Lou