Matrix
Table of Contents
Getting Started…...................................................................................................................................... 4
Disclaimer ................................................................................................................................................. 5
Quick Overview of eBay Stealth............................................................................................................... 6
Step 1: Cookies, Flash Objects and EBay Tracking…............................................................................... 7
Frequently asked questions....................................................................................................................... 8
Optional: Mobile Devices ....................................................................................................................... 10
Top Mobile Browsers ................................................................................................................... 11
Optional: Portable Browsers .................................................................................................................. 11
What do you need?................................................................................................................................. 12
Optional: Virtual Private Servers (Virtual Machines).............................................................................. 13
Install your own virtual machine ............................................................................................ 14
Manually Remove Browser Cookies & Flash Objects ............................................................................ 15
Step 2: Changing Your IP Address .......................................................................................................... 16
Home Broadband Internet...................................................................................................................... 18
Mobile Broadband ................................................................................................................................... 22
Frequently asked questions...................................................................................................... 25
Virtual Private Network (VPN) .............................................................................................................. 25
Frequently asked questions..................................................................................................................... 27
Dial-Up Connection (Yep!) ..................................................................................................................... 27
Manage your account: Auctiva.................................................................................................. 29
Public IP Address .................................................................................................................................... 30
Extra Bits. ................................................................................................................................................ 31
Step 3: Name & Email Address ............................................................................................................... 32
The options for stealth names… ............................................................................................. 33
Option One: Using a Family or Friend’s Name ...................................................................................... 33
Option 2: Using a Nickname................................................................................................................... 36
Frequently asked questions..................................................................................................................... 38
Email Account Options ........................................................................................................................... 38
Frequently asked questions..................................................................................................................... 39
Step 4: New Address .............................................................................................................................. 39
Optional: Using a Family or Friend’s Address ........................................................................................ 41
Optional: Renting a P.O. Box.................................................................................................................. 42
Optional: Using Any Address ................................................................................................................. 44
Step 5: New Phone Number .................................................................................................................. 45
Quick run down on the options…............................................................................................ 46
Option 1: Prepaid Phone Services .......................................................................................................... 46
Option 2: Virtual Phone Number ........................................................................................................... 49
Option 3: Free Phone Services ............................................................................................................... 50
Extra Bits. ................................................................................................................................................ 52
Step 6: New Bank Account ..................................................................................................................... 53
Optional: Virtual Bank Account .............................................................................................................. 58
Optional: Unorthodox Withdraw .......................................................................................................... 59
Step 7: New Credit Card........................................................................................................................ 62
Optional: Virtual Credit Card................................................................................................................. 65
Step 8: Creating Your Account .............................................................................................................. 66
Steps to Creating Your Account ............................................................................................................ 67
Frequently asked questions: .................................................................................................................... 70
First things first.. Let’s Get You Organized! ........................................................................................... 70
Create Backup Accounts ........................................................................................................................ 72
New Account Rules (the Basics) ............................................................................................................ 73
New Account Listing Schedule ............................................................................................................... 75
Frequently asked questions..................................................................................................................... 75
Alternative Payment Options ................................................................................................................. 76
Feedback Rules........................................................................................................................................ 78
Have you purchased an account?............................................................................................................ 80
Taking over a stealth account… ............................................................................................................. 80
Popular Auction List Tools ..................................................................................................................... 81
Account Selling Limits… ......................................................................................................................... 83
Why Lowered Selling Limits? .................................................................................................................. 86
It’s about quality instead of quantity. ...................................................................................................... 88
Selling Limits: Documents ....................................................................................................................... 88
Typical documents requested… ............................................................................................................. 89
Selling Limits: Calling in to eBay ............................................................................................................. 90
Success Stories? ...................................................................................................................................... 91
Selling Limits: Poor Listings ..................................................................................................................... 92
Selling Limits: High-Risk Items ................................................................................................................ 94
PayPal Tax ID Requirement .................................................................................................................... 96
Solution: Rotating Accounts ................................................................................................................... 97
Solution: Provide EIN.............................................................................................................................. 98
Frequently Asked Questions ................................................................................................................ 101
Extra Bits ............................................................................................................................................... 102
10 Tips on Staying Under the Radar & Getting Fewer Violations........................................................ 103
Suspensions / Violations / Limitations + Getting Reinstated ................................................................ 105
Limited PayPal Account: Oh Noes! .................................................................................................... 107
“Why I Got Linked / Suspended” – And how to avoid it in the future ............................................... 109
Final Step-by-Step Review ..................................................................................................................... 111
Steps to Creating Your Account .......................................................................................................... 112
Getting Started…
What happens when you become Suspended by eBay and
Limited by PayPal?
Your lose all your auctions, your eBay fees are immediately due, identifying
information such as your IP Address, credit card number, domain name, email
address, physical address, phone number and ANY other information you have
given eBay (or PayPal) will now and always be used to recognize you as a
suspended user. If you try to create a new account with any old identifying
information you will immediately be flagged as a suspended user and your account
will be suspended. So how do you get around that and create a new eBay and
PayPal account safely? It’s easy, with STEALTH!
Your overall goal is to fool eBay into thinking you’re a brand new user. Any account
details that can be linked back to you will trigger an account suspension. There are
many ways to mess up and accidentally link accounts together. I’ll show you
everything I have learned over the years to create successful high-limit accounts
that eBay LOVES! We’ll start off with a quick overview of how stealth accounts are
born, and then we’ll create your account!
Let’s get to it!
Disclaimer
License Terms
This course is for your own personal use ONLY. It is STRICTLY PROHIBITED to
reproduce the content enclosed herein or to distribute this course to any third
party, or via any third-party website. All content is protected by Copyright ©
Income Disclaimer
This document contains business strategies, marketing methods and other business
advice that, regardless of my own results and experience, may not produce the
same results (or any results) for you.
I make absolutely no guarantee, expressed or implied that by following the advice
below you will make any money or improve current profits, as there are several
factors and variables that come into play regarding any given business.
Primarily, results will depend on the nature of the product or business model, the
conditions of the marketplace, the experience of the individual, the application of
said principles, and situations and elements that are beyond your control.
As with any business endeavor, you assume all risk related to investment and
money based on your own discretion and at your own potential expense.
Liability Disclaimer
By reading this document, you assume all risks associated with using the advice
given below, with a full understanding that you, solely, are responsible for anything
that may occur as a result of putting this information into action in any way, and
regardless of your interpretation of the advice.
You further agree that the author cannot be held responsible in any way for the
success or failure of your business as a result of the information presented below.
It is your responsibility to conduct your own due diligence regarding the safe and
successful operation of your business if you intend to apply any of this information
in any way to your business operation.
Quick Overview of eBay Stealth
A Bare-bones Guide.
First off, before we begin, I want you to be aware of the top three ways eBay and PayPal
can link new accounts you create to any old (suspended or limited) accounts you
may have. Now I won’t go into too many details right now, I’ll save that for later.
Just be aware that if any of your accounts become linked to an old (suspended or
limited) account, they will in turn become suspended and limited.
You’re probably already aware of this if you
have unsuccessfully attempted to create new accounts, only to be shut down almost
immediately with the ‘abusing eBay’ notification.
How does eBay link accounts?
The top three ways accounts can become linked is by:
1. Your IP Address (Logging into multiple accounts with the same IP address.)
2. Browser and Flash cookies (eBay and PayPal drop cookies on your device each time you log in
and if you log in to multiple accounts without first clearing cookies or utilizing ‘user
accounts’ on your device, you can become linked.
3. and Personal Account Details (Your address, phone number, bank account, credit card, email
address, etc. can all link your accounts together.)
We’ll get into more details about this later but I just wanted you to be aware of how
eBay and PayPal can link accounts you create and suspend you. Now that you
understand that, let’s move on to the basic steps of creating a new eBay and Paypal
account. Again, I’ll explain everything in more detail as we progress.
A Quick Overview of eBay Stealth:
Creating a new eBay and PayPal account is pretty easy. It’s how you use your
account that can make or break you. When I’m ready to create a new eBay and
PayPal account I usually have a new phone number, bank account, and a prepaid
card ready to go. I’ll show you how you can get all these later. I then create a new
‘user account‘ on my computer, to protect my accounts from linking, and then all I
have to do is change my IP address and then I’m ready to create a new eBay and
PayPal account! Sounds pretty easy right? If not read one more time SLOWLY…
Guess what? That’s 90% of what it takes to create a basic eBay and PayPal account
that is ready to start selling! The most important part about creating a new account
is to make sure all your account details are brand new and that nothing can be linked
back to you. That means your name, address, credit card, bank account, phone
number and other identifying information must all be completely different. I’ll show
you how to get all these in the next steps. Also make sure to NEVER log back into
an old suspended account ever again. Once an account is suspended, forget about
it and start work on a new account. It’s too easy to mess up somewhere and
accidentally link accounts otherwise.
That’s the basic overview of how it’s done! Next I’ll walk you through the step-bystep process of creating your own account. I’ll go into details about obtaining
prepaid cards, bank accounts, addresses and phone numbers, among other things,
necessary to create your account. I’ll show you everything I have learned over the
years to protect your account and, of course, I’ll sprinkle in specialty information
such as: Overcoming Selling Limits, Creating Backup Accounts, How to work with
Purchased Accounts, Overcoming Tax ID Requirements, etc.
Ready? Let’s get started with: Browser Cookies, Flash Objects
& eBay Tracking!
Step 1: Cookies, Flash Objects and EBay
Tracking…
So you understand the basics of creating a stealth eBay and Paypal account,
correct? Then you should know that eBay and PayPal primarily link an account by
browser cookies, flash objects and your IP address. Before we get started creating
your account, lets first create a new ‘user account’ on your computer to give you a
clean slate to work with and then we’ll move on to changing your IP address in the
next step.
Set up a ‘User Account’ on Your Computer
Now in the last eBay Stealth update I recommended that you clear your browser
cookies and flash objects between logging into different eBay and PayPal accounts.
This time I don’t want you to do that. Instead I want you to have a different ‘user
account’ on your computer for every eBay account you create. In doing so you
don’t have to worry about your browser cookies or flash objects ever again. The
reason for this is because ‘user accounts’ on your computer keep your browser
cookies and flash objects between users completely separated from each other,
thus protecting your eBay and PayPal accounts from linking.
Another reason for having ‘user accounts’ is that if you tend to clear cookies and
flash objects from your computer often, eBay sometimes has issues with this and
will want to verify account details to make sure your account hasn’t been
compromised. Now that’s fine and good, but who wants to go through that all the
time? So we’re going to keep your browser cookies intact utilizing separate ‘user
accounts’ for each eBay and PayPal account.
Creating a New User Account (Windows)
It’s a similar setup for other operating systems AND devices such as tablets
Tip: Name your ‘user account’ after the name on your eBay account. Remember to create a
new ‘user account’ on your computer for every eBay account you create.
Frequently asked questions
Can eBay Track Me Other Ways? No, eBay cannot track you through anything other
than your browsers cookies, Flash objects and your IP address. No, they cannot see
your computer name, MAC address, CPU serial number, your computer type or if
you brushed your teeth last night. They can ONLY track you by your cookies, flash
objects and IP address. Could this change in the future? Possibly.
What are Flash Objects? – Flash Objects are used to track your movements online,
similar to regular browser cookies. The only difference is that a lot more
information about you can be stored in a Flash Object (Flash Cookie) where regular
browser cookies have hard limits.
What about the eBay or PayPal App for Mobile? In regard to stealth, I do not
recommend using either the eBay or PayPal Apps to manage your account(s).
Once you use an eBay or PayPal App on your device, it’s locked to your device
unless rooted (And that’s for another book). Apps use your hardware’s unique ID for
tracking purposes. Changing SIM cards won’t work. Resetting your device won’t
work. Apps simply do not protect your privacy like Web browsers do.. stick to
mobile web browsers if possible. *Discussed Next.
*WARNING* We’ll get into more details about eBay and PayPal apps in a moment but in
regards to common operating systems such as Windows 8, eBay is an included app. I
HIGHLY recommend removing this app or simply not using it to
manage your account(s). When you use a web browser to connect to eBay and PayPal,
you are protected. Your hardware ID, Mac Address and other information about you is NOT
shared. However when you use other applications such as 3rd party applications
(Apps) EVERYTHING about your computer is known and easily tracked. It throws stealth out
the window and anything you do is easily discovered. Again, eBay and PayPal Apps are NOT
recommended for multiple stealth accounts.
“What happens if I want to delete Flash cookies or prevent their use?” Although we
don’t recommend it, you can delete or prevent the use of Flash cookies. If you
delete or disable Flash cookies, we won’t be able to recognize the computers you
frequently use, and we may need to request additional verification from you at
certain times.” – eBay.com
Overview:
Understand that eBay and PayPal can track you by your IP address, browser
cookies and Flash Objects (Flash Cookies). The best thing you can do to limit your
risk of a linked account is to setup separate User Accounts on your computer as
described above. Setup a new ‘User Account’ for every eBay account you create.
The added bonus for ‘User Accounts’ is that you won’t have to
worry about your cookies or have to delete them ever again since they are kept
separate between users. This makes eBay happy, they think you are a normal user
and it’s easier on you. The only thing you need to worry about next is changing
your IP Address between logging into different accounts and we’ll cover that next!
Once you have a new ‘user account’ ready to go and you understand the basics of keeping
your account safe, then it’s time to change your IP address!
The next pages are optional methods to ‘User Accounts’.
Optional: Mobile Devices
Can I use my smartphone or tablet for stealth?
Yes.. yes you can.
With modern browsers (including mobile browsers) what a website such as
eBay.com and PayPal.com are allowed to see about your device (PC, Mac, Mobile
device) is limited; it’s like this for privacy reasons whereas with apps, privacy is not a
priority. Web browsers protect your privacy — Apps do not. In regards to mobile
devices, you want to use mobile browsers and not apps if at all possible.
How can I use my mobile device? What you can do is mange your account from your
device’s web browser (any web browser). Just be aware of browser cookies and
flash objects as with any connecting device.
What I like to do is download multiple browsers, one for each account I’m
managing. It can be sloppy but it works. Of course, you have to follow the rest of
the steps of the guide in order to create accounts. With some devices you’re able
to create separate accounts within the device which is JUST like User Accounts with
Mac and Windows platforms.
Top Mobile Browsers
1. Chrome
2. Safari (iOS)
3. Firefox for Android
4. Opera (Android)
5. Ghostery Browser
Is tethering Okay? Yes, it’s fine! We’ll discuss tethering later.
Next we’ll discuss portable browsers!
Optional: Portable Browsers
Portable Web Browsers…
One of the benefits to portable Web Browsers in regards
to stealth is the ability to move stealth accounts to different devices (So you can
take your stealth accounts with you). And the ability to house all your stealth
accounts under one main ‘User Account’ on your device. Interested?
Portable Web Browsers keep browser cookies completely separated and contained
within it’s own installation folder. The only thing that isn’t contained is Flash Objects
but that’s easily covered with the right browser add-on (discussed in a moment).
Lots of popular applications have portable versions. You could have FireFox portable
setup on your USB drive (with browser cookies, bookmarks and settings all intact).
Imagine having each of your accounts with their own portable browser ready to go?
This means no worrying about user accounts! Of course you’ll still have to change
your IP address between accounts but in general this will keep you a little more
organized.
What do you need?
Note: I recommend setting up your portable browsers on a brand new ‘User Account’ on your
device.
1. Create a New Folder on Your Desktop
Give that folder a name (Name it after your stealth account.) This folder will house
your portable Web Browser, your account notes and any other details pertaining to
your account. I recommend Firefox because it has a lot of support and plugins which
makes working with eBay and PayPal easier.
2. Disable Flash
Once you have portable FireFox installed in the folder you created, your next step is
to disable it’s ability to reach your Flash application (if installed). While it’s a
portable version of Firefox it can still reach Flash and Flash Objects if allowed. I
recommend installing the add-on Flashblock to lock down Flash Objects. Either have
it disabled or have it set to remove Flash objects on browser close.
•
Alternative: Go to Adobe’s settings page, click on the second tab and un-tick both both boxes
and then the second to last tab delete all previous sites. Flash for portable Firefox will be
disabled.
•
Alternative: Chrome Portable, it has built-in flash and doesn’t store flash cookies in shared
folder.
3. That’s it!
This setup makes organizing your accounts easier while keeping you safe.
Next we’ll discuss virtual machines!
Optional: Virtual Private Servers (Virtual
Machines)
Gold Standard Stealth Accounts…
A virtual machine is a software computer that, like a physical computer, runs an
operating system (Windows for example) and applications (Web browsers for
example). Every virtual machine has virtual devices (hardware) that provide the
same functionality as physical hardware. You can run virtual machines from your
own computer (recommended) or rent a virtual machine from a service provider
such as Microsoft Azure (Advanced).
In a sense a virtual machine is a fully functional computer. Virtual machines cover
browser cookies and flash objects. If created locally you will need to change your IP
address before moving forward with stealth account creation. If you decided to rent
a virtual machine, your IP address is assigned to you by your service provider
(Which can be handy!)
The example below shows an two virtual machines running within a Windows 7 operating
system.
Install your own virtual machine
•
VMWare Workstation (Trial): Personally I use VMWare. It’s easy to use. Works with any OS (I
use Windows 7). And it does what it says it will do.
•
Virtual Box (Free): I have not personally used VirtualBox but I like that it’s open source and
free.
In general virtual machines can be great because you can easily run multiple
accounts at the SAME time while connected to VPNs(if you choose). It’s more
advanced then User Accounts or portable browsers but well worth it if you can get
your head around the setup.
Next we’ll talk talk about manually removing Flash Objects and browser cookies
before moving on to changing your IP Address.
Manually Remove Browser Cookies & Flash
Objects
Just want a clean start on your device? This is how you do it…
If you just need one eBay and PayPal account and you don’t want to mess around
with ‘User Accounts’, portable browsers or virtual machines then all you need to
do is clear out your browser cookies and Flash Objects from your device (giving you
a clean slate to work with). This includes any personal computers or mobile devices
including smartphones and tablets.
Manually Clearing Browser Cookies & Flash Objects
Again, this is optional and typically not recommended over ‘User Accounts‘ or other
optionals mentioned.
Step 1: Download and Install CCleaner to clean up your browser cookies.
Step 2: Once you do that, head over to Adobe Flash Player Settings Manager and delete your
Flash-objects (Local Shared Objects, LSO).
Note:
The Adobe Settings Manager can be accessed from the Adobe website but is
running locally on your computer. The Website Storage Settings displays all Flash cookies
that are currently saved on your computer.
1. Click the button that says ‘Delete All Sites’
2. Confirm
And that’s it!
Note: You’ll notice with eBay Stealth that I like to give multiple options for every step
because not everyone’s setup is the same. Select the option that works best for you and
move forward to the next section of the guide
Next we’ll change your IP address! Let’s move forward!
Step 2: Changing Your IP Address
One of the most important steps to take before creating a new eBay and PayPal account
is to change your IP Address. Below I’ll explain what an IP address is, how eBay
uses it to track you and how you can change your IP address.
What is an IP Address? An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique address that
electronic devices use in order to identify and communicate with each other on a computer
network. In simpler terms, a computer address.
Your IP address is being tracked!
EBay uses your IP address to track your location and to link you to an account.
Every time you log into an eBay account, your IP address is recorded and kept in
eBay’s system forever. Let me say that again, every time you log into your eBay or
PayPal account, your IP address is logged and kept on file forever! While an IP
Address is less of a linking factor today, it can still be used to link your accounts.
Here are a few things that every site on the internet including eBay is able to see
about your device:
Tip: To find your own IP address, head over to IPBurger.com. Each time you visit IPBurger it
will record your IP address and if detects a different IP address it will keep track of that for
you.. it will track up to the last 10 IP addresses.
Sharing the same IP Address with multiple eBay and PayPal accounts can link
accounts together; this is especially true when there are similarities with accounts.
If accounts have no similarities with each other then it’s harder for eBay to link
accounts. A large network where there could be dozens or hundreds of people
sharing the same IP address is the reason why an IP Address alone generally is not
enough for eBay to link accounts. It typically takes 2-3 similarities (including an IP
address) to link an account. With that said it is still VERY important to change your
IP address between accounts otherwise you risk your account.
Every time you log into eBay or PayPal, your IP address is tracked and recorded.
Not just when you create an account but every time you log in. If you forget to
change your IP address one day and you accidentally login to multiple eBay
accounts with the same IP address, consider those accounts linked.
Note: You only need to change your IP address once and not every time you login to the
same eBay and PayPal account. You only need to change your IP address between different
eBay and PayPal accounts to prevent linking.
Got that? Now let’s change your IP Address!
On the next pages we’ll go over the different methods to changing your IP address.
Select the method that works best for you and change your IP address.
1. Home Broadband: Your home internet connection.
2. Mobile Broadband: Tethering or using a wireless broadband dongle.
3. VPN: Solid solution if you go with the right service provider.
4. Dial-Up: Some of the most hardcore stealth members still use dial-up..
5. Public IP Address: Can be used and abused. Use with Caution.
Let’s first get started with changing your home broadband IP address!
Home Broadband Internet
Let’s change your IP Address!
If you have broadband home internet service from any of the
big ISPs then this option is for you!
First off make sure your IP address is dynamic and not static — Most Internet
Service Providers offer a dynamic IP address by default but if you have problems
changing your IP address it would be a good idea to call your internet provider to
make sure you have a dynamic IP which can change instead of a static IP address.
If your IP address is static you will need to order a dynamic IP address from your
internet provider or try one of the alternative options listed on the next pages.
Listed below are three options to changing your IP address:
First Option – Changing Your Router’s MAC Address:
In this setup you have a Cable Modem (issued by your Internet Service Provider), a
router (separate from your modem) and your computer. You are connected to the
internet through your Router, which is connected to your Cable Modem. If that’s
true, this is for you. If not, try one of the other options listed below.
How to Change Your IP Address: In order to successfully change your IP Address you
will need to change your Router’s MAC Address, and then reset your Broadband
Modem to retrieve a new IP Address. Now this might sound scary for a novice, but
really it’s a fast and an efficient way of changing your IP address.
Let me show you how it’s done!
1. First go to IPBurger.com to record your current IP Address. Write it down.
2. Now go to your Router’s setup page. To do this type 192.168.0.1 into your Internet Browser.
If that does not work go to your Router’s Manual and look for your Router’s IP Address to
access your Router’s Setup Page.
3. Once you reach your Router Setup Page, it will ask for a username and password. The
default password to your router setup page might
be: admin/password; admin/admin; admin/*blank*; if you’re having trouble with the
username and password, again check with your Router’s Manual for username and
password or go here for default router username and passwords.
4. Once you’re logged in to your router, look around for your Wan MAC
address(xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx). You will want to Clone your MAC Address. All you need to do
now is change the very last one or two digits of your MAC address and save your settings.
For example if your current Router’s MAC Address is: 0B:0C:0B:0D:0C:06 you can change it
to: 0B:0C:0B:0D:0C:07, than save your settings. Your router will then restart.
5. Once your router has restarted unplug your broadband modem for 15 seconds then power it
back on. Your modem will see that your Router’s MAC address has changed and it will
attempt to grab a new IP Address.
6. Once everything is powered back on (give it a minute), you should be good to go!
7. If you did everything right you should now have a new IP address. Go to IPBurger.com to see
if your IP address has changed. If not try the steps again.
Note: As mentioned above in order to change your IP address all you have to do is change
your router’s MAC address and restart your modem. If you would like to retain an IP
Address (for a short period of time) the idea is to write down your Router’s MAC Address
and simply switch between MAC addresses as you work with your accounts. In order to
come back to an old IP Address, simply update your Router with a previously used Mac
Address and reset your modem to accept the changes. If your IP address has not expired
and moved to the available pool you will have access to it again. Using this tactic you’re
able to retain an IP Address for an extended period of time.
Second Option – Router Swap:
It’s exactly how it sounds. I went to the store and bought a few routers. What I do
is simply swap out one router with another that I have stockpiled. I have 3-4 routers
lying around. I use cheap NETGEAR routers which work great!
Basically, how it works is that each router has a different MAC address assigned to
it which when connected to your broadband modem, tells your modem to grab a
new IP address. To change your IP address simply swap your router with
another (which has a different MAC address) and reset your broadband modem to be
assigned a new IP address.
Going this route you don’t have to mess around with router setup pages or
changing your MAC addresses. Simply swap out one router for another; reset your
broadband modem and you’re good to go. Easy!
Third Option – Direct Connection
In this setup your have a cable/DSL modem and computer (no outside router). You
are connected directly to your cable/DSL modem for an internet connection (not a
modem/router combination). There is no router in the mix. In order to obtain a new
IP address, you must Release & Renew your IP Address.
This is how you do it (Windows):
1. First go to IPBurger.com to view your current IP Address; write it down
2. Then power off your Cable/DSL Modem, leave it powered off for 1-2 minutes.
3. Then go to Command Prompt; Go to Start > Run > type CMD and press Enter
4. Once in Command Prompt type ipconfig /release
5. Power up your Cable/DSL Modem; wait 1-2 minutes while it powers on.
6. Then type ipconfig /renew in command prompt to obtain a new IP Address
7. Hopefully you should have a new IP Address now.
Need Help? If you have trouble changing your IP Address following the advice
above, you’ll want call your Internet Service Provider to make sure you indeed have
a Dynamic IP Address. If your IP address is Static, ask to be put on a Dynamic IP
Address or you may want to switch to a different Internet Service Provider.
Next we’ll talk about mobile internet!
Mobile Broadband
Wireless Tethering/Mobile Broadband..
what’s all this?
Need a fresh IP address at the flip of a switch? With mobile broadband you get a fresh IP
address any time you turn on and off your device. This is PERFECT for stealth.
Instead of messing with your home internet or going with expensive VPN services,
this is the way to go in regards to stealth.
Mobile Broadband Internet (Wireless Dongles)
What Do You Get? A dongle – also called an internet dongle – is a small USB device that
allows you to access the internet. It can be referred to as a dongle, USB modem, internet
stick, USB network adapter or USB mobile broadband stick.
Recommended services…
Service
Where
Notes
StraightTalk
US
Free Overnight Shipping when you buy a Mobile Hotspot or
Mobile Hotspot bundle (Mobile Hotspot + Data Plan).
BoostMobile
US
4G LTE with 10GB
Virgin Mobile
US
Try their BROADBAND2GO plans.
Sprint
US
Mifi device sometimes will not change IP Address.
T-Mobile
US
4G Dongle from T-Mobile ("makes your life easier") Pay as you
go. Unlocked versions can be found online (eBay). Can be used
with other services for cheap monthly service (Red Pocket
MObile).
AT&T
US
AT&T Phone (3G) tethering.
VerizonJetpack/Hotspot
US
working very well. I've used BOTH Verizon JetPack and Verizon
Mifi……As of right now I'm using the Verizon Mifi2200 Flashed
to 3G and the IP pool is huge.
Vodafone
UK
Faster than my home broadband!!
Three
UK
One of the more reliable ones generally. IP changes every time
and speed is great you can get SIM cards from pound land
O2 3G Dongles
UK
No issues. Working Fine.
EE Mobile PAYG
UK
You get a new IP every time but it's a bit slow.
Select the wireless dongle that works best for you and then you’re set! Each time
you disconnect and reconnect the device you will receive a NEW IP address.
Tethering (Smartphones & Tablets)
What is Tethering?
Tethering is when you turn you smartphone into a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot and share
your phone’s 3G/4G data connection with other devices.
This is perfect for stealth because you get access to a HUGE pool of IP addresses at
the flip of a switch. Any time you want to change your IP address simply turn off
and back on your mobile device. Check your IP address at IPBurger.com.
If you don’t have an International Phone or Tablet which unlocks tethering by
default, you can Jailbreak/Root your device to enable tethering without paying extra to
your service provider.
Frequently asked questions
1. Can I tether even though I used the eBay or PayPal app? Yes, usage of the eBay or PayPal app will
not impact your ability to tether.
2. Does the IP location matter? No, as long as your IP address is located within the same country
as your eBay and PayPal account you will be fine.
3. How do I change my device’s IP Address? Simply turn off and back on your device or
toggle airplane mode to obtain a new IP Address. Thats the great thing about mobile
broadband.. changing your IP address couldn’t be easier.
Next we’ll discus Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Okay, let’s discuss VPNs (Virtual Private Networks):
What is a VPN? A VPN (Virtual Private Network) gives you a new IP address AND provides a
secure connection between you and the internet. Your data is so encrypted that not even
your own ISP will know what you are doing which is good for a lot of other things besides
stealth.
The trouble with most VPN service providers is that they HEAVILY recycle their IP
addresses (it’s not economical otherwise). So the IP address you typically receive
has already been used by hundreds of other users. That’s why it’s important to
choose your VPN service provider carefully. A used and abused IP address can be
the death of a brand new eBay and PayPal account.
There are few safe VPN service providers that I would recommend. Most are too big
and just aren’t right for eBay and Paypal. The ONLY one that I can recommend
without a doubt are these guys.
If you want a static IP address for your eBay and PayPal accounts (eBay LOVES
static IP addresses) then your best bet is a VPN. And just because VPN sounds
foreign or difficult to understand, it doesn’t mean it’s not for you.. most VPN service
providers include software that you can download to your computer that enable you
to flip a switch to change your IP address.
It couldn’t be easier.
VPN Service Providers
Service Provider
Secure.IPBurger.com
Note:
Notes
What you get is a virgin IP addresses that hasn't been been shared
with ANYONE else. You're not getting an IP that has been passed
around and shared with hundreds of users before it reaches you.
Also included is software you can download that enables activating
your IP address at the flip of a switch. This is prefect for stealth.
StrongVPN
Not recently Tested.
Hide.Me
Not recently Tested.
You want a
static/dedicated/private
been used and abused.
IP address from a service provider that hasn’t
Frequently asked questions
1. Where should my IP address be located? Your IP address should geolocate to the same general
area where your account is setup (At the very least the same country). A local IP address is
best. Check your IP location at IPBurger.com.
2. How can I use a VPN IP address? EBay LOVES when users login with a familiar IP address. I
have personally noticed fewer account problems when I stick to the same IP addresses to
access my accounts and in order to do that you need a VPN.
3. Can I use Tor? Tor is big No-No. Same with proxy IP addresses or other IPs that are heavily
used and abused.
4. What about IP address range? It’s easy enough to track a range of IP addresses and accounts
associated with those ranges. It’s easy to see a pattern of abuse and automatically label
certain ranges as high risk and thus accounts in that range as high risk. While eBay may not
be doing it now, in the future it could be a factor or at the very least a blemish on an
otherwise solid account. The reason it hasn’t happened yet is the risk of too many false
positives… in the future that may change and your IP address range may be more
important.
Next we’ll discuss dial-up access!
Dial-Up Connection (Yep!)
Don’t knock it.. it works!
If ALL else fails… dialup is a proven strategy for a new IP Address. You’ll get a new
IP address each time you connect, and it’s cheap! The only downside is that it’s
slow, but isn’t that worth it to get back to selling?
Depending on the dialup service you choose you should have access to quite a few
dial-in numbers, each giving you a different range of IP addresses. A good strategy
is to use different dial-in numbers for every eBay account you create. Doing so
makes sure your IP Address is never the same for any two eBay accounts. Makes
sense?
U.S. Dial-Up Providers:
United States
Status
Notes
NetZero
Works
6.95 a Month
Juno
Works
7.95/mo
AOL
I use AOL dialup and get a new IP every time
9.99/mo
Canada Dial-Up Providers:
Canada
Status
Notes
NetZero
Works
6.95 a Month
Juno
Works
7.95/mo
AOL
I use AOL dialup and get a new IP every time
9.99/mo
United Kingdom Dial-Up Providers:
United Kingdom
Status
GoNuts4Free
Works
n/a
Aardvaak
Works
n/a
Worldwide: Go to Google and type: “[your city] dialup”
Notes
Manage your account: Auctiva
As for managing your account I recommend using an auction lister such as ‘Auctiva’.
We’ll discuss the different selling tools later in the guide. Just know that using an
auction lister tool such as Auctiva enables you to manage your account without
having to log back into eBay.
Auctiva along with other auction lister tools will not share your IP address with eBay
so you can use your broadband connection with Auctiva. Make sure when you
create your token, linking eBay to Auctiva, that you use your dialup connection.
After that you can use whatever internet connection you like with Auctiva to
manage your account.
Note: With dial up you’ll have access to dozens of dial-in numbers giving you limitless IP
addresses and ranges. It’s great for creating bulk eBay and PayPal accounts without
worrying about linking issues.
Next we’ll discuss public networks!
Public IP Address
Your local Library, Coffee Shop, etc!
Your Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonalds even the Library or your School Wifi..
any open network. That said you do NOT want to directly access your eBay or
PayPal accounts from a public IP address. Instead you’ll want to use any of the
remote connection tools (below) OR a VPN which we previously discussed. This way
you can access your accounts from anywhere in the world without worrying about
putting your accounts at risk.
Remote Connection Tools
If you don’t want to risk your account, you can use different remote connection tools to
connect back to your HOME computer. This way you can access your accounts while you’re
away.
1. I personally use TeamViewer which is a free remote connection application that you can use to
login to your computer while away. You can access your computer as if you were sitting
right in front of it.
2. Another tool is LOGMEIN which is a paid tool last I checked. It works just the same
as TeamViewer but it has a couple extra features.
If I know I’m going to be away from home for an extended period of time and I
need to access my desktop computer, I will use TeamViewer to remotely login and
do my work. It’s the safest way to access your accounts away from home.
Extra Bits.
Keep a Log of Your IP Addresses: It’s a good idea to keep a log of your IP addresses as
you go from eBay account to eBay account. The reason to do this is because
sometimes when you change your IP, you may get back an old IP address you used
for another account. Most of the time you will get a new IP address but about 5%
of the time you’ll get a previously used IP address. Just keep a log of your IP
addresses and make sure not to use the same one for multiple accounts. I
recommend having IPBurger.com as your default homepage for your different user
accounts.
Also a change of just one or two digits to your IP address is good enough for what
we’re doing. That means if your IP address is 45.177.245.169 and it changes to
45.177.245.171 you’re perfectly fine!
Is it Normal to have a new IP address each time you connect to your account? Most of the
time.. it’s not normal. Most people (non-stealth users) don’t actively change their IP
address prior to logging into a website. Part of being stealth is blending in with
others and not standing out.. and changing your IP address each and every time
you connect can be suspicious.. it’s something eBay and PayPal can yellow flag you
on..as a result VPN IPs have become more popular.
Yellow Flag? Yeah.. it’s something I just made up.. there are red flags and yellow
flags.. heck, let’s throw in a green flag! A computer system (software algorithms)
can flag an account and assess it’s risk based on what you do with your account.. it’
how eBay and PayPal works.
While changing your IP address each time you connect to your account isn’t a red
flag (yet), I’ll consider it a yellow flag and cause for some concern. If at all possible
a static IP address per eBay/PayPal account is PREFERRED. It can be expensive but
it’s a green flag to your account.. something that shows you’re a normal user..
Once you have a new IP address and user account on your computer, then you’re ready to
create a new eBay and PayPal account. In the next section we’ll discuss name and email
address.
Step 3: Name & Email Address
Now we’re moving!
Okay so you should now have a new ‘user account’ on your computer ready to go
(step one) and you should have changed your IP address (step two). Now you’re
ready to get started with creating your new eBay & PayPal account.
First and foremost with any new eBay
account you will need… well a name of course! In the last update I gave you a few
examples on selecting a new name for your eBay and PayPal accounts, with the
primary example of just using any old name. In this update I don’t want you to do
that.
This time around I want you to take a little more time and think about a name that
you can use that is legitimate, and can later be ID and SSN verified if requested. If
you’re outside the US, you don’t need to worry about SSN (Social Security Number)
obviously, but you should still have a name that you can later provide an ID for if
requested by Paypal. If you’re crafty and outside the United States then you can
use the ‘Nickname‘ option I have listed next. We’ll talk about the different options for
a name and their pros and cons next.
As you probably already know, depending on how fast your sales increase with
eBay, the amount of money you have coming in and the type of items you list,
whether they’re high or low risk, determines how fast your account could be limited
requiring further verification.
Now creating an eBay and PayPal account that can withstand a limitation, which will
almost always happen with new accounts, should be your number one priority. It
can be the difference between selling for a couple weeks, to selling for years. But
how can you do that when you were suspended and you obviously can’t use your
own personal details for an account? There are ways don’t worry, below I have
listed a few proven options for you to choose between. Select the option that works
best for you and then move on to the next step which is an address.
The options for stealth names…
We’ll expand on each option in the next pages.
1. Family and Friends: This is for those who just want to get back on eBay and PayPal with as
little trouble as possible. It’s not recommended for high risk sellers.
2. Nickname: This is stealth. Until verified these accounts are not as powerful as business
accounts but in general they’re easier to create and maintain.
3. Business Account: These are solid accounts. They require more upfront work but they last
longer and can take more abuse then any other account you can create.
Here’s the deal…
Understand that eBay and PayPal favor verifiable accounts over accounts which can not
be verified.
Easily verifiable accounts are best.
If you are outside the US or UK, there is
less of a need to worry about this but you should still have a name that you can later
provide an ID for if requested by eBay or PayPal (I’ll show you how to do that next.)
Next we’ll discuss the different options for your account. Select the best option for your
setup and then move on to the next step!
Option One: Using a Family or Friend’s Name
Special Note: This option is HIGHLY dependent on your situation.
An account with personal information that can later be verified by eBay and PayPal
can withstand a lot more abuse than just an account with any random name, address
and DOB. For example if you have a relative who has never signed up for an eBay
or Paypal account and they give you their permission to use their information for an
account, do it! Not before you read and understand the rest of the guide of course.
If you mess up somewhere and accidentally become linked to an old suspended
account you’re screwed. Creating an account in a friend or family member’s name,
address (optional), and DOB will enable you to easily provide whatever documents
PayPal requests from you including a SSN if you’re in the US. It’s a lot easier then
getting caught with a stealth name and address, of course that is still an option
(discussed later).
Outside the US?
If you’re outside the United States then all you need is a friend or relative’s
permission to use their name, DOB, and address (optional) to open a new account.
The reason to go this route is because if you become limited by PayPal, you’ll then
be able to provide the requested documents for example a photo ID because of your
friend or relative.
Note: It’s a good idea that your friend or relative does not already have an eBay or PayPal
account because if something happens to one of your accounts for example a limitation, it’ll
happen to any linked account as well. Remember a linked account can happen by your
address as well, so if you plan on using your friend or family member’s address, which is
optional, keep that in mind.
Who Should Go This Route?
If you sell VeRO related items or items regarded as high risk, then this option isn’t
for you. If you plan on defrauding eBay or PayPal, or not paying taxes then this
isn’t an option for you. However if you can trust the person you’re working with
(maybe a business partner or trusted family member) and they trust you then it
can be an option. Sure there are other ways to go about creating a new account,
better ways, but this is the easiest for non-techie people or those want a fast easy
solution.
The way I did it was I asked a family member if I could setup an account using
their personal information. I was able to use their name, address and SSN with
their permission. And guess what? The account is still alive and running to this day
with no issues. I don’t sell VeRO items. I don’t scam others or defraud eBay, and I
pay my taxes. It’s an option… just be responsible about it and it can work for you.
What you’ll need:
1. Name: You’ll use this when creating your account. It’s also a good idea to obtain DoB and
other details for verification purposes.
2. Address (optional): You can safely obtain a new address yourself in the next section. However
if permission was granted and said person does not already have an eBay or PayPal
account, you can safely use the address given. This makes things easier for verification
purposes.
Added Benefits:
1. Verification: A HUGE benefit to going this route is that it’s easier to provide documents and
other information to PayPal or eBay if requested for verification. This is what makes going
this route so powerful..
2. SSN (Optional): A SSN verified PayPal account is very powerful. It can take a lot of abuse and
keep on trucking. Personally I would go the EIN route (discussed later) instead of providing a
SSN but it’s still technically an option. We’ll get into more details about SSN verification
later.
Things to Note:
1. Credit Reporting: It is to be understood that you leave your PayPal account in a positive
balance. As we all know negative balances are turned over to collection agencies and are a
hit to your credit score.
2. Taxes: If reported, taxes are 100% your responsibility and you should not pass that on to
anyone else. I would suggest usage of EIN’s if possible. We’ll talk more about EIN’s and
business accounts later in the guide.
Social Security Note: When PayPal requests your SSN it’s only to make sure that you
are legit and a trusted person to sell using their platform. They want to make sure
your credit is okay, things in your account match up like your name and date of
birth. If everything checks out then they’ll lift your limitation and let you continue
selling. Now once you become SSN verified, from what I’ve seen you’re pretty
much in the clear with your account as long as you’re not screwing customers or
selling VeRO items. A SSN verified PayPal account that is not linked to a suspended
eBay account is VERY powerful.
Pay off your SSN Verified Accounts: The main reason Paypal is interested in having
your SSN is for credit reporting purposes, for example if you somehow go into a
negative account balance, PayPal wants to be able to put delinquent account marks
on your credit report, as well as turn that information over to their third party debt
collection agencies. So make sure that once you give a SSN to PayPal, you do not
leave a negative balance on your account or else you could take a credit hit and be
hassled by collections.
Once you have a name and DOB ready to go, move on to the next step. Or if this option isn’t
an option for you, keep reading.
Option 2: Using a Nickname
If you don’t have access to a friend or family member’s name for an account then your
next best bet is to use a nickname or variation of your
OWN
name.
Now I say your OWN name for a couple reasons. The first is because SOME banks
have been rejecting electronic transfers (deposits) that are not in the account
holder’s name. They simply do not like it and will sometimes shut your account
down (including PayPal) if for example your name is Bob Thornton and you have
deposits coming in under the name Tom Brady. A way around this is to use a
nickname. If your bank account is in the name of Bob Thornton, then open a Paypal
account under Robert Thornton or Bobby Thornton. If you don’t have a nickname
then use a different first name on PayPal but keep your last name the same (do not
misspell your name). Most banks don’t care about mismatch names however, I’ll
list known banks that have issues with names in the bank account section.
Note: Some of the best banks (that have sub-accounts) require a nickname at the very least
to accept deposits. Other then that, whether a name is mismatched or a nickname, it is of
little importance as far as stealth is concerned.
Let me add that you WILL NOT be linked to another eBay or PayPal account by
name alone. As mentioned at the beginning of the guide it takes something specific
to link you, and a name alone just won’t cut it.
If you’re outside the US, using a nickname or variation of your name is a great
option. If you’re in the US, it may be better to go with a friend or family member’s
name.
Note:
As far as verification goes, using a nickname means if you become limited by PayPal
you won’t have
supporting documentation
to lift your account (don’t get limited if this is
a problem for you). We’ll talk about selling limits and account verification later in the
guide. While more challenging, it’s not an impossible to overcome. If this is an issue for
you then going with the first option and using a
friend or family member
to open an
account would be the best option. If you’re in the US and PayPal requests a SSN, you
have a few options available to you. I’ll explain these options later in the guide… for now
keep reading.
Things You’ll Need:
1. Think of a nickname or variation of your OWN name for a new account (do not misspell your
name).
2. Any date of birth will do.
3. We’ll set you up with an address in the address section next.
Added Bonuses:
1. Some banks only accept funds in your own name or nickname. Going this route you’ll be
fine making deposits to pretty much ANY bank.
2. You can quickly make a bunch of accounts this way.
3. If you’re outside the US going with a nickname or varation of your name is your best bet as
SSN is not a issue
Frequently asked questions
What about taxes? As far as taxes goes, I personally go with a business account and
use EINs which are easy to acquire (talked about later).
Why not make up a name? Personally I like to use bank accounts with sub-accounts
and those require a nickname over a complete mismatch name. Other then that
there is little benefit to a mismatch name but if that’s your thing go for it!
There are arguments against going with a nickname and simply using a mismatch
name instead, but in reality, a name alone will NOT link your accounts. It’s simply
not a linking factor, so my choice is a variation of my own name for a majority of
my accounts. That said it’s a personal preference. If it’s not an issue for you than
use a nickname otherwise go with the option that works best for your setup.
Want a business account that can withstand anything thrown your way?Later we’ll talk about
upgrading your account to a business account and overcoming SSN requirements (US
residents). These are SOLID accounts that keep on trucking!
Next we’ll discuss ’email accounts’ before moving on to a new address!
Email Account Options
Email Account:
Gmail is preferred.
Once you have a name you want to use for your eBay and PayPal account, next
you’ll need to create a new email account. I recommend using Gmail because by
default it disables Web Beacons(images) from loading.
The majority of the email you receive includes Web Beacons for tracking purposes
(mostly used to tell whether you opened an email or not), but they can ALSO be
used to track your IP address, drop cookies on your browser and other not so good
stuff…
To safe-guard your account it’s best to have images in emails disabled.
TASK: Create a Gmail account (Tip: Sign up with the same name you will be using for your
eBay account.)
Got that? Good!
Frequently asked questions
If I reply to an email will my IP address be leaked? No, email is not sent directly from
your computer but instead it’s relayed to an email server (Gmail) which does the
sending. So that means you can reply to and send emails without fearing a linked
account.
Tidbit: The originating IP address will not be seen in the Email Message header by eBay or
PayPal (only the IP address of the Google Mail relay server will be seen).
Can I read email that is tied to a banned eBay and PayPal account? Again, that’s not a
problem. Your IP address is not exposed by reading or sending email (as long as it’s
through Gmail or any of the big email providers).
Can I use the Gmail App? Yep! It works the same as using a web browser but with
more features of course.
What if email images are enabled? Gmail has started to enable images for certain
emails by default even with images disabled. This is okay. Google is actually
hosting these images on their own servers so it’s okay that these images are
loading. Just make sure that you have images disabled by default in Gmail settings
and you’ll be fine.
That’s it… as mentioned before using fictitious information can only take you so far. If
you just want a quick and dirty eBay and PayPal account any name will do but it will
be difficult to scale such accounts.
You should now have a new name and email address you want to use for your eBay
account, don’t worry if you don’t have this already, just think of the strategy you
want to use and move on to the next step!
Step 4: New Address
Now we’re flying…
Now you need a new address! First off know that the address you choose should be
listed in your general area (usually within 100 miles of your IP address). The reason
for a local address is that eBay is able to geolocate your IP address down to just a
few miles. If you don’t believe me click here and scroll down.
Here is an example of that…
Let’s say you give eBay an address in London but your IP address geolocates back
to Los Angeles, California.. this is a RED flag and what will usually happen is that
your account will become limited pending further review. Instead you’ll want to
stick to an address within 100 miles of your IP Address.
Note: If you’re using a VPN or some sort of remote connection (we talked about this earlier), you
can create an account wherever your IP address geolocates.
Now let’s talk about the address itself. Obviously there are a lot of options.
The BEST option is a REAL address in which you can ACCESS. Now there are many
ways to acquire a real address that you can access, some options being free and
others costing money. You can also go the route of using an address you can’t
access, but as you probably already know there are major disadvantages to going
this route. We’ll talk about the different options next. Select the option that works
best for you and move on to the next step.
Side Note for Account Verification
It’s irresponsible for eBay and PayPal NOT to verify an address (to see if it’s real) or
know the people whom reside at that address. Heck this information is freely
available online. And for this reason the address you choose MUST be real (to have
fewer account problems).
EBay has access to databases of residential addresses (United States Members) and
have details about who lived at the address along with credit details for account
verification. If an address is made up it won’t be in eBay’s system and your won’t
be able to verify your account (often leading to alternative means of verification or
suspension).
Note: We’ll get into the details of getting verified later in the guide. Your job at this point is
to simply obtain a real and accessible address (discussed next) and to continue the account
creation process. Don’t worry about verification right now.
Next we’ll go over the different options for a new address. Select the option that works best
for you and then move on to the next step!
Optional: Using a Family or Friend’s Address
If accessible.. there are so many positives to going this route…
As previously mentioned, the best option is to use an address that is REAL and that
you can access. While P.O. Boxes can be expensive and other options may not be
available.. family and friends MIGHT be an option for you.
Your best bet is to find some long lost relative or friend, or cousins brothers
husbands sister twice removed who’s address you can use, and who has never ever
signed up to eBay or PayPal! If you have a friend or relative whose name you can use,
ask to use their address as well.
Note: The Key is Permission! It’s 100% legal if you have the permission of the 3rd party to
use their personal details as such. You must have their permission otherwise it’s not kosher
and not recommended. If this isn’t an option for you then it’s not a big deal as there are
other options available.
Please Note: This method is only assumed an option if said family or friend does not
already have an account with eBay or PayPal. Otherwise if you go this route and
something happens to ONE of the accounts (suspension), then any other linked
accounts will go down as well.
It’s the cheapest and best way to go. If you don’t have any of those people or you don’t want
to go this route, then keep reading.
Optional: Renting a P.O. Box
This is great for business accounts and accounts you want long term.
Another option is to actually rent a P.O. Box from your local post office or any other
business that offers postal boxes (i.e. The UPS Store).
Just note for returns that most packages won’t fit into your P.O. Box, so the post
office will hold them for you until you pick them up (ID may be requested). And
since your drivers license may have a different name then the one you’re using for
eBay, the post office might not give you the package unless you have proof that it’s
your “business name” on the P.O. Box (ask them, talk to them, maybe explain to
them that you will use that P.O. Box to sell on eBay and don’t want to give out your
real name on the internet which is why packages might come in for a name other
than yours).
Also, make sure you that you can send mail without putting P.O. Box in the
address, since PayPal and eBay really frown upon P.O. Boxes. Using a P.O. Box will
instantly lower your trust with eBay, thus making it easier for you to become
limited. Ask the post office or P.O. Box company if they offer street addresses,
where you write “123 Some St #789” and exclude the word “P.O. Box”. If they let
you, (try with a test piece of mail first) then you can put that as your eBay and
PayPal address.
Note: There are those who create accounts in mass, hundreds of accounts, where P.O. Boxes
won’t make a lot of sense. And there are those who have 1-2 seller accounts and having a
P.O. Box is much more practical.
The UPS Store
•
The great thing about the UPS store is that you can receive packages from all carriers.
•
You can add additional names to the box (sometimes).
•
Disadvantage is it’s more expensive.
•
You can purchase a small box and the UPS store will hold anything that doesn’t fit for you
until you pick up.
Warning: If you mention to the the UPS store that you will be accepting mail in a business
name, they may want you to upgrade to a business mailbox which is significantly more
expensive. I suggest leaving that part out.
U.S. Post Office (Postal Box)
A lot of post offices now participate in “Street Addressing“,
which allows you to use the post office’s street address. Simply add your P.O. Box
number to the end of the address so that it looks exactly like a suite. Not to
mention P.O. Boxes are infinitely cheaper than UPS store boxes (at least in my
area).
•
Much cheaper!
•
UPS and FedEx cannot deliver to USPS boxes.
•
Mismatched names are problematic for incoming mail.
Alternatively Self Storage stores usually have mailbox rentals cheaper than most post
office boxes or UPS stores. You can also go to YELLOWPAGES and do a search for
‘mailbox rentals’ in your area.
Virtual Address Providers (Another Option)
These are usually found in office building. They’re generally more expensive then
post office boxes or UPS store boxes but it’s another option. You’re looking for local
office buildings in your area that offer virtual or postal boxes for rent.
To find virtual office companies in your area, just Google:
[your city] virtual office OR
[your city] mail forwarding OR
[your city] virtual address
Prices should be around 20-30$ per month.
Next we’ll discuss using ANY address.
Optional: Using Any Address
The usage of valid addresses is very important.
Otherwise, if you don’t want to/can’t use the previous two options, a valid address
is all that matters. As long as the address is valid eBay and PayPal will not have a
problem with it at registration.
Note: The goal is to have a valid address for your eBay and PayPal accounts.
Whether you get that through friends or family with permission or you go the route
of postal boxes or other. A VALID address in which you have access to is preferred.
When sending items out make sure to always put your real home address as the
“From:” address. If the customer asks why you eBay address mismatches to the
“From:” address on the package, just say that it’s your drop shipper’s address.
What about returns?
Using an address in which you have no access to is risky because if a buyer needs
to return an item, sometimes they will want to ship it back to your registered
address to be covered under either Paypal or their Credit Card protection. You can
try telling them that you used a drop shipper to send them the item, so they can’t
use your “home address” (address you have no access to) and they must send it
directly back to your “drop shipper” (your real address). If the customer does not
want to do this, tell them that you will send them an extra $20 or something to
cover their “time and extra hassles”.
Or if you have an account with UPS (if you sell a lot like I do), they let you print out
return labels – basically a label already with your address that the customer would
just stick onto their package and drop off at a UPS location. I put these into every
item I ship so that in case the customer wants to return an item, all they do is wrap
up the package, glue the label on and drop it off. Either way, it’s better than losing
an item and money.
Let’s wrap this up…
Understand that going with an address in which you have no access to is generally
not recommended. Instead I would recommend a P.O. Box, Virtual Address or
Friend or Family member’s address (Who is not on eBay or PayPal already) before
going with an address in which you have no access. However if there are no options
available then this will work.
What about a Made-up Address? Making up an address will cause issues with your account. If
you use an address that does not exist, eBay will know. Instead you’ll want an address that
is REAL and optionally accessible.
Once you have an new address for your account, you’re ready to move on to the next step!
Step 5: New Phone Number
Note:
Using a phone number that was previously associated with a suspended eBay or
PayPal account will link your accounts and cause problems. Luckily it’s
easy
to get a
new phone number. We’ll discuss the different options next!
Now you need a new Phone Number! Like everything else, never attempt to use a
previously used phone number and stay away from landlines if possible. There are a
lot of options out there including virtual phone numbers, prepaid phones and even
free phone services. You need a WORKING phone number because eBay likes to call
up new sellers and ask about selling intentions (it’s no big deal, we’ll talk about that
later). And without a working phone number you put your account at serious risk.
The great thing about today is that there are a lot more options available then
there were a few years ago. You’re not bound to just prepaid phones, phone
forward services or using your grandma’s phone. Heck.. if you have a smartphone..
you have access to the Google Play Store or the Apple iTunes Store.. and guess what’s
inside? Tons of texting apps and free phone number Apps! Are these options viable for
eBay and PayPal? Maybe..
Warning: It’s great to have more options.. I just want you to heed this advice before you
start using smart phone app phone and texting services. While a lot of these services are
FREE, they’re free because numbers are heavily recycled.This leads to numbers that are quickly
used and abused and THUS blocked by eBay and PayPal. If you use these services there is a
chance your account will be flagged for review or worse. So you have been warned! More on
this in a moment.
Quick run down on the options…
1. Prepaid Phone: This is a preferred option (more details in a moment)
2. Virtual Phone Number: If all else fails then virtual phone numbers work.
3. Free Services (Apps): While a lot of numbers are heavily used and abused… new services popup
every day making this a viable solution.
Next we’ll discuss prepaid phone services that you can use and then we’ll move on to virtual
phone numbers and free phone app services. Let’s begin!
Option 1: Prepaid Phone Services
Note: You can pick up a
prepaid phone
at most big box stores such as Walmart or most
grocery stores (depending on the country).
I like Prepaid phones because there are no monthly fees involved. The up front costs
are low ($5 to $15) depending on your service provider. And you get
a LOCAL number which is perfect for stealth purposes!
TracFone Wireless (Preferred)
You can get TracFones at gas stations, most drug stores and big-box stores for
relatively cheap. Once you purchase your phone, simply go to TracFone.com to
activate your phone. You will be asked for your postal code and a few other details
and then your phone is activated and ready to use. It’s as easy as that.
•
You’re able to change your phone number if needed up to 4 times per year. Simply
call TracFone customer service at 1-800-867-7183 to change your number.
•
TracFones come with 10 to 15 free minutes of air-time. It’s perfect for the verification code
AND to call in to eBay to “verify” identity if requested.
Other Prepaid Options
Personally I recommend TracFone over the rest just because I have never had
problems with TracFones. I do like options though.. so below we have alternative
working prepaid solutions.
Service Provider
Net10
BoostMobile
Noble
Notes
It's another option.
Featuring Monthly Unlimited with Shrinking Payments where you can
reduce your payment to as low as $40/month for unlimited talk text web.
Nobel offers low cost international calls using prepaid phone cards and
smartphone app credit.
StraightTalkMobile
Straight Talk is a brand of TracFone Wireless Inc. one of the largest
wireless providers in the US. Straight Talk provides nationwide coverage
on America’s best and most dependable networks.
Verizon Prepaid
It's another version of TracFone but more expensive. You can find these at
Verizon stores or big-box stores such as Wal-Mart.
AT&T Prepaid
Another version of TracFone but more expensive. It's around $25 for the
phone which includes 10 minutes of air-time. The good thing is that once
you have the phone you can go to AT&T and buy another sim card preloaded with 10 minutes for $10 bucks.
As far as selling limits go, the phone you choose has A LOT to do with your initial
selling limits. I have personally found the most success with prepaid phones.
Having trouble getting the verification code? If you receive an error, “We can not verify
your phone number. Please re-check the number or you can add a another number.
Try clicking the “confirm” button for the text (leaving the field blank), it will prompt
to call you instead.
Note: Typically prepaid phones are a better option then phone apps or phone forwarding
services as they are less likely to be used and abused.
If this is an option for you then great! You can safely move on to the next step of the guide.
Next we’ll talk about virtual phone numbers!
Option 2: Virtual Phone Number
It’s more expensive but it works.
Virtual phone numbers are LESS likely to be used and abused then free phone
number services such as Google Voice. That said.. do not assume virtual phone
numbers are safe. The problem with virtual phone numbers is that these companies
generally have smaller pools of phone numbers available to them compared to free
services. That means the more popular a service becomes the more likely you’ll end
up with a number that has been used and abused. We’ll review the different virtual
phone number service providers below and you can decide on the one that works
best for your setup.
Service
Freedomvoice
TollFreeFowarding
Notes
An oldie but goodie.
Mixed Results
Phone.com
Last reported: Working
Broadvoice
US and Canadian VOIP phone services. Unlimited international.
Service
Vumber
FlyNumber
Evoice
Freephoneline
Vonage
VoipFone.co.uk
Soho66
Notes
Numbers are heavily used and abused BUT it does work for some users.
While more expensive it does work.
Mixed Results. Some users have no problems while others have seller
limits imposed. I would suggest FlyNumber as a last resort.
Mixed results. Use with caution.
No problems.
The Vonage app is where it's at. It seems more of these services are moving
towards their own apps.
Mixed Results. Working as of current.
Seems to work "Soho66 will work for the phone confirmation. The number
you use needs to be "area specific" eg if it was a Birmingham address the
number needs to start 0121 etc etc. Easy to use and buy numbers. You can
forward them all to your own mobile AND even better you can put a
whisper so that you can upload a pre-recorded message to tell you which
account the call is coming in from"
Have you tried any of these services? Let me know how it went for you and if you have
other options we should be looking into.
Next we’ll discuss free phone options.. let’s get to it!
Option 3: Free Phone Services
Heavily Used & Abused.. but with so many options and numbers available, it can work.
Similar to virtual phone numbers, free phone number services are also heavily used
and abused. The difference is that the available pools of free services are
generally MUCH larger and more widely used making them an acceptable risk.
Note: While an acceptable risk, please note that usage of free phone services (as the ones
listed below) have had negative impacts on new accounts including lowered selling limits and
further verification requirements. Use at your own risk.
Listed below are some of the more popular options including their pros and cons.
Please note that a lot of the options below are for US residents only.
Service
Google Voice
Rebtel
TextNow
TextPlus App
Notes
Google Voice has had mixed results. The phone numbers used by Google are
are heavily recycled as it's a free service. And with recycled numbers it leads
to abused numbers. What makes Google Voice a viable solution is their large
pool of numbers and wide spread usage of their services. While some users
have had initial limits placed on their accounts most are not having
problems.
First call is free.
Works!
More reports of initial selling restrictions then Google Voice. It does work for
that initial account verification. What a lot of people do is use Text+ or
similar for the initial account verification (not wanting to burn a TracFone)
and once an account is proven they switch to TracFone or similar. The
reason for that is you'll have less problems with TracFones or similar as
mentioned earlier. You can change your TextPlus number as many times as
you want. You can create multiple TextPlus accounts without restrictions.
There is a use it or lose it policy on TextPlus numbers. Use your number at
Service
Notes
least once a month to keep it. Has trouble verifying PayPal but that's not
required. It works for eBay and that's all that matters.
Burner App
Another option is Burner App. It's cheap. You can keep your phone number
or change numbers at the press of a button. You can send a receive calls. It
works for eBay verification.
Hushed App
Last checked it's a working option.
TextME App
Not a lot of information is known about this app but from the looks of it it's
very similar to the rest.
Pinger
Last check it's a working option.
Have you tried Google Voice or any of the above options? If you have let me know your
results below or if you have other services you tried let me know as well.
Note:
While free phone services are a risk… it’s not an account killer. Instead it can be a
strike against your account. And while 1 strike is not an account killer.. if you have other
issues such as a bad IP address, bad browser cookies, etc then it could put your account
at risk for review or zero’d out selling limits.
Extra Bits.
What about a Landline Phone? I strongly suggest against using a landline phone. The
reason for this is your personal details such as name and address are freely
available to lookup. Anyone can look up your number and grab your address in just
seconds. This isn’t good for our needs. Try one of the alternative phone number
solutions instead.
Moving forward…
As far as PayPal phone verification goes, it’s not necessary at this time. Your goal is
eBay verification and PayPal is secondary if at all. You can use the same phone
number for both your eBay and PayPal account (more on that later).
Select the option that works best for your setup whether that’s a prepaid phone, virtual
phone number or a free phone number app and move on to the next step!
Step 6: New Bank Account
Note:
Selling without an attached Bank Account puts your account at risk for premature
limits. Sure you might get a couple sales rolling in without any issue, but later you will be
asked to verify with a bank account and or for documents for verification. Overall its just
good practice to
add a bank account
before your start selling.
Now you’re going to need a new Bank account to verify your PayPal account. Of
course ALWAYS open bank accounts in your REAL name. If you have a second
checking or savings account never used with PayPal then go ahead and use that.
What PayPal is looking for is a new routing and account number. PayPal can not see
the attached name (or any other details) of your bank account. PayPal will mention that
names MUST match, but as long as your bank account accepts deposits in ANY
name (most do), you’ll be fine. All PayPal does is make two small deposit to your
account to verify that you own the account and then you’re set.
Listed below are confirmed bank accounts that can be used with PayPal.
United States: Tested and Approved.
Top Banks
Member Feedback
Chase Bank
Reports of working fine with mis-match names.
Wells Fargo
Mostly reports of working fine with stealth names. Only 1-2 reports of
suspect not liking stealth names. Use with caution.
Bank of America
TD Bank
Solid Bank. Online Sign-up. Okay with Mis-Match names. Stealth Friendly.
May not like mismatch names.
HSBC
Online Sign-up. Okay with mis-match names. Stealth Friendly. Advanced
Savings said to have issues with mis-match names.
Ally Bank (VBA)
Called members on mismatch names. Not Stealth Friendly. Use with same
name or variation name Only.
People's United Bank
Okay! It is a smaller bank but okay.
Top Banks
Member Feedback
SunTrust Online Banking
Online Signup — Okay!
CitiBank
State Farm
PNC Virtual Wallet
Follow up on Citibank. From reports they do not like deposits in mis-match
names. Recommend only business banking with Citibank.
Online Sign-up. Okay!
It is 3 accounts in 1. 3 separate acct numbers
If a bank is noted as NOT stealth friendly, that doesn’t mean its not good. These
banks are OKAY with a variation of your name. For example if your name is Robert,
you can safely use a nickname such as Bobby or Bob.
If your bank contacts you looking for an explanation of why deposits are not in your
own name. You can mention deposits are in a business name or that you don’t like
giving your real name out to PayPal for privacy reasons and that’s why deposits are
not in your own name. Most of the time you’ll just get a warning to fix the issue
otherwise risk closer of your bank account. Again this is only with certain banks
which are noted above.
Note: It’s perfectly fine to have multiple bank accounts (U.S. users). You can have
a personal checking account, personal savings account, business checking account, business
savings account, a homeowners account, etc. Use these to your advantage.
United Kingdom: Tested and Approved.
Top Banks
Member Feedback
Halifax
Sub-Accounts: Yes (can be managed Online) Strict with youth accounts
however overall Stealth friendly. Can open saver accounts (which are useful
for multiple accounts)
Nationwide
Sub-Accounts: Yes. Flex Account. Suspicious of mis-match names. Can open
saver accounts (which are useful for multiple accounts)
Natwest
Sub-Accounts: Yes (manage at branch). Overall stealth friendly however
some reports of closed accounts. Can open saver accounts (which are useful
for multiple accounts)
Tesco Saver
Okay! Saver Account. Said to be okay from multiple members. Just treat your
account right and it will treat you right.
Top Banks
Member Feedback
Barclays Saver
Reports of Barclays not liking mis-match names. Use with nickname or name
variation accounts only.
Co-operative Bank
RBS Key Account
NatWest Step
Basic Account Good — Watch Credit. Smaller bank but works.
you can open a basic account. Once that is opened you can then open an ISA.
Then you can also open a saver account. Meaning you can open 3 eBay seller
accounts / paypals. — UK user
Verified Okay. Maybe difficult to open multiple accounts.
Lloyds TSB
Not stealth friendly. Use name variation or nicknames only.
Santander
Okay
HSBC
Bank of Scotland
Savers Said to Work "I had some nice success with Hsbc in the UK for
subaccounts — say Rsot.. CA user.. "
Said okay!
UK Members: Opening too many banks at once can cause credit hits and trouble
when attempting to open more accounts. The issue seems more apparent when
opening accounts within quick succession, banks see this as a risk. Solution is to
utilize VBAs for verification and alternative cash withdraw methods (discussed later).
Another solution is not to open bank accounts that requires a credit check. BASIC
Accounts, do not require credit checks, only an ID check. Also note that saving
accounts can NOT be used as a FUNDING Source. Deposits ONLY.
Canadian: Tested and Approved.
Top Banks
Member Feedback
RBC Royal Bank of Canada
Okay!
HSBC Bank Canada
Okay!
TD Toronto Dominion
Okay!
ScotiBank
Go slow at opening multiple accounts!
Top Banks
Member Feedback
Laurentian Bank
Okay!
President Choice Financial
National Bank
Okay!
BMO Bank of Montreal
ok
CIBC Canadian Imperial Bank
Desjardins
Make sure business deposits don't go into personal accounts
Make sure business deposits don't go to into personal accounts
Caisse pop. Ok!
Australia: Tested and Approved.
Australia
Commonwealth
Suncorp Bank
ANZ
Member Feedback
Ok. Some banks require TFN depending on incomes.
Said to Avoid.
ANZ is my favorite. You can have practically as many 'Online saver accounts'
as you wish. Just say your saving for different goals etc. — Stealth Member
Frequently asked questions
What are Sub-Accounts? These are accounts attached to your main bank account used
for savings or other needs. These are amazing for stealth! They come with separate
account numbers, allowing you to open and close accounts at will. These can be
called, ‘Online Saver Accounts’, ‘Sub-Savings Accounts’. While not all are listed
above (for obvious reasons) we do have a few listed.
Can a U.S. Bank Account be used for International PayPal Account? Yes, it’s possible but
you may have to call PayPal to add your bank account to PayPal. You won’t be able
to add the bank account automatically in most instances.
Should You Use Instant Confirmation? I do not suggest going this route.. there is no
need. Whether it’s through 3rd party or not. I would suggest waiting the 24 to 48
hour period that it takes to verify your bank account instead.
How do you get Confirmed and Verified? Adding your bank account will VERIFY PayPal
and your Credit Card will Confirm your account. Verifying and Confirming will
increase your initial limits and your trust factor with PayPal. This is very important
when you first start out. New accounts listing without a fully verified PayPal account
generally have decreased selling limits. Don’t risk it. Confirm and verify your
account before you start selling (more on this later).
What about International Users? I understand that not all PayPal marketplaces make it
easy or even allow bank account withdraws
Next we’ll discuss VBAs and Unorthodox Withdraw methods!
Optional: Virtual Bank Account
Note:
Virtual bank accounts in most cases are used simply to verify your PayPal account
without risking a traditional bank account. You generally do not use a virtual bank
account to withdraw funds or add funds to your PayPal account. Once your PayPal
account has been proven, you can then add a proper bank account for withdraws.
Virtual Bank Accounts
You can purchase and register your own virtual bank account or you can use any of
the 3rd party service providers:
VBAs
VBA Service Providers
Allybank VBA
Notes
You can purchase a VBA by simply doing a search on google for VBA
providers.
Mixed results. Mismatched names are a red flag and will cause problems with
your account. Use for account verification ONLY.
Prepaid Cards (with attached bank account)
One of the biggest issues with prepaid cards with attached bank accounts are
mismatch names. These type of bank accounts do not like mismatch names for
deposits. If you withdraw funds to your Prepaid account under a mismatch name
they will typically close your prepaid card. As far as getting your PayPal account
confirmed, while these cards are possible, they’re generally overkill.
Card
RushCard
Control Card Metabank
Card One
Amex Bluebird card
Notes
Does not like mismatch names. FOR US AS PAYPAL OPTION BANK DEPOSIT
OPTION (not confirmed)
Does not like mismatch names.
Mixed Results.
It is a bank card with routing number. Lots of success with this card.
Card
JP Morgan Chase
Bluebird
Contour Card
Notes
Does not like mismatch names.
Bluebird does not give account numbers to 4 sub accounts.
Requires SSN / Matching Name
Rushcard
Requires SSN / Matching Name / Can Withdraw
AccountNow
Requires SSN / Matching Name / Can Withdraw
Vision Premier
Requires SSN / Matching Name / Can Withdraw
Ready Debit
Requires SSN / Matching Name / Can Withdraw
Ready Card
Requires SSN / Matching Name / Can Withdraw
Wal-Mart Money Card
Requires SSN / Matching Name / Can Withdraw
GreenDot
Requires SSN / Matching Name / Can Withdraw
Upside Visa card
Requires SSN / Matching Name / Can Withdraw
Payoneer
UK withdraw OK. US it does not work currently. Does not like mis-match
names. Use with caution.
Note: These cards require a SSN and real address to setup similar to any bank account you
can open. Compared to VBAs, prepaid cards with attached bank accounts take more work to
acquire. They’re expensive and they’re prone to mismatch name troubles.
Next we’ll cover alternative withdraw options.
Optional: Unorthodox Withdraw
There are other ways to get money out of a PayPal account…
When you can’t add a bank account for withdrawing funds… what else can you do to
get your funds? Next we’ll discuss several unorthodox methods to withdrawing
funds from your PayPal account!
Purchasing Items with PayPal:
You have your Best Buys, Walmart, Home Depots, Sears and Kmart just to name a
few. A lot of large eCommerce shops take PayPal as a payment option and guess
what? That’s a great way to liquidate funds. Either with in-store pickups or delivery
to your confirmed address (your want in-store pickups).
With these stores you’ll need to be able to use your real name when purchasing. You don’t
want to use your stealth name because you won’t be able to pick up your item otherwise.
Most of these stores will ask for ID when you go to pick up your item.
Stores that accept PayPal (the BIG stores)
1. Dollar General Corp.
2. RadioShack Corp.
3. Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
4. Advance Auto Parts Inc.
5. Aéropostale Inc.
6. American Eagle Outfitters Inc.
7. Barnes & Noble
8. Foot Locker Inc.
9. Guitar Center
10. The Home Depot Inc.
11. Jamba Juice Co.
12. JC Penney Co. Inc.
13. Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc.
14. Nine West
15. Office Depot Inc.
16. Rooms To Go Inc.
17. Tiger Direct
18. Toys ‘R’ Us Inc.
Cash Out Using Merchant Accounts:
CCNow
CCNow is a Merchant Account alternative that accepts PayPal for you as payment
method. While the fees are high, it is a good solution for slowly cashing out your
PayPal account. Stealth Rules Apply! That means watching your IP address and
browser cookies when paying yourself.
Note: You’ll want to search for Merchant accounts that accept PayPal as a payment option for
you in order to find other CCNow type payment processors.
Purchase Gift Cards:
There are plenty of online marketplaces where you can purchase Gift Cards with your PayPal
funds. These marketplaces change often so it’s not practical to list them for you. Cards get
shipped to your confirmed address and then you can use them in store as normal.
How do you cash out your PayPal accounts? If you have a method that isn’t talked
about post below and I’ll check it out.
Next we’ll talk about Credit Card alternatives! Let’s go!
Step 7: New Credit Card
These cards are used to CONFIRM your PayPal account. It’s not advised to
use these cards in order to pay your seller fees.
What you’re looking for is either a Gift Card with a Visa or MasterCard logo on it or
a Virtual Credit Card (talked about later) to confirm your PayPal account.
Note: There are also prepaid cards (with attached bank accounts) where you can register
any name and address you choose for the card and add it to your PayPal account for
verification but these cards also require your social security number and other details which
make their usage limited.
As for Gift Cards you can use them right away usually without having to register the
card. They work with any name and address you have associated with your PayPal
account. You can pick up most cards at big-box stores such as Walmart and CVS.
Those in countries such as Canada or the United Kingdom may not have these sort
of cards as easily available so a Virtual Credit Card will be a better option
(discussed later).
Gift Cards & Cards with Withdraw Options
Card
Vanilla Visa
Notes
You can buy these at CVS/ WalMarts or most stores for $25 to $100 plus an
activation fee. You want the cards that say Vanilla Visa Gift Card. Register the
card with the same Zip code as your Paypal account. Vinilla MasterCards work
as well.
Card
Notes
3v voucher
UK Specific. Said to be working fine. You will need to register stealth address
on the 3V website for it to match AVS and be accepted. 3V vouchers work the
same as Entropay buy a voucher and register it on the 3v website.
Giftcards.com
US Specific. Giftcards.com sells virtual credit cards you can use. I have used
them with no problem. Just put the stealth account name and address and you
should have no problem.
NetSpend
US Specific. This is MetaBank and Bancorp Bank. These guys generally do not
like mis-match names and don't make it easy for stealth. There are generally
better options.
3vprepaid
UK Specific. "3V is nice to use visit your local PayPoint. £22 is the minimum
top up and you can spend the rest of the money to pay ebay fees or like a debit
card on Az etc"
MyCashPlus.co.uk
UK Specific.
Barclays Gift Card
UK Specific.
Prime Card
CitizensBank Visa
Metabank
Load and Go
UK Specific. Prime cards are fine. I found them in Londis but true they are
quite rare. Use a Prime Gift Card much better.
CA Specfic.
CA Specifc. No longer good for PP. May cause PP accounts to be limited and the
Cards / bank removed from PP.
AU Specific. Load n Go was a VCC and had a BSB and account with it. Can't
withdraw. Said to work but the attached VBA will not work for withdraws.
Having Trouble? I would strongly suggest Virtual Credit Cards which we’ll talk about
next. Otherwise go to Google and type: “[your city] gift card”. Example: “visa gift
card Australia” (without quotes).
Note:
When adding your card to PayPal, always select the ‘credit card’ option and not gift
card or debit card. Once you enter your credit card details into eBay or PayPal’s system
it’s there for good.
You cannot reuse the same card for multiple accounts , even if you enter
your card details and eBay or PayPal was unable to verify your card it’s in their system
already and they will link you if you try to use it for another account. Also note that using
a gift card will not suspend you account, so if you become suspended for some reason,
it’s not because of your card
Why do I need to confirm my PayPal account? It’s advised not to sell on eBay until
you’re PayPal account is VERIFIED and CONFIRMED. Otherwise the chances of you
being limited is much higher. Also adding a gift card or a virtual credit card to your
account will confirm your account which will increase your withdraw limits. Don’t
skip this step.
What about REAL credit cards? You don’t want to use a real credit card that has been
assigned by your bank. The reason for this is because with a real credit card you
won’t be able to bypass AVS set by PayPal. With a gift card or virtual credit card,
AVS is bypassed.
If there are no cards where you can input any name and address, then you may need to get
a DBA/LLC, bank account and apply for a credit card or debit card in your business name.
Next we will discuss the magical world of Virtual Credit Cards!
Optional: Virtual Credit Card
The magical world of Virtual Credit Cards
Virtual credit cards are an alternative to prepaid cards or gift cards. They’re
generally cheaper and work better then any other card you can purchase. You can
even create your own virtual credit cards (detailed next).
Note: The great thing about virtual credit cards is that you can create them yourself or easily
purchase them from VCC sellers. There is no need to stand in a line at a grocery store to
purchase a card or waste time registering your cards online before you can use them.
Virtual credit cards are cheaper and ready to go the moment you purchase or create a new
card.
Where to purchase Virtual Credit Cards?
How to create your own virtual credit card?
There are services you can use to create your own virtual credit cards. Just note
some are becoming heavily abused so use with caution.
1. Entropay (entropay.com)
Note: PayPal does not like Entropay anymore. You can pay your eBay fees with
Entropay however. For account confirmations I would instead recommend one of
the VCC sellers (simple search on google).
Register for an Entropay account (with your real details), add your
payment option and you’re off to the races. With Entorpay you can create Virtual
Credit Cards on demand. These cards are prefect for PayPal.
Note: I would strongly suggest limiting how many Entropay VCCs you create within a short
period of time (to prevent Entropay suspending your account).
2. What About Bancore VCCs?: Last tested this service causes
account limitations. It’s best to avoid Bancore VCCs.
Guess what? You now have everything you need to start creating your account! Next
I’ll show you how to put everything together! Let’s get to it!
Step 8: Creating Your Account
That’s it! You should now have everything you need to create a new eBay and
PayPal account. Next I’ll show you how to put everything together!
Creating your account.. it’s common sense right? You would think so but things have
changed over the years.. if you mess something up you could lose your account.
Follow the advice below as closely as possible when creating your account for the
best results.
*** First and foremost, before creating your new account, remove any eBay or PayPal selling
tools or applications you may have running on your device, example “Turbo Lister” or any
browser extensions. The reason to do this is that as soon as you launch any of
these applications, it will immediately connect to eBay and expose your IP Address and
other information which can be used to link and suspend your accounts. Remember, you
have to remove ALL traces of previous accounts before logging in or creating new accounts.
***
Next we’ll review the steps to a new eBay and PayPal account and then we’ll create your
account.
Steps to Creating Your Account
Step 1: Browser Cookies and Flash Objects
Whether you’re working on a PC, Mac, mobile device or other, in this step your job
is to clear out your browser cookies and Flash objects (or follow any of the other
options listed) before changing your IP address. This will give you a clean slate to
work with when creating your account.
Step 2: Change Your IP address
Once you have a CLEAN device to work with, for example a new ‘User Account’ on
your PC, your next step is to change your IP address. As long as your IP address
changes by at least 1-digit, you’re good to go!
Note:
Go to
ipburger.com
to check your IP Address.
Step 3: Name & Email Address
Next you need a new name to work with. This step entirely depends on the type of
account you plan on creating. Whether you want a business account or if you want
to create stealth accounts in mass. It’s completely up to you. As far as email
goes, Gmail is preferred.
Step 4: New Address
Once you have figured out the type of account you want to create, your next step is
to get a new address. This can range from virtual addresses, P.O. boxes, addresses
with permission and more. Select the option that works best for your setup and
move on to the next step.
Note:
Your address should accessible and not previously or currently associated with an
eBay or PayPal account. The address should be in the same general location of your IP
address (within 50-100 miles) and phone number.
Step 5: New Phone Number
Next we need a new phone number for account verification. You can use prepaid
solutions, free options or a forwarding service. Once you have a new number then
move on to the next step.
Step 6: New Bank Account
You’re almost there! Opening a new bank account in MOST countries is easy! All
PayPal is looking for is a new account and router number. They don’t see your
name, address or ANY personal information tied to your bank account. Some banks
are better then others. Once you have a new bank account to work with then you
need a new credit card.
Step 7: New Credit Card
This is the last step before we create your account. You can use a Prepaid, GiftCard
or a Virtual Credit Card. I prefer virtual credit cards.
Step 8: Creating Your Account
Now you have everything you need to create your account. I recommend using a
notepad to jot down the name you choose to use, your address, phone number,
bank details, email login, credit card information and ANY other details you use to
create your account. You’ll want to keep this information handy to refer to later and
to document your progress.
We’ll first create your PayPal account: If you plan on having a merchant account for
your eBay account it’s still a good idea to sign-up for a PayPal account while your
merchant account is getting approved. We’ll talk about merchant accounts and
alternative payment options later.
1. Use your new name, email address, mailing address and phone number to create your
PayPal account.
2. Add your bank account and prepaid card to PayPal to confirm and verify your account (you
will have to wait for deposits to be verified).
Creating your eBay account:
1. Use the same name, email address, mailing address and phone number you used with
PayPal, sign up for an eBay account.
2. Confirm your eBay account.
3. Link your eBay account to PayPal — When you go to list an item, you must add your PayPal
email address to complete the listing, once you do that your eBay and PayPal account
become linked.
You’re done – Accounts Created
You should now understand how to safely create unlimited stealth eBay and PayPal
accounts.
Frequently asked questions:
Should I open a business account? Personally I open a business account from the start
but you can setup a personal account and upgrade later. I find that business
accounts have more clout and forgiveness in PayPal’s eyes.
Should PayPal be Confirmed & Verified? Yes! Do it! The idea is to have a confirmed and
verified PayPal account before you start listing. This builds trust. EBay feels you are
a lower risk and thus you generally have fewer problems. That means a credit card
and bank account attached to PayPal. If a bank account is a problem, VBAs work
fine.
Next we’ll discuss listing strategies, how you should organize your accounts, the value of
selling with multiple eBay accounts and having backup accounts.
First things first.. Let’s Get You Organized!
You’ll want to use a spreadsheet or notepad to organize your account details. Making
sure to log your account: names, passwords, log-in usernames, email addresses,
date of births, mothers’ maiden names, bank account details and anything else you
have associated with your account(s). Then, on a new sheet write down the date
and every IP Address you have used to login to your accounts. The more organized
you are with your accounts the less likely you’ll do something silly such as
accidentally mixup account information or login to multiple accounts with the same
IP address.
Example shows how one stealth member organizes his account with Microsoft Excel.
You should also include listing times, prices, revisions made, ending times, ending
price, how much $$ you lost on eBay/Papal and shipping fees. Then you should put
in bold red all the items that were removed by eBay and put a note to not list on that
account for a week (more on that later).
Basically everything you do, write it down!
The reason to do this is if for some reason you are limited or suspended you’ll have
a history of HOW you created your account and how it was managed. This is really
important when correcting any mistakes in your account creation process. Of course
you don’t have to do all this but it’s STRONGLY recommended!
Another example of how to organize your accounts with spreadsheets.
Keeping track of your IP Addresses…
It’s a good idea to keep a log of your IP Addresses as you go from eBay account to
eBay account. The reason to do this is because sometimes when you change your IP
Address, you may get back an old IP Address you used with another account. Most
of the time, you will get a brand new IP Address but about 5% of the time you’ll get
a previously used IP Address. Also a change of just one or two digits to your IP
Address is good enough for our goal. That means if your IP Address
is 45.177.245.169 and it changes to 45.177.245.171 you’re perfectly fine!
Want to keep your account? Keep track of it’s IP address
Once you’re organized.. let’s discuss creating backup accounts!
Create Backup Accounts
Since each of your accounts are in a sense separate people, the more accounts you
have, the more items you can sell per week without being afraid of a suspension or
lower then expected selling limits. And if one of your accounts becomes suspended,
it won’t disrupt your business too much because you can just whip out a reserve
account and continue selling.
At the very least I recommend having 1-2 backup accounts for every main selling account you
have. This enables you to overcome selling limits, sell without fear of losing an account and to
bypass tax requirements.
With multiple selling accounts you’ll have peace of mind knowing that if you lose an
account, you still have backup accounts sitting and waiting.
If your selling limits aren’t what you expected. Simply create more accounts to
spread out your sales. As time goes by your selling limits will naturally increaseand
eventually you’ll have several or dozens of high quality accounts with high selling
limits (more on selling limits later).
Follow the steps outlined in the guide (steps 1-8) to create your
backup accounts. The same manor in which you created your
first account, create a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc.
1. You must Stay Organized with multiple accounts.
2. You must follow the ‘New Account Rules‘ outlined for best results (Next).
Next we’ll talk about the ‘New Account Rules’
New Account Rules (the Basics)
Rules? Why are there rules? Well.. this is stealth, not the Wild-West
Now that you’re organized, let’s talk about your listing strategy: So you have a new eBay
and PayPal account and you’re feeling pretty good right? The worst thing you can
do right now is to list a bunch of high-risk items from the start and expect to do
okay. It doesn’t work that way. Instead you must start slowly as not to raise
suspicion. You are in essence a new eBayer who doesn’t know what he or she is
doing. You’ll want to do some searching on site, browse the help section, type in
some random searches, watch other people’s auctions, ask some questions, do
what a new eBayer would do.
New Account Rules…
You want to start slowly (with low-risk items) and then as trust is built up you can gradually
increase the items you list and switch to higher/normal risk items. The first 90-days is a
probation period in which any red flag to your account can cause a premature suspension or
limitations. For the best results follow the rules outlined below as closely as possible.
1. Avoid Selling Counterfeit or High-Risk (Expensive) Items: You want to think and act
like a new user.. that means staying away from high-end electronics or other highrisk items in begining (it’s a red flag for new accounts). Start off by listing 1-2 low
risk items such as used clothing, books or toys. As your account ages you can list
more items (more on listing in a moment).
2. Avoid Shoddy Merchandise: Don’t list shoddy or low quality items.
You want low risk items, not low quality.
3. Avoid Slow Shipping: Get those items sold and shipped off quickly. That means you
don’t want to be drop-shipping items if at all possible.
4. Provide Top Notch Customer Service: Keep your customers HAPPY! Don’t argue with
customers or become unprofessional. Always go above and beyond to keep your
account in the green.
5. Create SOLID Accounts: The better you follow the guidelines within eBay Stealth the
STRONGER your account will be. If you cheap out on low quality services (shared IP
addresses, abused phone numbers, etc.) the more you put your account at risk. We
recommend [these guys] for solid stealth accounts.
6. Avoid Stock Images: NEVER use stock photos for your items. Use original photos
from your camera or phone, and wipe the EXIF data (discussed later).
7. NEVER Duplicate Listings Between Accounts: Every account must have unique titles,
descriptions, AND pictures. One of the easiest ways for eBay to link an account is
by duplicate listings (discussed later).. don’t do it!
8. NEVER buy Feedback: Never buy cheap items (ebooks or recipes) for quick
feedback. This is THE quickest way to kill an account. If you try to circumvent
eBay’s feedback system, to buy feedback, you’ll get hit with the ban hammer
quickly. We’ll talk about account feedback later.
That’s easy enough, right?
In a nutshell you want to provide top notch customer service, ship items out
quickly, write descriptive product listings with high quality UNIQUE images and
maximize your selling limits while being mindful of avoiding high risk items and or
listing too quickly. The first 2-3 months are an especially trying period for new
accounts. Any little thing you do could potentially put your account at risk for
suspension. Follow these rules as closely as possible for the best results.
New Account Listing Schedule
You’ll want to start out by listing low-risk items (1-2 items max) the first week.
What is low risk? Something cheap and used – sporting goods, clothing, books, and
toys work very well. Take a loss if necessary, just get it sold and shipped out
quickly. After the first sale you can increase your listings weekly. Stick to low-risk,
auction style listings for as long as possible. You can gradually mix in higher-risk
items and work your way up to full-paced selling over the course of 2-3 months.
The goal is to survive the first 90 days. Afterwards your account is proven and you
can list higher risk items with fewer restrictions.
Based On Your Current Selling Limits…
1. 10/1000: Increase weekly listings by 2 (1,3,5…) for the first month, then 3 the next month,
then 4 after that.
2. 50/5000: Increase weekly listings by 4 (1,5,9…) for the first month, then 6 the next month,
then 8 after that.
3. 1000/25000: Increase weekly by 6 (1,7,13…) for the first month, then 12 the next month,
then 24 after that.
Note:
You’ll want your PayPal account
CONFIRMED
and
VERIFIED
before you start
listing items on eBay. That means your bank account is verified via the micro deposits. If
you rush past this then you risk your account.
Frequently asked questions
What Sort Of Items Should I List?
The type of listings you want to
start off with are items you might find at a garage sale or maybe the Dollar Store.
Avoid anything even remotely risky or high-value the first 2-4 weeks.
Do I Need To Bid Or Watch Items? No, the purpose of doing that is to establish device
trust with eBay and PayPal. Since you created the account yourself, your browser
cookies and Flash objects are already in place and trusted. You’re ready to start
listing low-risk items.
Does Account Age Matter? The age of your account does not matter. An account no
matter it’s age is held to the same standards as any other account. It’s more
about established trust (feedback, account status and seller history).
Got that? Good!
As you follow these rules, your selling limits will naturally increase, PayPal holds will
drop off and your ability to list normal (higher-risk) items will increase. I
understand that you may want to jump right back into selling without
restrictions but eBay will shut you down in a heart-beat if they feel you’re a risk.
Take it slow. Spread out your sales. And you will be successful.
Next we’ll discuss alternative payment options!
Alternative Payment Options
If you’re in the US and do a lot of sales with eBay, it’s a good idea to get setup with
a Merchant Account to accept credit card payments directly. If you’re outside the
US it’s easier to stick with PayPal as your limitations are easier to deal with,
whereas US members have to deal with SSN requests (discussed later).
Let’s say you lose your PayPal account but your eBay account is still
running without any problems… you’re in luck! You still have the option of accepting
funds from a Merchant Account: Authorize.Net, PayFlow or CyberSource.
I personally use and recommend Authorize.Net. With Authorize.Net you’ll be able to
accept All major credit cards: Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®,
Discover®, Diner’s Club, JCB.
Next I’ll show you how to use a Merchant Account (Authorize.Net) with your eBay
account to start accepting funds. Please note some eBay marketplaces are required
to offer PayPal no matter what, for example eBay UK.
Step 1: Sign-up for a Merchant Account
You’re looking for a Merchant account that works with Authorize.Net (because that’s
what eBay wants). Luckily there are HUNDREDS of merchant account providers
available. I’ll list some of the best providers below, select the one that works for
you and then we’ll add it to your account to start accepting funds.
Authorize.Net Resellers
Reseller
Notes
Flagship Merchant Services
Setting up a merchant account is easy with a 98% approval rating and a
guaranteed lowest overall cost commitment. Flagship Merchant Services
offers a unique month-to-month agreement and competitive fees.
Wells Fargo
Accept credit cards debit cards gift cards and electronic checks.
iPayment
One of the largest providers of payment processing services in the U.S.
with 145000 active small merchants.
Chase Paymentech
Chase Paymentech a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase is a global leader in
payment processing.
Total Merchant Services
Total Merchant Services is one of the fastest growing credit card
merchant account acquirers in the nation.
Merchant Focus
Merchant Focus is a full service merchant account and payment gateway
provider providing service to Internet mail order/telephone order retail
auction and mobile businesses.
With a Merchant Account it’s a process to get approved for an account. All merchant
accounts will require your SSN (if you’re in the US) and ask for other documents
(your ID usually and a voided check for deposits). It took me several days to get
setup with my last Authorize.Net account but I have been working with them
successfully for the last 5 years.
Step 2: Link to Your eBay Account
Your API Login ID and Transaction Key is used to link your Merchant Accounts to your
eBay account. EBay can not see who’s on the other side of the Merchant account.
All they see is the API Login ID and Transaction Key.
Note:
If you lose an eBay account to a suspension you can change your API Login ID (you
may need to call Authorize.Net to change this for you) and your Transaction Key (which
you can change yourself from the Authorize.Net admin panel) and link to a new account.
Your Merchant account provider gives you access to this. Isn’t that neat?
Linking Your Accounts
1. Click My eBay at the top of most eBay pages. You may need to sign in.
2. Place your pointer over the Account tab, and then click Site Preferences.
3. In the Selling Preferences section, click the Show link next to Payment from buyers.
4. Click the Edit link.
5. On the Payment Preferences page, select Accept credit or debit card payments to your
Internet merchant account.
6. Next, you’ll need to enter your payment gateway information.
Note:
Once you have your account linked and enabled in your preferences, buyers will
now have the option of paying you by credit card!
Do I need to call eBay? Typically, yes, but how it works is that you’re put on hold (they look
over your account) and if everything looks good (no red flags) they’ll come back and say
your merchant account is ready to go.
Have a question? Post it below!
Next we’ll discuss account feedback!
Feedback Rules
I need you to understand that feedback isn’t everything. Feedback should not be
purchased through 3rd party websites or as a buyer of virtual or low cost items.
One of the fastest ways to lose an account is through feedback manipulation.
On the other hand feedback as a seller is important. The more SELLER feedback you
have the more trust is built up for your account. This is important for a number of
reasons but the lack of feedback does not hamper your ability to sell on eBay. In
other words feedback whether a buyer or seller shouldn’t be your primary goal with
a brand new account.
Gain Feedback by Selling Items
As mentioned in the ‘New Account Rules‘ section, you’ll want to start off listing low
risk items. This will enable you to gain FAST feedback. You should not buy items for
feedback. There is almost zero benefit to buying items for feedback. It only puts
your account at risk.
What to Sell for Feedback?
1. Household Items
2. Garage Sale Items (Carboot sales)
3. Flea Market Items
4. Dollar store (generally more expensive then other options)
Go to ANY of these places, pick up a bunch of cheap items and sell them on eBay. It’s an
easy way to get started with a brand new account.
Don’t do any of the following..
1. Buy cheap items for feedback (eBooks, virtual items)
2. Use services like Fivver for Feedback (Very Risky)
3. Sell High-Risk Items (Not until your account is more established)
4. Sell Expensive Items (Not until your account is more established)
Next we’ll talk about purchased accounts!
Have you purchased an account?
Need an account quickly?
We recommend
[these guys]
for high limit stealth eBay and
Paypal accounts.
The FIRST thing you want to do in order to successfully take over a purchased
account is to establish device trust. When you log into a purchased account for the
first time (without browser cookies or Flash objects intact), eBay and PayPal will not
trust your device. As a result if you make any major changes to your account, you
may be limited pending further review. And it’s like this for a reason.. PayPal and
eBay suspect you are not allowed to access the account and as a results places
increased scrutiny on any actions you take until trust can be established. That
makes sense, right?
Note: The ONLY major difference between the ‘New Account Rules‘ and working with a
purchased account is establishing device trust before listing items and making any major
changes to your account.
Taking over a stealth account…
1. Logging in to your account
You’ll want to access your account with a clean device (no browser cookies or flash
objects) and under a brand new IP address.
2. Bid & Watch Items
The first few days you’ll want to bid and watch items. This is not a time to list
items. If you do that you will have problems. This is extremely important.
3. List Items Slowly
After a minimum of 1-week you may start listing low-risk household items. Refer
back to the ‘New Account rules‘ for a listing strategy.
Note:
Do not make ANY changes to the account until 30-days of ownership. You need a
solid history of logins to change passwords or any account details. NEVER clear the
history on your browser, don’t reject cookies, and don’t run ccleaner. Cookies = Trust. If
you would like to purchase an account, we recommend
Next we’ll talk about account selling tools!
[these guys]
Popular Auction List Tools
With auction listing tools such as Auctiva and InkFrog there is no longer a need to log
in and out of your eBay account anymore. Instead you can manage your
account(s) entirely through the auction listing tool. These tools act as a buffer
between you and eBay, and as a result your there is no need to change your IP
address or switch user accounts. Simply login and manage your accounts.
1. Auctiva (Recommended)
Auctiva is a top tier auction lister tool that enables you to create, post and manage
your listings. It includes 1,800 customizable templates, free image hosting (24+
Images per Listing) and many more features.
After creating a new eBay account, you should create a new Auctiva account for it. Then
create an Autiva token that links your eBay account to your Auctiva account (don’t worry
this is safe because Auctiva does not share your personal details with eBay — just make
sure you are doing this from the same IP address you would normally use to access your
eBay account). Now once your accounts are linked, the amazing thing about Auctiva is that
you can log into it from ANY IP address and to list new auctions.
2. Inkfrog (Recommended)
With professional templates, scheduled listings, unlimited images, custom profiles,
auto feedback and so much more… InkFrog is an amazing auction lister tool. If you
have a bunch of eBay accounts and want an easier way to mange them.. then
Inkfrog is what you need (yes it works with multiple accounts).
Other Notable Auction Listing Tools
Service
Notes
Zoovy
Links to eBay – integrated with most payment processors
Inkfrogopen.com
The new version of InkFrog?
Turbolister
Alternative would be TurboLister for Windows but unless you keep
separate from other users on your computer — TurboLister is not
recommended.
Service
Notes
GarageSale for Mac Users
Each instance of Garage Sale on Mac user accounts is separate.
PushAuctions
Can be expensive. Unlimited accounts (paid per account) — can do what
Auctiva and Inkfrog does but the UI is not the best looking.
Vendio
Links with eBay and other online marketplaces — buyer appreciate is a
nice feature — good for letting customers know your preferred payment
method — Not as friendly
Channel Advisor
No free trial to work with. Cost – $500 + 1% of selling price
Kyozou
Integrates with eBay/ auction management / checkout — Not friendly
CoreCommerce
Integrates with eBay / auction management
SellerVantage
Looks like just an auction lister
Do you have an auction listing tool that you like to use? Let me know in the comments
section below and I’ll check it out!
Next we’ll talk about overcoming selling limits!
Account Selling Limits…
It’s about creating successful long-term accounts that eBay Trusts.
Things have changed.. there is a NEW eBay marketplace in town. We have to deal
with selling limits, random suspensions and new rules everyday. The old style ‘Wild
West’ eBay Marketplace has been replaced with strict new rules and regulations. If
you don’t change with it you’ll have a hard time moving forward. So here’s the deal.
You have a brand new eBay account and you start off with lower than expected selling
limits. Why does it happen?
It’s about trust and the risk you pose to eBay.
In general, your selling limits are a representation of how much eBay TRUSTSyou.
As you work with and mange your account, your risks are weighed and limits
adjusted. The more eBay trusts you the fewer problems you’ll have and the higher
your selling limits. Trust is dependent on how you create your account (the services
you use) and how you manage your account (what you sell, seller feedback), along
with a number of other factors which can positively or negatively effect your
account which we’ll talk about in this section.
Green Flags, Yellow Flags, Red Flags?
Your account is weighed and measured throughout it’s lifecycle. From the moment you
account is created, everything about it is considered either a RED FLAG (BAD), YELLOW FLAG
(CONCERN) or GREEN FLAG (GOOD). If you have too many Yellow or Red flags against your
account it may trigger an account suspension.
You should think of it as a point system. Red and Yellow flags are hits against your
account while Green flags add to your account.
The Point System
Let’s say with a brand new account you have 15 points to play with
(this is an example). Now let’s say you get a yellow flag for using Google Voice (it’s
used and abused), that’s 5 points against your account… now you only have 10
points left and your account is labeled as risky so your selling limits are negatively
impacted.
Brand new accounts haven’t built up enough credit (Trust) with eBay so any little thing done
that could be considered a red flag or yellow flag can seriously impact your account.
Established accounts with built up trust can get away with more.
The better you create and manage your accounts the more eBay will trust you and
the higher your selling limits. If you have too many yellow or red flags against your
account you can expect lowered seller limits or worse.. suspension or limitations. As
your account becomes established and trusted, it has more points (trust) to play
with so yellow or red flags won’t impact it as much…
Note:
EBay likes to tweak this system and increase or decrease the impact of certain
account behaviors (such as usage of well known used and abused phone services).
Why do SOME people… get away with using ‘Used & Abused’ services while others get
limited? As mentioned before, it’s a POINT system. One factor alone is usually not
enough to make or break you… it’s a combination of factors.
Let’s say you decide to use a used & abused free phone service
but everything else with your account is solid.. your chances of a zero’d out selling
limit account is slim. Personally I don’t like to take that risk but I leave it up to you.
However let’s say you also use a used and abused VPN service or a made up
physical address.. those are multiple red flagsand guess what? Your account
becomes suspended.
It’s generally not one thing or another but a combination of factors that can impact
your account. As a result, the better you create your account (more on that in a
moment) the less you have going against you and generally the higher your selling
limits. If you cut corners you’ll have a bad time. And that’s what this section of the
guide is about.. how to create successful long-term accounts that eBay trusts.
Next we’ll talk about the factors that influence your account.
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…
Mismatch Address [Red Flag]
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.
Used & Abused Phone Number [Yellow Flag]
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.
Unverified PayPal [Red Flag]
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 .
High Risk IP Address [Red Flag]
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 .
Sloppy Account Creation [Red Flag]
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.
It’s about quality instead of quantity.
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..
Selling Limits: Documents
Whether you’re selling in the US, UK, AU, Canada or any other marketplace, eBay
can limit your account pending verification at any time and when that happens
you’ll want to be ready. You may be asked for supplier invoices, personal
identification, address verification, finical statements or any number of documents.
Nope:
It is your responsibility to prepare your accounts in a way that enable you to
overcome any verification requirements requested by eBay and or PayPal.
Supplying requested documents is EASY to do if you have permission from a 3rd
party (friend or family member) to create an account in their name which provides you
with any documents eBay or PayPal may request. Otherwise a business account is the
way to go as documents can easily be had for verification.
Typical documents requested…
Supplier Invoices:
Sometimes eBay will want to see proof that you have merchandise in stock, on your
premises. If this is the case, then all you have to do is call your supplier and obtain
an invoice (if you do not already have one) and supply it to eBay. If your supplier
cannot generate an invoice for some reason, you can always create a “Pro Forma”
invoice showing the item names, description and quantity of each item. “Pro Forma”
just means something that is provided as a courtesy to meet minimum
requirements and these are usually acceptable to eBay. But it is best if your
supplier can give you a normal invoice.
Note: If you are selling items that are heavily counterfeited, eBay will want your invoices not
only to make sure that you have the actual merchandise, but that your supplier is an
authorized dealer for whatever it is you are selling. First, call your supplier to see if they can
provide an invoice. Then ask them if they are authorized by the brand in question. If not,
you might have a problem, because eBay may not want you to sell those particular items if
you cannot prove that your merchandise is authentic and from an authorized supplier. You
can explain this to your supplier as they may have a solution for you.
Proof of Address:
Usually they will ask for a utility bill. This must match your with your account name
and address to be accepted.
Proof of Identity:
This depends on how you created your account. As previously mentioned usage of a
family or friend’s personal information (with permission) for account creation
enables you to easily pass this request. Otherwise what eBay and PayPal is looking
for is SOMETHING that matches your account details.
Business Documents:
Ebay and PayPal do not usually request these, however you might be asked for
copies of some business documents. It could be the “Articles of Incorporation” for a
corporate entity or an “Operating Agreement” for an LLC. Or, they could ask you for
a “Certificate of Good Standing” from the Secretary of State where your corporation
or LLC is located. The “Certificate of Good Standing” is just a letter from their office
that states your records are up to date. It does not contain any individual
information, so this should not be an issue. Many times, you can order one online,
either for free or for a nominal fee. The “Articles of Incorporation” or “Operating
Agreement” are just records that show how your business is organized, what the
basic rules and procedures are for running the business and, in the case of an LLC,
how the money is to be divided. These are not official documents and are normally
“boilerplate” so you can make any necessary changes. These are documents that
should be in your possession from when your business was formed. If you do not
have them readily available, you can ask the person or the company who set the
business up for you if they have a copy in their records. Generic versions can be
downloaded online. These are very easy documents to provide.
Does eBay or PayPal match up documents to your account? Yep, PayPal and eBay will take your
documents and make sure what you send them matches your account. In most cases if
documents match up that’s all it takes to remove verification requirements.
Next we’ll discuss Calling IN to eBay and PayPal.
Selling Limits: Calling in to eBay
Whether it’s to call in to increase seller limits or if it’s a simple verification call…
you’ll want to be prepared with the type of questions eBay may ask…
1. Account Details (eBay will ask for the following):
You will be asked for your Name, Email Address, Street Address,
Date of Birth (they will ask how OLD you are), Last 4-Digits on Credit Card, Phone
Number and Last 4 of SSN (If you gave them this information).
Note:
keep your account details organized .
2. Product Specific Questions
You will be asked about the type of items you plan on selling and whether or not
they are personal items or purchased for resale. You should say that items are
personal or items you had lying around your house. You get asked this question to
help determine your risks as a seller. If you say you source your products from
China as knock-offs.. guess how that will end? Not good.
They will ask how you plan on shipping and packaging your items. You want to
make the agent feel at ease by saying you plan on packaging with lots of bubble
wrap and secure packaging.
Note: If you’re an active seller with items sold, eBay may request receipts or invoices if they
feel your items are considered high-risk.
3. Address Related Questions
This generally happens if eBay suspects trouble with your account (too many red
flags) or if your address is invalid. USA and Canada users will be asked questions
specific to their address and name which is verified against public records.
This may present eBay with a no data error in which they may demand a secondary
address for verification. If eBay is unable to verify your information against the
public records database then you may be required to send in documents to verify
your address. In some cases the customer service representative if they feel your
account is okay will wave this requirement and allow you to sell on eBay.
Note: These questions are generally asked to determine your risk as a seller and to set your
selling limits. If you have any trouble with these questions you may be asked to submit
documents for further verification.
Call in to increase your selling limits? In general it’s a simple call. You’ll want to act like
a brand new seller of course. They’ll ask about your products and whether you have
them in your possession. They’ll want you to repeat back your account information
and then you’re good to go (increased limits). Alternatively as we discussed earlier
your selling limits will increase on their own as your gain eBay trust.
Success Stories?
“I received a mixture of increased limits within 3 minutes of being on the phone up
to 200 items on one of them!”
“I really dont know why every one is so scared to call ebay and ask for a selling
limit increase, i call them every time and every time they increase my selling limit
with out asking for id etc. All you need is to have a fully verified paypal account, a
few positive feedback’s and when you call them answer their questions fast and
with confidence and you will get a limit increase every time without any request for
ids etc…”
“I called ebay a few days after my first sale. They couldn’t find my stealth
information through searches. I told them i was a company putting my business on
ebay. They bumped my selling to 30/5000 which was still poop. I Sold the crap out
my account there after with perfect feedback. Today i got bumped to 90/15,000
automatically.. ”
What’s your success story? Next we’ll talk about poor listings.
Selling Limits: Poor Listings
Whether you’re hit with a listing policy violation or duplicate listings notice,
understand that eBay has become more aggressive with low quality listings. Not only
does eBay use this to link accounts together (duplicate listings) but eBay is
attempting to clean up their marketplace after a massive Google slap in 2014
(lowered search engine rankings). Simply put, you’ll want to utilize original images
and descriptions with all your listings.
Can eBay link similar auctions together? Yes, very easily.. filters can detect duplicate listings
without fail.. welcome to the new eBay. You must vary your listings including descriptions
and images to remain link-free.
Along with completely different listings (unique descriptions, titles, pricing,
layout/template, etc), you MUST have unique images. Using stock images is one of
the FASTEST ways to lose an account.
If you want to use the same images you must wipe EXIF data at the very least.
EXIF data can be used to link accounts extremely easily because properties of
images are unique. If you use the same image for multiple accounts without wiping EXIF
data, this will link your accounts.
What is EXIF data? Almost all new digital cameras use the EXIF annotation, storing
information on the image such as shutter speed, exposure compensation, F number, what
metering system was used, if a flash was used, ISO number, date and time the image was
taken, whitebalance, auxiliary lenses that were used and resolution. Some images may even
store GPS information so you can easily see where the images were taken!
The best thing you can do is to take unique images for each of your listings. If
that’s not possible you’ll want to clean up your image EXIF data. Luckily there are
free tools out there that can do that very easily and quickly.
1. BatchPurifier: It’s a Windows based software that enables you to clean hundreds of images
in just seconds. It cleans all EXIF data (phone tags, geotag, etc).
2. ImageOptim: ImageOptim instantaneously strips EXIF data and saves your photos. It’s Mac
based.
Otherwise you can use a 3rd party image hosting website as well such
as imgur.com which removes EXIF data for you.
Next we’ll discuss VeRO!
Selling Limits: High-Risk Items
High-risk is not the same as illegal. I do not condone the selling of illegal
(counterfeit) items on eBay nor do I believe selling said items to be a successful
long term business model. Unfortunately high-risk typically involves items that are
known to be counterfeit (Hot, Brand New Items) or items that generate a lot of
buyer complaints (Expensive Items and Electronics).
What are High-Risk Items?
1. Hot, Brand Name Items: Many of the hottest, best-selling brand name items attract the
attention of counterfeiters. When most people think of counterfeits, they think of Rolex
watches or Louis Vuitton Handbags. But everything is being counterfeited these days, from
DVD’s to Crest Toothpaste.
2. Expensive Items and Electronics: Electronics, because they tend to be expensive and things
can easily go wrong with them, so they generate a good amount of buyer complaints.
Expensive items, such as precious gems, jewelry, silver, gold, platinum, rare coins, etc.
because all of these can be faked and the buyer may not realize it right away.
What you sell is your business but if that involves counterfeit items I would seriously look to
expand onto legitimate more stable products. With the proper research (TeraPeak), you can
find items in ANY niche that sell just as well.
When can I list high-risk items?
You never want to start selling high-risk items on a brand new account (read New
Account Rules). You need to build up some trust first. Start out with low-risk, nonbranded, inexpensive items. As eBay sees that the items have been received by the
buyers and have not generated complaints, your selling limits will increase. Slowly
start to add a couple of the higher-risk items here and there – but do not overdo it – for 90
days or until your 21 day PayPal holds are lifted.
Note: New accounts are watched very closely. You’ll want to stay away from risky items until
your account has built up enough credit with eBay (that means positive buyer feedback, No
unresolved eBay Money Back Guarantee requests or PayPal Purchase Protection cases with
buyers and having 3-months of selling history). Even with trust built up if eBay suspects
counterfeits they will ask questions. They’ll want to verify your identity and know who your
suppliers at the very least.
Can I sell more with multiple accounts?
One of the best strategies if you have a lot of high-risk items is to spread your sales
over multiple accounts. That way, they are less likely to draw the attention of your
competitors (who may try to take you down) or of the trademark, patent or
copyright owners. Neither of these people are going to scrutinize accounts that list
one item here and there. But if you are constantly re-listing, then they will take an
interest in you. Switch eBay accounts after every risky item is sold and let them
cool off for as long as you can wait – 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, (the longer the
better). How many accounts you will need depends on how many of the item you
want to sell and the risk of said item.
How should I write my listings?
You cannot simply copy and paste your listing from one account to the next.
Everything must be different – your titles, descriptions, shipping, pictures,
categories etc. Using the same information can potentially link your accounts.Change fonts,
sizes, layouts and anything else you can think of for the item description on every
account. For example, on one account you have pink text and you have a return
policy, on another you use eBay’s auction templates, write an extremely detailed
description and use your own hosting for images. On a third account you have a
black background with white text, have a short description and use all capitals in
the title. Be creative! You are totally different people!
Next we’ll discuss SSN requirements (US sellers).
PayPal Tax ID Requirement
It’s no big deal.
You’re selling happily when all of a sudden you receive notification from PayPal
requesting your SSN, ITIN or EIN. It’s explained that due to IRS requirements all
United States members must provide a SSN, ITIN or a EIN to continue using PayPal
(after certain limits are reached). Paypal explains that, “To comply with the Internal
Revenue Service’s (IRS) rules, we ask that you submit your Tax ID number to us as
soon as possible.”
What is a Tax ID? A Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) is an identifying number used for
tax purposes in the United States. It is also known as a Federal Taxpayer Identification
Number. A TIN may be assigned by the Social Security Administration or by the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS).
You’ll get several notifications until finally your account is limited until your provide
your Tax ID. This happens around the 175 items sold mark or around $17,000.
Next I’ll explain the different options you have to overcome this limitation. There
are those who like to rotate between accounts (we’ll talk about this next) and there
are those who want to establish a PayPal business account (I’ll show you how to do
this as well). There are other options as well which we’ll also cover.
1. Rotate Accounts
2. Convert to Business Account
Next we’ll discuss how to properly rotate accounts.
Solution: Rotating Accounts
As you know PayPal will eventually request your SSN or EIN to satisfy Tax ID
requirements by the IRS. The good news is that this request only happens when
you surpass thresholds put in place by PayPal (200 items or 20k gross sales in a
year). The easy solution to this is to NOT pass these limits and instead rotate
between several accounts (you should be doing this already) as to not hit these
limits. If that’s for you then let’s get to it!
1. Stay Organized
You’ll be able to track your account usage within the reports section of your PayPal
account. This will give you a good idea of where you stand with your account. If it’s
July and you have 160 sales clocked in then it may be time to switch accounts for
the year.
At the very least have 2-3 accounts up and running at all times so if I have trouble
with one account, you will be able to easily switch to another account without
wasting time.
2. Have Backup Accounts
You want backup accounts.. and lots of them. You’re wanting stealth accounts that
you can easily create in mass with little worry about the longevity of the account.
We have some users with dozens of accounts rotated throughout the year.. it’s
interesting to watch. Of course this isn’t for everyone so next we’ll cover creating a
business account with an EIN. These are accounts that can last a lifetime.
Note:
If you stop selling with a PayPal account before it’s Limited pending Tax ID, by
January the following year limits are reset (sometimes) and you can continue selling with
fresh limits to the account.
Next we’ll talk about business accounts!
Solution: Provide EIN
Overcoming Tax ID Requirements…
As you know a business PayPal account enables you to provide an EIN instead of
your SSN when a Tax ID is requested by PayPal. The great thing about EINs is that
they’re easy to acquire (everything can be done online) and you can have as many
EINs as you want with usage of LLCs (discussed next).
Note: You should upgrade your PayPal account to a business account BEFORE it reaches it’s
$20,000 in sales and 200 items limits. The reason to do this is that if you don’t and your
account is limited, you will be required to call PayPal to upgrade to a business account.
How many EINs can I register?
One per legal entity. We’ll discuss the different legal entities
you can register and their pros and cons next.
Let’s get a few things out of the way first…
As far as legal entities and EINs goes, you register your legal entity (your business)
at the state level (any US state). Once registered you can apply for an EIN which you
can use with your PayPal account for verification purposes. Your PayPal business
name must match your legal entity name (more on that in a moment). You should
also have an accessible address registered to your PayPal account (more on that in
a moment).
Important: Your PayPal Business Name or Personal Name (depending if you have a Limited
Liability Company or a Sole Proprietors EIN) must match EXACTLY as the IRS has it. ONE
LETTER OFF and it won’t be accepted. For example, “IBM” is NOT the same as “IBM, Inc.” If
it does not match, the IRS will send a result of “no match” back to PayPal.
We’ll talk about how Sole Proprietors work and then we’ll
discuss Limited Liability Companies
Note:
I’m not a tax accountant. Please confirm with your
tax accountant
or do your own
research regarding your legal obligations as far as opening a business online. The
following is from my own personal experience and should not be taken as legal advice.
1. Sole Proprietors
While you can apply for an EIN as a Sole Proprietor, it’s usage for stealth is limited
because the IRS will only grant you one EIN in your lifetime. After that you will need
to open a Corporation or an LLC for more EINs (discussed next).
What is a Sole Proprietor? A sole proprietorship is the simplest business form under which one
can operate a business. It simply refers to a person who owns the business and is
personally responsible for its debts. Sometimes, this is referred to as a D/B/A (doing
business as) such as John Smith d/b/a John’s Pizza Place.
As the a Sole Proprietor, you are the business legal entity. And because you are the
business you do not have to register for anything. All you have to do is go to the
IRS website and Apply for an EIN.
Note:
Your name MUST match up to your name on PayPal in order for your EIN to be
accepted (Sole Proprietor EINs). If you have an EIN registered to yourself as a Sole
Proprietorship, then the IRS will verify that YOUR NAME matches the EIN they have on
file. If it is your name, then it must match what is on your Social Security card.
2. Limited Liability Company
Alternatively there are legal entities in which you can register. Most people choose
a Limited Liability Company. This is because they’re easier than Corporations to set
up and there is less paperwork that has to be maintained and filed with the
government each year.
What is an LLC? A limited liability company is the United States-specific form of a private
limited company. It is a business structure that combines the pass-through taxation of a
partnership or sole proprietorship with the limited liability of a corporation.
LLL’s are registered with the state in which you want to set up the LLC, usually with
the Secretary of State’s office. Registration fees vary by state and can cost from
$50 all the way up to $800. If the fees in your state are reasonable, it is probably
easiest to register in your home state. But you don’t have to register an LLC in the
same state you plan to do business in (or where you have your business address)
since this will be an online business. And some states have various advantages over
other states. For example, in Nevada, there are no state income taxes. And
in Wyoming, they have privacy laws that would make it virtually impossible for
anyone to know that you are the owner of the LLC.
Registering Your LLC
The EASIEST solution is to register for an LLC through a legal service website such
as the ones listed below… they handle all the paper work for you and get you setup
quickly.
Service Provider
MyCorporation
LegalZoom
INCFile
Notes
Streamlined LLC creation. MyCorporation also offers trademark filings/
copyright registrations/ DBA registrations/ registered agent services and
more.
With LegalZoom you can form an LLC faster and cheaper then it would cost
an Tax Accountant to do it for you. You choose the state you want to form
your LLC (I suggest Nevada) — fill out the forms and you're set. It's VERY
easy.
I have not personally used these guys but it was suggested by other
members as another option.
Where to establish your LLC? I personally like Nevada. The privacy laws there in
regards to LLCs are excellent. You can also register a sole-owner LLC in Nevada. I
suggest reading up on the best state to register your LLC if you have any doubts.
What if you need more than one EIN? You can create as many LLCs as you need. Each
LLC is entitled to its own EIN which you can obtain free from the IRS website after
you register your LLC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PayPal Look Up EIN Records? In my experience, eBay/PayPal does NOT look up
corporate records, although they certainly could if they wanted.
Do Names Have to Match? Yep! When you provide an EIN to PayPal, they will verify it
against IRS records. HOWEVER, they will only verify that the business name (which
is your PayPal business name) given matches the EIN on file. The IRS does not give
out ANY information about the business. The one exception is if you apply as a
SOLE PROPRIETOR, then they will match YOUR NAME with the EIN. But they will
STILL only verify what PayPal gives them. The IRS does not verify anything other
than the BUSINESS NAME with an EIN or a PERSONS NAME with a Social Security
Number. Remember, the IRS will verify that your PayPal BUSINESS NAME matches
that of your LLC.
What About Taxes? If you get the EIN and comply with the Tax ID requirement.
If/when you go over the 20k/200 transactions and they send you a 1099k at the
end of the year. It has the PayPal owners name on the account not the business
name. So keep that in mind. This is where using your real name or nickname
comes in handy…!
Do I need a DBA? In regards to stealth, there is no benefit. As for operating your
business, owning a DBA may be required (depending on your local laws) in order to
do business online using a name that’s different from your own name. Other than
that it does not benefit account creation or help in stealth in anyway. A DBA is just
an alias, not a legal entity.
Does PayPal request my SSN? If you have an EIN on file, then PayPal will use it instead
of your SSN for tax reporting. However, if PayPal is suspicious of your account, they
have have been known to ask for a SSN even after an EIN has been supplied for
verification purposes. Whether or not they do this depends on many factors:
complaints, your refund rate, what you are selling, accusations of selling
counterfeits and anything else that would lead them to believe that doing business
with you is risky. While having an EIN on file with PayPal will not GUARANTEE they
will never ask for a social security number for identification, it lessens the risk
considerably.
Next we’ll talk about selling under the radar!
Extra Bits
Timeless extras to help you on your way…
Next are mini-guides put together by polling hundreds of stealth members from over
the years.
We’ll cover…
1. Staying Under the Radar
2. Suspensions / Violations / Limitations + Getting Reinstated
3. Limited PayPal Account: Oh Noes!
4. Why did I get Suspended
Let’s go!
10 Tips on Staying Under the Radar & Getting
Fewer Violations
Next we’ll discuss
best selling practices , how to stay under eBay’s radar and tips for
getting fewer violations… let’s get to it!
1. Top Notch Customer Service
Let’s be frank.. some buyers can be rude and obnoxious. Unfortunately you cannot
afford to stoop to their level. In every communication with your buyers you must
remain cool and collected, responding to them in a professional, nonconfrontational manner. Leave your emotions out of it if possible. Let buyers spout
off all they want about how you are a terrible seller and how they are going to
report you to eBay and PayPal. Think your response through and use only facts
when responding. Never threaten the buyer in any way. Never use foul language.
Never be insulting or condescending, even if a potential buyer asks silly questions.
Stick to the facts and you will be fine. This same advice applies to communications
with employees of eBay and PayPal.
2. No Misleading Descriptions or Listings
Naturally, you’ll want to list your item(s) in the best possible light. However to
protect account you must avoid making claims that you cannot back up. For
example, if you are selling a software program don’t say “easy installation” if it
comes with thirty pages of instructions on how to install it. Never list your items as
“Brand New” unless they really are brand new. If your items are used, avoid the
temptation to overstate the condition of your items. Honesty in your listings will go a
long way toward avoiding returns for “Item Not as Described”.
3. Fast Shipping
Today’s buyers expect to receive their items quickly and in good condition. If you
only go to the Post Office once a week, you are going to have problems with buyer
complaints. You’ll also want to use tracking as often as possible. Tracking allows the
buyer and eBay to see that the items were shipped and the current status. It builds
trust and that is key to building an account that will last.
4. Working Phone Number
At some point, you will be called. If not by eBay or PayPal, a customer may request
your information (on eBay) and try to call you. If the number is disconnected, or
has been re-assigned to someone else, they may report that and it could
bring scrutiny to your account. You may also have problems getting your money out
of PayPal after your account has been suspended if you no longer have access to
the original phone number that you gave them. Many low cost numbers are
available (Listed in Step 5: New Phone Number).
5. Quality Items Only
If you have an item that is generating multiple complaints due to the quality of the
item, you might want to re-think selling that item. Low quality items cause
headaches and lost accounts. That “great deal” you got on those items from China
is only a “great deal” if they do not break down quickly and are not easily damaged
in shipping. A remote control for your Television may be a bargain at $2, but not if
it falls apart after a week.
6. Keep Buyers Happy
The average return rate for online retailers across the board is 3.2%. Ideally, you
will want to keep your return rate lower than that, in fact under 1% is ideal. That
can be difficult, especially in certain categories, but it should be your goal. Returns
mean lost profits, customer complaints and lost accounts. One thing you can do to
lower the return rate is to try to work something out if the buyer is not happy. For
example, if a buyer contacts you and claims there were only 95 pieces of chalk in
the box and your listing said it was 100 pieces, you should apologize and ask them if
they want to return it OR if they would like a partial refund. It is much better to refund
20% (or whatever it fair and appropriate) of the order than to have to deal with the
return and ending up with a black mark on your account.
7. Refund Unhappy Buyers
Nobody likes refunds, but they are a part of doing business. If you refuse a refund
to a buyer they can put in a claim. Most buyers are smart enough to claim there
was something wrong with the item, or that it was not as described. EBay will side
with the buyer the vast majority of the time and tell them to send the item back for
a refund. If you let it get to this point, your account will have a black mark on it. As
a seller, you must avoid any Buyer Protection claims on eBay. The best way to do
this is to just allow the buyer to return the item for a refund as soon as they let you
know they are not happy.
8. Have PayPal Funds
You don’t want to leave too much money in your PayPal account, because if it gets
shut down, you will not have access to that money for 180 days. However, you
should always leave enough money in your account to cover any potential refunds and
to pay your eBay fees (as discussed earlier).
9. Leave Positive Feedback
Many people will disagree with this, but it is always better to leave a positive
feedback for the buyer as soon as they pay you. When a buyer sees your positive
feedback, they are less likely to leave you a negative feedback. And feedback really no
longer matters when it comes to buyers. On eBay, you cannot leave a negative
feedback for a buyer, so there is no point in waiting to see if everything goes
smoothly.
10. Thank You Notes
On every order you send, you should enclose a note thanking the buyer for their
order. On this note, you can also include your phone number or an email address where
they can reach you if they have a problem with their order. If you are not
comfortable talking to people on the phone, leaving an email address only is OK.
Lastly, ask them for positive feedback if they are happy with their transaction. The
reason for these notes is that you are hoping to avoid any problems being handled
through eBay or PayPal. Anything the buyer enters into their messaging systems is
there forever. It is much better to keep any negative comments between you and
the buyer if at all possible. Of course, not every buyer will do this, but some of
them will.
Simple rules right? If you provide excellent customer service along with a quality product you
will never have buyer problems. Follow these rules and your accounts will last for years!
Next we’ll talk about Suspensions / Violations / Limitations + Getting Reinstated. Let’s get to
it!
Suspensions / Violations / Limitations + Getting
Reinstated
Since you are reading this, you have no doubt been suspended for at least one of
the following reasons. Listed below are the top reasons why your account may have
been suspended and how you can fix it.
Types of suspensions and how to be reinstated: Though suspensions of this nature can
easily be fixed by following the appeals process; specific suspensions call for
different approaches.
•
Seller Non-Performance: If you have buyer complaints or a low feedback score, you might be
hit with Seller Non-Performance. Settling disputes and working to increase your positive
feedback will help restore your account. Read the Feedback FAQ section above for more
information on building your feedback.
•
Non-Payment: If you forget to pay your balance and your account is limited because of it,
you can simply pay your balance and they’ll reinstate you. Easy no?
•
Shill Bidding: If you were caught shill bidding and eBay gives you a temporary suspension; it
will usually be lifted after a certain period of time or after you submit required forms. Don’t
shill bid ok?
Listing Violations
•
Competitor flagged your listing: If you are selling in a competitive niche then it’s quite possible
that a greedy competitor is flagging your listings. Other than trying to get that member
banned there is not much more you can do. If you don’t know who it is, well… then your
items might be getting taken down for other reasons ->
•
VeRO: This is when the actual company whose trade-marked products you are selling sent
eBay a notice to take down your auction(s). This is the harshest violation since repeated (13 times) VeRO violations will get you suspended forever.
If you are actually selling real authentic items, try to contact the VeRO company
themselves because some items are not even allowed to be sold; for example
limited release items, boxes from the item, dust bags, certificates, receipts, and
other things. Also if your item is authentic try to include as much proof that it is
indeed real in your auction listing; supplier documents, receipts, serial numbers, lots of
close-up pictures, statements from stores/businesses that verified your item.
If your items are fake (along with the other 99% of eBay itemsJ), well then you will
just have to stop listing this specific item on this account for at least a couple weeks
(this is where having multiple eBay accounts comes in handy). So what you would
do is move on to another eBay account and lists the item there, making sure to
follow the “staying under the radar” section above.
•
Trademark Violation: These types of violations are pretty tame. The more feedback your
account has, the more violations it can take. I know of someone who was a level one
Powerseller account and got 12 trademark violations in one month and is still working fine.
New accounts can take one or two of these before getting a 7 day suspension. Usually you
will instantly get a 7 day suspension for a trademark violation, so if you got 1-2 and you
aren’t suspended yet, take that as a sign and lay off selling that item on that account for a
month. A trademark violation happens because eBay’s crack squad is surfing the web and
finds something they don’t like, or you got reported by another eBayer with nothing better
to do.
Suspensions: Getting suspended sucks! If you receive a 7 or 14 day suspension, your
best bet is to leave your account alone for the duration of the suspension and to
use an UNLINKED backup account. After 7/14 days you will have to fax in a
reinstatement form. If you don’t have a fax machine at home, you can use
FaxZero.com as mentioned above.
EBay sometimes limits accounts because of Non-Payment, Seller Non-Performance,
VeRO or just because they feel you’re a high risk seller. They’ll ask for your driver’s
license, receipts of items you’re selling, copy of a credit card bills, they’ll want you
to take VeRO test and even sign and fax documents! The good news is, if you do
what eBay asks you stand a good chance of getting reinstated.
Tips to a better reinstatement: Giving eBay the information they request will usually
lift any limitations you may have. But you must remember eBay is like an old man.
If you try to rush things, threaten them without teeth, or by pass them all together
(the wrong way) you’ll lose the chance you have to get your account back. The
better you follow the tips below, the greater chance you’ll have at getting your
account back. The fact that eBay is giving you a chance to reinstatement is a good
sign.
1. Do not spam eBay by spending your fax to them over and over again. This can have
adverse affects. Remember it can take up to two weeks for reinstatement. If after two
weeks eBay hasn’t responded it’s okay to resend your documents.
2. Make sure your documents are clearly legible. Sending documents that are not legible will
delay the reinstatement process.
3. Do not send angry letters demanding reinstatement. It’s up to the eBay if they want to
release your account or not. The best thing you can do is be as nice and go above and
beyond what eBay asks of you. You’re not guaranteed your account back though.
PayPal 180 day Suspension — Don’t want to send PayPal Documents? If you don’t
want to supply requested documents, don’t just let your account sit there. It’s in
your best interest to notify PayPal that you will NOT be supplying the requested
documents and that you want to part ways. This will guarantee the 180 days timelimit for withdraw will start and you money will be available sooner rather than
later. This is good for those who don’t mind the 180-days, who can’t supply
documents and who just wants to part ways with PayPal and start a new account. I
do not recommend leaving your account otherwise you may wait 360 days instead
of simply 180 days.
Limited PayPal Account: Oh Noes!
From PayPal’s User Agreement, you can be limited for any of the following reasons:
•
Reports of unauthorized or unusual credit card use associated with the account including,
but not limited to, notice by the card issuing bank;
•
Reports of unauthorized or unusual bank account use associated with the account;
•
Complaints received regarding non-shipment of merchandise, non-delivery of services,
merchandise not as described, or problems with merchandise shipped;
•
Initiation by a buyer of a reversal process through the buyer’s issuing bank without first
pursuing the Buyer Complaint process described below;
•
Receipt of potentially fraudulent funds;
•
Excessive disputes or reversals, or attempts to “double dip” by receiving funds in a dispute
both from PayPal and through a reversal or a refund from the seller;
•
Refusal to cooperate in an investigation or provide confirmation of identity when requested;
•
Initiation of transactions considered to be cash advances or assisting in cash advances;
•
Sending unsolicited email or posting referral links on websites where they are not
permitted;
•
Opening multiple Personal accounts;
•
The account has been used in or to facilitate fraudulent activity;
•
Violations of this User Agreement;
•
Name on the bank account associated with the PayPal account does not match the name on
the PayPal account; just to note this is only a concern with adding funds to PayPal NOT
withdrawing
•
Return of an incoming Electronic Funds Transfer for insufficient funds in the bank account,
incorrect bank routing number, or incorrect bank account number;
•
Use of an anonymizing proxy;
•
Participating in prohibited transactions and activities, including but not limited to multi-level
marketing programs, gifting clubs and other pyramid schemes, and listing items for sale
that have a delayed delivery date of 20 days or more after the transaction list, and other
activities that are prohibited in Part II of this Agreement;
•
Reports from credit agencies of a high level of risk;
•
Receipt by PayPal of excessive complaints regarding your account, business or service;
and/or
•
Logging in from a country not included on PayPal’s permitted countries list.
PayPal tends to limit accounts based on risk. If your sales suddenly increase one day,
it’s a red flag, if you withdraw more than usually in a day, it’s a red flag. The
categories you list on eBay, it’s all programmed into PayPal’s system to weigh your
risk. And it makes sense, statistically high risk items cost PayPal more money in
fraud than lower risk items. Really just having a linked eBay and PayPal account
makes it two to three times more likely that your PayPal account will be limited
within the first 30 days of selling.
So what now? When your PayPal account is limited, you are usually required to
provide invoices, proof of delivery, proof of address, a photo ID and or supplier
contact information among other things. Most people instantly freak out and either
sends their entire life’s info or just say screw it and forever lose that Paypal
account. What most people don’t know is that Paypal has no way in hell of
differentiating between a real utility bill, merchant account statement or driver
license and one that’s made up.
If you think about it; Paypal has hundreds of millions of users. Out of those
hundred million, let’s take a very small number and say that 0.1% of those
accounts are under review for a suspension – that makes at least 10,000 accounts
being reviewed every week or so. Now you consider that the people working at
PayPal are generally not that smart (you can tell when trying to solve a problem
with them on the phone), which would mean that some high school dropout is
sifting through ten thousand utility bills, driver licenses, supplier documents and
merchant account statements. Do you really think they have the time to actually
verify the information on the documents you send them?
EBay and Paypal actually tell you to BLACK out all the sensitive information on your
utility bills/driver licenses/credit card bills. This instantly makes the whole process
absolutely useless because anyone can just pull a utility bill or merchant account
statement out of their you know where, put any name and address they want and
send it in. The person reviewing this will have maybe a 2 second glance to match
up the info you have in your eBay/Paypal account and the info on this “utility bill”
and just either let it go through or if it doesn’t match or isn’t very good quality tell
you to send a new one. I “heard” of people who did this with tens of accounts, yes
you read that right, not one, but more than 10 accounts. Totally absolutely fake…
scary thing is that EVERY SINGLE ONE of those accounts got reinstated. Tells you
how much they really check.
“Why I Got Linked / Suspended” – And how to
avoid it in the future
So why does it happen? You think you have a bulletproof eBay account and out of
nowhere, you’re suspended! Why? It’s complicated, but what I can tell you is how
other people have been suspended and some advice on how to avoid following
them.
1. Changing details of your account under a new IP address. EBay will sometimes limit your
account, thinking it’s been hijacked. Usually a short chat to eBay will lift your account.
2. Sharing a small network with a suspended eBay account (IP issues). This won’t always link
accounts, but if there are similar details between accounts (same address), eBay may link
and suspend your account as well.
3. Adding a previously suspended shipping/mailing address to your account, or giving out this
information to buyers. If an eBay member recognizes you by your address, they can report
you to eBay which then they’ll investigate you for inconsistencies. It’s okay to add your
address as return address within your packages. But remember to use a DBA name instead
of your own.
4. Having inconsistent information throughout eBay, Paypal, or any credit cards you use. For
example using different names and addresses on everything. EBay doesn’t like this. (Use
the same name, address, phone number, cc, email address for both eBay and Paypal)
5. Reusing the same PayPal account for multiple eBay accounts. This includes paying your
balance. PayPal and eBay are linking the moment you pay your balance, send money,
receiving money and other ways undiscovered yet. You can have up to two eBay accounts
per PayPal account, don’t risk any more.
6. Using the same credit card with multiple eBay accounts (just common since, this will get
you linked and banned).
7. Using the same IP Address/cookies for multiple accounts. Make sure to have separate ‘user
accounts’ for every eBay account you create. Keep a log of your IP address to make sure
you don’t reuse the same one.
8. Too many customers complain about your auctions. If your feedback score is too low, eBay
will place selling limits on your account until you can raise your feedback. You can remove
negatives from your account, and work to increase your positive feedback to lift any
limitations.
9. Using an old phone number with a new account. For one make sure your phone number is
legit, and second never reuse the same phone number from a previous account.
10. Listing a lot of items right away. Read the staying under the radar section above for listing
strategies.
11. Shill Bidding. It’s never a good idea to shill bid, but if you’ve been limited because of it,
you’re usually able to get your account back after sending eBay some required information,
but don’t do it again, or you’ll find your account suspended indefinitely.
12. Buying many cheap e-books/digital items to inflate feedback. No way around this, eBay
knows what you’re trying to do, don’t try to buy feedback. You’ll be suspended and won’t
have a chance for reinstatement 90% of the time.
13. Using Proxies Servers or IP Hiding Software. These simply do not work, and eBay will
suspend your account for ‘abusing eBay’ when you use them. I do not recommend any
proxy service at all.
14. Reusing the same auctions descriptions, image URLs and titles in auctions. Not all
suspensions are automated. Some come from VeRO members, buyers who recognize your
auctions, and even competition. If someone knows you’ve recently been suspended, but
finds you’re selling under a new name. All they have to do is report you to eBay and you’ll
get shut down in a heart beat. Also reusing the same image URLs in your descriptions (exp.
domain.com/images/test.jpg) with multiple eBay accounts is a given instant link and
suspension. Change up your domain name or subdirectory if you’re using a third-party
image host.
15. Logging into a suspended account and then to your new account. Self explanatory.
16. Listing too much from the get go. It depends heavily on what you’re listing. If you try to list
20 iPods from day one, you can just about guarantee a limited account within an hour of
listing. If you’re selling something of less risk, then you’re able to list more. The more risk
an item has, the slower you should list your auctions.
17. Using Turbolister or any other eBay software. It’s a bad idea to use anything related to eBay
if you don’t have to. The more programs and companies you deal with that are tied to eBay,
the more risk you place on your eBay accounts. Auctiva is a better option to Turbolister.
18. Being rude to and sending insulting emails to eBay. The people working at eBay have the
power to shut your account down with a mouse click. Don’t give them a reason to suspend
you. Instead kill them with kindness and you might be surprised at how they can help you.
19. Using the same password as another suspended / limited / banned user.
20. Same e-mail as another suspended / limited / banned user
21. Same images as another suspended / limited / banned user
22. Similar first or last name as another suspended / limited / banned user
23. Similar address as another suspended / limited / banned user
24. Listed items during a 7 day suspension
25. Withdrew too much money from PayPal at one time or too many times per day/week
26. Competitor flagged you
If you have an account going for a month or two and you’re not having any
problems, you’re usually clear of eBay unless you do something stupid like the
above. It’s also a good idea to have backup accounts just in case you slip up. For
the most part make use of ‘user accounts’ to protect your accounts from linking,
change your IP address between logging into different accounts, list items relative
to their risk, and be nice to customers.
And maybe some wishful thinking!
Final Step-by-Step Review
That’s it! You should now have everything you need to create a stealth eBay
and PayPal account. Next I’ll show you how to put everything together!
Creating your account.. it’s common sense right? You would think so but things have
changed over the years.. if you mess something up you could lose your account.
Follow the advice below as closely as possible when creating your account for the
best results.
*** First and foremost, before creating your new account, remove any eBay or PayPal selling
tools or applications you may have running on your device, example “Turbo Lister” or any
browser extensions. The reason to do this is that as soon as you launch any of
these applications, it will immediately connect to eBay and expose your IP Address and
other information which can be used to link and suspend your accounts. Remember, you
have to remove ALL traces of previous accounts before logging in or creating new accounts.
***
Next we’ll review the steps to a new eBay and PayPal account and then we’ll create your
account.
Steps to Creating Your Account
Step 1: Browser Cookies and Flash Objects
Whether you’re working on a PC, Mac, mobile device or other, in this step your job
is to clear out your browser cookies and Flash objects (or follow any of the other
options listed) before changing your IP address. This will give you a clean device to
work with when creating your account.
Step 2: Change Your IP address
Once you have a CLEAN device to work with, for example a new ‘User Account’ on
your PC, your next step is to change your IP address. As long as your IP address
changes by at least 1-digit, you’re good to go!
Note:
Go to
ipburger.com
to check your IP Address.
Step 3: Name & Email Address
Next you need a new name to work with. This step entirely depends on the type of
account you plan on creating. Whether you want a business account or if you want
to create stealth accounts in mass. It’s completely up to you. As far as email
goes, Gmail is preferred.
Step 4: New Address
Once you have figured out the type of account you want to create, your next step is
to get a new address. This can range from virtual addresses, P.O. boxes, addresses
with permission and more. Select the option that works best for your setup and
move on to the next step.
Note:
Your address should accessible and not previously or currently associated with an
eBay or PayPal account. The address should be in the same general location of your IP
address (within 50-100 miles) and phone number.
Step 5: New Phone Number
Next we need a new phone number for account verification. You can use prepaid
solutions, free options or a forwarding service. Once you have a new number then
move on to the next step.
Step 6: New Bank Account
You’re almost there! Opening a new bank account in MOST countries is easy! All
PayPal is looking for is a new account and router number. They don’t see your
name, address or ANY personal information tied to your bank account. Some banks
are better then others. Once you have a new bank account to work with then you
need a new credit card.
Step 7: New Credit Card
This is the last step before we create your account. You can use a Prepaid, GiftCard
or a Virtual Credit Card. I prefer virtual credit cards.
Step 8: Creating Your Account
Now you have everything you need to create your account. I recommend using a
notepad to jot down the name you choose to use, your address, phone number,
bank details, email login, credit card information and ANY other details you use to
create your account. You’ll want to keep this information handy to refer to later and
to document your process.
We’ll first create your PayPal account: If you plan on having a merchant account for
your eBay account it’s still a good idea to sign-up for a PayPal account while your
merchant account is getting approved. We’ll talk about merchant accounts and
alternative payment options later.
1. Use your new name, email address, mailing address and phone number to create your
PayPal account.
2. Add your bank account and prepaid card to PayPal to confirm and verify your account (you
will have to wait for deposits to be verified).
Creating your eBay account:
1. Use the same name, email address, mailing address and phone number you used with
PayPal, sign up for an eBay account.
2. Confirm your eBay account.
3. Link your eBay account to PayPal — When you go to list an item, you must add your PayPal
email address to complete the listing, once you do this your eBay and PayPal account
become linked.
That’s Pretty Much it! You should now understand how to safely create unlimited
stealth eBay and PayPal accounts.
I truly hope for your success.
Talk soon,