I’ve been a trusty Member of the eBay community since 2002, selling hundreds of items… OK, let’s say it, selling hundreds of photography related items and buying still more. Hoy many cameras, lenses and other stuff have been bought and sold on eBay, I cant even tell. It fuelled my GAS addiction for years, that’s for sure.
But those last weeks have really made me into a vehement opponent of this platform.
Simple, they first blocked my account and froze over a thousand euros I had in it from very recent bigger sales, then they went even further and suspended my account.
What happened?
Of course I wrote to them, I called them, they even called back! But they would not give me a reason.
Apparently I was a Threat to the eBay Community, the dreaded TtteBC!
The fact is that in their transition to eBay managing cusomer payments themselves instead of relying on PayPal where there had NEVER been any problem, they could not verify my bank account.
I must say that this account was only registered with them FOR THE LAST 7 YEARS!
Clearly not time enough to notice that it was a completely legit account that was not used to buy or sell drugs, weapons or fund any wars… not to my knowledge at least (gotta ask my wife now that I think of it…).
Anyways, the mess lasted for almost a month with mail going both ways, explanations that did nothing and finally I had to contact the local highest authorities controlling the financial sector here in Luxembourg to get my account reinstated.
Until today… I got the same mail saying they, again, could not verify my account and that my account was now limited.
I’m not willing to go through the whole rigmarole again! Definitely!
Henceforth – wow, I like that word! Henceforth… as in Henceforth, quick, saddle my faithful charger, we’re of to war!
OK, henceforth I said, I will have nothing to do with eBay and I requested the closing of my account!
That will teach them! Oh well, they won’t even notice it I guess.
Anyways, I will no longer be a TtteBC!
And to feed my lust for photo gear I even found an alternative: MPB, a site that’s buying and selling gear in Europe and I think even in the US. Great service and a good choice of gear. Swift answers to enquiries and fast delivery with a warranty convinced me. Even if the prices are a tad higher than gear on eBay, you can be sure of the quality You get!
Try it….. by the way I’m not affiliated with them and did get nothing for free!
Only thing if you buy something from them, please use this link: MPB and get a discount of 20€
Thanks for your patience!
Frank Lehnen Photography 
I gave up on Ebay years ago having had a bad experience like you. I’m also a big fan of MPB having been a customer of theirs for many years, sadly because of Brexit I can longer buy from the UK where they often have more choice. Anyway good luck with your GAS! Cheers, Nigel.
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Hi Frank, So sorry to hear about your treatment by eBay. I have been an eBay member for more years than I can remember but I have never had enough confidence in their business model to sell anything there. Most of the photo equipment I no longer need or want is given to members of my extended family, and I have received a lot of my current equipment in the same way. Otherwise, I sell or consign my photo gear with brick and mortar camera stores.
On the other hand, I find eBay to be an invaluable source of photo gear, particularly the little bits and bobs associated with my old film cameras. I always pay with a bank credit card through PayPal. On almost all of the very few times I have had an issue with a seller PayPal has resolved it in my favor. On the one occasion I can remember where that didn’t work I simply refused the charge with the bank, sending them the entire documentation trail, and the charge went away.
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Once again I’m off topic Frank, but I was just looking through my wordpress alerts and realised there hadn’t been any posts since this one. How are you and those you love? Is all OK? Sorry if this is an inappropriate time but I was just wondering . . .
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No problem, Ian. I’m ok, just out of the Loop for the moment.
Will I be back? I don’t know right now, we’ll see but thanks for asking
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