Every week, new UK sellers lose their eBay accounts in the first 90 days — not because their products are bad, but because of avoidable mistakes that eBay's automated systems punish fast. If you are starting out (or restarting after a suspension), these five mistakes are the ones that end accounts most often, and each one is easy to prevent once you know it.
Mistake 1: Listing big brands on a brand-new account
New accounts that immediately list Nike, Apple, Sudocrem or Dyson trigger eBay's counterfeit-risk filters. The system sees a zero-feedback seller with high-risk branded stock and assumes the worst. Build your first 20–30 sales with unbranded or low-risk items, earn feedback, then introduce brands gradually — with supplier invoices ready.
Mistake 2: Using stock photos instead of your own
Copying the manufacturer's images onto a branded listing is one of the strongest counterfeit signals eBay tracks. Photograph the actual item you will ship: the product, the seals, the batch codes. It takes five minutes and it is the single cheapest trust signal a new seller can buy.
Mistake 3: Skipping verification steps before selling
Many sellers list products before identity and bank verification show as fully complete, then get suspended the moment a test purchase or payout fails (the MC113 trap). Open your account settings and confirm every verification step shows green before your first listing goes live.
Mistake 4: Ignoring VeRO warnings
eBay's Verified Rights Owner (VeRO) program lets brand owners report listings. One VeRO takedown is a warning; repeated ones lead to account action. If you get a VeRO notice, stop listing that brand immediately and review your sourcing — do not just relist it.
Mistake 5: Treating eBay like a casual marketplace
Late dispatch, vague descriptions and slow replies to buyers all feed your seller metrics. Drop below standard and eBay quietly hides your listings from search — no suspension message, just silence and zero sales. Treat the first 90 days like a probation period: dispatch fast, describe honestly, reply within hours.
Frequently asked questions
How many sales before my account is "safe"?
There is no magic number, but accounts with 50+ sales, 100% positive feedback and completed verification are far less likely to face automated action than new ones.
Can I sell branded items at all as a new seller?
Yes — but start small, keep every supplier invoice, use your own photos, and complete verification first. One branded listing on day one is the classic account-killer.
What is the MC113 policy code?
It is one of eBay's internal codes tied to account verification and risk review. Suspensions under MC113 usually follow failed bank or identity verification and are among the most reversible — with the right documents.
Starting out on eBay UK and want to avoid these mistakes from day one? We help new sellers set up correctly — verification, first listings, and account safety — so the account you build is one that lasts.
