I will never forget the morning of November 12, 2021. I woke up, grabbed my phone, and opened the eBay app to check my overnight sales. Instead of the usual "cha-ching" notification sound and a list of orders to pack, I was greeted by a red banner that made my stomach drop through the floor.
"Your account has been restricted."
I couldn't list. I couldn't withdraw my funds. I couldn't even reply to messages from buyers who had already paid. It felt like I had shown up to my office to find the locks changed and my desk on fire. I had spent three years building that store, collecting 500+ positive feedback, and generating a full-time income. In one second, an algorithm decided I was a risk.
If you are reading this, you are probably staring at a similar screen. Maybe it’s a "Suspended" email from Etsy, or the dreaded "Marketplace isn't available to you" screen on Facebook. Being kicked out and permanently banned from store forever is a trauma only resellers understand. It feels personal, but it’s usually strictly business. The good news? It’s not always the end of the road.
Why Your Ebay Account Went Dark (The MC011 Reality)
When we talk about getting banned, the Ebay account suspension is the final boss. eBay calls it the MC011 restriction. It basically means: "Prove you actually own the stuff you are selling."
Here’s where it gets interesting... you might not have done anything "wrong." In my case, I had a sudden spike in sales. I went from selling $500 a week to $3,000 a week because I found a liquidation lot of discontinued cosmetics. eBay’s bots saw this velocity spike and assumed I was a scammer or a hacker.
To get your account back, you have to run a gauntlet.
-
Upload Tracking: Every single open order must have a tracking number uploaded immediately.
-
Verify Identity: You’ll need to send photos of your Driver’s License (front and back).
-
Prove Inventory: They want receipts. Not handwritten notes from a garage sale, but actual invoices.
My Honest Failure: I tried to photoshop a receipt from a flea market vendor to look more "official." It was a stupid, panic-induced decision. eBay’s trust and safety team spotted it instantly. They upgraded my temporary restriction to a permanent ban. I lost that account forever.
-
Lesson: Never lie to the risk team. If you bought it at a yard sale, write a sworn affidavit explaining that. Honesty has a 10% chance of working; forgery has a 0% chance.
The Facebook Ban: When "Marketplace Isn't Available to You"
If you sell on Facebook, you live in constant fear of the blank white screen. One day you are selling couches, the next day you see the message: "Marketplace isn't available to you."
This ban is uniquely frustrating because it is almost always AI-driven with zero human oversight.
-
The Trigger: Usually, it’s listing a "Prohibited Item." But Facebook’s AI is dumb.
-
Anecdote: I listed a "CPAP Cleaner" once. Facebook flagged it as a "Medical Device" (prohibited). Fine. A week later, I listed a pair of Nike running shoes. The AI flagged it as "Counterfeit." I appealed. The appeal was denied in 3 seconds.
Now the tricky part... getting a human. Unlike eBay, Facebook has no phone number. The only way to fix this is to shake the digital tree.
-
The "Shake" Method: Literally shake your phone while in the Facebook app to report a problem.
-
The Business Support: If you have a Facebook Page for your shop, try to contact support through the Meta Business Suite. They are sometimes more responsive than the main Marketplace support.
Surviving a Mercari Account Suspension
A Mercari account is incredibly fragile. They have a "shoot first, ask questions never" policy.
The most common reason for a Mercari ban in 2025 is the mercari cancel offer trap.
-
The Scenario: A buyer offers you $20 for a $40 item. You accept. Then you realize you can’t find the item, or shipping is too expensive. You cancel.
-
The Consequence: If you do this 3-4 times in a short period, Mercari flags you as an "Unreliable Seller." They don't just warn you; they restrict your account privileges.
Opinion Statement: I believe Mercari has the worst seller protection of the Big Four. If a buyer claims an item is fake, Mercari often sides with them instantly and bans the seller to avoid liability. I keep my balance on Mercari at $0.00 at all times. I cash out every single day. Do not treat Mercari like a bank; treat it like a casino.
Poshmark Account Jail: Automation and "Share" Bans
Getting locked out of your Poshmark account usually feels different. It’s rarely about fraud; it’s usually about behavior.
Poshmark relies on "Sharing." To be seen, you have to share your listings.
-
The Bot Trap: Many sellers use automation tools (bots) to share their closet 5,000 times a day.
-
Poshmark Jail: If you share too fast, Poshmark puts you in "Share Jail." You can still open Poshmark and look at things, but your shares don't register, and your items become invisible in search.
My Personal Experience: I used a cheap chrome extension to share my closet while I slept. I woke up to an email saying my account was under review for "Third Party Scripting." I had to write a groveling email to Poshmark support promising never to do it again. They reinstated me, but I was on a "shadowban" list for months where my sales dropped 80%.
I use Closo to automate managing my inventory across platforms – saves me about 3 hours weekly – because legitimate, API-compliant tools are the only way to scale without getting flagged by Poshmark's anti-bot software.
Etsy Account Terminations: The Handmade Lie
The Etsy account ban is the most heartbreaking because it destroys entire livelihoods. Etsy is strictly for "Handmade, Vintage, or Supplies."
The 2025 Crackdown: Etsy has deployed aggressive image recognition to find dropshippers.
-
The Mistake: If you sell a "Handmade Gold Necklace" but you bought the charm from AliExpress, Etsy’s bot will find the matching AliExpress photo.
-
The Result: Immediate permanent suspension.
Parenthetical Aside: (I have a friend who is a legitimate artist. She paints on denim jackets. One day, a scammer stole her photos and put them on Temu. Etsy’s bot found the Temu listing, assumed my friend was the dropshipper, and banned her shop. It took her three months and a lawyer to get it back.)
Depop Account Bans: The "Off-App" Transaction Trap
If you have a Depop account, you are dealing with a younger demographic. The temptation to "Venmo me to save fees" is high.
Do not do it. Depop reads your DMs. If you type "Venmo," "CashApp," "Instagram," or "PayPal F&F," their algorithm flags you.
-
The Warning: You usually get one warning.
-
The Ban: The second time, you are kicked out and permanently banned from store forever.
Depop does not play games with fee avoidance. Even if you are just joking with a buyer, keep all financial talk strictly inside the "Buy" button ecosystem.
How to Get Help: The Impossible Task
So, you’re banned. What now? Searching for a phone number is usually a dead end.
Live Chat on eBay
This is your best shot for eBay.
-
Go to the "Help & Contact" page.
-
Scroll to the bottom.
-
Click "Chat with our automated assistant."
-
Type "Agent" repeatedly.
-
Eventually, it will connect you to a live chat on ebay representative.
Tip: Be polite. The person on the chat is a low-level employee reading a script. Screaming at them will get the chat terminated. Ask for an "Appeal" or to speak to the "Trust and Safety Department."
The "BBB" Method
For Poshmark and Mercari, opening a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) often gets a response from a higher-level support agent. It’s not guaranteed, but it forces a human to look at your case.
People always ask me...
"Can I just make a new account?"
Common question I see. The short answer is no. These platforms track your "Digital Fingerprint."
-
IP Address: They know your WiFi.
-
Device ID: They know your phone's serial number.
-
Bank Info: They definitely know your bank account and SSN. If you make a new account on the same phone with the same bank, you will be banned again within 24 hours. This is called a "Linked Account" suspension.
"What if I use a VPN?"
People always ask me this. A VPN hides your IP, but it doesn't hide your SSN or your address. Unless you have a completely new identity (business entity, EIN number, new bank account, new address), a VPN is just a band-aid on a bullet hole.
"Is there a way to get my money out?"
If you are permanently banned, most platforms (eBay, Mercari, Amazon) will hold your funds for 180 days (6 months). This is to cover any potential credit card chargebacks from buyers. After 180 days, they are legally required to release the funds to you. You have to wait it out.
Conclusion
Getting kicked out and permanently banned from store forever feels like a death sentence for your business, but it can also be a forced evolution.
When eBay banned my first account, I was devastated. But it forced me to try Poshmark. It forced me to look into Closoto diversify my listings so that no single platform could ever ruin me again.
If you are currently banned:
-
Appeal once with professional, factual evidence.
-
Wait for the response.
-
Accept the reality. If they say no, move on. Start a new LLC. Get a new bank account. Buy a cheap dedicated laptop. And start over on a different platform.
Do not let an algorithm dictate your worth as an entrepreneur. You are not your eBay account. You are a reseller, and there is always another marketplace waiting for your inventory.
If you are ready to rebuild on a new platform, check out our guide on How to Start Selling on Poshmark from Scratch And if you want to ensure your inventory is safe from the start, read our review of The Best CrossListing Tools to back up your data before disaster strikes.
FAQ Page Schema
Here's something everyone wants to know: Can I open a new eBay account after being permanently suspended?
Technically, no. eBay bans the person, not just the username. If you use the same name, address, bank account, or IP address, the new account will be "linked" and suspended immediately. To successfully sell again, you typically need to form a new legal entity (LLC), obtain a new EIN, use a separate bank account, and operate from a clean IP address and device.
Common question I see: How do I contact a human at Mercari?
Mercari is notoriously difficult to contact via phone. The most effective method is to use the "Help Center" within the app to open a ticket. If you receive an automated rejection, reply to that email requesting a "human review." Alternatively, some sellers have found success reaching out via their official Twitter (X) support handle or filing a complaint with the BBB to trigger a manual review.
People always ask me: Why does my Facebook Marketplace say it isn't available?
This message usually indicates a ban or a restriction. It can happen if you are under 18, if you are in a region where Marketplace isn't supported, or most commonly, if you violated Community Standards (e.g., selling prohibited items like medical devices, animals, or counterfeit goods). You can request a review by clicking "Request Review" on the error screen, but response times vary from 24 hours to weeks.
