My Flippa Account Has Been Suspended!

[Clinton]

No, seriously!

I got an email from Flippa support saying my "account has been temporarily suspended for guideline violations"

In the plural - violations.

I must have been a really naughty boy

By now you're curious as to what I've done or what I'm accused of doing. Apparently I've made "Inappropriate commets RE NDA rejection".

Here's the story: I accepted the NDA for a confidential listing. I suspected that something was not quite right about this listing and wanted to confirm the domain name before putting in a complaint to Flippa about the listing... or bidding on the site if it was kosher.

I didn't tell the seller all this, I simply "signed" the NDA and offered him my UK contact details. He turned my NDA application down. Honestly, some people! I don't take it personally when someone turns me down, but if he turned me down because he doesn't know me and doesn't think I can afford his site etc., that's fine. If he turned me down because he knows I'm not likely to be easily fooled, that's another matter.

So I sent him a message through the Flippa system saying that if I'm not under NDA and can figure out his domain name I'd feel free to discuss it on these forums.

He panicked, I think, and closed his listing (which either means he's very reluctant for the public to know about the site being sold or .... he has some other reason).

Anyway, no complaint about Flippa here, it's their site and they can ban anyone they want for whatever reason they want, but this is the first suspension I've had so was excited to see how the Flippa suspension works. I've never been able to test drive that before. I wanted to see what Flippa features were beyond bounds, what I'm restricted from doing etc. Amazing! I seem to be able to do everything I normally do. I'm even able to accept other NDAs!

Is that how suspensions normally work on Flippa? Or was my suspension a particularly short one that didn't give me the chance to go for a test drive?

[JJMcClure]

I recently got banned from Sitepoint (now lifted) and if Flippa works anything like SP then you wouldn't even be able to log in let alone view or use any features. I know they're seperate companies but it's likely they don't deviate too far technically.

The wording was 'temporarily suspended', it probably got lifted before you could test drive it...

[Clinton]

I just noticed, my profile currently says "This account is currently suspended". Neither the profile nor the email say how long the suspension will last. Of course this doesn't affect other Flippa accounts I may have acquired as part of the flotsam and jetsam you accumulate when you buy sites, but who uses those.

I don't expect Flippa to comment on individual cases, but it's interesting to see just what's blocked and what isn't so I went playing around a bit in there today.

I am able to log in, view saved information, view and send PMs, browse my watchlist, post in their blog (even link out), apply for NDAs and so on. The only activity I seem to be blocked from is bidding on auctions and posting questions in auction threads. I seem to be able to even start auctions and started this one (awaiting my filling out details and making payment).
flippa.jpg

[DomainMagnate]

It's about time for all the stuff you write about them here
But seriously I'm sure they'll lift it quickly.

[tke71709]

So you were banned for doing exactly what you were supposed to do? You tried to sign an NDA but the seller declined your NDA and yet Flippa somehow feels that you are bound by it?

[Clinton]

It looks like it

But seriously I'm sure they'll lift it quickly.

Their email does offer the option of writing to them if I feel there's been a mistake, but I couldn't be bothered.

[TrustButVerify]

What is the true significance of a ban long term? Does it show in your "record"? When looking at completed auctions and their comments I see lots of "suspended" user IDs.

Anyone know the full list of suspendable offences?

[OLechat]

This is the first suspension I've had so was excited to see how the Flippa suspension works. I've never been able to test drive that before. I wanted to see what Flippa features were beyond bounds, what I'm restricted from doing etc.

I can apply a permanent ban, if you're that curious!

You can contact us directly if you'd like that suspension lifted.

[Clinton]

Anyone know the full list of suspendable offences?

They ain't no full list. In my case I suspect it was the fact that the seller panicked and closed his listing which meant that Flippa lost the chance to get a success fee (if the site sold). So, as tke71709 points out, you can get banned even for following the rules

I can apply a permanent ban, if you're that curious

I'm always curious about everything, but getting permanently banned in Flippa might be that final kick in the pants I need to go start a proper marketplace

You can contact us directly if you'd like that suspension lifted.

Thanks for the offer, but I'd just like it to play out as it would for any average punter.

[OLechat]

That's actually how the "average punter" would get un-suspended -- get in touch with our support staff to clarify what happened.