Flippa or Flippa Mafia? My Experience as a Top Seller Turned Target
Flippa, the digital marketplace promising fair play and equal opportunities, recently revealed its darker side in my interactions with its support team. This isn’t a story about a simple misunderstanding or miscommunication—this is a tale of partiality, power dynamics, and online bullying, led by none other than Ian McFaul and his team. Here’s what unfolded when I, one of the top sellers on Flippa, requested the removal of irrelevant feedback.
Where It All Began: The Feedback Saga
It started innocently enough. I reached out to Flippa’s support team to request the removal of irrelevant feedback from my profile—feedback that was clearly unrelated to any sale or transaction. As someone who prides themselves on maintaining excellent customer relations, my goal was simple: clarity and fairness. But as soon as Ian McFaul took over my ticket, the tone shifted.
Ian abruptly dismissed my request, declaring that the feedback would not be removed. The underlying concern? If this feedback were removed, my rating would hit a spotless 100% positive, up from its current 99.2%. For someone like me—who holds the record for selling 35 websites in August alone—this would make me Flippa’s undisputed top seller. Clearly, my success was a problem for Ian and his allies.
When I explained why the feedback was irrelevant and needed to be removed, my ticket was unceremoniously closed. Frustrated, I warned them that I would bring this matter to CEO Blake’s attention, highlighting the apparent bias in their actions. This was enough to “trigger” them, setting off a chain of events that exposed just how far Flippa would go to protect its internal interests.
The Retaliation Begins: A Sudden Suspension
The very next day, Rachel O., seemingly provoked by Ian, suspended one of my listings and began asking unusual questions about GPL licenses—questions that were either deliberately redundant or purposefully obtuse. Despite my clear and detailed explanations, the team continued to act as though they didn’t understand, repeatedly asking the same questions.
Meanwhile, I reached out to a Flippa employee to understand what was happening. What I learned was shocking. The employee hinted that Ian McFaul and Francisco G. were actively looking for reasons to ban my account. My rising success, combined with my previous reactivation after a wrongful ban, had apparently bruised their egos. Their goal? To ensure that my account was permanently suspended, no matter what.
The Bigger Picture: Bullying and Bias
This wasn’t just about feedback anymore—it was about my entire presence on Flippa. As someone employing 25 freelancers, my business supports 25 families. Yet, Flippa’s support team was willing to jeopardize livelihoods to settle personal scores. They flagged me as a “threat” simply because I outperformed others, especially those sellers backed by Ian’s inner circle.
When Rachel skipped my legitimate questions about shady sellers and selectively enforced policies against me, it became clear that this wasn’t about fairness or compliance. This was a targeted campaign to eliminate competition. Their tactics? Retaliation, harassment, and ultimately banning my account under the pretext of “false claims” and “blackmail.”
The Final Blow: A False Ban
The following day, I woke up to an email from Flippa informing me that my account had been banned. Their reasons?
- “Unwillingness to comply with policies.”
- “False claims about the intentions of our team.”
- “Attempts at coercion with referral to CEO Blake.”
- “Blackmail.”
Blackmail? really lol! All I did was have discussions with a couple of Flippa employees, telling them that I planned to bring all their actions to the attention of CEO Blake. At no point did I threaten legal action or suggest going to an attorney. My intention was simply to highlight the harassment and bias I was experiencing to their own leadership. If they weren’t doing anything wrong, why did they interpret transparency as blackmail?
Their guilt was written all over their reaction. Instead of addressing my concerns or engaging in an open dialogue, they chose to silence me, ensuring I couldn’t challenge their questionable practices any further. This wasn’t an act of justice—it was an act of suppression to protect their own interests.
Flippa: From Marketplace to Mafia
Flippa has transformed into a space where power dynamics reign supreme. Support executives like Ian McFaul wield unchecked power, using tactics of intimidation and online bullying to suppress anyone who dares challenge their authority. Trustpilot reviews echo the same sentiment—users consistently flag Ian as a central figure in their negative experiences. Flippa even flags these reviews to get them rewritten or removed, silencing voices that expose the truth.
What’s worse, Flippa has taken to hosting “business exit roadshows,” which look more like opportunities to groom potential victims for their network of shady sellers. While not every listing is a scam, the platform is flooded with alarmingly suspicious ones.
Ian McFaul: From Passionate Professional to Power Abuser
Ian McFaul isn’t the professional he once was. Over the years, he’s carved out a comfortable niche, prioritizing side ventures and maintaining control over the platform through intimidation and favoritism. His once-passionate approach has devolved into a relaxed attitude where he favors a few sellers while penalizing others who pose a threat to his circle.
Despite being a senior figure on Flippa for over a decade, Ian’s actions suggest he’s more interested in preserving his position and side income than fostering a fair and transparent marketplace.
My Challenge to Flippa’s Leadership
If Flippa is truly committed to fairness, I challenge Ian McFaul to a one-on-one discussion about these issues. Let him explain why policies are inconsistently applied, why feedback removal is selectively enforced, and why some sellers seem to operate with impunity.
As for CEO Blake, I hope he takes a hard look at what’s happening under his leadership. Flippa’s reputation as a trustworthy marketplace is crumbling, and the actions of its support team are at the heart of the issue. It’s time for accountability and change, starting with addressing the bullying and favoritism that have come to define Flippa’s operations.
Flippa isn’t just a marketplace anymore—it’s a battlefield where top sellers are targeted and insiders pull the strings. If my experience teaches anything, it’s this: success on Flippa comes with a price. The question is, how long will sellers like me continue paying it?
