Policing eBay Primer

When asked about his ethics policies, Abraham Lincoln said, “I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day.” eBay, however, does have ethics and listings policies – over 130 of them – and sellers quickly find listings terminated because of actual or perceived violations.

As the world’s premiere online auction marketplace, eBay polices its sellers carefully to avoid violating the laws and import rules in the many companies where it does business. There are hundreds of policies that apply to merchandise sold on eBay, and over 130 rules that apply to the auction or buy-it-now listing process. Here’s a primer on a few of the policies sellers should know about, with links to resources on understanding eBay’s listing’s policies. eBay office building

A few rules that may not seem obvious to occasional eBay sellers include:

Listings can contain just one link to an outside website that provides more details on the item.
If a listing contains a link to an outside website, the visitor cannot be able to buy the item from the linked page.
Firearms – including collectibles that have been rendered inactive – cannot be sold on eBay.
The words “like new” cannot be used in an auction title, ebcause eBay consideres this to be search manipulation?
Replicas of brand-name items, even if identified as replicas, can’t be sold on eBay. (No “faux Louis Vuitton” purses, or “faux Tiffany jewels”.)
Some items can’t be sold for shipping outside of the U.S. (Bose brand stereo gear, for example.)

To see eBay’s complete list of prohibited items and listing policies, click here.

For an informative and easy-to-understand overview of The Seven Deadly Sins of Selling on eBay that includes a summary of listing policies, sign up for the free downloadable white paper from Easysale, available here.

Photo credit: eBay headquarters building. http://www.flickr.com/photos/002/ / CC BY-ND 2.0