Listing denied supposed policy violation

Question

I am trying to determine why my listing, which I have now adjusted 4 times, although I stll have no idea what policy I could be violating. It says I am violating the buy and sell outside of ebay policy. I do not see any verbiage in the last three listings that could be interpreted that way. I have used the same opening three paragraphs for all listings since I re-upped with eBay and no problem, so logically, it should not be that. I then list and describe a collection of items, which I always do...

disneyshopper · Accepted Answer

Did you write your own description, or copy/paste it from somewhere on the web? If the latter, there could be some embedded URL that leads readers off the site, and that is a policy violation. Copy that description into a program like Windows Notepad. Remove any visible links, and then copy/paste the remainder back into your description. You can also look for any @ symbols abd remove it, as well as any series of 10 digits that may appear to be a phone number.

abovean14 · Answer

Here is the last listing they rejected if anyone wants to go through it. The opening three paragraphs slightly from the one that has been on about 100 listings including one that is active now. It is lengthy but it is a larger collection of items.

I have been a sports memorabilia collector/dealer for nearly 60 years. I have held national auctions, private signings with MLB players and written columns on the hobby in regional newspapers and national magazines. I sold many items on eBay in the early 2000’s with 100% positive feedback. I once again have 100% positive feedback as I buy and sell these days.

While I still plan to actively collect, I have amassed many cards, publications, photographs, autographs and other oddball items that I am going to offer up to other collectors and dealers.

I am also a fan of the original auction style on which eBay was founded. I will put low minimum bids and see where they go, giving the collector more of the auction experience and maybe adding a less expensive item to your collection as a bonus. I have some items that I would like to see go to others who have interest in them.

This is a substantial collection of Baltimore Orioles memorabilia with over 40 different items and several items that have more than one of each. The primary player featured is Hall of Famer and all-time great Cal Ripken, Jr. There are streak newspapers, Cal on O's schedules, cards and an 8 x 10 of Cal. The next player in so far as amount of items is Javy Lopez. Javy was with the Orioles several years and the catcher is in the Puerto Rican and Atlanta Braves Hall of Fames. Items include autographed lithographs along with 8 x 10's and he is also featured on some Orioles schedules. There are other stars as well including HOFers Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer. Two Palmer autographs are in this collection. One on a team issue postcard, the other on a unique item, a Bullets program!! Below is a list of items. Most conditions are listed. The most valuable items include the Streak papers, the black cover Cal commemorative book, the Murray pin, the O's Toyota pin, the Javy Lithographs and the Palmer autographs. This lot is worth multiple times the minimum bid!! Great for the Orioles fan, collector, dealer, investor!!! Check out the photographs included. Here is the complete list:

Newspapers - overall condition is excellent several excellent plus

The Baltimore Sun Sept. 7, 1995 Final Edition – the Streak

The Baltimore Sun insert Sept. 27, 1998 the streak ends – two of these

The USA Today Sept. 6, 1995 just sports section on the Streak

The USA Today Sept. 7, front and sports sections on Ripken, Jr. Streak

The Aegis – Harford County weekly newspaper full issue Sept 6, 1995 – The Streak

The Aegis – October 25, 2000 building Ripken Stadium

The Aegis – June 20, 2001 Cal Ripken, Jr. announces retirement

The Sporting Times – Harford County sports newspaper featuring Cal Ripken, Jr. on the cover from August 1996

Magazines/Programs - overall very good + to excellent condition

Harford Magazine – Ripken family issue from 2000

Harford Kids magazine – Cal on cover from 2003

Those Amazing O’s booklet/magazine - 1983

Sports Illustrated – Rick Dempsey cover The Hero! O’s win World Series Oct. 24,1983

Orioles Scorebook – 4th Edition 1980 Terry Crowley cover Scored - Reggie Jackson – 3 walks

Photographs - the Palmer signed postcard shows wear, the other team issues ex-ex+, photos like new

Orioles team issued color individual pictures – early 80’s – Brooks Robinson, Ken Singleton, Mike Flanagan, Doug DeCinces, Rudy May ex-ex+ condition

Autographed 8 x 10 Joe Orsulak

Autographed mid-1970’s team issue photo Jim Palmer signed w/salutation “To John” vg+

2003 PhotoFile Cal Ripken, Jr. 8 x 10 color photograph

2004 PhotoFile Javy Lopez throwing 8 x 10 color photograph

2004 PhotoFile Javy Lopez studio pic color 8 x 10

Baseball Cards

2 Rich Dauer signed baseball cards ex/mt - 81 Donruss, Fleer

Gary Roenicke signed baseball card ex/mt see picture

Chris Hoiles signed baseball card ex see picture

Floyd Rayford signed baseball card ex/mt

Fleer 90 – Players of the Decade Cal Ripken, Jr. vg/ex

Score 91 – The Franchise Cal Ripken, Jr. vg/ex

Donruss 90 Cal Ripken, Jr. vg/ex

Donruss 88 Cal Ripken, Jr. vg/ex

Donruss 92 Cal Ripken, Jr.vg/ex

Topps 87 Cal Ripken, Jr.vg/ex

Schedules

1995 season schedule Cal Ripken, Jr. on front – 1 in ex condition

2000 season schedule – Cal Ripken, Jr. on the front – 2 in vg+-ex condition

2004 season schedule – Raffy Palmeiro, Miguel Tejada, Javy Lopez and Lee Mazzilli on front – 13 of these excellent condition

2005 season schedule – Palmeiro, Lopez, Tejada, Sosa, Gibbons 1 - ex condition

Miscellaneous

Billy Ripken bobblehead doll

Eddie Murray 33 pin

Baltimore Orioles Toyota pin 1970 World Series

Cal Ripken, Jr. Commemorative book -soft cover 1995

Javy Lopez autographed lithograph superhero drawing from private signing -3 count

Javy Lopez autographed lithograph cartoon drawing from private signing -3 count

Jim Palmer and Pete Reickert autographs inside a Baltimore Bullets program picture of inside program and signatures above

Rico Industries Orioles logo tag express pin up ball

abovean14 · Answer

Thanks for the suggestions and I have relooked based on what each of you have suggested. Is there a timeframe that I can expect an answer from eBay regarding this?

rfmtm · Answer

Ebay bots only look at strings of characters without regard to context or punctuation. So something is still there that is getting flagged. Post your description here if you can't figure it out.

comics-scifi-collectibles · Answer

@abovean14 I understand how frustrating this. You have to be a bit of a detective and think like a bot to figure out what is causing the false flag.

The error message sounds like eBay thinks there is a phone number or other contact information in the actual listing.

Here are things to look for and edit to solve this:

1) Does your description mention "PayPal" if so, remove that.

2) Do you have a website URL, an email address, or a phone number in the description, the item specifics, or in the photos?

If so, remove those.

3) A series of 7 or 10 numbers that looks like a phone number?

4) An @ sign in the description?

5) A misplaced period example fitbit.ly lets go.to the mall

6) The word PO Box, Street, Avenue, or other things that could be part of an address?

7) If you copied and pasted the description, there can be a URL hidden in the text. I can explain how to remove that if needed.

If you can see your listing on this page you may be able to revise it>

https://www.ebay.com/sh/lst/active/contact-info

Here are the policies that apply

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/personal-information-policy?id=4297

https://www.ebay.com/help/member-behavior-policies/policies/contact-information-sharing-policy?id=43...

If you can't figure it out from the above, can you copy and paste the description into this discussion so I can see it?