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Listings on hold for violation to sell outside eBay, but I didn't
Summary: booksandtech expressed frustration with eBay flagging their memorabilia listings for allegedly attempting to sell outside the platform, despite their intention being to raise money for a nonprofit. disneyshopper and eastlaneave suggested possible causes such as embedded URLs, phone numbers, or contact information that might trigger the violation notice. booksandtech mentioned using a 'create a similar listing' feature, which might have contributed to the issue. They expressed disappointment with eBay's system and considered either letting another volunteer continue with the listings or closing their account.
Hello!
I hope that there's a way of finding out how my listing went wrong. I've been listing a bunch of memorabilia which doesn't fit exactly into the eBay categories so I could see that being an issue but the messages said that I tried to sell outside of eBay. Which I totally didn't. I've gone through and removed anything that even looks like a unique bit of information and just left bland seller-speak.
How long does it take to review? Is there a way of getting eBay to say "This is the problem, delete it and you're good to go"? I'm trying to raise money for a local nonprofit so this work isn't even going to benefit me.
eastlaneave
Mentor2 weeks ago@booksandtech
The error message sounds like eBay thinks there is a phone number or other contact information in the actual listing, or that you are selling something that requires a password.
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, like a City and State?
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.
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=4373
If you need more help, reply back after reading @disneyshopper and my advice.
booksandtech
OP2 weeks ago · EditedThank you for your help! I've been listing essentially the same type of items (collectible pins) with the same text and not getting them flagged. I have been including the nonprofit's EIN successfully for maybe a year.
The one thing that I did do differently was use the option of creating a similar listing where it copies the original and you add in new photos and update the text as necessary. (My text is nearly the same as it has been, just copied from a file on my computer.) From reading other posts, I think that the AI is flagging it as trying to sell the same object. I did go in and remove other new text from the 6-8 listings I'd done that evening but unfortunately, they all ended up flagged even after the edits.
I pulled all of the flagged listings, messaged the eBay buyer who was clearly a knowledgeable collector and set myself to away for 30 days. I'll probably see if another volunteer at the same nonprofit wants to try to sell the items. Otherwise, I'll just close my account and give away the items.
Sad that eBay is at this point.
eastlaneave
Mentor2 weeks ago@booksandtech
This is the problem:
All proceeds of this sale will go to benefit Monadnock 4-H Robotics Club, a non-profit serving children and teens across southwestern New Hampshire. EIN: 46-4879837
eBay for Charity is perfect for this, if you use the program. Your listing will have a link to the 4-H Club and, you'll pay less in final value fees, too.
https://www.ebayforcharity.org/get-involved/selling-for-a-charity/
Here is how to get your charity registered to receive donations on eBay
https://www.ebayforcharity.org/get-involved/benefit-from-community-donations/
disneyshopper
Mentor2 weeks agoDid you copy/paste any of the description from another website? If so, there could be embedded URLs that take the reader off ebay. If you are doing this, copy the text into a program so you can see the URL and remove it (such as Windows NOTEPAD). Do not use @ anywhere in the description as ebay might think it is an email address, and do not include any series of 10 digits that might look like a phone number. Do not say "Contact me for....."