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Listing violates ghost-policy "Buyer may use for illegal activity"
Summary: herballkind expressed frustration with eBay removing listings for supposed 'Policy Violation,' despite successful appeals and assurances that such actions wouldn't recur. They invested $10k based on these promises, only to have the listings removed again due to potential illegal use, a reason they believe is inconsistently applied compared to other items on eBay. herballkind is seeking advice on how to proceed given the lack of clarity and the impact on their business.
For the past 2 years, my listings keep getting removed for 'Policy Violation.' I've successfully appealed these removals 5+ times. Sept. '23, I had all 73 listings appealed and approved. The email that informed me of approval also included an apology and a promise that they won't get pulled in the future. After 3 months of great sales, I placed a $10k non-returnable order to replenish stock, since I was promised they wouldn't get pulled. As soon as I updated my new inventory, all related listings were pulled for erroneous classification.
Now, eBay is telling me that even though my listings don't violate the written policy, my items may be used for illegal activity. I then ask where this can be found in eBay Policy. It's not. I find this strange b/c eBay has 50k+ tobacco bong listings, and plenty of NO2 canisters for 'whipped topping.' How are these items any different? Almost anything can be used for illegal activity. On the phone with an Agent, I asked why this ghost-policy doesn't apply to tobacco bongs. Agent: "I don't know."
I understand eBay is a private company and do whatever they want, but I was given a written 'promise' that cost me $10k, and my listings do not violate written policy. Apparently, they violate the 'underground' policy that we can't learn until we violate, but this 'underground' policy doesn't apply to all listings.
I'm welcoming any constructive advice to help me move forward.
gurlcat
·2 years agoMy 2 cents .... err, not even that because I realize eBay's rules are eBay's rules and that's all that matters ...... if you think about it for just a moment, eBay's rules in this area are that it's okay to sell equipment for utilizing a substance that has killed millions, probably hundreds of millions of people over time ..... but not if it's for utilizing one that has never killed anybody, ever.
fashunu4eeuh
·2 years ago@herballkind
I will shoot straight with you—you will not have to worry about any of this much longer.
If you have had multiple listings pulled over time for the same violation, eBay will also pull your selling privileges with no appeal. You are on very thin ice and in danger of forfeiting your ability to list here.
I strongly urge you not to relist anything that eBay has removed. This is even if an item is removed by mistake. Even if eBay declares it, the chances of the item getting removed again are very very high. I have seen other sellers go thru this numerous times.
There is nothing that can be done for you if you continue the same listing practices.
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 years agoWe all know that Ebay intends that bongs and other drug paraphernalia not be sold on its site.
Just as we know that Ebay does not intend that counterfeit products be sold on its site.
No amount of linguistic legerdemain will make those listings acceptable once they are flagged as in violation.
Your idiot support rep who found a way to reinstate them did not find a way to block the method which detected them.
You are lucky to still have an Ebay account.
iamalwaysright
·2 years agodryophelia
·2 years ago@herballkind
Having only sold 50 items in the last quarter, why would one spend 10k on product?
herballkind
OP2 years agoThis last Q is w/o being able to list the items in question. My listings were last pulled in Dec '23, 3 months after my September '23 approval. I had ~700 sales (~$20k) that Q, while they were active. I think those numbers warrant a $10k restock of non-perishable goods.
gurlcat
·2 years agoOh good, so at least you were able to sell the investment inventory you bought back then. I thought this happened more recently. But why ARE you just writing about it now?
southern*sweet*tea
·2 years agoMaybe this could be a problem?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/224898098590?itmmeta=01J2YAQJ9C6M5KZ6CN5EG9WFK9
albertabrightalberta
·2 years agoGood catch @southern*sweet*tea ! Ugh! 633 sold.
gurlcat
·2 years agoCan you clarify what the heck that is?
albertabrightalberta
·2 years agoAre you kidding me?!?!
"What happened:
We looked into your report and didn’t find the listing to be in violation of our policy. This determination was made using automation or artificial intelligence."
If you reported content that isn’t listed below, we’ll send a separate email once we’ve made a decision.
a*river*runs*through*it
·2 years agoAs usual AI fails again.
Seems someone needs to teach the AI Ebay policy. The sooner the better!
southern*sweet*tea
·2 years ago::sigh::
Why am I not surprised? AI certainly isn't intelligent.
But...the listing appears to be gone now. Maybe enough reports got it looked at by human eyes, who knows?
stainlessenginecovers
·2 years agoLike the game 'wack-a-mole', items 'listed' are NOT looked at until (and can sometimes stay up for months/years)
a.) someone reports
b.) sometimes needs MANY reports
c.) a 'bot' picks it up
This 'bong' 224992785582 is NOT a hookah. A hookah has the bowl at the top, with multiple hoses coming from the bottom and is MUCH MORE likely to be used with 'flavored tobaccos' as in many 'hookah bars'.
So, the 'category' that you and many others are using is false
Lastly, you cannot 'state' that people have to be 'over 21'. This site requires 18 only and the 21 cannot be enforced- could be another reason they were pulled.
pls-consignments
·2 years agoIt's important to remember that if you're shipping internationally, several countries have their own restrictions, which can change frequently. Many items that are legally sold in the U.S. are restricted either by customs or international carriers. Until eBay introduces a comprehensive pre-list block alert, we will continue to be left with the consequences.
luckythewinner
·2 years agoApparently, they violate the 'underground' policy
If you read your eBay user agreement, you will see this in black and white:
"We reserve the right to refuse, modify, or terminate all or part of our Services to anyone for any reason at our discretion"
Also, I have never heard about any occasion where eBay has ever issued a "written promise" that dozens and dozens of listings are protected from ever being removed for policy violations.
iamalwaysright
·2 years agoYup. That's the "if we feel like it" policy.
wastingtime101
·2 years agoBecause you're listing them as collectibles?
herballkind
OP2 years agoNo, because eBay is classifying these items as "Drug Paraphernalia" and "ENDS-Electronic Delivery Systems.
ten_o_nine
·2 years agobut I was given a written 'promise'
---------------------------------------
I would like to see that "written promise".
herballkind
OP2 years ago"First of all, I really thank you for choosing eBay as your preferred trading partner to sell your items. And I really apologize for the removal of your listings. And to answer to your question I have mentioned a note on your account after which the listings will not be pulled again in the future..."
robbie31415
·2 years agoThe way that I deal with eBay policy violations is when they tell me something is a violation I never relist it or anything like it.
eBay will blow smoke up your rear end with 'promise', but it's all meaningless because it came from some low paid outsourced CS rep.
Even if you appeal and win, there is a chance to get taken down again. You can actually get even more punished regardless that you won the appeal.
eBay systems are mostly automated, very little overriding, and the people you get responses from have no clue how the system works.
herballkind
OP2 years agoThe 'Listing Practices Department' looks at appeals is on the 'back end,' and takes a few days for review. Appeals go through this specific department, not 'CS', that is solely in place to review listings. This isn't something I was promised over a 10-minute phone call. 70+ listings were submitted, reviewed, and approved by the team that only has this job to do, with a case # and everything.
chariot_badges
·2 years agoExactly.
I thought when I read the OP that it's just a matter of time until he gets the "your account has been permanently closed for violation of our policies ...."
In fact, I'm kind of surprised that it hasn't happened by now.
funfactorychannel
·2 years agogoing by that logic 99% of items sold on ebay can be used for illegal activity.
iamcara
·2 years agoYou would see the same thing occur if you were selling kratom related items but kratom is not illegal in most places.
Also people know bongs are used for cannabis so...
I had bought a number of antiques that were made out of bone material and they are not allowed on eBay even though it doesn't necessarily mean that an animal was killed for its manufacture.
I'm surprised you are even able to have all those listings up in the first place.
Since you have a written consent document can't you use that to speak to a manager at eBay?
You spent 10k under a false premise so you would possibly be eligible for some kind of compensation, no?
kensgiftshop
·2 years agoNo
Unavailable member
·2 years agoTobacco bongs would fall under the illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia policy. Bongs are for all intents and purposes are used for smoking drugs.
If you see items that resemble the ones you had pulled feel free to report them.
herballkind
OP2 years agoA bong is still a bong when it's used for tobacco. eBay is 100% OK with 'bong' listings. Note a 'bong' search yields 25k+ results. As long as the Seller notes that the bong's intent is for tobacco only. <---eBay's words, not mine.
kensgiftshop
·2 years agoBut we all know what they are used for.
I'm surprised they allow any of them to be listed here.
ckimodog
·2 years ago@ebooksdiva
I have reported many items in that specific category. The sellers list the item in the wrong categories, so they can circumvent the rules. The replies I get is that it's ok and no problem. Bots. 5 minutes later they're shut down. There are sellers trying to sell nicotine items, that aren't even made from tobacco. China and known to kill people. I wish eBay would reconsider some of the categories here on Ebay, because there are a lot of people out there with no conscious about the outcome that can be very dangerous, not to mention libelous. This week is the anniversary of my nephews friend who died from using a vape pod made in China. 22 years old. 😔