Sellers price gouging with Toilet Paper

[debopowe]

Can someone tell me how to Report an Item?  I just went on Ebay again and I am still seeing Sellers price gouging on Toilet Paper.  One in particular had the nerve to put an American Flag in their picture with the Toilet Paper and was asking 129.36 for 36 rolls of Toilet Paper.  Are you serious???  How can you call yourself an American when you are taking advantage of your fellow Americans by making a profit from their fears?  I just don't understand this.  If you have Toilet Paper to sell then you have Toilet Paper to help your neighbor who may not have any.  This is just so wrong and with every listing I saw I just kept getting madder and madder.  SHAME ON YOU!!!!  I really hope Ebay is swift in taking down these listings because it just has to stop!!!!!!

[simba6]

Some people are real jerks.   They should be banned from ebay for life.

[corvettestainless]

Sorry to say, but America is full of prisons that are full of bad people. Many more of these same type people are not in jail...yet. 

We once had a wheel chair stolen at a Casino. Imagine stealing someone's wheel chair? I'm sure this person would steal the cane off a blind man if they thought it was worth a buck. 

[debopowe]

I so agree!!!  This seller having the nerve to put an American Flag in the picture just made me so, so mad!!!!  We need to help each other right now and now take advantage!!!!

[debopowe]

Now that is LOW!!!  SHAME ON THEM!!! 

[penguins_dont_fly]

@debopowe 

eBay is actively ending listings that are related to COVID-19 Price Gouging.

If you wish to help eBay police the 1.3 Billion active listings, eBay employees have given guidance on how to report these listings (new guidance as of March 16)

All listings have a "Report Item" link.

On a desktop/laptop this link can be found directly above the description on the right

On mobile, the button is "Report this Item", scroll down past "About the seller"

Use the following Menu options:

Prohibited And Restricted Items
Illegal Items and items encouraging illegal activity
Other Illegal activity concerns

[gussharp68]

Hey eBay, how about just make a report feature that simply says "price gouging" by making it confusing and difficult to report with nonspecific "categories" you aren't helping matters, in fact, your helping the unethical greedy sellers that are using your platform to exploit a global pandemic such as COVID-19.  As I watch this happening with toilet paper and eBay's failure to put a stop to this, I realize, I don't want to ever use eBay again and neither should any of you. eBay could stop this right now if they wanted to, guess they like price gouging profits just as much as the sellers that sell it too.

[debopowe]

You are so right!!  I have reported several sellers and if I can go on Ebay and search "Toilet Paper" and find all the Sellers that are Price Gouging then Ebay can do the same thing.  It's not that hard to find the Sellers that are taking advantage of people.  I just could not do what they are doing but then I do have a conscience and I like to sleep at night!!!

[pebmets]

I saw a listing that mentions the scarcity of toilet paper to try and justify their gouging.  Some are showing pictures of rolls and rolls of Scotts Toilet Paper of a 1000 sheets, but reading the description it is only one role they are selling then they say "last you a week" to justify the $19 price for one role. In my state, it is a criminal offense to price gouge on basic necessities during a declared emergency.  In this time when every state is doing new things to control the virus, EBAY must also take a stand during this crisis.  I would propose the following temporary EBAY guidelines:

- No listings for toilet paper , paper towels, cleaning supplies, hand soap, and sanitizes or medical equipment.  

- Anyone who has opened an EBAY account since the beginning of 2019, can not sell anything at this time. (If you look at the people doing this, many create alternate id's to protect them or are new to EBAY.  Since this is a declared emergency, selling from new accounts should be suspended until the crisis is over).

- Anyone caught price gouging should be suspended from EBAY  permanently.  EBAY may have a way to tell if the person has other id's and they should be suspended as well.

- Anyone who gouges for more than twice than the suggested retail value and/or then does not send the product once paid for should be referred to law enforcement immediately by EBAY as part of their consumer protection policy.  Doing it as an individual is difficult, but a large company like EBAY can afford to do it and may carry more weight with law enforcement.

- If not offering free shipping, shipping costs will automatically be calculated by Ebay with up to $5.00 additional for packing supplies.  (I see shipping costs of up to $50.00 for a four pack of toilet paper) to go a small distance.  

The more difficult retailers make it difficult to sell hoarded items, then it will make it easier for retailers to keep them on the shelves since there would be no profit in hoarding.

[mudshark61369]

@debopowe,

Go to the listing and on the same line as the Description and Payment and Shipping tabs to the right is a Report Item button.   eBay is working quickly to remove the listings but because of the high volume of new listings daily they have to be reactive.  Put the item in your watch list and it will probably be gone within a few days.

[debopowe]

Thank you!!  I really appreciate you taking the time to help me do the right thing when it comes to these Price Gougers and how to stop their listings. They need to help their neighbors during this crisis and not use it to line your pockets!

[joheath77]

I understand your concern on the price gouging of much needed items, but banning all ebay accounts that opened since the beginning of 2019 is ridiculous. People are losing their jobs right now and will need a way to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads. If they can sell unneeded items from around their house it will help them out a little and hopefully keep them afloat until this crisis passes over.
Not every "new" account is a seller that is price gouging.

[debopowe]

Yes, I saw some of the shipping costs too.  One was 19.99 for 1 roll of paper towels and it had a 15.00 shipping cost.  REALLY!!  I'm right there with you on that!  This just needs to stop.  Like I have said,  if you have all this excess and all you are doing is taking advantage of this crisis and lining your pockets, then go to your neighbors and see if they need it.  We have got to help each other during this and not profit from people's fear!!!!

[arrob1858]

eBay isn’t doing a good job of preventing this. Best thing to do is take a few moments and screen shot the abusive sellers and their listings including the listing ID and the seller ID and the “ships from” information. Then go to the state attorneys office it ships from and file a complaint. Most let you upload the screen shot files. And many even have a specific link to report price gouging. Trust me the state attorneys will go after these people and most states have huge fines per violation in the thousands of dollars and even jail time. Repeat offenders or sellers with multiple listings at once are in for a rude awakening. eBay will likely be prosecuted as well for not doing enough to stop it. A few States have already started down that road.

If everyone reading my post that cares about this would please take the time to do this we will be making a difference. Many of us are stuck home with little to do. This can help people. Punish the criminals and make this world a better place. Let’s do this!!!

[canarykim_usa]

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@debopowe wrote:

Can someone tell me how to Report an Item? 

First, click the "Report item" link on the listing.

Then in the series of drop-downs, select:

Category:                    Prohibited & Restricted items

Reason For Report:  Price Gouging

Detailed Reason:      Hygiene items (or whichever applies)

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