Error Message: The store URL already exists. Please enter a new store name to continue.

[rockyroadtradingpost]

I've been trying to subscribe to a store and keep getting this error message:

 The store URL already exists. Please enter a new store name to continue.

But the URL doesn't already exist.
Both CSRs I've spoken to have confirmed it doesn't exist, and I have also confirmed that myself.

Help!

[kensgiftshop]

What name are you trying to use for your store?

[eburtonlab]

The exact store name may have existed up to thirty days ago, or else the store name is too close to a similar existing store name.

eBay will not allow users to create a store with a name that is too similar to another store. I believe the way that eBay creates the store URL involves dropping any spaces between store name words, since valid URLs cannot contain spaces. This means that two otherwise distinct store names may wind up resolving to the same URL, which eBay cannot allow.

[rockyroadtradingpost]

@kensgiftshop I'm trying to use my own account name, which eBay rules prohibit anyone else from using as a store name. 

[rockyroadtradingpost]

@eburtonlab 

It's been tested by both the CSRs and me, and that's not the problem. 

No one else has the URL that mine would be, per the usual eBay URL protocol. 

This is some strange glitch, which I have been told would be fixed but hasn't.

[eburtonlab]

Any difference if you try adding an apostrophe? Or spaces between words? That should resolve to the same URL, but if the problem is something other than the actual URL itself, that might allow you to reserve the store URL and later change the store name to match (if necessary).

Looking at the policy:

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/ebay-stores/open-ebay-store?id=4092

The only thing I see that might be a problem is the last entry:

"It can’t be a name that is identical or confusingly similar to another company’s name which is protected by trademark law."

If someone else has trademarked that name, it might not be available on eBay even if it is not being used.

[mtgraves7984]

I just googled. There's a Rocky's Trading Post in AR, and a website that might cause problems, @eburtonlab??

>>headcoach@rockymountainrapids.org<<

©2023 by Rockys Trading Post. Proudly created with Wix.com

^^^ I got straight to that site by typing "rockystradingpost(dotcom)"... isn't that like "already trademarked"? 🤔

[rockyroadtradingpost]

@mtgraves7984 @eburtonlab 

Thx for the suggestions. 

I ran a trademark check, and it's coming up as available.

I did reach out to eBay through social media, but not sure how long they take to respond. 

[rockyroadtradingpost · Accepted solution]

Putting this out there for anyone who has a similar issue:

Finally reached eBay and learned that the reason the store name is not available to me is because another account used that store name before (even though that account no longer uses the name).

Apparently, once a store name has been used, it's out of circulation for good.

Ebay for Sellers on Instagram was unresponsive, but eBay on X responded immediately and was very helpful.