Culinary Mushroom liquid cultures got removed. Why?

[mymushshop]

To those folks who sell mushroom liquid cultures of good culinary strains I have a question : did your listings got removed or flagged by Ebay for violating illegal drug policy?  I just want to share my experience and ask for your help about how to deal with this issue. At the heart of it is that selling these cultures (and I repeat -- good gourmet culinary cultures) is perfectly legal. I checked many laws and even got in touch with some farms selling on their own websites. Moreover you can find them on Etsy or Amazon or anywhere else. People selling them with no problem.

So, here is my short story. I posted a few cultures which I had overproduced (not a big lab really, but I have all the good equipment and doing it as a hobby for myself).  I noticed that they are quite popular. Since this is not what I do for living I decided to put them out at quite competitive prices. All was good until I got two of them removed and in a few days the rest were removed also.  I contacted an agent. He promised to send it for a review with 3 days for response. No response of course. I tried to contact again, now the Chat doesn't even give me a call option, just Send email. Sending email does not work -- it just says "you cannot send email at this time". 

So, I am stuck. I do not understand how my listings got removed while 100s of others are out there happily selling and somehow not violating Ebay drug policy.  

The obvious suspicion falls on  other sellers. For every listing on Ebay there an option to "Report" it. So, you can pick whatever made up reason you can think is most relevant. Ebay, it seems, just shuts it down automatically. 

I don't know how to fight it anymore. It definitely creates an unfair competition and bad practices. Ebay is unresponsive to my appeals.  Etsy is a good option of course to move to, but somehow most buyers look for these things here on Ebay. So, it is a pity to loose this platform for a totally fabricated reason. 

[slippinjimmy]

Maybe there was something in your listing that made the bots think you were offering Psilocybe  culture. Could be just a few words in the description  and/or the category you used or something else. Only eBay can tell you why.

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@mymushshop 

Oh I loved Microbiology, but how does one use your culture?

[mymushshop]

It comes in a 10ml syringe. You can inoculate sterilized grain with it (enough for about 2lb) and let it colonize. then transfer to a substrate and let fruit. Or  you can try to grow it to a larger quantity and inoculate more grain.  I have various good cultures at mymushshop on Etsy.

[mymushshop]

In my original listing I had a disclaimer saying that these are not "magic" or "happy" or psychedelic varieties. When those listings were removed I thought maybe, indeed, the ebay bot detected those words and flagged the listing automatically. Then I gave it another try without any disclaimer and putting in the title "Gourmet stains". Same result.  The listings were listed in  Mushrooms, Spawn and Kit -- see, they even have the category for that!  VERY disappointing with Ebay.  And you cannot even reach those guys -- there is just no possible way!

[fashunu4eeuh]

This is a guess, but the bots likely targeted the listing. Tho your mushroom product isn’t in the over-the-counter drug category, injectable substances are not allowed, that is likely what got you flagged, the keywords “mushroom” and “injectable” in the same listing. See link below..

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/prescription-overthecounter-drugs-pol...

”Injectable substances, including vitamins, and regardless of whether they’re available over the counter, aren't allowed” 

[randallmorefield]

I AGREE!!

[mymushshop]

Interesting idea -- I did mention that the cultures come in a kit with a needle and alcohol wipe.   But their reason for removal was this different

" 

You listed Mushroom spores, which is prohibited on eBay. While some items may be legal to buy and sell, they also have negative uses, with which the FDA or law enforcement agencies are concerned, and that eBay does not condone. For this reason, we highly regulate the sale of these items on the site. We appreciate that you chose to utilize our site, but we must ask that you please not relist in this case."

Of course I have not listed "spores", I listed fungus mycelium in a liquid nutrient.  And they didn't cite any injectables. But that could be a trigger, and I thank you for the tip.  Again -- there are 100s of listing on Ebay which also mention kit content.  I will keep digging.  

[slippinjimmy]

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@mymushshop wrote:

In my original listing I had a disclaimer saying that these are not "magic" or "happy" or psychedelic varieties. When those listings were removed I thought maybe, indeed, the ebay bot detected those words and flagged the listing automatically. Then I gave it another try without any disclaimer and putting in the title "Gourmet stains". Same result.  The listings were listed in  Mushrooms, Spawn and Kit -- see, they even have the category for that!  VERY disappointing with Ebay.  And you cannot even reach those guys -- there is just no possible way!

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BINGO!

The disclaimer is the problem and for several reasons. Mostly because of the three words, much less likely in this case is that using "not xxx" is commonly used for keyword spamming.

Unfortunately once the bots pull a listing they keep their eyes on any new listings you put up so just about anything in the same vein might get pulled.

Could be worth your time to contact eBay, it might help end the "surveillance".

[fashunu4eeuh]

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@mymushshop wrote:

In my original listing I had a disclaimer saying that these are not "magic" or "happy" or psychedelic varieties. When those listings were removed I thought maybe, indeed, the ebay bot detected those words and flagged the listing automatically. Then I gave it another try without any disclaimer and putting in the title "Gourmet stains". Same result.  The listings were listed in  Mushrooms, Spawn and Kit -- see, they even have the category for that!  VERY disappointing with Ebay.  And you cannot even reach those guys -- there is just no possible way!

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Hi, just wanted to put out there that the customer service reps on eBay’s Facebook for Business page have the authority and knowledge to actually do something substantive to help. You might consider contacting them by private message with a brief description of your issue. Good luck and hope this gets resolved to your benefit.

[candd205]

Fyi, just so you know, once your listings have been taken down, you are on eBay's radar. If you continue to list the same items, it could result in your account being restricted or permanently closed.

[dbfolks166mt]

     It may have something to do with the syringe and needle. Those are prohibited under eBay policy. 

• Needles, with or without a disposable syringe, and items that have passed their expiration date 

[deltilogical]

Welcome to the Technosociopath's Trustless World.   It is only going to get worst because citizens allow it.  Now go look at your cell phone.

[mymushshop]

See, that is another example -- there are a lot of listings of needles with or without syringes on Ebay. How does that make sense???

[mymushshop]

I know. That is why I don't.  I have had this account for over 20 years and I accumulated a lot of positive feedback (100% as of lately). So, I consider this as a valuable resource to sell old electronics, stuff I don't need, etc.