Ebay Policy on Old Railroad Items

[gal220joy]

I've got some old railroad items that I would like to run by you guys to see what you think in regards to ebay's policy. I've got old 1950? Virginian Railroad train car diagram book, N & W book of train car blueprints from 1900-1940s, two photo record books of Nickel Plate Road railroad passenger and freight cars (1940s). Think these are safe? Are obsolete items okay to list? Thanks.

[loveyourimagination49]

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/prohibited-restricted-items?id=4207
I would think they would be ok, but check the link above to make sure.

[gal220joy]

Thanks. I did look over their transit policy and thought they would be okay as well but wanted to post to see if anyone had additional comment on it.

[dougsue123b]

Transit documents

Not allowed

• Blueprints or schematics of airports, subway systems, or train stations
• Classified or restricted government documents (see also our government documents, IDs, and licenses policy)
• Design plans of commercial airlines or plane engines
• Internal, not-for-public documents, manuals, and other materials from companies that provide public transportation, including airlines, buses, ferries, subways, and trains
• I dont know if those diagrams would be considered as "blueprints"

[loveyourimagination49]

I think the blueprints they are addressing is the stations themselves. If a crook got a hold of the blueprints, they could do a robbery. If the places are obsolete now I don’t think it would matter.
Just my take on it.

[gal220joy]

Thanks. I've got some N & W train car blueprints that I didn't picture, but this policy just seems to eliminate blueprints of train stations.

[gal220joy]

I guess when in doubt, I could call and ask. It may or may not help.

[mr_lincoln]

@dougsue123b, @gal220joy, @loveyourimagination49

First, I could not find some of things you guys have referenced from the list of prohibited items link???

This year I sold the 1943 PA Rail Road Annual Report without issue ... some things that become "part of the Public Domain" could wind up being null and void regarding eBay's Policy ... not sure.  But the train station and other "design" items I can see could be an issue from a criminal standpoint like others mentioned.  Old train car drawings for cars that are no longer in regular service (other than historical RR operations) I would think would be okay if they have indeed been made public, though that might be hard to prove.  There are many historical train societies that might be interested in what you have ... especially places like Strasburg Railroad which runs regular vintage trains and cars ... they restore cars there too ... they are just one example.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents ... for what its worth.  In the end, if there is any doubt perhaps other avenues might be better options.

[dougsue123b]

I didnt know they were only car blueprints, I would think those would be ok. I had a Union Pcific lock and key from around 1900 removed once, so you never know what ebay will think.

[gal220joy]

Thanks! Yes, some if not all of the items I mentioned are not specifically prohibited in the ebay policy. I guess the one argument that could arise though is that the items were internal documents and not to be offered publicly. Then again, they are obsolete.

[scalemotorcars]

I really doubt you would have a problem but you should call just in case. I know from experience that not all of eBays policies are actually listed. Im not going to get into details but a quick call to CS should tell you one way or the other. 

[gal220joy]

Thanks, I think I'll do that.

[castlemagicmemories]

You might need to call more than once, so you have a consensus of opinion.

In case you get inaccurate info from one CSR, then you have back up opinions.

Just a thought.  I would take down names, dates, times, and conversation reference numbers.  I just don't want to see you list it, it gets pulled, you are in trouble, all because you got bad information.

[gal220joy]

Good advice, thanks.

[richard1rst]

Unfortunately, they are not consistent even in enforcing their own policy.

As it relates to pins and badge of transit companies, their policy says if it is available to sale to the general public (as in a souvenir) it is OK but if it is restricted to employees it is not. Seems fairly straightforward.

So I bought some licensed N Y Transit pins from a wholesaler, selling them to whomever wanted them. I was ordered to take them down.

Why? Because someone wearing that pin could gain access to a restricted area open to employees only.

BUT I said - look at your own stated policy.

Didn’t matter. Down they came. Voluntarily or by force. But down.