Hand sanitisers ban - how come others can sell them but I can't?

[jeffreys39]

how come there're heaps of sellers selling hand sanitiser products on eBay but we can't?

Hand sanitisers on ebay listing

My friend has set up a legal business selling device making the sanitisers, basically, it's a hand sanitiser product with no price gouging issue or whatsoever as the prices are set across the official website as well as channels/websites in other countries.

eBay first approved the listed items then 2 days after they just shut them down. Talked to 3 supports through chat and no one explained anything.

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Your eBay account has been permanently suspended because we noticed activity that we believe is a risk to our community.

This means the following:
- You can’t buy or sell on eBay any longer. Any other accounts that you own or that are associated with this account have also been suspended. 
- Outstanding selling fees are due immediately, and any amounts that you haven’t previously disputed will be charged to the payment method we have on file. 

The safety of our community is a top priority for us, so our decision to permanently suspend your account is final and can’t be appealed.

--

Building a trusted marketplace is our first priority. As such, we suspend any account that poses a risk to that trust. We do not make decisions like this lightly, so we have spent some time reviewing your case. Your account has been suspended because the pattern of activities we have witnessed present a risk to our eBay community.

What pattern of activities? No one answered.

[kensgiftshop]

@jeffreys39 

You'll have to find another place to sell it.

Some sellers that were selling it before the virus, Ebay approved them to keep selling it.

[fashunu4eeuh]

Wow. When an account is thrown completely off eBay this way, they generally do not explain themselves beyond what you received in the message. I assume eBay follows certain safety protocols and will not reveal them due to security concerns. Sorry to say but you are out of luck. What other warnings did you receive prior to this one?

[jeffreys39]

Since the hand sanitiser ban is still on, I'd be more than happy to accept this as the reason they ban 'new' accounts selling products from the banned categories.

Though, I still can see some newer accounts selling hand sanitisers, like accounts with fewer than 200 feedbacks or member since 2020.

Member since: 03 Aug, 2020

Member since: 03 Apr, 2020

Member since: 21 Mar, 2020 

So what's the catch here? Personally, I've dealt with eBay before and I know they wouldn't give you much space for changing things if they've already made a decision based on an unknown reason even if they don't really have one as it appeared to me here. Though, I am just trying to help a friend out here by at least getting an acceptable answer or explanation.

Thanks for your input and sharing.

[jeffreys39]

Your eBay account has been permanently suspended because we noticed activity that we believe is a risk to our community.

This means the following:
- You can’t buy or sell on eBay any longer. Any other accounts that you own or that are associated with this account have also been suspended.
- Outstanding selling fees are due immediately, and any amounts that you haven’t previously disputed will be charged to the payment method we have on file.

The safety of our community is a top priority for us, so our decision to permanently suspend your account is final and can’t be appealed.

If you have any concerns or questions regarding this matter, select Help & Contact at the top of most eBay pages.

Unfortunately, according to the friend, the above was the only warning that she has received through email.

[annadryl]

This is really a shame, as now there is a huge surplus of hand sanitizer out there and price gauging isn't a thing with this any more - not like the panicked times of a year ago. Ebay needs to get with the times on this one, because complete suspension for that isn't called for IMHO.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/panic-buying-not-anymore-suddenly-theres-a-surplus-of-hand...

[jonathankirkland]

Unfortunately it seems your friend did not take heed of the warnings and kept relisting, that is why they are permanently banned. I'm afraid nothing can be done at this point...

[jeffreys39]

I helped her out with listing the products, we only did 1 product (with 2 other variants) and it was all done/published within an hour because we had the drafts done already.

So there was no warning or sign before she got her account banned.

[soh.maryl]

It's hard to understand why selling hand sanitizers would still be an issue.

I live in NE Ohio and can go into any of about 20 stores in my neighborhood where there is an abundance of this item for sale and also masks.  Groceries, drug stores, WalMart, Target, etc.

[jeffreys39]

Yes, it's the same in Australia, too.

To be honest, I don't really care and ain't going to judge what eBay wants their policies and rules to be, but at least make them fair.

If really the sellers who were already selling hand sanitisers are the only ones allowed to continue selling during the COVID19, then case closed, I am satisfied.

Apparently, it is not and I have wasted 5 days worth of time preparing and setting up things for my friend's eBay channel.

Seriously, a quick search on eBay AU with 'hand sanitiser' returns a considerable amount of hand sanitising products - well-known and newer brands, by large and small sellers.

How did they do it?