eBay

bwoneill · ‎06-20-2018

I've been fighting with eBay all day trying to get this settled and I'm at the end of my rope.

So, I sell hand painted miniatures for games like D&D. I have had customers contact me about custom orders. To inform them of my prices and policies, I made a blog post and put links to it in my listings. Now, I'm told I can't put a link to that in my listings or messages.
So, how can I get this info to my customers?

(Sorry if this comes off a little hostile, but I am really angry about this.)

castlemagicmemories · ‎06-20-2018

With all due respect, that info could just be put into the listing's description~and that is where buyers would expect to find it~not at another point that they are redirected to that is outside Ebay.

Ebay could consider a redirection like that to be taking business off Ebay and react to your account accordingly. Your listings could get pulled if you attempt to circumvent this by posting pictures with this info, or redirecting to another website, and your suspension could follow.

Just put this info in your description. That is allowed.

bwoneill · ‎06-20-2018

The problem is, its a lot of text (over 1600 characters) with a lot of pictures and wouldn't fit in the listings. Also, it is not *immediately* relevant to the listings. This is meant to be a reference for people who don't find what they're looking for but want to inquire about a commission.

Am I even allowed to put a link in this forum so people can see what I'm talking about?

ed8108 · ‎06-20-2018

@bwoneill wrote:
I made a blog post and put links to it in my listings. Now, I'm told I can't put a link to that in my listings or messages.
So, how can I get this info to my customers?

Since EBay has made a determination that you will not be permitted to utilize ebay to disseminate that info to potential customers.

You can only accept and comply.

slippinjimmy · ‎06-20-2018

@bwoneill wrote:
I've been fighting with eBay all day trying to get this settled and I'm at the end of my rope.
So, I sell hand painted miniatures for games like D&D. I have had customers contact me about custom orders. To inform them of my prices and policies, I made a blog post and put links to it in my listings. Now, I'm told I can't put a link to that in my listings or messages.
So, how can I get this info to my customers?
(Sorry if this comes off a little hostile, but I am really angry about this.)

Put the information IN a message*, if you need pictures as well you can attach those to the message.

Just don't include any contact information in either.

I really don't know any reason why the info in your "blog" can't be included that way instead of posting it off eBay and sending a link.

* That's an eBay Message not a direct email.

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep

slippinjimmy · ‎06-20-2018

More......

If you want this to be a general message to anyone looking at your listings then make it part of the description.

eBay don't like links to non-eBay pages for two reasons, a) fee evasion and b) safety for buyers who if taken off eBay have no buyer protection.

While your intentions are no doubt legitimate if these outside links were allowed less than honest sellers would abuse them.

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep

luckythewinner · ‎06-20-2018

@bwoneill wrote:
To inform them of my prices and policies, I made a blog post and put links to it in my listings. Now, I'm told I can't put a link to that in my listings or messages.
So, how can I get this info to my customers?

If you are trying to get that information to customers who are reading your eBay listing, the logical place to put that information would be in your eBay listing.

bwoneill · ‎06-20-2018

Thank you everyone who has attempted to help, but I don't think I'm going to get a helpful solution on this forum.

Good bye.

castlemagicmemories · ‎06-20-2018

@bwoneill wrote:
The problem is, its a lot of text (over 1600 characters) with a lot of pictures and wouldn't fit in the listings. Also, it is not *immediately* relevant to the listings. This is meant to be a reference for people who don't find what they're looking for but want to inquire about a commission.
Am I even allowed to put a link in this forum so people can see what I'm talking about?

I would suggest condensing it down to a minimum and posting it in the description. Possibly a simple phrase such as we will work with you to create the piece you want could be used~please contact me through the contact the seller link to inquire about commissioning our work. We are happy to create the piece of your dreams for you.

Since you can't have the link, you need to work around it or simply drop it.

Your call.

reallynicestamps · ‎06-20-2018

custom orders. To inform them of my prices and policies, I made a blog post and put links to it in my listings.......The problem is, its a lot of text (over 1600 characters) with a lot of pictures and wouldn't fit in the listings. @bwoneill

Then you need fewer words and fewer pictures.

You want to tell the customer that

you do custom orders
costs range from (eg) $50 for an 8x12" to (eg) $500 for a 48x36"
here are some samples

Then put different samples in each listing.

OR

Put the information in with actual purchases, either as a printout with (some) pictures or just a URL on your packing slip.

You could also look at how other artists and crafters who sell both finished and custom pieces on eBay (and etsy) promote their custom work.

I tried Searching 'custom made' for you, but when Knives came up as a category, I looked at those.

Not a useful Search term as it happened. None of the makers seemed to know the difference between 'custom made' that is for a particular customer with specific needs and 'hand made'.

So I switched my Search to 'made to order' with more success because I found an artist who does this

item number: 201495025022

and here's something completely different:

item number: 201422074248

You may find the second one more useful. He is telling the customer what he needs to know in order to create the robes.

Don't fall in love with the sound of your own voice. What you want to tell the customer and what the customer wants to know are two different things.

'Course, there're other schools of thought.-- Zoe Alleyne Washburne.

siayan · ‎06-21-2018

@bwoneill wrote:
Thank you everyone who has attempted to help, but I don't think I'm going to get a helpful solution on this forum.
Good bye.

What you are trying to do is against the rules. You can't make outside links. If you need to give a long explanation and can not do it on eBay try selling somewhere else. Seems to me you are really trying to get people to go off eBay, hence the rule.

____________________________________________________________________
Prov 20:14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

siayan · ‎06-21-2018

Just checked out your sold listings. This is the reason for the rule. Just remember, once booted you can never return,

____________________________________________________________________
Prov 20:14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.