I see 100s of something being bought and sold. I list the same thing and ebay says I can't sell it

[udoittwo]

I don't understand. I have a piece of railroad history that I would like to see a collector have so I look up similar items and prices that they sold for. There are 100s for sale and that have been sold on eBay. 

My grandfather was hired by the Lehigh Valley Railroad[LVRR] in 1917 as a deputy sheriff to watch over railroad equipment for sabotage pre-WW1. I found his original RR papers saying he is a deputy sheriff working for the RRs.  and a 13" police style night stick stamped "LVRR". I list the baton with the history of the piece and pictures and a pict of my grandfather's paper. 

1 minute later I get an email about trying to sell weapons on ebay?  I had no idea what they were talking about.  I just see it as history. Why do others sell and mine is a weapon? IF I list it in a different way, would I be able to list it then?

[luckythewinner]

So, an 18" by 1 1/2" stick made of oak (with or without a leather strap handle) is a lethal weapon.

eBay did not say it was a "lethal weapon", just that it is not allowed here. eBay also prohibits selling expired coupons. 

[fashunu4eeuh]

@udoittwo wrote:

”Who comes up with your rules?”

Hi @udoittwo just to clarify, this is a peer-to-peer forum made up of fellow buyers and sellers like yourself. Your posted concern is not a discussion with eBay itself.

[mustang707]

udoittwo wrote: "I'm sorry that I vent but I just don't understand and saying "this is the way it is" doesn't answer anything. Sounds like what parents say when they don't want to answer if they don't have an answer. "

We are sellers here like yourself and are not privy to how ebay makes decision on banned items. All we can do is guess why ebay does not allow certain items. So yes-we do not have an answer in these forums and yes all we can do is accept that "this is the way it is". 

[inhawaii]

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@rugerskick wrote:

Enough with "the house" analogy.

Do you charge people to come into your house?  Do you only let them in to do business?

Its a business web site, and both sides are engaged in business.

---

This is a "business website" so no need to follow the rules?

What an odd thing to think/say.

[luckythewinner]

Enough with "the house" analogy.

IMHO you should not ignore an accurate analogy just because it is inconvenient to your argument.

Do you charge people to come into your house? Do you only let them in to do business?

I decide what behavior is allowed in my house. For instance, I do not allow people to bring nightsticks into my house, or sell them at my yard sale.

Its a business web site, and both sides are engaged in business.

Correct. And as the business owner, eBay gets to decide what conduct is permitted on their website just as the owner of a house gets to decide what conduct is permitted in his house.

[pickapaper]

@udoittwo 

eBay has hundreds, if not thousands, of items that they will not allow to be listed.  Some get listed anyway, some knowingly and some unknowingly,  and slip through the cracks but eventually, most will be removed, either by bots catching them or somebody reporting them.    Many of those items being prohibited make no sense but it's eBay's playground so we have to accept it and move on.   I've had a couple of things removed that I didn't know were prohibited;  I just sold them elsewhere. 

There are other websites where you can sell your item.  Or you might try CL or FMP for a local sale.

[johnrj1226]

Here is what Ricky Nelson thought of them (i.e.garden party)-

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=ricky+nelson+garden+party  released 1972

Actually saw him when I was 13 in 57 my older sister took me to one of his concerts - she  had a thing for him, liked football and  baseball  mo' betta'.

[johnrj1226]

eBay  has stock  holders that  expect their investment to grow i.e.  a ROI.  The  certainly had to pay all the  fixed and variable costs to run said business

eBay sellers are more like renters - that  sign a document  that states they will abide by the rules and here  are your costs.  That all happened with eBay, sellers & buyers when  all y'all  became an eBay member when they signed the eBay  User Agreement.  Trust all read and understood the UA before they were playing ball

inhawaii was/is spot on in his comment

Have A Good Day

[dbfolks166mt]

     Due to eBay's ever growing list of restricted and prohibited items, as well as the VERO program, I diversified across multiple venues and platforms long ago. I simply don't question eBay's policies it is there sight and they can establish whatever policies they wish as long as they do not violate federal or state laws. 

     The quasi forced diversification was probably the best thing eBay has forced me into. While eBay used to constitute about 90% of my sales by volume that is now down to around 20% as a result of my diversification efforts. 

[pastimpressions]

@rugerskick wrote:

Enough with "the house" analogy.

Perhaps I was not precise enough.

When I use the term "house rules" (and I use it frequently when coping/adjusting to things I am not 100% on board with), I am referring more to the concept of a casino not a private residence or Bed & Breakfast Inn.

Although in any B&B I have ever been in, they have rules as well for which one must abide.

Hope this helps clarify.

[inhawaii]

I see hundreds of other vehicles speeding yet the other day I got pulled over and cited for speeding.

Ebay can't catch all the violators all the time.

You go caught.

The others didn't.

They will eventually.