Information Please On Red Alert When Making A Listing Saying I Need A Business License?

[scredence2005]

I have never sold household supplies before but am now.  This evening when listing toilet tissue and baby wipes I get a red alert warning at top of listing  saying something about  needing a license and not to relist  .  Message says "this product may be sold only by sellers with a business account, due to concerns that inflated prices for these products may violate applicable laws or regulations."    I have always just sold pottery and glass.  Please help me with what I need to do.  Thank you for help.

[dhbookds]

You can be classified as a Business account......go to personal information and change from individual account.

But right now, I would guess you have to apply to ebay to be approved to sell those items.........at uninflated prices.

Probably need to contact Ebay thru help email and ask what the criteria are to be approved.

[johnrj1226]

After reviewing your TP listings  would say your pricing seems to easily qualify for "gouging" status for than double the normal retail price without the the shipping charge - against  most state laws.  This could lead to the end of your eBay selling career.

Just bought two packs of 12 TP  (large rolls) for $4.99 each plus 7% Sales Tax.

Guess I would offer the following suggestions as my  guess is  you won't find too many willing buyers

1.  Delete your listings

2.  Revise your pricing

3.  Sell them locally on another venue or to you family , neighbors or friends that are finding TP had to find.

4.  Use the TP for your own needs

[fashunu4eeuh]

You would be wise not to relist these items. While it may seem like a good idea to sell scarce items, eBay has already banned several things due to over-inflated pricing. 

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/UPDATE-Important-information-about-listings-associated-w...

Once a seller is on eBay’s radar, their activity seems to be more closely followed and any subsequent violations could be met with harsher penalties. It is just not worth losing one’s selling privileges.

[johnrj1226]

@scredence2005 

One more thing for your reading

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/price-gouging-policy?id=5106

[pburn]

Oh, gosh! Thanks! Your item listings gave me something to do for a few minutes this morning.

[scredence2005]

Thank you for help.  I have never sold household items so didn't know my prices were considered gouging.  I always compare prices of similar items and try to list according to average price I see and not the outrageous prices.  Thanks again.

[pburn]

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@scredence2005 wrote:

Thank you for help.  I have never sold household items so didn't know my prices were considered gouging.  I always compare prices of similar items and try to list according to average price I see and not the outrageous prices.  Thanks again.

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@scredence2005 

You cannot be serious. You have nine rolls of toilet paper listed for $37 + shipping. You don't think that's an outrageous price? C'mon. You have two bottles of liquid soap listed for $40 + shipping. Don't try to use the excuse that you were listing an "average price." Everyone knows what you're doing.

It's because of sellers like you that eBay had to add all kinds of price gouging regulations, edit their software, spend countless time and energy, which, by the way equals money, monitoring and removing listings like yours. You and sellers like you have cost eBay probably hundreds of thousands of dollars--which comes out of the pockets of other sellers, in case you didn't realize that, either.

[Anonymous]

@scredence2005 

Take down all of your listings for household items. If you don't then eBay will along with adding policy violations to your account.

Never assume that because someone else is listing it that makes it ok. Read the policy pages before listing anything and subscribe for e-mail updates to the announcements board so you can keep up with temporary policy changes like listing (or not listing) medical and household items during the current global situation.

If you have extra TP and soap I suggest donating it. We gave a bunch of stuff to the local police and fire stations.

[long-gone]

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@scredence2005 wrote:

Thank you for help.  I have never sold household items so didn't know my prices were considered gouging.  I always compare prices of similar items and try to list according to average price I see and not the outrageous prices.  Thanks again.

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Lot Of 2 Liquid Hand Washing Spa Soap 32 Oz Refills for $40?

Those are Dollar Tree items that sell for you guessed it $1.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

Preying on scared needy people is disgusting and shameful. My daughter’s nurse friends are risking their lives on the front lines in Boston because of behavior like yours. We have regular people here sewing face masks in their homes to help. Your help appears to be to scalp items in high demand to fearful people.

It gets easier to see in a crisis who knows what they’re doing and who are decent people.

[krazzykats]

I went to the local DG, and this is a picture of the canned food isle.  

Canned Food isle.

The paper products isle - Toilet paper.

And the bottled water isle.

This is what hoarding and price gouging has done to many local stores.

I can only hope that those that are purchasing & price gouging, find a conscience and a heart. 

[kensgiftshop]

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@pburn wrote:
Oh, gosh! Thanks! Your item listings gave me something to do for a few minutes this morning.

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Same here.

[kensgiftshop]

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@scredence2005 wrote:

I have never sold household items

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Don't think you'll be selling them much longer.

[johnrj1226]

@scredence2005 

Here is a brief run down state by state what is considered price gouging.

https://consumer.findlaw.com/consumer-transactions/price-gouging-laws-by-state.html

Ignorance of a law is never a good defense.