Listing incorrectly removed for price gouging.

[thegreenman13]

I had a listing removed incorrectly for price gouging. Is there any way to contact Ebay to get this reversed? A phone number, email? The message they sent me gave me NOTHING. I don't want the listing restored, just the violation removed from my account.

Thanks!

Some details:

I was selling some isopropyl alcohol (bad timing I know). This is not the 75% grocery store stuff. This is lab grade, high purity stuff for labs that goes through a bunch of QA/QC and certification steps. And was mentioned in the listing.

My listing had a starting bid ~80% less than standard, every day, non-panic prices.

I'm guessing some random "person" reported the listing assuming the price was just me trying to gouge people or or perhaps an ebay bot saw the price and didn't like it.

I wouldn't normally worry much but the message from ebay said that I would have my account suspended for 3 days and any fees not refunded if it happened again. I don't want that hanging over my head if some random person gets it into their skull that my price is 'too much'. Especially if it's a bot since there is a big chance that it just wouldn't understand the item is different.

I also love the second sentence in their message: "Offering items at a price higher than is considered fair or reasonable is not allowed on eBay."

You know, a thing that happens every day, all the time and is also completely subjective since they don't give any actual numbers (laws vary by state).

[mam98031]

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@esg-enterprises wrote:

I don't run ebay, they have their lawyers that tell them what to do, but if ebayers weren't so concerned over someone listing a bottle of hand sanitizer for double the price, sellers such as OP and others wouldn't be having their legitimate listings flagged. 

I have purchased items for pennies that I have sold for thousands an ebay, and the buyers were thrilled to have the items, am I a crook now? or just a hard working entrepreneur? 

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I find it is particularly challenging to explain this when someone doesn't see the difference between product being sold during a normal course of business and state of the country and the significant difference for supplies needed during a National State of Emergency.  So it is doubtful that anything I would explain would help you in this area.

[thegreenman13]

Here is the reply I got from ebay when I asked to have whatever strike was on my account removed. (Bolding is mine.)

"I understand that these are lab grade chemicals. But they would still be considered a needed supply as they can be used to disinfecting and cleaning. While we are in the current health crisis if we have concerns about the propensity for an item to be price gouged we will remove it from site. Until the demand for these items dies down I would recommend only listing in a Buy It Now format."

So three things:

1. If ebay determines something may be price gouged (even if it is by the buyers themselves as in an auction listing, even though that is not actually price gouging) they will remove it from the site. So not only can they remove ANY item they have "concerns" about they will do so, and give a strike to your account, even if it is not  listed on any banned list.

2. It seems somethings can be sold still, though I would imagine it would be a **bleep**-shoot determining what, as long as you list it as a Buy-it-now. Though in my case I don't see how I can do that as some do-gooder or bot will see "Isopropyl Alcohol" and not care about anything else. And selling it for would would be seen as a 'fair price' by them will cause a huge loss of money on my end.

3. They said nothing about removing any strike against my account.

[upgradedendmills]

When predators abound, we are almost obligated to form a common defense to slow them down. 

[upgradedendmills]

When I read your original post it seemed as though maybe you had a legitimate concern about a sanction made for a mistakenly listed item. Now it seems like you feel that you should be able to do exactly as you personally please regardless of valid rules as to why you can't. There is zero room for profiteering in today's world crisis.

[esg-enterprises]

No offense, but I wasn't really seeking your help, just stating an opinion.

My point, is not what laws exist or do not, but why are people are so enraged about what someone lists or doesn't list and for what price.

Go about your own business and we wouldn't have individuals legit listings being flagged. 

[mam98031]

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@esg-enterprises wrote:

No offense, but I wasn't really seeking your help, just stating an opinion.

My point, is not what laws exist or do not, but why are people are so enraged about what someone lists or doesn't list and for what price.

Go about your own business and we wouldn't have individuals legit listings being flagged. 

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That is interesting.  And I suppose if those that do voice their concerns didn't care about the well being of others, your point would be well taken.  But for many, that is not the case.  We do care.  We do take issues with those that try to take advantage of people during a crisis such as we are experiencing.  

Ebay determines if the listing is "legit" or not.  Not members such as myself.  So you are safe on that.  We can only offer our observations and opinions of what a listing is or isn't.  But it is Ebay that determines if the listing is within Ebay's stated rules or not and needs to be removed.  No one else has that power.

[kokomokrayze_18]

My listings were ended too, same thing, but it was on the list of stuff they recently banned. I did contact customer service and the back and forth basically was this: They were BOMBARDED with complaints of price gouging and couldn't keep up with the listings so now, I hope the complainers are happy, nobody can sell ANYTHING essential, which is at their discretion. They made a list but anything similar to those items, anything that can be considered sanitizer or used to make sanitizer is banned. I'm mad at the price gougers too but it's a bit ridiculous now. Nobody can sell anything. I've heard sellers have gaming equipment and auto part listings removed and those aren't even close to essential.

Ebay said they're trying to come up with a system to prevent price gouging and until they do, the ban on items will remain. I sell homemade bath products, like bath bombs and soap and lotion, always have, and now those listings were removed and they prevented me from listing other ones. 🤷‍ ♀️So idk if I'm mad at the price gouging for this or the complaints. Both lol I'm mad at both. Price gouging is a **bleep** move, but if you don't like something don't buy it. Problem solved.

[excellent-22]

Your understanding of the issue is extremely limited. Unscrupulous people are going into supermarkets and other retail outlets and emptying the shelves of needed items like aloe and then reselling it here at up to 1000% profit. Without oversight from eBay this disguising practice would be much worse than it already is. The sellers engaged in this should be in jail.
These cretins are creating artificial shortages and then profiting off of it. Unbelievable actually.

[mam98031]

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@kokomokrayze_18 wrote:

My listings were ended too, same thing, but it was on the list of stuff they recently banned. I did contact customer service and the back and forth basically was this: They were BOMBARDED with complaints of price gouging and couldn't keep up with the listings so now, I hope the complainers are happy, nobody can sell ANYTHING essential, which is at their discretion. They made a list but anything similar to those items, anything that can be considered sanitizer or used to make sanitizer is banned. I'm mad at the price gougers too but it's a bit ridiculous now. Nobody can sell anything. I've heard sellers have gaming equipment and auto part listings removed and those aren't even close to essential.

Ebay said they're trying to come up with a system to prevent price gouging and until they do, the ban on items will remain. I sell homemade bath products, like bath bombs and soap and lotion, always have, and now those listings were removed and they prevented me from listing other ones. 🤷‍ ♀️So idk if I'm mad at the price gouging for this or the complaints. Both lol I'm mad at both. Price gouging is a **bleep** move, but if you don't like something don't buy it. Problem solved.

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What did they say about your toilet paper listings?

[esg-enterprises]

It is a shame, the same people who are complaining about the gouging are the ones reporting their neighbors for leaving the house too often, when they are "supposed to be home". Dishonest people exist, I am I going to consume my life thinking about it?

In the meantime the rest of us are going about our business focused on what we can do to get by this. 

[mam98031]

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@esg-enterprises wrote:

It is a shame, the same people who are complaining about the gouging are the ones reporting their neighbors for leaving the house too often, when they are "supposed to be home". Dishonest people exist, I am I going to consume my life thinking about it?

In the meantime the rest of us are going about our business focused on what we can do to get by this. 

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Dang I'm sorry to hear that.  The community I live in we have none of that going on that I'm aware of.  

But with that said, you are making a big assumption as there is no way you know that those out there reporting listings on Ebay are doing that to their neighbors.  You are just upset with those reporting listings so you are mud slinging with no evidence whatsoever that they are also doing this in their community.

I know this is a stressful time.  I get that. If we would all just act responsibly there would need to be no hard feelings.  But sadly some feel entitled to make money off of a tragic situation and the fears of others.

[esg-enterprises]

If you consider people selling overpriced hand sanitizer and toilet paper " predators", we just live in completely different worlds, but that's OK, we all have a different perspective on things and differing opinions.

[esg-enterprises]

Again, stating an option different than yours, mud slinging, got it.  

[mam98031]

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@esg-enterprises wrote:

Again, stating an option different than yours, mud slinging, got it.  

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What?  That wasn't mud slinging, it was a factual statement.  There is no way for you to know that those that report listings on this site for price gouging are out there reporting their neighbors for congregating or not stay home or whatever it was you said.  That is a complete leap on your part with no way of knowing that information.  So who is trying to sling mud?!?!?

[valeninav]

I created a listing with masks of class ffp2.
At a price below the market two three times at a price of $ 6.
My lot was removed for an increase in price, which is interesting competitors sell such masks at a price of 15 to 50 dollars for ebay nobody removes their lots.
It seems to me that by such actions they lead to the fact that prices for such goods are overstated.
Have you ever contacted somewhere on this issue?
Since the support service can not help.
In my country, the problem of coronavirus is not so urgent and export to other countries is allowed from us.
We ourselves are manufacturers of ffp2 masks of the same model and can give a low price on ebay.
Maybe there is still some kind of community where you can turn to the support where they answer?