eBay

suckerfreegear · ‎01-25-2017

I sell mostly guitars and amps but sometimes I sell smaller items like parts for them. I had been selling replacement parts for vintage Fender and Mesa Boogie amps for well over a year before I had my listings removed for name misuse. Listings removed were: 271966283135, 321842213353, 321842221599, 321842212128

Pretty much they are NOS or New Old Stock Switches and knobs specifically for Mesa Boogie and Fender amps. These parts are made by Carling and are what Fender and Mesa used originally so they are exact replacements not some aftermarket knock off. My listing title was:

"Carling Fender Mesa Boogie Voltage Selector Switch 6 Position Single Pole NOS"

According to Ebay: Please know, the listing title 'Carling Fender Mesa Boogie Voltage Selector switch knob' suggests that the item is made/manufactured/marketted by "Fender Mesa Boogie", when it is not, this might mislead buyers. For this reason, eBay suggests sellers to include brand or model names in listing titles for items that are mechanically or electrically compatible with specific brands if words such as 'compatible with', 'fits' or 'for' are mentioned before the brand/model names...

So when I called Ebay, I tried to explain that these are direct replacement parts used by both companies Mesa Boogie and Fender. Clearly the person I was speaking with did not know anything about vintage amplifiers and I could tell English was definatley not her native tongue neither was it mine so I'm not judging. I was advised to not use Fender or Mesa Boogie in the title again or risk suspension but if I used it in the description that's ok.

I tried to explain to her that no one would be able to find the items if I listed them this way and it could cost me sales and traffic. I know most dont search "in titles and descriptions" but I thought according to their own policy:

"eBay suggests sellers to include brand or model names in listing titles for items that are mechanically or electrically compatible with specific brands if words such as 'compatible with', 'fits' or 'for' are mentioned before the brand/model names"

I could use Mesa Boogie and Fender in the main title according to their own policy but apparantly not according to the person I spoke with. I am currently waiting for a supervisor to call me back for clarification. I was just curious if I am in the wrong on this or is Ebay just overzeouls with the titles nowadays?

18704d · ‎07-15-2017

Carling Fender Mesa Boogie Voltage Selector Switch 6 Position Single Pole NOS

I'd do:
Carling Voltage Selector Switch 6 Position Single Pole - Fits Fender Mesa Boogie

Or if you need "NOS"

Carling Voltage Switch NOS 6 Position Single Pole - Fits Fender Mesa Boogie

Lynn

Lynn

You love me for everything you hate me for

.

luckythewinner · ‎07-15-2017

@suckerfreegear wrote:
My listing title was:

"Carling Fender Mesa Boogie Voltage Selector Switch 6 Position Single Pole NOS"

I thought according to their own policy:

"eBay suggests sellers to include brand or model names in listing titles for items that are mechanically or electrically compatible with specific brands if words such as 'compatible with', 'fits' or 'for' are mentioned before the brand/model names"

I could use Mesa Boogie and Fender in the main title according to their own policy but apparantly not according to the person I spoke with.

The policy says you can only use Fender if words such as 'compatible with', 'fits' or 'for' are mentioned before the brand/model names".

Your title did not have words such as 'compatible with', 'fits' or 'for' are mentioned before the brand/model names.

So IMHO the answer you the question "Am I in the wrong?" is YES, and should be obvious from what you wrote in your own post.

As for what customer support told, they are worthless.

HOWEVER, you are now on their radar, and from reading these boards I know that Fender is well-known to be overzealous in their policing of their brand name on this site.

omgitlightsup · ‎07-16-2017

"fender mesa boogie" is the problem. It's stringing together two brands that are not at all associated. I skip right over ads that read like this, and I often report them if it looks flagrantly spammy... in your case, I would not, but your usage is right on the line.

I'd suggest finding a way to describe the product itself, and rely on your item description to explain to prospective buyers the pedigree of the part. Like "NOS 6pos switch for Fender and Mesa Boogie."

muttlymob · ‎07-16-2017

This is a thread originally from January.

Based on the OP's most recent feedbacks, it looks like he has resolved the problem of how to title compatible parts.

jjjinnh · ‎07-16-2017

@suckerfreegear wrote:
(Edited to add I was trying to reply to the poster two posts up who stated I should just put Carling not Fender in the title.)

Problem with that is no one is going to search for "Carling Switch" but people will search for "Fender Switch". Fender never actually made any switches for their amps, Carling did. So by just putting Carling in my title and Fender in the description it is just going to make the item hard to find and thus cost me sales.

As a buyer of all kinds of parts, this is crazy. I usually search for ink for our printer by putting the manufacturer and make of the printer in the search box, instead of remembering the ink details. The same for our air purifier when I need new filters, I don't remember the expletive part #'s for those! That's just the two examples off the top of my head but I know I've searched for and bought other merchandise for my household in that same way. And yes, we like saving money by buying generic parts/ink/whatever as long as it works as well as oem.

jjjinnh · ‎07-16-2017

@muttlymob wrote:
This is a thread originally from January.

Based on the OP's most recent feedbacks, it looks like he has resolved the problem of how to title compatible parts.

I guess I should have read all the comments before I commented. I certainly hope that ebay isn't going to be ridiculous about brand names in parts listings anyway.

omgitlightsup · ‎07-16-2017

One of my pet peeves about internet forums is, there are other people besides me, you, and OP using them.

If a question comes up frequently enough, old threads are just as valuable as asking the question over again. Even more valuable, considering that they're already answered.

Until the thread gets locked, everyone is welcome to voice their opinions, especially if they feel like the matter hasn't been conclusively addressed.

muttlymob · ‎07-16-2017

If a question comes up frequently enough, old threads are just as valuable as asking the question over again. Even more valuable, considering that they're already answered.

That depends on whether the rules have changed since the original posting date.

Until the thread gets locked, everyone is welcome to voice their opinions, especially if they feel like the matter hasn't been conclusively addressed.

It does look a bit silly giving advice to someone who posted 6 months (or more) ago and has obviously followed the same advice given to him at that time.

Nothing wrong with giving a heads up that it is an old thread.

omgitlightsup · ‎07-16-2017

Necroposting, I think they call it, right?

And yeah, it's totally OK to remind people they're beating a dead horse. Especially if the situation has changed and people are still discussing it. But keyword spam is still keyword spam the world over. Way too salty for my taste.

zarchy · ‎07-18-2017

You can blame me for reviving this thread. I had an issue similar to that posted by the OP. After doing a search, I found this thread and decided to post my issue as a continuation of this thread rather than start a new one.