Live Ornamental fish / Appeal Restriction

[lukes_live_fish]

eBay is banning live fish from being sold on their platform. This will cost people hundreds of thousands of Dollars if the restrictions Stand. I hope to get people to help join this issue as it will hurt a huge community of people who have been selling years. Please help by making your voices heard if you sell or in the fish community.

[wastingtime101]

It does appear eBay changed the live animals policy.

As a seller of live fish, did eBay send you an email with a heads up @lukes_live_fish ?

[tobaccocardyahoo]

You and I and the rest of us have no right to sell anything on this site or any other site,

All of the internet marketplaces reserve the right to refuse our listings for any reason or no reason.

[lukes_live_fish]

It’s possible they can change the restriction

[simba6]

Could be issues in shipping.  Given what has happened with delays and damage to packages I have received.  Arriving live could be an issue.

[kensgiftshop]

You can always sell them on your web site that you show in your listings, which is a policy violation.

[annadryl]

It's their site, not yours. If you want to utilize their site you need to work withing their restrictions regardless of what you think you are entitled to. They make policies based on what can or should allow that is smart for their business. You need to do the same for yours and find different venues, maybe several, that work in your narrow niche field.

Selling fish on ebay is not a birthright. But there are other options. Good luck~

[wastingtime101]

Another seller posted a copy of the email here. It says you have 30 days from receipt of email to comply with policy.

That stinks for all the reputable fish sellers. If I had to guess I'd say it was too much trouble for eBay to police the category and comply with applicable laws (and possibly too many buyer claims filed for DOA), so they're seeing it as a better option to cut the category down to nothing.

[meme6253]

I didn't even know that live fish were sold on ebay, I don't see why it would be banned that is how they get transported.

[lukes_live_fish]

Your right only 30 days. I'm Just confused why they didn't put this notice out a year in advance. 

[luckythewinner]

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@meme6253 wrote:

I don't see why it would be banned that is how they get transported.

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eBay can easily analyze the outcome of every sale of a live animal, and also analyze what effect a poor buyer experience has on a buyer's subsequent eBay activity.

I have no doubt that some combination of factors - liability, regulatory changes, enforcement issues, frequency of disputes, refunds, disaffected buyers, etc. - led eBay to look at the pros and cons of allowing those animals to be sold and that led eBay to restrict them.

[caldreamer]

I am sure that EBAY has this policy because state laws prohibit bringing fish (and other live wildlife) from another state.   Perhaps you can another way to sell your live fish (within your state).   That way you won't run into any problems with other state's regulations.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/live-animals-policy?id=4327&st=3&pos=...

[funfactorychannel]

Its not you but others.

Sorry I put puppies in poly mailers and ship Ground Advantage always going through "Choose your worst distribution hub Here" and they ☠️

I never knew live fishes sold here only other day found out live chicks.

[fashunu4eeuh]

Unfortunately this happens regularly where corporate decisions affect many in the worst way: ruining livelihoods. 

@lukes_live_fish I commend your efforts to make a difference for those affected. I admit it seems both a hopeless and impossible task you have set. Not usually one to back down, but cannot see any solution or path forward  that doesn’t involve needs for copious funds, expertise, and time. It is likely there is nothing that can be done grassroots that would have enough impact to persuade eBay to change the rule back. I am certain they crunched the numbers carefully, always looking to support their bottom line.

Fortunately there are other venues to sell on. Sorry this happened to you and wish you much success where you land.

[fbusoni]

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@lukes_live_fish wrote:

eBay is banning live fish from being sold on their platform. This will cost people hundreds of thousands of Dollars if the restrictions Stand. I hope to get people to help join this issue as it will hurt a huge community of people who have been selling years. Please help by making your voices heard if you sell or in the fish community.

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Solution: find another way to make your money.  

Unlike fish, humans are blessed with a large brain and -- in the best case scenario -- common sense.

Meantime, I will do everything in my power to make sure that this restriction is kept in place.  Forever.

ETA:  Just looked at all the negative feedback you've received.  Seems like a very, very bad business model.