Okay guys, getting to the bottom of this and eBay is outright lying to us

[per50nl_5]

Over the past few weeks I've noticed same as you, the obvious disparity of listings of masks being delisted with aid of eBay's vigilante squad and those that remain for some unknown reason. The focus now isn't necessarily the sellers nor the people spending the energy to report listings, but should be on eBay.

I took the time , it did take some time, to send eBay customer service with a simple and clear inquiry as to what was going on with listings that seem unfazed by the reporters. I sent screen shots of eleven different listings and included a very clear message to eBay customer service. These listings have very clear titles that are easy for search algorithms distinguish as the type.

Here's the excerpt of the last message - one in a series sent to more than several representatives:

"Please explain these listings. Based on what you and your customer service reps' responses these listings do coincide with the statements made by eBay's representatives. Again, please explain the reasoning for these listings that have been active over a week or more and based on selling numbers indicated, have been selling consistently and without any restrictions."

By eBay's standards every email is answered within 24 hours and that hasn't been the case. Currently only three of eight were answered -may be due to the weekend, each with similarly irrelevant and redundantly generic response. The replies exuded a sense that they were being elusive, aren't capable of reading or just didn't read the question. Mind you that these messages were all sent with attached subsequent conversations leading up to the last with screen shots (each time this happens it goes to a different rep). I don't think I could be any clearer given all that was sent. If I don't get a satisfactory response, I will be sending another series even more definitive and to the point to see if there is an actual response to the exact question.

So far it is getting pretty clear that they are dodging the inquiry and won't reply with a straight answer as to why these listings are able to remain. The listings that do disappear aren't actually gouging or breaking any prohibitions except they are masks. So then why are the others allowed? I will be finding out and will follow up here. As for the listings I gave, they all still remain active as I chose them due to that criteria.

And here is one so far of a response to my question above that was anywhere near the ballpark, but did she even read?

"I understand that it can be frustrating to see these violating listings on eBay where sellers are taking advantage of a crisis, but we are NOT allowing it."

[mrdutch1001]

reporting listings does not necessarily result in immediate removal of any listing...eBay has already stated their position on this matter.

Their announcement back in early March stated:

"Effective immediately, eBay will block new listings and start to remove listings that sell:

• Health care masks including N95/N100 and surgical masks
• Hand Sanitizer/Gel
• Disinfecting Wipes

• We will continue to monitor the evolving situation and quickly remove any listing that mentions COVID-19, coronavirus, 2019nCoV (except books) in the title or description.

  These listings may violate applicable US laws or regulations, eBay policies, and exhibit unfair pricing behavior for our buyers. "

It also may be noted that eBay does not have to justify their actions to you or  any member.

This is eBay's site, eBay's rules/policies.

There are only so many "hands on deck" to do all this investigating into any listings that may be in violation.

eBay is not going to divulge those results nor are they going to tell you what transpires as the results of any reports.

and as to your statement:

"Over the past few weeks I've noticed same as you, the obvious disparity of listings of masks being delisted with aid of eBay's vigilante squad and those that remain for some unknown reason. "

NOT everyone wastes/spends their time that way....I  have spent maybe a few seconds checking something out before responding to someone's concern, but otherwise I do not spend any time checking out listings of any of the banned items .... There is more to life than worrying about what others are doing...

[sg51]

So far it is getting pretty clear that they are dodging the inquiry and won't reply with a straight answer as to why these listings are able to remain. 

Ebay has always been opaque regarding their relationship with reporters.

They do as they please, they give no promises, and they give no explanations.

[per50nl_5]

Oh but you definitely do waste/spend your time and more than a few seconds it appears.

Tell us something we don't know about how eBay does what they want. Clearly lying to the customers doesn't make it kosher just because you or any of their statements that they blatantly contradict. This is what it's about.

[bonjourami]

Curious that you think Ebay owes you any explanation.

[soh.maryl]

On March 5th, 2020, in an announcement, eBay published a list of items that would be banned from being listed.

That list included masks.  Later on, I believe, after inquiries, eBay stated that they were allowing some vendors to sell masks and that these were sellers who were listing and selling masks before the pandemic.  I cannot find that exact announcement right now, but it did happen.  

As far as other listings are concerned, eBay is dancing as fast as they can, trying to remove them.  As of last week some time, they had already removed 600K listings.  That's six hundred thousand listings. 

Also, the lack of prompt replies to your messages is probably because eBay CS workers are working from home due to the virus.

Finally, I know you don't want to hear this, but it is a fact:  This is eBay's site, so eBay's rules.  If eBay wants to ban listings for little red wagons, green T-shirts or yellow tablecloths, it is entirely within their rights to do so.

[dhbookds]

If you've been watching this........the number of listings is overwhelming.....they do take some down, but they are relisted faster than they can keep up. 

Just a bit of advice tho.......if you bug them too much, they may cut off your access to help and not answer anything from you.......         

[coolections]

It's very simple, they made a rule and they owe you no answer. Not sure why you think calling every day is going to help. With that said there are hundreds removed every day. I believe Ebay allows authorized dealers (lrg. companies who pay Ebay big bucks annually), to have some special perks such as in times like these so not all are removed.

[comicsun]

They made a rule that they don't follow. Yes, I agree it's that simple.

Are you speak as a matter of fact or just here-say?

[bonjourami]

We are Actively Removing Price Gouging ... - eBay Inc.

www.ebayinc.com › stories › news › we-are-actively-re...

eBay is an open marketplace with 1.3 billion listings live at any given time. ... new listings and removing existing ones that sell: masks including N95/N100 and ... which will only be permitted for sale by business sellers in a fixed price format.

[chapeau-noir]

This isn't a mole hill I'd want to die on. 

[coolections]

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@comicsun wrote:

They made a rule that they don't follow. Yes, I agree it's that simple.

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@comicsun 
No, it is not a rule they don't follow. In fact they have been following their rule pretty well and removing listing hundreds by the day. What they decide to do beyond that is their right as a business owner. They do not need to explain their business decisions to a phone caller who disagrees with them.

[comicsun]

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@soh.maryl wrote:

Finally, I know you don't want to hear this, but it is a fact:  This is eBay's site, so eBay's rules.  If eBay wants to ban listings for little red wagons, green T-shirts or yellow tablecloths, it is entirely within their rights to do so.

---

No, I do want to hear this.

Tell me why that rule only applies some and not the few? Explain it to me in manner based off "fact" and not just here-say. Tell me why listings of the same masks and prices are delisted and a small few remain to sell openly without restriction...Because they're authorized? Here's a fact, eBay doesn't have a department that handles authorized selling. Did you know that?

You're not an eBay spokesperson. You're simply expressing your opinion. And  Your views and opinions expressed aren't that of eBay because you aint them. You're nothing beyond a seller and buyer just like everyone else here.

You and the others like to keep referring to that "March 5th announcement", I can say that it's discriminantly applied to the masses and not the few.

And that's a FACT.

[comicsun]

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@coolections wrote:

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@comicsun wrote:

They made a rule that they don't follow. Yes, I agree it's that simple.

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@comicsun 
No, it is not a rule they don't follow. In fact they have been following their rule pretty well and removing listing hundreds by the day. What they decide to do beyond that is their right as a business owner. They do not need to explain their business decisions to a phone caller who disagrees with them.

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Look harder. And eBay hasn't taken phone calls for a month.

[mrdutch1001]

It was stated in a mid-April weekly chat:

"we are proactively selecting a limited number of sellers to provide certain types of inventory and there is not currently an application process for becoming approved to sell these items."