eBay

thegearlessmachine · ‎02-07-2021

Would like to know if anyone can help me. I’ve been assured, promised, reassured either a callback or email with info from eBay for a month. Nothing. I call back, I’m assured again that within 72 hours I will get a call/email.. nothing.
The issue is I sell used hearing aids.. hundreds I keep in inventory, and used hearing aids do not require a prescription, they are perfectly legal to sell on eBay or any other platform as long as the fda required disclosure is provided and you have a signed statement that the person buying does not want to seek a medical recommendation before purchasing. eBay provides the category/ item details and states it is fine to sell used hearing aids as long as this fda disclosure is provided.
My account in the last several months has been continually flagged (by a “trusted” third party) for selling an item the requires a prescription. I call in, eBay agrees and reinstated my listings in question of hearing aids.. a few days later, same scenario. I call in.. no problem. I continually get reassured that it is a mistake and nothing is wrong. Happens again, suspended.. call in and no help, tell me that my listings have “issues” not aligning with other hearing aid listings.. I even provide the manufactures website of two of the listings in question that offer the exact model I listed to the public themselves with no prescription! All my listings are in order with terminology and category placement. No help, call in again, no help, use the text with a team member two separate occasions, no help.. tell me they are enforcing suspension and all my 600+ listings in other categories are suspended as well because of this..call another number 2 days later. Eureka! A fine gentleman by the name of Alex cleans the slate, deletes any neg. comments on my account, reinstates fully. Says this is crazy.. I did nothing wrong and never should have had my items pulled in the first place. I tell him the issue with this “trusted” third party obviously lying and I provide the website of the item in question that the manufacturer even sells with no prescription. Reassured there is No problem.. I can list my aids again, tells me I will be hearing from a superior about why this is happening and an explanation. Yet Nothing.
I have been reluctant to relist even though he reassured me it’s fine, instead have been waiting for someone from eBay to explain and get back with me.. this was a month ago. I’ve called back several times since and every person assured me they will get back in 48-72 hours. I’ve done this with 6 different eBay employees. Any help at this point would be greatly appreciated. I have many other listings in other categories I don’t want to jeopardize.

stepmitc9766 · ‎02-07-2021

Maybe stop selling stuff that gets you reported

thegearlessmachine · ‎02-07-2021

Awesome insight.. so stop selling perfectly legal and approved items because someone or some “trusted” third party may not want you to. Thanks..

fashunu4eeuh · ‎02-07-2021

If you have been suspended multiple times, your selling account is in serious peril.

Hate to be the bearer of bad tidings. It has been my experience here in the forum that items, once flagged, are never safe to list again. Even if they were removed in error by eBay. Even if eBay gives you the green light to relist.

The very real risk is that if you relist the pulled items, you will lose your selling privileges, with no hope of appeal or reinstatement. I would find another selling platform for the hearing aids. Very sorry to say so. Good luck to you.

stepmitc9766 · ‎02-07-2021

@thegearlessmachine wrote:
Awesome insight.. so stop selling perfectly legal and approved items because someone or some “trusted” third party may not want you to. Thanks..

So keep selling and get suspended for good. You do you

thegearlessmachine · ‎02-07-2021

I was looking for insight on why this situation is occurring, maybe someone that has gotten headway on the subject, maybe on why eBay has a category, a policy that clearly states the items are ok to sell... or maybe why eBay will not respond.. I don’t know..maybe pertinent information about the subject at hand, maybe someone from eBay to chime in by some strange chance. But from the responses you seem to give on the this thread and other eBay community threads, I guess a neg and condescending attitude is you doing you.

lightlily_arts · ‎02-07-2021

When your account gets suspended for a policy violation do not relist until the issue has been completely resolved. You will need to continue contacting eBay Trust and safety and keep all your communications with them. It can take many weeks Unfortunately, this couldn't come at a worst time when contact with eBay so limited. You can also contact eBay through their Facebook page.

Always get the name of any eBay representative you speak with. Make sure you have your documentation at hand and ready to send. You have to mention that it had been previously approved to relist and taken down again with your selling privileges suspended. If they re-approve your listing eBay is required to provide you with written documentation permitting you to relist the item. This will have to come from supervisory member. It is not impossible, just difficult. Of course I'll reiterate not to relist while in dispute.

thegearlessmachine · ‎02-08-2021

Thank you...It’s just difficult to get info that is consistent from eBay. You can never get a person to give you their direct number, full name or even an email to contact them. One member tells you one thing, another tells you something else. They say they note the account, yet the next person you talk to seems to be in the dark about the issue. The constant reassurance of being called or emailed back is what is frustrating.. they continually say, I assure you sir, a callback or email in 48-72 hours. Just empty statements. eBay would be such an awesome place if they held themselves to the scrutiny we sellers are held to.

nuvistors · ‎02-08-2021

You have a nasty competitor somewhere that is reporting you.

maxine*j · ‎02-08-2021

@thegearlessmachine wrote:
I was looking for insight on why this situation is occurring, maybe someone that has gotten headway on the subject, maybe on why eBay has a category, a policy that clearly states the items are ok to sell... or maybe why eBay will not respond.. I don’t know..maybe pertinent information about the subject at hand, maybe someone from eBay to chime in by some strange chance. But from the responses you seem to give on the this thread and other eBay community threads, I guess a neg and condescending attitude is you doing you.

No one is being negative or condescending. They are telling you the simple truth of the matter, the reality here on eBay: If you continue to list items that have been flagged, you will likely be permanently barred from selling here -- even if the items were wrongly flagged.

That may be unfair, illogical, wrong, immoral, unwarranted, improper, stupid, irrational, and in no one's best interests, including eBay's. -- but it is the reality that you face.

Would that it were not so.

maxine*j · ‎02-08-2021

@thegearlessmachine wrote:
Thank you...It’s just difficult to get info that is consistent from eBay. You can never get a person to give you their direct number, full name or even an email to contact them. One member tells you one thing, another tells you something else. They say they note the account, yet the next person you talk to seems to be in the dark about the issue. The constant reassurance of being called or emailed back is what is frustrating.. they continually say, I assure you sir, a callback or email in 48-72 hours. Just empty statements. eBay would be such an awesome place if they held themselves to the scrutiny we sellers are held to.

Exactly so. And that is because the CSRs often know very little, but they do know how to tell you what you want to hear to get you off the line so they can answer the next call with equal... uh... well, you know.

lightlily_arts · ‎02-08-2021

That is absolutely true and you can never get the same CS. When there is that much conflicting information you can be assured that some of the people who work for eBay don't have a clue what eBay's policies are, and won't bother taking the time to research. They say they note your account but it's clear that isn't happening or the CS isn't reviewing the account. Some will say anything to get you off the phone because they can't or won't fix the problem.

thegearlessmachine · ‎02-10-2021

I’m still searching for someone that has dealt with this particular issue, used Hearing aids.. if anyone has been able to be granted the “ok” in the form of an email to sell these products. I’m not currently selling, but I see several people with many hearing aid listings and past sales that seem to have no issue. Just curious of the steps to get this accomplished. Thanks for everyone’s “pos” responses.

maxine*j · ‎02-10-2021

Did you include the disclaimer required by eBay:

Listings for hearing aids must include the following FDA disclaimer:
"According to the FDA, it is in your best health interest to obtain a professional medical evaluation before purchasing a hearing aid and you are encouraged to do so before bidding on this item. If you choose to not obtain a medical evaluation before purchasing this item, I am required by law to provide to you and obtain from you a signed written waiver of the medical evaluation, and I am required to provide to you a copy of the User Instruction Brochure for a hearing aid, review the contents of that brochure with you, and afford you time to read the brochure. You must provide to me either a signed statement from a physician or a signed waiver before I will deliver this item to you. Upon your request, I will also provide to you a copy of the User Instructional Brochure for the hearing aid or the name and address of the manufacturer or distributor from whom a User Instructional Brochure for the hearing aid can be obtained."

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/medicine-medical-devices-healthcare-p...

And if other sellers are not doing this, that is immaterial -- you are the one who got flagged.

thegearlessmachine · ‎02-10-2021

Yes, I have all required and latest disclaimers provided, only sell used aids, and I list in the eBay provided category of hearing aids. Like I have said.. when I call in after items are reported, eBay agrees and realists my items. This happened several times before ultimately my account was suspended for 3 days and their “system” still sees strikes. I was able to talk to the right guy in trust and safety that removed all the violations/strikes from my account, waved the suspension early, told me I was safe to relist over the phone, apologized and said I would hear from a superior about the subject. This is where the disconnect is. I’ve since tried to reach out for clarification from eBay and get the run around. No superior has contacted me. I’m weary of relisting as I have no “written” confirmation from eBay. Just was wondering if anyone has dealt with this exact situation and insight on the solution. In particular used hearing aids.