Selling knives

[kidblast1970]

On 3 different occasions I tried listing old collectable switchblade knives. I was told they are forbidden because it's a federal law to possess or transfer or carry any knife that opens automatically.  I made a complaint because I noticed several other sellers allowed to do this. Ebay response was because they are high sellers they are allowed to break a federal law but I can not. Does this seem fair or just? Ebay allows federal laws to be broken because of a sellers status? Can someone please make sense out of this for me. I have several sales all positive but am very angry that my account was restricted while they allow others to sell an item they just restricted me for.

[justafemster]

The other sellers haven't been caught yet, you were.

It's like getting pulled over when everyone is speeding.  Yeah, everyone else was doing it, but they picked you.  

[maxine*j]

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@kidblast1970 wrote:

...  I made a complaint because I noticed several other sellers allowed to do this. Ebay response was because they are high sellers they are allowed to break a federal law but I can not. Does this seem fair or just? Ebay allows federal laws to be broken because of a sellers status?...  

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I do not believe that.  Nope.  No way.   As ill-trained as some eBay CSRs are, and as inclined as they are to say what you want to hear to get you off the phone, I do not believe that.

And, by the way, it is not against federal law to possess automatic knives, although federal law does regulate their manufacture and their transportation in interstate commerce.  For this, and other reasons, eBay bans their sale on its platform.

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[lamber9347]

I'm certain this is simply hyperbole from the OP because they are angry.... of course no one would have worded it this way....

[maxine*j]

And, by the way, eBay policy is unambiguous so I cannot imagine why you listed and re-listed the knives.  I am surprised that you were not permanently banned from sellinh on eBay if you actually liosted them three times.

POLICY:

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/knives-policy?id=5047

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[house*of*paws]

Similar issue posted here:   https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Forbidden-items/td-p/32490078

[maxine*j]

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@lamber9347 wrote:

I'm certain this is simply hyperbole from the OP because they are angry.... of course no one would have worded it this way....

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And OP makes the same claim on another thread on the same topic:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Forbidden-items/td-p/32490078

Also, OP understand the federal law in question, which does not prohibt the sale, ownership, carrying, or possession of switchblade knives.  But its regulations about their transport in interstate commerce does come into play when they're sold on a platform like eBay.

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[maxine*j]

Should read:   Also, OP misunderstands...  Long day.  Bedtime for me.

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[m60driver]

I find it difficult to believe that someone would not know that switchblades are illegal to possess in the vast majority of states.  I am sure there are Federal laws as well, but most states have their own laws prohibiting automatic knives.  And currently I could only find one switchblade listed and it was being sold by a relatively new seller.  So I do believe your anger is grossly misdirected.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@m60driver wrote:

I find it difficult to believe that someone would not know that switchblades are illegal to possess in the vast majority of states.

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They're actually legal in most states, not illegal.  http://weaponlaws.wikidot.com/us-switchblade-laws  

but since states in the CONUS can't be blocked on Ebay, sales to all states are blocked. I imagine that is Ebay's reasoning.

[fashunu4eeuh]

Whatever you do, don’t relist the pulled items again. You are very lucky not to have already been indefinitely restricted, as another poster stated. 

Despite what eBay customer service said, other sellers aren't being allowed to break the rules due to their sales volume. Violators get sanctioned by eBay, eventually. So rather than letting what others are doing get to you, put your energy into your own sales where your efforts won’t be wasted.

Good luck and best wishes for a great Thanksgiving.

[m60driver]

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@southern*sweet*tea wrote:

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They're actually legal in most states, not illegal.

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I stand corrected.  For some reason I remember the number of states where they were legal to have been much smaller.

[maxine*j]

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@m60driver wrote:

I find it difficult to believe that someone would not know that switchblades are illegal to possess in the vast majority of states.  I am sure there are Federal laws as well, but most states have their own laws prohibiting automatic knives.  And currently I could only find one switchblade listed and it was being sold by a relatively new seller.  So I do believe your anger is grossly misdirected.

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Actually, that is not true.  Only 7 states and DC have a total ban on automatic knives, and I live in one of them (Pennsylvania).   Another 15 have various restrictions on them (blade length, age of owner, concealment, etc.)   The other 28 have no laws of any kind against them.

There are also a handful of cities (Chicago, Los Angeles, New York) that have additonal laws regarding them.

This knife maker / seller provides detailed info:

https://www.smkw.com/automatic-knives-restrictions

There is a federal law (1958) that regulates / restricts their manufacture and their transposrt in interstate commerce.  And eBay is right to ban their sale on its platform to remain in conformity with it.

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[winterpalace25]

I once tried to list a belt holster for an insulin pump and it was taken down because it was diabetes equipment. I called and stated that it was a holster belt case, like for a phone.  They weren't hearing it and told me in no uncertain terms not to re-post or I would be banned. I sold it on another site. There were a number of them listed, and still are. But I sure wasn't going to re-post after that warning.