eBay

crafter_at_heart · ‎04-03-2020

It's time for eBay to lift their banning and canceling auctions for handmade fabric face masks.

The President of the United States even said they are recommending Americans wear fabric face masks and still continue the social distancing guidelines.

Wake up eBay, they may not be a perfect solution, but they can't hurt. People are getting very sick and even dying. Time to reverse your stance on this.

As far as price gouging, that's up to the buyer on what he/she wants to pay. No one is making them spend more than they want.

mesodude · ‎04-17-2020

“Thank you for your reasoned response, although I'd argue the sarcasm was unwarranted and doesn't do much to bolster your credibility.”

You’re welcome. I think if the world ever needed some levity, it’s now. And I’m sorry but I think it’s freaking hilarious that people whose goal is to profit excessively during a pandemic are tying themselves into knots to portray themselves and buyers who can order without looking at the menu prices as oppressed victims.😃

griffithbarbara1 · ‎04-17-2020

That was my thoughts EXACTly when scrolling through I wondered if this has somewhat turned into a "fashion" trend now! I get it's needed but some of them didn't look like it would be any good for anything other than. I also felt some was "reaching" with the highlight of "ORGANIC" I about DIED, lol

mrdutch1001 · ‎04-17-2020

there is no way eBay's decision was/is discrimination. eBay has allowed those sellers who were already selling these products to continue to do so.

The sellers complaining about having their listings removed are those sellers who just recently started making and/or listing those items; the items were never part of their normal regular selling routine, which means their actions can be interpreted as taking advantage of the crisis. These sellers just need to move on and get back to attending to their business as it was before all this pandemic stuff steered them in a different direction.

I highly doubt eBay is going to chance it's stance, not even for fabric/cloth masks.

As suppliers are already re-stocking shelves and the demand for these items will be easing soon, the over abundance of handmade and all other masks will become less desirable and in due time normalcy will resume.

Perhaps at that time eBay will lift its ban. Until such time as eBay decides the time is right, their decision stands.

nyknifedealer · ‎04-17-2020

crafter: Thanks for taking time to reply. This morning eBay disallowed me to post a listing for 2 masks (N95) today at auction beginning .99
If your local media outlet is driving folks to eBay, I believe folks who do so will be disappointed.

And since the OP was speaking to "fabric" masks, I probably should've found someplace else to post my reply as I was referencing factory produced products.

mesodude · ‎04-17-2020

“N95 masks is overkill. I think most people who would bid on my N95 mask know it, hence would be willing to pay a premium for it.”

People buying two years worth of toilet paper at a time, simply because they can (while those who can only afford to buy a roll or two at a time are going from store to store to find some) is overkill too. These are crazy times we live in.

“Nonetheless, the $40 I would've made selling a couple of masks isn't going to keep me from putting food on my table so I'm not pounding the table demanding to be allowed to sell my masks. I've actually given a couple away recently.”

That must’ve felt good.

the_random_past · ‎04-17-2020

I work in one of those essential businesses. I NEED a face mask! and I refuse to take or use any from the medical standpoint. The ones for paint are not washable etc. EBAY let me buy my masks from people who need the money! This is just more **bleep** in the swamp, just sell the handmade ones.. wake up...EBAY. Ebay servers many needs...I need more than one also... lol like I need more than one shirt! lol

sewsexyoriginals · ‎04-17-2020

Buying fabric, buying elastic and interfacing at inflated prices costs money, a lot of money when the supplies for masks are so jacked up it’s unreal. I was selling handmade masks on EBay to pay for the supplies for the 460 masks I have donated to a local rural hospital. There is no profit to be made. Nobody thinks about that. Now I will be unable to keep purchasing supplies to make more masks to donate

mesodude · ‎04-17-2020

“I know everyone thinks eBay is trying to prevent price gouging. But they are not preventing gouging whatsoever. They are apparently letting a select few sell them for whatever amount they can get $10 and above is price gouging.”

I don’t know which items you’re talking about but $10 above regular price isn’t necessarily price gouging. A nd just because enforcement is imperfect doesn’t mean it’s “not preventing gouging whatsoever.”

“If ebay wants you to sell for a minimal price then they should set the price at a minimum buy it now price and that's that.”

They don’t want people to profit excessively (which a seller has no control over when they auction an item). By allowing a select group of people to sell essential products, they can more easily monitor policy violators.

“They are being nothing but discriminatory”

It’s their platform. They can run it the way they think best. You aren’t being forced to use it and if you feel you’re being oppressed, you have lots of other venues where you can price gouge to your heart’s content. After all, only eBay is forcing its draconian anti price-gouging policies on you, right?

mam98031 · ‎04-17-2020

@nyknifedealer wrote:
crafter: Thanks for taking time to reply. This morning eBay disallowed me to post a listing for 2 masks (N95) today at auction beginning .99
If your local media outlet is driving folks to eBay, I believe folks who do so will be disappointed.

And since the OP was speaking to "fabric" masks, I probably should've found someplace else to post my reply as I was referencing factory produced products.

Were you surprised that they didn't allow you to post the listing? Ebay has repeatedly told us not to list these items, so why did you think it would be different for you? You of course aren't the only one that has tried as this thread is littered with people trying to figure out how to get their listing posted even though Ebay has told them not to.

Ebay sets Ebay's rules. We certainly don't always agree with them, but this is their site and they can do that.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

millcreekrescue909 · ‎04-17-2020

If they pay, you ship. Unless their payments get cancelled.

____________________________________

Always a newbie!

mesodude · ‎04-17-2020

“There is no profit to be made. Nobody thinks about that. Now I will be unable to keep purchasing supplies to make more masks to donate.”

So the only way you can help is by selling masks on eBay? That’s it?

cynthealee2 · ‎04-17-2020

@yuzuha wrote:
@mrdutch1001 wrote:
I disagree about the fabric make up of t-shirts...I have dozens of them and most are 100% cotton...
there are countless other clothing items that are 100% cotton.
Even bed sheets are 100% cotton.
Lots of 100% cotton items within one's home can be up-cycled/re-purposed...
There's no shortage of possibilities...
It's not just about the fabric content, it's about the weave as well. Anything knit/jersey (the type of fabric that t-shirts are made out of) has a very loose weave, making it very ineffective at filtering out tiny particles such as a virus. You need something that is tightly woven, like quilting cotton. Some bed sheets would work, some wouldn't. It all depends on the weave.

Is flannel a tight weave or a loose weave?

LOL I chose fabric for my bedding and other uses based on how it feels not on what it IS and have never looked to see what it was (other than flannel for bed sheets cause I like flannel bedding).

I hate photobucket right now... PS Answers given years ago may or may not be current now, please check with current posters to the boards to see if the information is still relevant.

mrdutch1001 · ‎04-17-2020

no matter what the weave, layering would concentrate the material into some sort of degree of effectivness, and if persons are keeping the proper distancing, should suffice. Even much of the older good quality T-shirt materials (back before everything was foreign country made) will work well if properly layered.

By the time everyone decides what is right or wrong or what weave/what materials are effective , it won't matter. Too much over-thinking it....

halee-style · ‎04-17-2020

Yes you may find those listings but for some sellers like me can't post their listings. I was able to post some listings and sell few hundreds and ebay randomly removed it and I'm so sick and tired of my listing removal because my buyers start panicking and sending me messages to request cancellation of their order.