Updated Community Guidelines

[sheila@ebay]

Hello Community,

We want to make the Community a safe and enjoyable place for all to come participate and learn from one another. The Community team has recently updated the Community Guidelines. You can find them here.

I'll keep this post up for until the end of day on July 6th for feedback on the Guidelines.

Thank you for participating in Community!

[mam98031]

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@partfinds wrote:

@mam98031 

„We also are not suppose to ever tell another member to go sell somewhere else.”

numerous times I was told to sell somewhere else or to close the store all together when I was contemplating only downgrading. It suggests that this is only recommendation maybe?

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That is and has been a breach of the community rules.  You likely skated by on those because no one reported your post.  It certainly doesn't mean your post was OK, it only means you weren't caught.

[mam98031]

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sheila@ebay wrote:

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@dhbookds wrote:

I see this has been added to approved content:

Share, celebrate… and have fun!

Buying and selling on eBay isn’t the only thing that is important to you. Share your hobby, or complain about your pet peeve. Celebrate your latest thrifting score, or post a death pile photo. This community welcomes hearing about your latest personal triumph, a moment where you need support, or just an amazing meal you made (in the appropriate forum). This community is designed to connect people, and the more we get to know each other, the more our businesses will grow together. 

On what board are those things welcomed............... "(in the appropriate forum)"............?  Are those things still "off topic" for the Selling, Buying, etc Boards?

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Topics like showing off a 'death pile' (pile of stuff you want to sell) or a thrifting shop score or you want to show off a newly purchased item from eBay are okay to post on the respective boards.

You're right. We're missing a board for off-topics like hobbies or the personal triumph I mentioned. Give me a little time and I'll get that type of board up. 

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Isn't that what the Cafe is for?

[evry1nositswindy]

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@partfinds wrote:

@mam98031 

„We also are not suppose to ever tell another member to go sell somewhere else.”

numerous times I was told to sell somewhere else or to close the store all together when I was contemplating only downgrading. It suggests that this is only recommendation maybe?

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Yes, but how are we supposed to discourage a brand new 0 FB seller to not list that $4200 item?  This question comes up a lot and we who are experience will tell them not to list it here.  If not, we are condoning the scammers that are prevalent but are given free reign due to the fact that, in eBay's eyes, buyers can do no wrong.

[katzrul15]

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@katzrul15 wrote:

sheila@ebay 

Sheila - I would like to seek clarity on the following:

• promoting off-eBay sites, groups, or forums, or suggestions that encourage users to leave eBay

Often, a poster will start a thread about wanting to "sell" something of really high value or something that is large and inappropriate to try and ship (i.e. would need to be freighted) and/OR the item(s) they are posting about are items that truly as a ""brand new" seller, would make them an immediate scam "target" (i.e. XBOX systems, PS5's, Computer hardware, crypto-miners, Latest & Greatest I-phones (new), etc etc)

The responses on the board are typically 1 of 4 things:

a) Consider selling the item(s) locally

b) Do not sell these types of items at all online on this (or any) site

c) Do not sell these types of items "now" - wait and build up your profile

d) Online selling is not for you - these types of items are SCAM magnets

Based on the 4 comments above and the bulleted stated board "offense", are these 4 statements considered to be in violation of the community guidelines as now outlined?  

BTW, it is often wondered on these boards how "new" sellers are even able to list HV items at all, but often, they can, while others have very low thresholds for the item total(s) when they start out.  A mystery for sure and a type of thread that comes up really often on the Selling board.

Thank you in advance.

Katz

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sheila@ebay 

brian_burke@ebay 

I would like to politely request (after the holiday weekend) an answer to my question, by a Community Member, posted on what is now, post #116 ( albeit subject to potential change), due to current change in wording of the Community forums guidelines.

Specific point - telling someone to consider selling it "locally" can be construed as yard sale, CL, FB and on and on.  The wording has changed and while many postings are "grey" and Khoros decides what is black or white, this type of discussion comes up often on the Selling board.

You can of course, PM me, but would prefer a board response, as I imagine those who are "trigger" report inclined will want to know as well.

Sheila posted in the OP, she would leave this up for feedback/discussion.  It is not "unreasonable" to post a question to a mod and expect there will not be disruption as a result.  ANY poster is entitled to do so and/or contact a mod (blue) if they feel the need to seek clarity.

In this context, an "official" opinion by a "Blue" is the question posed.  Do not care what board "history" is.  The Community Guidelines have been updated for a reason and this thread is evidence of same.  It is also clearly a stated timeline for board posters to "familiarize" themselves with these changes (i.e. adherence).  As such, I would like to seek guidance on my question as stated - otherwise, would feel the need to avoid these types of questions/threads/posts in the future and did not feel that way previously.   ymmv

[partfinds]

@mam98031

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@benz_li wrote:

@mam98031 

„We also are not suppose to ever tell another member to go sell somewhere else.”

numerous times I was told to sell somewhere else or to close the store all together when I was contemplating only downgrading. It suggests that this is only recommendation maybe?

That is and has been a breach of the community rules.  You likely skated by on those because no one reported your post.  It certainly doesn't mean your post was OK, it only means you weren't caught.”

MY POST? MY POST REPORTED? DOES IT MEAN THAT I WAS IN TROHBLE FOR ANGERING SOmEONE (long time member) BY ASKING FOR OPINION ON STORE DOWNGRADE? WHAT RULE DID I VIOLATE? 😨

I THINK YOU MISUNDERSTOOD . THIS WAS SAID TO ME IN MY POST

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@partfinds 

Lol, yes I know now it's post #12, but it's all good, enjoy your 4th weekend!

[pburn]

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@donsdetour wrote:

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Hmm be out a bit due to covid positive: you going to make me read this whole thing: LOL

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So sorry to hear that, but glad you're up and around. And, no--you don't have to read the whole thing! LOL!

[donsdetour]

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@pburn wrote:

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@donsdetour wrote:

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Hmm be out a bit due to covid positive: you going to make me read this whole thing: LOL

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So sorry to hear that, but glad you're up and around. And, no--you don't have to read the whole thing! LOL!

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I read it all: normal stuff I see: you see the community categories as being for what they say and others seem to disagree.  Oh well it is what it is...

[pburn]

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@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:

@partfinds 

Lol, yes I know now it's post #12, but it's all good, enjoy your 4th weekend!

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Perhaps we're referring to a totally different thread? My posts have been referencing this thread. Maybe that's where the miscommunication lies?

[stephenmorgan]

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@katzrul15 wrote:

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@dhbookds wrote:

Agree with axing the names/titles

What do people think about Kudos?  

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sheila@ebay 

Wish they would make the whole business go away.  Helpfuls are subjective and often have zero corollary to the subject matter at hand.  I may "like" a post as it is helpful to me, but not to the OP's question, post, rant, diatribe, etc.

Have never understood the whole "Rockstar" thing - it gives off the wrong vibe anyway.  

The "leader board" needs to just go away - it means nothing anyway.  No reason to keep track of "helpfuls" or whatever in the first place. 

And the boards need to limit the number of IDs folks post with.  We have people constantly creating new IDs to be just be disruptive to the boards overall.  Who needs 10+ IDs to post and create under-current??

If you are truly here to post, share, learn and help others, why do you need multiple posting IDs?  You don't.

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I do not understand the Rockstar award.  Is it just a title someone decides to give you?  Is it based on anything?

I have came across Rockstar's and their contribution is mostly based on Helpful Votes Given to Others.  I have also seen Rockstar's  that only have Helpful Votes Given but have no Posts, no Solutions, no Helpful Votes received.

I like the idea of just one Community Account per ISP address.  It seems like there are user's that come out just to support another users post during a hot discussion and then they go silent until the next time they are needed to support that users post.  I suppose it could all be a innocent coincidence?

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@stephenmorgan wrote: ... I do not understand the Rockstar award.  Is it just a title someone decides to give you?  Is it based on anything?

I have came across Rockstar's and their contribution is mostly based on Helpful Votes Given to Others.  I have also seen Rockstar's  that only have Helpful Votes Given but have no Posts, ...

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eBay doesn't reveal the exact formula for bestowing those titles, but it's somehow based on community participation.

[wrong66]

I think you misread his post.

[herbaearth]

I call those users community shills. EG: A veteran seller who relies on eBay for income posts a complaint about high fees, or update errors -the lack of traffic flow or a sales slump, then some irrelevant user(0 feedback/0 sales) posts a response about how being a 20 year veteran isn't important enough to complain, how users should leave eBay(violation), or even how reading sentences is too difficult without proper paragraphs; and if anyone gets heated about their woke response, the shills get 12 to 20 helpful votes for absolutely no intelligent reasoning. 

It's not a coincidence, it's a cult of community shills making excuses for bad corporate decisions.

[janet9988]

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@herbaearth wrote:

I call those users community shills. EG: A veteran seller who relies on eBay for income posts a complaint about high fees, or update errors -the lack of traffic flow or a sales slump, then some irrelevant user(0 feedback/0 sales) posts a response about how being a 20 year veteran isn't important enough to complain, how users should leave eBay(violation), or even how reading sentences is too difficult without proper paragraphs; and if anyone gets heated about their woke response, the shills get 12 to 20 helpful votes for absolutely no intelligent reasoning. 

It's not a coincidence, it's a cult of community shills making excuses for bad corporate decisions.

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Since we can not tell another member that it is their choice whether they list here or somewhere else. I will not defer all posts as such to ebay customer service.

[mam98031]

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

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@partfinds wrote:

@mam98031 

„We also are not suppose to ever tell another member to go sell somewhere else.”

numerous times I was told to sell somewhere else or to close the store all together when I was contemplating only downgrading. It suggests that this is only recommendation maybe?

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Yes, but how are we supposed to discourage a brand new 0 FB seller to not list that $4200 item?  This question comes up a lot and we who are experience will tell them not to list it here.  If not, we are condoning the scammers that are prevalent but are given free reign due to the fact that, in eBay's eyes, buyers can do no wrong.

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None of us should ever do that.  You can explain the pros and cons of a transaction, but it is no your responsibility to make the decision for the seller.  That is up to the seller.  

I'm actually a bit unsure as to what you are trying to accomplish here @evry1nositswindy .  If you are trying to say that every transaction on Ebay over $4200 is always some kind of a scam, then I'd want to see the facts on that.

As most seasoned sellers know there are people out there ready willing and able to take advantage of a seller and unfortunately there are sellers willing to take advantage of buyers.  There is power in knowledge.  So educate members that are asking you questions like this.  Then it is up to that member to make the decision on what direction they may want to go.