We really need a way to appeal removed listings.

[hunchojack_34]

This may be rant-ish. 

Today, I was making my listings per usual. Had some Vicks ZzzQuil Pure ZZZs Melatonin & Ashwagandha Gummies to list, and account restricted out of nowhere 20 minutes after listing them. 

The classic automated message claims I violated the Prescription and over-the-counter drug policy. Claiming, "We do not allow the sale of products that require a prescription from a licensed practitioner (such as a doctor, dentist, veterinarian, or optometrist). Additionally, you must follow the regulations of the countries to where you are shipping and ensure that this item is not prescription in those countries. Please do not relist this item.  More specific details are provided below."

I have listed the product and sold it before, others are selling it. It's a common product in stores and across the web. 

I gave them the benefit of the doubt, I thought to myself perhaps the item is banned right now or going through some sort of investigation. Some thorough research later, I find no signs of anything with the item that would indicate it is unsafe to consume or sell. It is available in stores and other marketplaces including eBay. 

So I reach out to eBay customer support through live chat, bring it up to the person, and they basically tell me that since millions of items get listed everyday, they use reports and automations to help remove policy infringing listings. Before I can respond to the person, they tell me to have a good day and end the chat. I can't ask any questions or steps I can take. 

So what's the deal eBay? Why is it just **** me and I can't do anything about it? Why can't I get an actual person to just look at this situation and help me? Everyone in there right mind knows melatonin and ashwagandha gummies are not a prescription. And sure, if there REALLY is some suspected reason my item infringes on policy, why can't I know what it is and why it infringes?

Now I am restricted from selling for 3 days, next time it's going to be 7 days. Then 10. It's not even a matter of if I get restricted, more of when. Because at this point I just keep getting my listings removed for bogus, no reasons at all blanketed by some vague claim of "prescription drugs". 

We NEED an appeal system... something... just a single human that can actually look at this and have power to look into this and give sellers a FAIR  judgement of the situation. I'm so sick of getting thrown under the bus for fair listings and not even getting a real explanation as to why. eBay has been on the decline for years and driving away sellers with this kind of bogus isn't likely to help grow the user base. Does eBay truly not care if they crash and burn at this point? I am one person, but I can't help but think of how many other sellers have been victimized to this and driven away, or are currently going through something similar.

So with that being said, I would like to hear what other sellers have to say. And I am just realizing this, I did not mention in the post that my item was in fact new and factory sealed, and not expired or near expiration. 

[coolections]

Sorry but NO, you cannot list those. No need to make any more phone calls.

[frugalmarketplace]

I am not familiar with that product. What is the issue? Thanks.  I did find a ton of them listed. Frankly with sophisticated computer scanning, they should easily remove all of them if it is an issue. 

[lamber9347]

I'm sorry but out of all the items one can choose to sell online, you have chosen to focus on items that can easily fall into prescription based. Whether or not most, if not all, are over the counter, once you choose to deal with items in this particular field, you will continually be subjected to intense scrutiny. You are choosing the run the risk by choosing to only sell these types of items. I'm not saying you are wrong, just that you are putting yourself into this situation is all.

Yes, there are millions of listings on this platform and yes eBay cannot monitor each one individually. They rely on bots and consumer reporting to pull those which they feel are in violation. The platform belongs to eBay so they can and will decide on what gets to be listed. Having an appeal system would only open them up to requiring staff on hand to answer sellers' rants and cries of unfairness. They know better from experience, so it's black & white. If your post was only a rant, I hope you feel better. Best of luck to you....

[trainup027]

I buy vitamins on eBay with no issue.  Is this actually a prescription item?  I hope they aren't going to stop people from selling vitamins here.

[stainlessenginecovers]

If you and your listings have been migrated to EIS (international) which was being done without sellers approval/knowledge; you need to 'opt out' first before trying to sell any 'drugs'. 

[hunchojack_34]

I was very curious about this possibly being a reason for this but I cannot find any evidence to support that. I was automatically opted in sometime last week.

[mam98031]

---

@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

If you and your listings have been migrated to EIS (international) which was being done without sellers approval/knowledge; you need to 'opt out' first before trying to sell any 'drugs'. 

---

Well now that is NOT true.  Ebay has been informing sellers via Emails.  Now true there are lots of sellers that ignore emails from Ebay, but those seller do that at their own peril.  

What is it that you expect of Ebay if their emails go ignored.

Ebay knows that sellers do this, and they could actually put a warning flag on the Seller Hub informing sellers that on XX their account will convert to EIS unless the seller wants to opt out.  But then that is a problem too as not every seller uses the Hub.

[mam98031]

---

@hunchojack_34 wrote:

I was very curious about this possibly being a reason for this but I cannot find any evidence to support that. I was automatically opted in sometime last week.

---

If you don't want to be in the program, you can go to your Site Preferences and opt out anytime you want to.  But I encourage you to read about the program first as it is a good one IMHO.

[chapeau-noir]

Well, the products you're selling you can get at any drug store.  You don't even need to get it OTC from the pharmacist - my local drugstore is having a two-fer sale on those gummies right now.

Melatonin *is* regulated at least in England and is prescription, so I'm guessing that the EIS program that is flagging that.  eBay's communications aren't always very clear so they paired 'prescription' with 'regulated in other countries' which confused the issue.  Just a guess, though.

[mam98031]

@hunchojack_34 

Accounts don't get "restricted out of no where".  You would have previously received emails from Ebay warning you about items being listed that are prohibited on Ebay or some other rule breach.  You get restricted because you aren't taking those warnings seriously even though they tell you that restrictions could happen if you don't comply.

So now you are upset because Ebay did exactly what they told you they would do if you didn't pay attention to what they were telling you.  You are at the beginning of this with the 3 day restriction, so now hopefully they have your attention so further action does not have to be taken.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/prescription-overthecounter-drugs-pol...

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/prohibited-restricted-items?id=4207

Keep in mind that no CSR you have access to through Ebay has the ability to change policy.  So getting upset with them helps nothing.  I am sorry the Chat person cut you off, they should not have done that.  You do however have a few other ways to contact Ebay.

I would suggest that you contact Ebay for Business on Facebook or Twitter for the better trained CSRs.

Here are your options for contacting Ebay Customer Service.

https://twitter.com/askebay?lang=en

https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness/


If when you use the link below you can only get to the Automated Assistant, type AGENT in the box and hit enter. You will then get more options.

https://www.ebay.com/help/contact_us?id=4002&st=10

For the Payment Team
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold/payments-hold?id=4816&&...

[12345jamesstamps]

There was a big news report on "melatonin" where kids are taking too much of it and over dosing on it. I think right now anything with that word which be it.

[fashunu4eeuh]

---

@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

If you and your listings have been migrated to EIS (international) which was being done without sellers approval/knowledge; you need to 'opt out' first before trying to sell any 'drugs'. 

---

Yes, this occurred to me as well. Ashwagandha is under scrutiny in the EU. Some countries allow it to be sold but others are upholding restrictions on it. So there is controversy around the safe use of Ashwagandha which is classified as an herbal drug. It can be sold in the US but only as a dietary supplement. 

The problem with restrictions on one’s account is that even if the item was removed in error by eBay and the OP relisted with their approval, there is still the likelihood of a second removal and the 7 day suspension upheld. It is too risky to relist here. Find another venue to list it on.

[susanb1872]

As @chapeau-noir said, you can get it easily in the US. In fact, just last night I bought a bottle at Walmart because my husband uses it.

[chapeau-noir]

---

@12345jamesstamps wrote:

There was a big news report on "melatonin" where kids are taking too much of it and over dosing on it. I think right now anything with that word which be it.

---

It's the gummies - the kids don't know the difference, get their hands on a bottle and chow down on the things, and so get huge doses of melatonin. One only needs a few mg of it and the stuff kids is really low dose. But kids are curious so even keeping the gummies in a medicine cabinet won't work, they have to be out of reach.