eBay’s current adult item policy is confusing and poorly/inconsistently enforced by EBay. It is so bad that it makes it nearly impossible for a seller to comply with the policy.
Example. You can sell a Playboy or Penthouse magazine. It contains photos of nude women, not engaged in sexual activity. They also contain articles and stories, some stories erotic in nature.
But then I can list a vintage issue of Turn Ons magazine. Again, only nude women posing. None engaged in sexual activity. 95% of the magazine is articles and stories, no different from Playboy.
No nudity on the front or back cover (back cover is a travel agency ad) or shown in the listing. Compared to Playboy or Penthouse, the contents are less titillating, certainly not more explicit.
EBay pulls that down saying it violates the policy. It doesn’t violate the policy.
You appeal and even offer to send them a full scan of the interior, so EBay can educate themselves. Appeal denied, EBay just drones on that it violates policy.
How does it violate the policy in a way Playboy or Penthouse don’t then?
I would bet EBay $10,000 that the agent who removed the item and the agent who denied the appeal don’t even know what the contents of the magazine are. They just apply their own prudish morales and remove any magazine not explicitly listed in the policy, even though the policy states not all allowed content is listed in the policy.
This policy is a joke and eBay’s irrational enforcement of the policy is a joke. Either ban all things adult, or have an explicit list of what is allowed. Or here is a shocker, actually have open minded appeals where a seller can prove the item confirms to the policy when EBay wrongly removes them. Or better yet, unless EBay has an expert on the subject, don’t remove them in the first place unless something in the listing expressly shows the item violates policy. Your imagination of what may be in a magazine isn’t grounds for removing it!
jonathanbrightlight Volunteer Community Mentor
