Why are my listings suddenly being deleted not following policy?

[mikec12]

I am selling gift cards that are not e gift cards to places like Panera and Chipotle which I have sold before and I am getting messages saying they wern't following policy. I just sold Starbucks gift cards with no problem. What is going on??

[kare-bearb]

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/gift-cards-policy?id=4294&st=12&pos=4...

What is the policy?

• Sellers can list the following types of gift cards:
  • eBay gift cards that are sold by authorized sellers
  • Collectible gift cards with no redemption value, as long as the listing specifies that there's no monetary amount on the card
  • Gift cards for stores or companies going through bankruptcy, or going out of business, if the cards are still accepted as a form of payment. If there's an expiration date, it must be specified in the listing
• Sellers must meet all these requirements when listing eligible gift cards:
  • The total face value of all their gift card listings at any given time must be $500 or less
  • The gift card must be in hand at the time of the listing, and it must ship within 5 days of the date the card is sold

Note: Approved third-party retailers or service providers can sell electronically-delivered gift cards on eBay, provided they are vetted by eBay.

• The following types of gift cards aren't allowed:
  • Electronically delivered gift cards (from non-approved third party retailers)
  • Prepaid credit cards (or money cards) from American Express, Discover, Mastercard, or Visa
  • Store or merchandise credit in the form of a receipt

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Either eBay has significantly changed their gift card policy,

or whoever wrote this policy page significantly erred by omission.

As written, 

eBay gift cards can only be sold by authorized sellers.

Digitally delivered gift cards can only be sold by authorized sellers.

No-balance, collectible gift cards can be sold if described correctly.

Gift cards for retailers that are in bankruptcy / going our of business can be sold under certain conditions.

However, physical gift cards for companies that are NOT in bankruptcy / going our of business cannot be sold  by ordinary sellers ?????

[pikabo-icu]

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@lacemaker3 wrote:

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@pikabo-icu wrote:

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@coolections wrote:

@pikabo-icu 

The way I read it the OP must FIRST meet the 3 criteria, THEN they must also meet the criteria you provided.

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It's possible..

Honestly this policy is about the least clear of any that I've read.. It's confusing just to read let alone abide by.

Clear as mud.. 

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This is correct.

The "first three criteria" are the 3 types of gift cards that are permitted to be listed and sold.

Unfortunately, OP's gift cards did not fit any of the 3 types of gift cards that are allowed. They were:

• not eBay gift cards, and not listed by an authorized seller
• not collectible gift cards with no redeemable value
• not for companies that are going through bankruptcy or going out of business (in this case, the cards still have to be usable for making purchases at those companies while they are still open)

I think the biggest problem people have with this, is that the last type of gift card seems to be backwards, or people just can't believe that it means what it actually says. But, it does.

The bottom line is, unless you're an authorized seller who is permitted to sell eBay gift cards, then you can't list and sell a gift card that can actually be used to buy something, unless it's for a company that is going out of business.

There was way too much fraud associated with selling gift cards, and too often, the cards were emptied by scammers after they were listed/sold and before the buyer received them. Not usually by the seller either. There were crime rings committing fraud on online buyers and sellers of gift cards. Insiders at the companies that administered the cards (not necessarily the company where the cards could be used) were suspected.

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@lacemaker3 

Thank you..

I still say this is confusing as all get out..

I can usually decipher policies even if the more difficult & detailed ones require several read throughs but this one is really confusing.. 

They could make this a LOT more clear. 

[kare-bearb]

If I remember correctly ...

At one point, the policy stated that sellers could list only one gift card at a time.

Once it sold, they sold then list another.

[lacemaker3]

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@kare-bearb wrote:

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/gift-cards-policy?id=4294&st=12&pos=4...

...

However, physical gift cards for companies that are NOT in bankruptcy / going our of business cannot be sold  by ordinary sellers ?????

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@kare-bearb, yes, you're correct. And your memory of when the policy only allowed a single card to be listed at a time, also matches my memory, so I think that's correct also.

Although, as I understand the current policy, I think the summary should be:

 physical gift cards for companies that are NOT in bankruptcy / going our of business cannot be sold  by ordinary sellers at all

I think this would be a lot more clear if the policy included a summary statement to that effect (or modified if necessary).

There should be a summary statement in the policy to make the intention clear.

_____________________

Given how severely restricted the gift card policy is now, what's the point of having a $500 threshold? I don't see how any "ordinary seller" could ever reach that threshold.

[pikabo-icu]

@lacemaker3 

Yes and how hard would it be to say;

Regular sellers CAN sell (whatever measlies we're allowed here) 

And regular sellers CAN"T sell (almost anything but the measlies we stated above) 

Sheesh..

[lacemaker3]

@pikabo-icu, I wouldn't argue with that even if I could!

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But, I don't think eBay likes to have policies that are "negative".

They would rather state what you "can" do, and leave the "can't" bits unstated, because presumably: anything that is not specifically permitted, is not allowed. (That sentence really does make sense, even though it seems like it shouldn't. Sorry, I don't mean to be confusing. I must be catching it from eBay.)

That's not a good policy when the goal of a good policy is effective communication.

[kare-bearb]

Could this change in gift card policy be related to Managed Payments by any chance?

Gift cards no longer appear as MP restricted items:

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/managed-payments-restricted-items-policy?id=5009...

PayPal_digital_gifts is still active selling various types of gift cards, but they still use Paypal to receive payments.

[lacemaker3]

@kare-bearb, that seems like a very good possibility. Good catch, and great suggestion!

OP is in managed payments.

[mikec12]

Thanks everyone lots of good replies. So I was able to list these two gift card listings over an hour ago now and so far not deleted but we will see. I re did the whole listings and only changed the handling time from 5 days to 4 but it says you get up to 5 so I don't know how that could be the problem.  A few things, I did not have over $500 of cards for sale when these were removed. I have also had over  1 card for sale many times.  I am not selling eBay cards so I don't have to be an authorized seller. Yes the policy is so confusing it says sellers can see bankrupt company cards which is weird but doesn't  say you can not sell other cards. Also it doesn't seem to be true also because if you just search for gift cards there are tons of listings and New listings of people selling them right now. 

As far as manager payments to I was forced to do that to keep selling to continue selling. Didn't everyone have to do this? Also Yes managed payments is so terrible, PayPal was a billion times better. The payouts have been very inconsistent also. 

I would also like to mention  there are many accounts being hacked by scammers who want you to send them the codes. I have had 3 or 4 people who hacked buy  my cards and  I list 1st Class only and they buy them anyway. 

[isatwin74]

If eBay took them down I would not relist them. Doing so could get you suspended or kicked off here completely.

[mikec12]

Well it would be nice if they told me what rule I have broken? I have sold hundreds of cards on here.

[isatwin74]

You said you listed 2 just a bit ago. Did they sell already as I don't see them listed on this id or did eBay take them down? I would really not list anymore as they could suspend your account. Yes I agree the policy needs to be made more clear then what they have posted.

[mikec12]

That's a good question? I don't know they are still listed under my listings and I haven't got a message from eBay yet?

[kare-bearb]

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@mikec12 wrote:

Well it would be nice if they told me what rule I have broken? I have sold hundreds of cards on here.

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When eBay pulled listings, we used to be able to email eBay to inquire ... whyended@ebay.com

Not sure if this is still an option.

Maybe you could give it a try.

[fab_finds4u]

You violated the gift card policy. It's up to you to read the policy and figure out what you did wrong.

I don't  know if eBay gave you authorization to sell gift cards or not, but I do see you sold $678.35 in cards from yesterday through today.  That doesn't include the listings so,d before yesterday. Isn't the limit $500 in listings at any one time?