eBay FLAGGING and Restricting my account due to erroneous MIS CATEGORIZATION Calls.

[bmxsux]

I sell vintage bicycle parts on eBay ....  20 year seller.

Lately nothing but WRONG CALLS by this company accusing me of brand name misuse....miscategorization etc

when no such issue is in fact the reality..

Here's the latest...254300079388

ANTIQUE SCHWINN BICYCLE DECALS.....   I placed these in the category I have sold them in for the last 20 odd years with eBay.

NOW?  They insist AUTOMOBILIA category... 

Because the idiots in the "INTERNAL TEAM"  Can't get it through their dense heads that "MOTORBIKE" is the MODEL NAME of the ANTIQUE Schwinn bicycle from 1935 -1939 ....had NO motor....NOTHING Motorized...

simply a MODEL NAME to attract the interest of youth in the 1930s.

The above mess is pure insanity from a seller standpoint..... UTTER failure on the part of Ebay to admit fault and correct whatever BUG in the system kicks out the word "Motorbike"  which is required to sell the item accurately to BICYCLE Collectors looking for the BICYCLE -- MODEL Schwinn built in the 1930s called "Motorbike"....

Insisting that the decals apply to AUTOMOBILIA .....where NO SUCH SCHWINN BICYCLE DECALS WHAT SO EVER RESIDE?  Is pure insanity....  Well there was ONE item a Schwinn decal in that category that indeed was 
Spam and had nothing to do with "schwinn" what so ever.

HOW DO WE REACH PEOPLE AT EBAY WHO CAN UNDERSTAND ISSUES LIKE THIS AND MAKE

SOUND JUDGEMENT CALLS BASED ON REALITY AND FACT?????  

I AM AT A LOSS AND ABOUT TO CLOSE ALL MY ACCOUNTS WITH THIS COMPANY...

[mam98031]

I know I don't know enough about your products to assist you, but maybe someone else will.  I am however sincerely sorry you are experiencing this and that you are having such a tough time getting the proper attention by Ebay.

tyler@ebay 

@Anonymous 

brian@ebay 

[kensgiftshop]

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@bmxsux wrote:

So after reaching out and checking on the removal issue I have found out the item that they removed was done correct and should be listed in Collectibles > Transportation > Automobilia > Decals & Stickers. If you have any questions on this please reach out to us.
Thanks, Jeremy

eBay

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I would have to go with Ebay on this.

Even though the bikes don't have motors, they are a form of transportation.

When I think of bike parts, I'm thinking tires, tubes, peddles and items like that.

To me, stickers and decals would be more of an accessory then parts.

[thecollegefund]

If someone were restoring one of these bikes, would they want one of these decals as part of the total, authentic restoration or are these a promotional item for that model of bike?

[Anonymous]

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@bmxsux wrote:

I sell vintage bicycle parts on eBay ....  20 year seller.

Lately nothing but WRONG CALLS by this company accusing me of brand name misuse....miscategorization etc

when no such issue is in fact the reality..

Here's the latest...254300079388

ANTIQUE SCHWINN BICYCLE DECALS.....   I placed these in the category I have sold them in for the last 20 odd years with eBay.

NOW?  They insist AUTOMOBILIA category... 

Because the idiots in the "INTERNAL TEAM"  Can't get it through their dense heads that "MOTORBIKE" is the MODEL NAME of the ANTIQUE Schwinn bicycle from 1935 -1939 ....had NO motor....NOTHING Motorized...

simply a MODEL NAME to attract the interest of youth in the 1930s.

The above mess is pure insanity from a seller standpoint..... UTTER failure on the part of Ebay to admit fault and correct whatever BUG in the system kicks out the word "Motorbike"  which is required to sell the item accurately to BICYCLE Collectors looking for the BICYCLE -- MODEL Schwinn built in the 1930s called "Motorbike"....

Insisting that the decals apply to AUTOMOBILIA .....where NO SUCH SCHWINN BICYCLE DECALS WHAT SO EVER RESIDE?  Is pure insanity....  Well there was ONE item a Schwinn decal in that category that indeed was 
Spam and had nothing to do with "schwinn" what so ever.

HOW DO WE REACH PEOPLE AT EBAY WHO CAN UNDERSTAND ISSUES LIKE THIS AND MAKE

SOUND JUDGEMENT CALLS BASED ON REALITY AND FACT?????  

I AM AT A LOSS AND ABOUT TO CLOSE ALL MY ACCOUNTS WITH THIS COMPANY...

---

Hi @bmxsux, when looking at the recent removals it does seem that miscategorization is present; while I understand you may have been listing these decals in a different category for some time, this does not mean the category you chose was the most appropriate category.

As for brand name concerns, I encourage you to review the emails you received from eBay related to removals again for further clarification. The only brand name you are allowed to use in a listing is the one for the manufacturer of the item; if you sell a bike tire made by Uniroyal, you cannot use the word Schwinn in the listing because Schwinn is not the manufacturer and Uniroyal does not create products specifically designed to fit Schwinn bikes. 

While a listing may violate more than one policy, and you may need to make more than one adjustment to a listing before trying to relist it, some of the recent removals were unrelated to other removals as outlined in the messages we've sent. Review your listings to remove any unrelated brand names, move the items to the correct category, and ensure there are no other listing violations present and you will be able to relist without an issue.

[gramophone-georg]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@bmxsux wrote:

I sell vintage bicycle parts on eBay ....  20 year seller.

Lately nothing but WRONG CALLS by this company accusing me of brand name misuse....miscategorization etc

when no such issue is in fact the reality..

Here's the latest...254300079388

ANTIQUE SCHWINN BICYCLE DECALS.....   I placed these in the category I have sold them in for the last 20 odd years with eBay.

NOW?  They insist AUTOMOBILIA category... 

Because the idiots in the "INTERNAL TEAM"  Can't get it through their dense heads that "MOTORBIKE" is the MODEL NAME of the ANTIQUE Schwinn bicycle from 1935 -1939 ....had NO motor....NOTHING Motorized...

simply a MODEL NAME to attract the interest of youth in the 1930s.

The above mess is pure insanity from a seller standpoint..... UTTER failure on the part of Ebay to admit fault and correct whatever BUG in the system kicks out the word "Motorbike"  which is required to sell the item accurately to BICYCLE Collectors looking for the BICYCLE -- MODEL Schwinn built in the 1930s called "Motorbike"....

Insisting that the decals apply to AUTOMOBILIA .....where NO SUCH SCHWINN BICYCLE DECALS WHAT SO EVER RESIDE?  Is pure insanity....  Well there was ONE item a Schwinn decal in that category that indeed was 
Spam and had nothing to do with "schwinn" what so ever.

HOW DO WE REACH PEOPLE AT EBAY WHO CAN UNDERSTAND ISSUES LIKE THIS AND MAKE

SOUND JUDGEMENT CALLS BASED ON REALITY AND FACT?????  

I AM AT A LOSS AND ABOUT TO CLOSE ALL MY ACCOUNTS WITH THIS COMPANY...

---

Hi @bmxsux, when looking at the recent removals it does seem that miscategorization is present; while I understand you may have been listing these decals in a different category for some time, this does not mean the category you chose was the most appropriate category.

As for brand name concerns, I encourage you to review the emails you received from eBay related to removals again for further clarification. The only brand name you are allowed to use in a listing is the one for the manufacturer of the item; if you sell a bike tire made by Uniroyal, you cannot use the word Schwinn in the listing because Schwinn is not the manufacturer and Uniroyal does not create products specifically designed to fit Schwinn bikes. 

While a listing may violate more than one policy, and you may need to make more than one adjustment to a listing before trying to relist it, some of the recent removals were unrelated to other removals as outlined in the messages we've sent. Review your listings to remove any unrelated brand names, move the items to the correct category, and ensure there are no other listing violations present and you will be able to relist without an issue.

---

Hi Trinton:

Seems the listing the OP referenced is no longer active but here is the "Schwinn Motorbike" the OP is referencing- it's a very collectible BICYCLE that was called "Motorbike" because it resembles- and ONLY resembles- a streamlined motorcycle.

It has nothing whatsoever to do with "Automobilia".

If eBay is going to act as a categorization expert, then eBay needs some actual expertise, rather than seat- of- the- pants knee jerk reactions fueled by ignorance of subjects. This could be easily solved if eBay would listen to their customers... just saying.

[gramophone-georg]

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@kensgiftshop wrote:

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@bmxsux wrote:

So after reaching out and checking on the removal issue I have found out the item that they removed was done correct and should be listed in Collectibles > Transportation > Automobilia > Decals & Stickers. If you have any questions on this please reach out to us.
Thanks, Jeremy

eBay

---

I would have to go with Ebay on this.

Even though the bikes don't have motors, they are a form of transportation.

When I think of bike parts, I'm thinking tires, tubes, peddles and items like that.

To me, stickers and decals would be more of an accessory then parts.

---

The logic here is incorrect. Stickers and decals that originally came on these bikes ARE parts, as are the accessories for them. To put parts related to bikes in Automobilia is not logical at all. Even a "Whizzer" motor belongs in Bikes because that's what it's made for, not anything auto related.

[Anonymous]

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@gramophone-georg wrote:

---

@kensgiftshop wrote:

---

@bmxsux wrote:

So after reaching out and checking on the removal issue I have found out the item that they removed was done correct and should be listed in Collectibles > Transportation > Automobilia > Decals & Stickers. If you have any questions on this please reach out to us.
Thanks, Jeremy

eBay

---

I would have to go with Ebay on this.

Even though the bikes don't have motors, they are a form of transportation.

When I think of bike parts, I'm thinking tires, tubes, peddles and items like that.

To me, stickers and decals would be more of an accessory then parts.

---

The logic here is incorrect. Stickers and decals that originally came on these bikes ARE parts, as are the accessories for them. To put parts related to bikes in Automobilia is not logical at all. Even a "Whizzer" motor belongs in Bikes because that's what it's made for, not anything auto related.

---

Hi @gramophone-georg, as you may be aware, eBay categories are regularly created or deprecated based on a variety of factors (use, changes in terms, relevance, etc.) and I'm happy to pass along your feedback for potential future changes. That being said, the category that we are telling a seller to list their items in is the category they need to be listed in - while you may feel that decals for bicycles are best placed in the accessory category, we disagree. We want these listed in the decal category. This categories placement under Automobilia may be something you disagree with, but I can confirm that it is where we expect these kinds of decals to be listed as we consider this to be the correct category.

[gramophone-georg]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@gramophone-georg wrote:

---

@kensgiftshop wrote:

---

@bmxsux wrote:

So after reaching out and checking on the removal issue I have found out the item that they removed was done correct and should be listed in Collectibles > Transportation > Automobilia > Decals & Stickers. If you have any questions on this please reach out to us.
Thanks, Jeremy

eBay

---

I would have to go with Ebay on this.

Even though the bikes don't have motors, they are a form of transportation.

When I think of bike parts, I'm thinking tires, tubes, peddles and items like that.

To me, stickers and decals would be more of an accessory then parts.

---

The logic here is incorrect. Stickers and decals that originally came on these bikes ARE parts, as are the accessories for them. To put parts related to bikes in Automobilia is not logical at all. Even a "Whizzer" motor belongs in Bikes because that's what it's made for, not anything auto related.

---

Hi @gramophone-georg, as you may be aware, eBay categories are regularly created or deprecated based on a variety of factors (use, changes in terms, relevance, etc.) and I'm happy to pass along your feedback for potential future changes. That being said, the category that we are telling a seller to list their items in is the category they need to be listed in - while you may feel that decals for bicycles are best placed in the accessory category, we disagree. We want these listed in the decal category. This categories placement under Automobilia may be something you disagree with, but I can confirm that it is where we expect these kinds of decals to be listed as we consider this to be the correct category.

---

Hi Trinton- Understood, but then this sort of thinking is exactly why we see the boards full of buyers not being able to find what they are looking for and going elsewhere in disgust.

Sorry, but bike parts ought to be with bikes, whether they are decals or not, if they are to be used in correct restoration of a bike. THIS is where buyers would expect to find these things for their bikes, after all.

When I'm looking for decals and water transfers for restoring antique phonographs, they show up in "Phonographs, accessories > Accessories, parts" EXACTY where one would expect to find them.

Just a general aftermarket decal with a generic phonograph on it? That's a different story.

[thecollegefund]

What is the official definition of "automobilia" according to collectors? Would automobilia collectors want a decal designed for an antique bicycle?

[Anonymous]

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@gramophone-georg wrote:

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@gramophone-georg wrote:

---

@kensgiftshop wrote:

---

@bmxsux wrote:

So after reaching out and checking on the removal issue I have found out the item that they removed was done correct and should be listed in Collectibles > Transportation > Automobilia > Decals & Stickers. If you have any questions on this please reach out to us.
Thanks, Jeremy

eBay

---

I would have to go with Ebay on this.

Even though the bikes don't have motors, they are a form of transportation.

When I think of bike parts, I'm thinking tires, tubes, peddles and items like that.

To me, stickers and decals would be more of an accessory then parts.

---

The logic here is incorrect. Stickers and decals that originally came on these bikes ARE parts, as are the accessories for them. To put parts related to bikes in Automobilia is not logical at all. Even a "Whizzer" motor belongs in Bikes because that's what it's made for, not anything auto related.

---

Hi @gramophone-georg, as you may be aware, eBay categories are regularly created or deprecated based on a variety of factors (use, changes in terms, relevance, etc.) and I'm happy to pass along your feedback for potential future changes. That being said, the category that we are telling a seller to list their items in is the category they need to be listed in - while you may feel that decals for bicycles are best placed in the accessory category, we disagree. We want these listed in the decal category. This categories placement under Automobilia may be something you disagree with, but I can confirm that it is where we expect these kinds of decals to be listed as we consider this to be the correct category.

---

Hi Trinton- Understood, but then this sort of thinking is exactly why we see the boards full of buyers not being able to find what they are looking for and going elsewhere in disgust.

Sorry, but bike parts ought to be with bikes, whether they are decals or not, if they are to be used in correct restoration of a bike. THIS is where buyers would expect to find these things for their bikes, after all.

When I'm looking for decals and water transfers for restoring antique phonographs, they show up in "Phonographs, accessories > Accessories, parts" EXACTY where one would expect to find them.

Just a general aftermarket decal with a generic phonograph on it? That's a different story.

---

Hi @gramophone-georg, if a decal subcategory is added to the bike category, then this would be the best place for the items we are discussing here. Since that subcategory doesn't exist, we want those items in the most appropriate category, which is Automobilia. I understand you disagree with our decision, and will pass along your feedback on the topic.

[gramophone-georg]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@gramophone-georg wrote:

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@gramophone-georg wrote:

---

@kensgiftshop wrote:

---

@bmxsux wrote:

So after reaching out and checking on the removal issue I have found out the item that they removed was done correct and should be listed in Collectibles > Transportation > Automobilia > Decals & Stickers. If you have any questions on this please reach out to us.
Thanks, Jeremy

eBay

---

I would have to go with Ebay on this.

Even though the bikes don't have motors, they are a form of transportation.

When I think of bike parts, I'm thinking tires, tubes, peddles and items like that.

To me, stickers and decals would be more of an accessory then parts.

---

The logic here is incorrect. Stickers and decals that originally came on these bikes ARE parts, as are the accessories for them. To put parts related to bikes in Automobilia is not logical at all. Even a "Whizzer" motor belongs in Bikes because that's what it's made for, not anything auto related.

---

Hi @gramophone-georg, as you may be aware, eBay categories are regularly created or deprecated based on a variety of factors (use, changes in terms, relevance, etc.) and I'm happy to pass along your feedback for potential future changes. That being said, the category that we are telling a seller to list their items in is the category they need to be listed in - while you may feel that decals for bicycles are best placed in the accessory category, we disagree. We want these listed in the decal category. This categories placement under Automobilia may be something you disagree with, but I can confirm that it is where we expect these kinds of decals to be listed as we consider this to be the correct category.

---

Hi Trinton- Understood, but then this sort of thinking is exactly why we see the boards full of buyers not being able to find what they are looking for and going elsewhere in disgust.

Sorry, but bike parts ought to be with bikes, whether they are decals or not, if they are to be used in correct restoration of a bike. THIS is where buyers would expect to find these things for their bikes, after all.

When I'm looking for decals and water transfers for restoring antique phonographs, they show up in "Phonographs, accessories > Accessories, parts" EXACTY where one would expect to find them.

Just a general aftermarket decal with a generic phonograph on it? That's a different story.

---

Hi @gramophone-georg, if a decal subcategory is added to the bike category, then this would be the best place for the items we are discussing here. Since that subcategory doesn't exist, we want those items in the most appropriate category, which is Automobilia. I understand you disagree with our decision, and will pass along your feedback on the topic.

---

It's not that I personally disagree with it... it's just that as a former major retail chain exec I can tell you that things sell better if they are where shoppers expect to find them is all. You wouldn't go to a car parts store for bicycle parts any more than you'd expect to find a wet suit in Men's Apparel... you'd go to sporting goods.

[ittybitnot]

You wouldn't go to a car parts store for bicycle parts any more than you'd expect to find a wet suit in Men's Apparel... you'd go to sporting goods.

But....but... this is eBay.  Logic does not apply.   You forgot to mention, that even if you searched for a "wetsuit" or a bicycle decal .....well, you know. 

I guess it comes down to "put your stuff in the wrong category because ebay says so" or suffer the consequences.  

[southern*sweet*tea]

The more "intelligent" we become, the stupider we get.

[gramophone-georg]

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@ittybitnot wrote:

You wouldn't go to a car parts store for bicycle parts any more than you'd expect to find a wet suit in Men's Apparel... you'd go to sporting goods.

But....but... this is eBay.  Logic does not apply.   You forgot to mention, that even if you searched for a "wetsuit" or a bicycle decal .....well, you know. 

I guess it comes down to "put your stuff in the wrong category because ebay says so" or suffer the consequences.  

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Yes, I know. That's an entire other ball of wax.

I find it breathtaking that we're even needing to have a conversation about bicycle parts belonging with bicycles and not "automobilia" ...  nothing against Trinton at all- as usual he's doing a difficult job quite well, and I always appreciate his insights into what eBay is thinking... or apparently, in this case, NOT thinking.

The company motto must be "Choose Cluelessness"... I mean, the government has nothing on eBay for this sort of nuttiness sometimes.