eBay shutting down my listing for violating the "Offering to buy or sell outside of eBay policy"

[beardedstranger]

Driving me insane. I've been selling on eBay for 25 years and never encountered this. I made a listing for "buy it now" with multiple quantity available. I sold out. Then I made a new listing based on the old one and sold some more. The third time, I get hit with this policy violation -- same listing.

So I tried making wild guesses as to what was triggering it. I kept shortening it more at less at random until magically after one revision my listing went live and I sold one item. I got more stock so I updated the listing ONLY to show the larger quantity available. eBay cancelled me again. This is infuriating.

The one thing I did temporally rated to this last cancellation (not the case before) was I put a note on my blog that I was selling something on eBay with a link to the listing. But eBay says nothing that I can't advertise a listing. Is eBay scanning the web stamping out links to their auctions? Seems counterproductive. 

I've removed my website ad and took out more description.

And no, there are no "@" signs in my listing.

Is it possible that another seller is maliciously reporting my listing because I'm selling at a much lower price (other listings are way more than retail).

I found an appeal link, but eBay never responded.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

Yep. Only ebay can direct buyers off site lol

[toomuchstuffagain35]

True this. My daughter wasn't allowed to use her username as her store name because it ends in _it and ebay thinks that is a link to an italian domain.

[beardedstranger]

So after many attempts, I reached a human being at eBay. Their automated help system doesn't have a category for my problem, but some creative interpretation finally matched their algorithm that triggered a callback from a human.

What I learned was that eBay did indeed receive my appeal on February 5, and that they have 14 days to respond. The representative couldn't discuss the reasons for the block, only that the appeal was under consideration as of February 9 and that I would have a response in 14 days. The next day (today) the appeal was approved and my listing is back up.

That was a very frustrating experience.

[deltilogical]

This is the world of total alienation and dehumanization the techsociopaths have planned for us.  It will only get worse, especially once they lock us out of our money accounts and force us onto their crypto ponzis.

[beardedstranger]

I finally have a resolution. My listing contained this sentence:

 "You can read many reviews of the unit on websites, social media and YouTube."

I contacted eBay customer service who referred the issue to a specialist and the reply I just got said:

"Allow me to share that the reason why the listing was taken down is due to the words 'websites, social media and YouTube' mentioned on the listing. No worries as we have now verified that your listing is not violation you may now continue selling this item as normal."

[aproudparent2010]

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@beardedstranger wrote:

I finally have a resolution. My listing contained this sentence:

 "You can read many reviews of the unit on websites, social media and YouTube."

I contacted eBay customer service who referred the issue to a specialist and the reply I just got said:

"Allow me to share that the reason why the listing was taken down is due to the words 'websites, social media and YouTube' mentioned on the listing. No worries as we have now verified that your listing is not violation you may now continue selling this item as normal."

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I'm going to be honest. I'd remove that part because eBay customer service has been known to give wrong info.

I'd hate to see you get permanently banned over eBay giving you wrong info.

[esg-enterprises]

@beardedstranger not exactly your case, but ebay is getting very intense with the contact info as well. 

I have recently had messages blocked that contain part numbers and photos that had numbers on items that buyers asked me for close up photos of.

I imagine they are using AI for the photos to block those that contain any numbers??? No idea but the paranoia is real.