eBay Selling Tip – What NOT to Sell on eBay

About a month ago I was shocked to see that eBay had shut down one of my listings and given me a policy violation. What could it possibly be I thought to myself? When I clicked on the message I couldn’t believe that it was because I had listed a fake gun. Oh my goodness. I could see getting in trouble for a real gun but not a fake one.

Here is a photo of the faux gun and what it said on the glass case. That was my “big” policy infraction.

#1. Familiarize Yourself with eBay’s Firearms, Weapons and Knives Policy

After I read up on the subject I was surprised to learn that to sell a replica gun on eBay it must have an orange plug in the end that can NOT be removed or an orange barrel marking.

When I asked Helon about it at the eBay Certified Fair, she mentioned that this was for safety reasons. Another eBay employee also mentioned that many collectors do NOT want to alter their replica guns by installing these orange plugs so it becomes a tricky business.

Here is what eBay says…

Airsoft guns, replica guns, or other imitation firearms may be listed when:

They have blaze orange barrel markings or a blaze orange barrel plug permanently attached to the weapon.
They can’t be converted to shoot lethal projectiles.
State laws are followed, remembering that in most states you have to be at least 18 years old to buy an airsoft gun.

Learn more about the Firearms, Weapons and Knives Policy.

#2. Familiarize Yourself with eBay’s Animals and Wildlife Products Policy

Since I have been listing a lot of clothing and I like to use the term Ivory to describe a color, it has really been brought to my attention that ivory is completely not acceptable to sell on eBay anymore. They won’t even let you describe a piece of clothing as “ivory”. Check out this auction for an off white bra that I had to list as “cream” colored.

Back in the day, we could sell antique ivory with no problem. I sold a lot of scrimshaw pieces and netsukes. Well, today no way! eBay is very strict about its ivory policy and if any antique has more than 5% ivory in its making, it is prohibited.

Here is more information on eBay’s ivory and bone policy….

Though there a few exceptions, most ivory products can’t be offered on eBay because of various international trade restrictions and treaties banning the sale of these items. You can find additional information about ivory laws below.

Restricted

Antiques that contain 5 percent or less of real ivory and were made before the year 1900 – for example: Musical instruments with ivory keys, such as a flute, a piano, or a trumpet Furniture with ivory inlay or ivory drawer handles, such as a cabinet, a hutch, or a desk When selling these items: Include a picture of the item in your listing Specify the exact year the item was made and include the info in your listing description Bone from non-ivory–producing animals (such as bison, buffalo, and oxen) as long as the species is clearly stated in the listing description Cultured, man-made, or vegetable ivory as long as the listing description specifies what the item is made of

Not allowed

Bone from animals that produce ivory, including elephants, mammoths, walruses, and whales Carved and uncarved ivory Fossilized ivory Manufactured items with more than 5 percent of actual ivory such as: Canes Chess pieces Figurines Jewelry Scrimshaw Raw ivory

My advice is to stay away from all ivory and bone products completely when selling on eBay. At one point in time, I was going to sell a very rare bronze with an ivory face that belonged to my grandmother. I decided to keep it but if I do ever want to sell it I think it may be allowed because it has less than 5% ivory in its making and was made prior to 1900.

You can’t sell live animals, endangered species fur (but you can sell rat fur if it isn’t endangered), etc. For more information, go check out eBay’s animal and wildlife policy. This is very fascinating information!

Every year in August when I renew my eBay Certified Provider status, I have to take an exam. It is very difficult and a lot of it focuses on what is not allowed to be sold on eBay. It fascinates me and that is another reason I wanted to write this article.

Unfortunately, this article is not long enough to discuss all of the policies in detail, so please click on any of these categories before you list an item that is questionable.

Especially with Halloween coming up, be careful when listing realistic costumes or REAL uniforms and badges. Many of these are completely not allowed and with good reason. For example, airport personnel badges, frequent flyer miles that are non-transferrable and police uniforms are NOT allowed to be sold on eBay.

#3. Familiarize Yourself with eBay’s ENTIRE List of RESTRICTED (not always Prohibited) Items

The list of what is restricted on eBay can be found in their restricted policy overview. The list is vast! Check this out:

Prohibited and restricted items

• Adult Only category
• Alcohol (see also wine)
• Animals and wildlife products – examples include live animals, mounted specimens, and ivory
• Art
• Artifacts, grave-related items, and Native American arts and crafts
• Catalytic converters and test pipes
• Cell phone (wireless) service contracts
• Charity or fundraising listings
• Clothing, used
• Contracts
• Cosmetics, used
• Counterfeit currency and stamps
• Credit cards
• currency, selling
• Drugs and drug paraphernalia
• Drugs, describing drugs or drug-like substances
• Electronics equipment – examples include cable TV de-scramblers, radar scanners, and traffic signal control devices
• Electronic surveillance equipment – examples include wiretapping devices and telephone bugging devices
• embargoed goods and prohibited countries – examples include items from Cuba
• Event tickets
• Firearms, weapons, and knives – examples include pepper spray, replicas, and stun guns (see also military items)
• Food and healthcare items
• Gift cards
• Government documents, IDs, and licenses
• Government, transit, and shipping-related items – examples include airplane operations manuals, subway employee uniforms, and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mailbags
• Hazardous materials – examples include batteries, fireworks, and Freon
• Human parts and remains
• Importation of goods into the United States – examples include CDs that were intended only for distribution in a certain country
• International trading
• Items encouraging illegal activity – examples include an eBook describing how to create methamphetamine
• Lockpicking devices
• Lottery tickets
• Mailing lists and personal information
• Manufacturers’ coupons
• Medical devices – examples include contact lenses, pacemakers, and surgical instruments
• Military items (see also firearms, weapons, and knives)
• Multi-level marketing, pyramid, and matrix programs
• Offensive material – examples include ethnically or racially offensive material and Nazi memorabilia
• Pesticides
• Plants and seeds
• Police-related items
• Political memorabilia (reproduction)
• Postage meters
• Prescription drugs
• Prohibited services
• Real estate
• Recalled items
• Slot machines
• Stamps
• Stocks and other securities
• Stolen property and property with removed serial numbers
• Surveillance equipment
• Tobacco
• Travel
• Weeds (see plants and seeds)

Really, human parts and remains are not allowed to be sold on eBay? And you can’t sell stolen property? And no lockpicking devices? J/K (Just Kidding).

eBay has these policies in order to make eBay a safe place for all of us to both buy and sell. Keep this list handy in case you ever have a question and here’s to a successful and profitable holiday season. It is beginning!

Tagged as: ebay seller advice, ebay selling advice, eBay Selling Tips, learn ebay selling