e bay shoot themselves in the foot yet again while doing sellers out of sales
Summary: reasonable.robert expressed frustration with an e-commerce platform's policy requiring a credit card for age verification when purchasing items with blades, arguing that it excludes people who don't want credit cards. fargvs and others highlighted that only credit card verification is accepted due to policy on bladed items, while upda8077 questioned why other forms of ID aren't accepted. dansar21 mentioned losing a sale due to this policy and suggested communicating with sellers, although technthread pointed out this might not be seen. The discussion also included alternatives like using age-verified delivery services or purchasing items in local stores.
hi there
i,ve just tried to buy a set of 3 scissors from a seller which flagged up as due to the bladed items law cannot be delivered to someone under 18
fair enough ....
and this is the hillarious part ...you have to have a credit card to verify your identity a debit card will not do
well what if you dont have or dont want a credit card and believe me i know from past experience these things can get you into a lot of trouble.
theres no other way to verify your identity therefore you cannot buy them...the seller loses a sale.
secondly you have to be over 18 to get on e bay in the first place your id is checked by e bay as you have to upload a driving licence/passport or other id with your d.o.b on it i,ll just get some from pound land i think its less hassle ...
dansar21
·3 weeks agoI looked at buying a pair of secateurs from a business but couldnt be verified as only have a debit card - so i didnt purchase the item. I got an offer a few days later from the business so just declined and in notes put "i cant verify my ID for ebay so you lost the sale". As you may not always get an offer suggest you message the business seller to say "cant purchase this item as cant verify ID" I am sure some wont care, but maybe others may take this up with ebay as this policy is losing them sales.
boundarycoins
·3 weeks ago · EditedWhen an offer is declined we don’t get a notification and seller will probably not see the note. Sometimes I will check these things on my listings at random and see buyers have added a note with a question or a counter offer but it is pointless.
dansar21
·3 weeks agook - thank you i assumed a business gets to see that its declined & the note. Another waste of time by ebay then!.
gjalp
·3 weeks agoI don't know why they can't just use an age verified delivery service. Ive had RM and other couriers need verification when Ive purchased elsewhere. I just buy my sharps and not really a bladed item but treated as bladed elsewhere. Often its the one time I will nip to a shop to buy it locally so I spose local businesses will get those sales. I get my secateurs from B&Q then have a quick swing by the garden centre.
jonatjonatjonat
·3 weeks agobecause its not what the law requires (again - this is not taking into account the issue that what ebay deems bladed and what the law deems bladed - where ebay are much stricter).
But - for distances sales - an age check is required in law at the point of purchase - not just the point of delivery.
gjalp
·Aug 18, 2026 at 10:04 AMI had to borrow my son's credit card to buy a kitchen knife. Kinda embarrassing really. I've done my stint with credit cards, I now own my own home, paid off all my cards and got rid. Im just working to bring in funds for the utilities/food until I reach pension age. I don't need credit. So long as its delivered to the named person and ID checked at delivery (like alcohol etc), I don't see the need for a credit card.
upda8077
·Aug 17, 2026 at 9:21 PMNot too sure why they will not accept a drivers licence or any other forms of proof of being over 18. I dont have a credit card for the same reasons as you, I dont like credit. So I guess I cannot even buy a screwdriver on here, sales for sellers are bad enough for sellers as it is
str11p
·Aug 18, 2026 at 3:08 PMThe reason is (likely to be) it would cost ebay money to validate it.
gorragerritgone
·1 month agoAmazing isn't it. You can't just buy a pack of scissors on here but you can buy banned/illegal disposable barbecues by the 100.
sml192
·1 month agoThe fact that you have to be 18 or over to open an eBay account is irrelevant. It is the age of the buyer not the account holder that has to be verified and they are not necessarily the same person.
fargvs
·1 month agoDespite much ongoing discussion, arguments and appeals, the Knife policy restriction still appears for any item considered to have a sharp edge. point or a cutting blade (including scissors, hedge clippers, lawnmower blades, handsaws, screwdrivers etc.) ---
Currently only a ( monthly payment ) Credit Card entry to confirm your age is acceptable to eBay --- nothing else will do !! --- an everyday use Debit Card will not be accepted.
Do you have a friend or family member with a Credit Card who can buy on your behalf ?.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/knives-policy?id=5047&st=3&pos=1&qu...