Listing ended by eBay due to 'violation'...
Summary: tigermike53 shared their frustration after eBay ended their listing for adding a link to the manufacturer's website, which eBay saw as a policy violation. Other participants, including mr_buttock, reported similar experiences, emphasizing challenges with eBay's automated enforcement of policies. Some responders, like cobwebcottage and *vyolla*, highlighted eBay's strict no external links policy, explaining it as a security measure. tigermike53 expressed dissatisfaction with the automated processes, arguing that such measures overlook the intentions of sellers aiming to provide detailed product information.
Today, after over 22 years on eBay with a consistent 100% Feedback rating, I had a listing ended by eBay as a result of a so-called violation.
My sin ?
I had added a link to the manufacturer's own website for prospective buyers to view my item's technical specifications.
eBay interpreted this as an attempt, by me to circumvent their selling rules and somehow sell offsite.
Now my listing has been arbitrarily ended and I have potentially lost buyers who had added my listing to their 'watch list'.
It was a ten-day auction, designed to end next Sunday evening - so now I shall have to start all over again.
Has anyone else experienced this ?
Please let me know as it seems grossly unfair to me.
*vyolla*
·2 weeks agoYou can't add links to third party websites. It's a potential security issue. Somebody could place a dodgy link in their listing spoofed to look like a genuine one. That's why eBay don't permit links to third party websites.
To protect our members, listings or products can’t contain links that direct customers to a site other than eBay, even if the link is not clickable.
While there are some exceptions, listings or item descriptions can't contain links that direct customers to any other site.
Taken from this eBay guidance page:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/listing-policies/links-policy?id=4248&st=3&pos=7&query=Links%20...
cobwebcottage
·2 weeks agoQuite easy to find the policy and realise why your listing was removed. A quick search...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/listing-policies/links-policy?id=4248
roger_roger_over_and_nowt
·2 weeks agohttps://www.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/listing-policies/links-policy?id=4248
tigermike53
OP2 weeks agoThanks for getting back to me.
You need to speak to an agent.
I was able to get one to call me back this morning, Chester, who agreed with me and promised that my appeal would be expedited quickly - but it could take up to 48 hours. My issue seems to mirror yours, a link to a manufacture's own site cannot possibly be interpreted as an attempt to violate eBay's system.
I think its an AI issue. And it has not learned the difference between offering prospective buyers as much info as possible and trying to cheat the system.
AI should learn the old adage - it can 20 years to build a reputation and 20 seconds to destroy it.
By handing over governance of its platform to AI, eBay risks exactly that - alienating long-standing members who's only wish is to do the right thing by their customers.
I linked a pair of LEKI poles I have to their own site for buyers to see all the technical information as well as to authenticate mine as genuine. There is absolutely no way that, by doing so, any prospective buyer could purchase my used LEKI hiking poles through them.
And not even a new pair...why ?
Because they are OUT OF STOCK !
Yet another reason to drive that buyer straight back to my listing and buy what I correctly described as an 'almost new' pair at £45 less than the RRP.
A human eBay executive line manager would grasp the sense of this immediately.
As for a robot.....duhhhh !
jonatjonatjonat
·2 weeks agoMy issue seems to mirror yours, a link to a manufacture's own site cannot possibly be interpreted as an attempt to violate eBay's system
Yes it can. Because the policy is no links off ebay. Was your link off ebay? Yes. Hence it broke the policy.
4_bathrooms
·2 weeks agoHere is eBay's links policy for future reference.
cobwebcottage
·2 weeks agoAdding external links is not allowed. As you have found out.
mr_buttock
·2 weeks agoThis just happened to me, added a link to the manufacturers website so buyers can see where it came from - Auction was then ended due to a so called policy violation. Click on Resolve listing and it says it can't be resolved as it has ended. Opened an appeal but I'm now thinking it would be quicker to start again.