Private seller can list syringes but business seller can't.
Summary: primeseasons, a business seller with a long history on eBay, encountered issues when selling syringes with needles, which led to listing removals and warnings from eBay. Despite following guidance to list syringes without mentioning needles, the listings were repeatedly removed, while a private seller continued to sell similar items without repercussions. Participants discussed the inconsistencies in eBay's enforcement of policies against medical equipment like needles. Suggestions included reporting the issue to Trading Standards and discussing possible discrepancies in eBay's automated systems. Frustration was expressed about the lack of resolution from eBay's customer service.
Hi all,
Need advice as eBay customer service are pretty much useless, I'm a business seller and have been selling for nearly 18 years on eBay, and have 100% feedback (like to keep my customers happy), I sell all-sorts and whatever comes by I sell, I came across syringes with needles, I had them listed and sold many (over 100 in packs off 10), me assuming this is great I will order a big batch, so ordered bulk from China (5000 needles but selling in packs off 10).
Then I started getting violations and had my listing removed, me thinking why as everyone is selling these, so I listed it back online without showing the needle (assuming that was the issue), but no, few days later it gets removed again, frustrated as I was I contacted customer support and they said I can list them back on if I mention there is no needle, I did just that and still got removed, and this time I was being reported by others, so I started reporting them and there listing were getting removed as needles are not allowed, as they were getting removed once reported I notice 1 particular seller who is selling needles as a private seller (sold over 1000) with needles being shown in picture and needles being mentioned in description and mentioning its for Mounjaro, now this is violation so I had reported him, eBay have sent me an email saying yes its removed, but it wasn't, reported again and same wasn't removed, I then contacted eBay and they said yes we will remove it, few weeks later its still there and I reported him and his item only to have an email to say his item is not in violation and kept it on even to this day.
Now how is this fair for a private seller to sell needles without any repercussion and me a business seller (who now have a warning if listed again I will get banned for 3 days) be allowed this, even though I listed my item up for crafts use only.
Any advice would be helpful as I am stuck with this batch I had ordered.
primeseasons
OP1 month agoSo his way off not getting detected by AI bots is in his item specifics he has put down 'Luer lock tip', which means no needle, yet he puts down needle in description and also has the image off the needle, how is the AI bot and a human agent not seeing this.
primeseasons
OP1 month ago188368185673
Here is there listing
primeseasons
OP1 month agoeBay is very reluctant in removing, but remove others I report quite easily.
jonatjonatjonat
·1 month agoPrivate seller has sold nearly 1,500 of them.
@marco@ebay - another absolute mockery of ebays Private Seller policy.
Or is it a collection of needles?
primeseasons
OP1 month agoselling as a pack of 5
cobwebcottage
·1 month agoReported and received confirmation that the listing will be removed.
primeseasons
OP1 month agoI had this done many times, even got a confirmation after saying its being removed within 24hours, but still there after.
cobwebcottage
·1 month ago@primeseasons it's already gone. Follow the seller so you can see if they try to change it to a similar listing.
cobwebcottage
·1 month agoArghh! It's back again after refreshing. I will wait eagerly for 24 hours to pass.
the_brick_lodge
·1 month agoYou've got more chance of winning the lottery than getting a reply from the staff on this.
jonatjonatjonat
·1 month agoProbably true. Says it all really. More likely that all of this is actually removed for naming and shaming a user who is breaking multiple eBay policies. And UK laws!
Yet currently bay are removing the business I work fora own listings. They are needle files. Not needles. DIY files that are small, hence the name
ett1954
·1 month agoIf the seller is private they will be using simple delivery. To sell needles requires an age-verification postal service and I don't believe simple delivery has one. If that is the case report the matter to your local Trading Standards department. That will be the quickest way to get them removed.
*vyolla*
·1 month agoeBay's Medical devices and equipment policy is clear that needles can't be listed, without seeing the other listing I can't tell you how they're getting around this:
The following medical equipment and related products, which can be abused for unlawful purposes, are not permitted:
Items or devices that could be abused to facilitate the manufacture of illegal drugs or pharmaceutical products
Needles, with or without a disposable syringe
cobwebcottage
·1 month agoAnd the usual reply from Ebay, 2 seconds ago:
'Thanks again for reporting the listing(s) you found.
We looked into your report and didn’t find the listing to be in violation of our policy. This determination was made by a customer service agent.'
cobwebcottage
·1 month agoIdentical listing reported from a different account.
Outcome:
We looked into your report and removed the content. It may take up to 24 hours for it to reflect on the site. This determination was made by a customer service agent.
So inconsistent!
*vyolla*
·1 month agoTotally not surprised!
cobwebcottage
·1 month agoMy opinion is that all syringes with needles should be banned and only purchased from behind the counter at a chemist.
If they can ban pastry forks for being dangerous items then goodness only knows what these can be used for.
primeseasons
OP1 month agoWhich is fair play, I was advised buy customer service that needles are not allowed but are abit slow in taking them down, but why is this specific seller immune to this, selling thousands and is protected by eBay.