13-01-2025 6:13 PM
I was scrolling through Ebay looking for Sharpie pens. I came across several listings which were using the brand name to sell their non-branded, similar looking items. Ebay is inundated with these kind of misleading title descriptions so I did the right thing to 'keep Ebay a safe place' and took the time to report 3 of the many listings (I was testing Ebay's responses). They were all violating Ebay's policy on keyword spamming/misuse of brand names. Not in the least surprised, I get the replies I expected, that Ebay did not agree they violated their own policies!!! (I tried to copy and paste the response, but would not let me as claimed errors were contained!!! Yeah - TOO RIGHT!!!
I understand AI being used, but it is simply not intelligent or sophisticated enough in this situation and unfit for purpose. There is no option provided to appeal the decision. So how do we keep Ebay a safe place for all?
18-07-2025 3:21 PM
You would be surprised how many give away their general location within their description.
"Two have already been taken down and waiting for the rest still." - Well done, I applaud you for that. I would note, although you probably know this, that confectionary does not fall under the same regulations.
I have reported several private food sellers over the last six months. None were removed so I have now given up reporting to eBay. Since I have reported my concerns of another private seller to the relevant authorities due to the potential health issues concerning an allergen I knew was in the product but not identified in their listing. A week later they were no longer selling on eBay.
"The other side of reporting them, is just because they have a private account, does not mean that they don't have the certifications in place. " - I agree; like 'private' business sellers they are playing the system and eBay's lack of enforcing their own policies.
"So that then leaves those sellers that want to make a couple of quid and it's really just a hobby. They are the ones that haven't even thought to check about food safety etc. But more than likely, the smallest issue." - On that I disagree. An example: Only a small residue of certain allergens (e.g. nuts) can be fatal to someone at the top end of susceptibility to nut allergy and whilst it is unlikely that such a person is unlikely to make that purchase themselves they can be introduced to it innocently through a third party.
The UK has some of the strictest food handling and hygiene controls in the world and ignorance of the rules and requirements should not be used as an excuse to 'do your own thing'; especially when, as in examples expressed on these boards, there is an easy solution to ensure that people can buy food safely in the knowledge, or otherwise, that they are purchasing from an approved food manufacturer.
18-07-2025 4:05 PM
On that I disagree. An example: Only a small residue of certain allergens (e.g. nuts) can be fatal to someone at the top end of susceptibility to nut allergy and whilst it is unlikely that such a person is unlikely to make that purchase themselves they can be introduced to it innocently through a third party.
You misunderstand what I meant by that. Just that it was smallest part of the problem, not that it still couldn't cause a big issue to a person.
18-07-2025 4:56 PM
@ett1954 wrote:
The UK has some of the strictest food handling and hygiene controls in the world
And some of the most toothless enforcers. eBay isn't willing to police anything on their site - even if such policing only requires a bit of common sense - unless some government department, agency or body forces them to. eBay aren't even interested in policing their own policies even when doing so would be financially beneficial for them.
A good case in point is e-bikes and e-scooters. Until last year eBay - along with the other marketplaces and social media platforms - was teeming with the things; most of which would have been illegal to ride on any public path or highway. It wasn't until the London Fire Brigade kept issuing alerts due to a high number of fires and some deaths being caused by dodgy e-bike batteries and chargers that the OPSS did anything about it. eBay subsequently agreed that only approved business sellers would be able to sell them - with a mandatory disclaimer at the bottom of each listing - whilst used e-bike batteries were prohibited for all sellers.
The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill - which is currently awaiting Royal Assent - is intended to address some of the issues raised in this thread by placing additional responsibilities on online marketplaces. I'll certainly be keeping an eye on how compliance and enforcement actually works once it becomes an act.