An interesting video, but I'm not convinced that they know what they are talking about.
In particular, their idea that "placed on the market" means the first time the item was listed on eBay, or their assumption that eBay is going to apply the rules in a staggered way - so that a listing first started in 2020 will not have the rules applied, for instance.
And really, leaving things till next year (though it is a neat and quick solution) won't really solve the basic problem with second hand and vintage goods.
Here is a selection of the stuff I sell:
- a glass condiment set.
- some snapshots of an unidentified nun.
- various old horse brasses.
- a handmade christening robe.
- an anthology of classic poetry.
- a starched wing collar.
- a collection of pen nibs.
- a straw hat.
- a pottery vase signed "Michael".
Most don't have manufacturer's names. None have manufacturing dates (not even the book). Compliance is literally impossible.
The options, realistically, are:
- ignore it and see what happens.
- list all the items as made by Nemo, Nusquam Way, Terra Incognita, pick a manufacturing date at random, and make up some safety information along the lines of "DO NOT EAT THIS ITEM OR USE IT TO ATTACK ANYONE (even if they do work for the EU Regulatory department)."
- block sales to the EU and Northern Ireland until the directive is revised or falls into disuse.
- spend the rest of my life researching the current contact details of unknown firms and burial places of anonymous individuals who probably died half a century ago and didn't mark their goods in any way, for items that will yield a couple of pounds apiece in profit.
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Cesario, the Count's gentleman
