Weekly Chat with the eBay Community Team- 05.03.25 @2pm

[community-team@ebay]

Hi everybody!

The Community Chat will open at 2pm and will remain open until 3pm on Wednesday. After that it will be closed for further questions. Of course, we will continue to take care of answering any questions that may still be unanswered—We’ll get to everything as quickly as possible.

Please ask your questions in the thread below. In order to be able to answer your questions as quickly as possible, we ask you to have one question per post. Of course, you can make as many posts as you like in the Chat- the more the merrier!

Our eBay Community Team is made up of kat@ebay , dave@ebay and marco@ebay . Between us, we have knowledge in Buying, Selling, Fulfilment, Payments, and the Community itself. Anything we aren’t sure on we’ll know the people who will be! Please ask us any questions you may have and we’ll do all we can to support. We understand that certain topics, such as concerns about businesses possibly using private accounts, can be frustrating and important to you. Please refrain from asking the same question repeatedly in our weekly live chats. We assure you that we carefully review all posts in the forum and ensure that your concerns are communicated to the relevant teams for appropriate action.
To maintain a constructive and community environment, posts that repeatedly breach this guideline may be removed. Continued violations could result in further action against your community account. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding in helping us keep our community focused and respectful.

To ask your question, click Reply in the lower-right corner of this post, type your question, and click Reply between 2pm and 3pm. The community team will answer each incoming question in chronological order and will quote the original question in each answer.

Please note that any reply without a question to the community team or discussion replies may be removed from the chat. We want to keep on track to get through as many questions as possible. We welcome all discussion to be moved to the discussion boards.

If you missed the weekly chat time, please ask your question in the community boards and tag us or we will be back next week with another chat!

Many thanks,

Your eBay Community Team

[kat@ebay]

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@custom-giftsuk wrote:

Thank you Kat for clarifying that, because we know of several dozen listings that violate that guidance you have just given us but I think its because it'll pick up American phrases and not UK phrases, because I can point you in the direction of half a dozen right now that would be classed as offensive in the UK but would be unknown in the US (ie my earlier example). 

But can I ask a further question - if I as a seller want to sell an item and the item that has options of a physical item or digital download and as per eBay rules “Electronically delivered items need to be listed in the Everything Else > Information Products category in the classified ad format.”, what categories would I have to list in? So for example I wanted to sell a pair of gloves and I offered a picture of the gloves which would be digitally delivered – what categories would I list in or must it be two separate listings? If you wonder why anyone would want just a picture of the gloves instead of the gloves this would enable me to have the listing price of 99p and an actual price of £9.99 but because the way the search engine works – it will give priority to items that are extremely cheap despite not actually being the item itself or would this be considered “search and browse manipulation”? 

---

Hi @custom-giftsuk ,

As gloves would normally be associated as a physical item and in the clothing category this is making your example confusing. If you have an item id that you are seeing that is in breach of search and browse policy?

Thank you,

Kat

[pauuk.35za36]

There is currently a major issue in that GSP is not working for all private sellers - why has there been no announcement regarding this? Especially given that it has been going on for weeks now. This will be having a major impact upon sales transactions so I am surprised that it has not been immediately resolved.

[bojangled]

Hello community team

Why is there such disparity between private sellers and business sellers with shop listing allowance?

If I’m on a basic shop subscription as a business my BIN allowance is 3,000 listings.

Yet private sellers get a rotating 400 BIN, equivalent to 4,800. 

Jo

[custom-giftsuk]

I can provide many examples - but gloves was a metaphor. I'd happily provide many many item numbers but would not care to post on here, as said sellers would know of the issues I'm asking in regards. If you wish I can do so via private message.

[british-ceramics-and-paintings]

Good afternoon,

For those of us who are moving our business onto other platforms etc can you offer us any hope that there will be any good news for business sellers in the very near future ?

[custom-giftsuk]

Last for today - I asked a question earlier about seller company details & I asked last week about sellers having multiple accounts and selling the same items on those accounts and Marco was extremely helpful in answering stating that “That would be duplicating listings, basically. So, this wouldn't be allowed.” And Kat stating today that sellers with false or incorrect business details should be reported and that certain words are not permitted and should be checked manually by CS staff.

Is there a route to report these sellers, apart from the report seller tool, which like the report item tool is pretty much a waste of time. I’ve spoken to members of eBay CS as well as a member of the management team this morning and, I’m shortening it here and paraphrasing, they all without exception shrugged their shoulders and said “and what do you want us to do about it?”.

Is there any way to actually be able to place a report/complain that would actually be effective or actioned? When reporting items these days, every report will come back with “Computer says no” and I do mean that literally as the AI bots will just refuse any report, no matter in what aspect a report is issued – it’ll come back no. For example I reported an two items that literally had swastikas and people doing a seig heil salute and I reported it and the AI bot came back and said no it didn’t breach rules despite the items being a breach of eBay rules not to mention illegal in certain parts of Europe where they sell to. Several reports have gone out against items with offensive text in the title and items yet every report came back as a “no”, even speaking to members of eBay CS who wont even repeat the words used on the items – they issue reports and nothing is done.

In fact when I asked this morning in regards an issue I was told that if these sellers have been doing it for years, it pretty much means that they have gotten away with the rule breaches and when I asked if I could do the same as these sellers to even the playing field, I was told no because it’s a breach of eBay rules. 

So is there an effective way to report items/sellers that will actually result in action being taken and if so would you care to let us know?

[marco@ebay]

---

@sellingmystuff642 wrote:

The buyer protection fee and delay in issuing payments are ruining ebay for private sellers - interest in items and sales are well down in previous months - yet ebay seem oblivious to this and don't seem to care. There is no incentive to list items if they aren't selling and no smooth process for receiving funds for postag when they are being held on to. Is ebay likely to change its policies if they prove unpopular?

---

Hi sellingmystuff642, thanks for your question.

While I understand where you're coming from, it is unlikely that this would be changed. At least not for the moment, should this change, we would let you know. However, I see you're not happy with the recent changes, so I will pass on your thoughts on it.

Thank you,

Marco

[ccla3379]

Hi there,

I had a good, fast, response to a phishing message circulating inside the eBay messaging system and was wondering if it might be at all possible for the system which scans and recognises exchange of personal details between buyers and sellers could also be trained to pickup when people are pretending to be the eBay support team?

Just a thought.  Keep up the great work.

[lincolnshiremarine]

Please can I ask why this listing has been removed.  I cannot see what is not allowed it is a plastic fuel filter kit (with no fuel in it), it is new.

Item 196893937180

ID: 2-191296577882

Please can you explain in detail why this is not allowed, and I would be grateful not to receive a generic eBay response.

Best wishes 

[dave@ebay]

---

@pauuk.35za36 wrote:

There is currently a major issue in that GSP is not working for all private sellers - why has there been no announcement regarding this? Especially given that it has been going on for weeks now. This will be having a major impact upon sales transactions so I am surprised that it has not been immediately resolved.

---

Hi @pauuk.35za36 

There is an open tech issue for this at the moment but I don't have an update yet. If you have any examples, you can PM me the item numbers and I'll add them to the tech report. 

Thanks,

Dave

[marco@ebay]

---

@a45heaven wrote:

Thanks for replying -

It's as much if not a greater problem to the Buyers - whose confidence in ebay is greatly eroded with the inability to buy something they desire- who get strikes for none payment, and have their wins / multi buys cancelled waiting on the system being repaired.

Most suitable sellers have narratives regarding Combining Postage as you would know.

I am assuming it is a system  'break down' and not a trial, or future direction for ebay?

---

Thanks for your reply, a45heaven.

We haven't been confirmed about any changes around this, but again as usual, we would let you know in advance if this is something we are changing. For the moment, it is an issue from our end, and as advised before, we are working towards it to have it resolved.

Thank you,

Marco

[kat@ebay]

---

@bojangled wrote:

Hello community team

Why is there such disparity between private sellers and business sellers with shop listing allowance?

If I’m on a basic shop subscription as a business my BIN allowance is 3,000 listings.

Yet private sellers get a rotating 400 BIN, equivalent to 4,800. 

Jo

---

Hi @bojangled ,

I appreciate the listing allowance can work out like that with automatic renewals.  Private sellers listing allowance was decreased  in 2024. The 400 is the set allowance for the basic shop at the moment. While we don't have any details of this being changed I will share this feedback with our policy team.

Thank you,

Kat

[returns_andexdisplay]

Why can't ebay itemize return credits as recently noticed a increase in false item not as described return claims where there is nothing wrong with the item. But the report buyer for false claim does not match the return credit.  

[dave@ebay]

---

@british-ceramics-and-paintings wrote:

Good afternoon,

For those of us who are moving our business onto other platforms etc can you offer us any hope that there will be any good news for business sellers in the very near future ?

---

Hi @british-ceramics-and-paintings 

The Announcements board is kept up to date with any sharable information that we have on upcoming releases. At the moment there is nothing extra that I can share but as soon as we have more will let you know. 

Thanks,

Dave

[lincolnshiremarine]

marco@ebay 

You will see that Dave had been given examples with this issue from @ruby*ryan, and I did provide a  transaction number.

We have just wasted another week, when we thought someone was looking into this and they are not. 

Do eBay now want us to put one transaction item, in one box, and then put another transaction item in another box and buy two separate postage labels when it is going to the same seller?  This is not very environmentally friendly nor cost effective is it?  Please do not say that sellers have not been able to add tracking numbers onto multiple orders, they have.

Thank you and best wishes 

[marco@ebay]

---

@custom-giftsuk wrote:

Last for today - I asked a question earlier about seller company details & I asked last week about sellers having multiple accounts and selling the same items on those accounts and Marco was extremely helpful in answering stating that “That would be duplicating listings, basically. So, this wouldn't be allowed.” And Kat stating today that sellers with false or incorrect business details should be reported and that certain words are not permitted and should be checked manually by CS staff.

Is there a route to report these sellers, apart from the report seller tool, which like the report item tool is pretty much a waste of time. I’ve spoken to members of eBay CS as well as a member of the management team this morning and, I’m shortening it here and paraphrasing, they all without exception shrugged their shoulders and said “and what do you want us to do about it?”.

Is there any way to actually be able to place a report/complain that would actually be effective or actioned? When reporting items these days, every report will come back with “Computer says no” and I do mean that literally as the AI bots will just refuse any report, no matter in what aspect a report is issued – it’ll come back no. For example I reported an two items that literally had swastikas and people doing a seig heil salute and I reported it and the AI bot came back and said no it didn’t breach rules despite the items being a breach of eBay rules not to mention illegal in certain parts of Europe where they sell to. Several reports have gone out against items with offensive text in the title and items yet every report came back as a “no”, even speaking to members of eBay CS who wont even repeat the words used on the items – they issue reports and nothing is done.

In fact when I asked this morning in regards an issue I was told that if these sellers have been doing it for years, it pretty much means that they have gotten away with the rule breaches and when I asked if I could do the same as these sellers to even the playing field, I was told no because it’s a breach of eBay rules. 

So is there an effective way to report items/sellers that will actually result in action being taken and if so would you care to let us know?

---

Hi custom-giftsuk, thanks for your reply.

Last week, you've asked "Can I also ask if its allowable to have 2 different accounts, with the same VAT number, same company number, same business name selling the exact same items as each other but with a slightly different email address?" and I replied saying "That would be duplicating listings, basically. So, this wouldn't be allowed."

Today, you've asked Kat "what information is required to show on their listings?". Which is different a different question, and Kat replied with the information you need to provide. 

So to clarify your question, is not allowed to duplicate listings. However, you are required to enter your business information as per our policies in order to be in compliance.

Thank you,

Marco

[technthread]

Will eBay consider feedback notifications? I would find it useful and it should increase feedback participation. Anyone who doesn’t want it could just turn it off. Thanks 

[kat@ebay]

---

@custom-giftsuk wrote:

I can provide many examples - but gloves was a metaphor. I'd happily provide many many item numbers but would not care to post on here, as said sellers would know of the issues I'm asking in regards. If you wish I can do so via private message.

---

Hi @custom-giftsuk ,

We would not be able take any action on listings. The best route for these is to report them through the site.

Thank you,

Kat

[marco@ebay]

---

@returns_andexdisplay wrote:

Why can't ebay itemize return credits as recently noticed a increase in false item not as described return claims where there is nothing wrong with the item. But the report buyer for false claim does not match the return credit.  

---

Hi returns_andexdisplay, thanks for your input.

I can see what you mean, so I will pass this on to the relevant team as feedback, so this can be taken into consideration. However, please note that this doesn't necessarily means that it would be implemented.

Thank you,

Marco

[marco@ebay]

---

@lincolnshiremarine wrote:

marco@ebay 

You will see that Dave had been given examples with this issue from @ruby*ryan, and I did provide a  transaction number.

We have just wasted another week, when we thought someone was looking into this and they are not. 

Do eBay now want us to put one transaction item, in one box, and then put another transaction item in another box and buy two separate postage labels when it is going to the same seller?  This is not very environmentally friendly nor cost effective is it?  Please do not say that sellers have not been able to add tracking numbers onto multiple orders, they have.

Thank you and best wishes 

---

Thanks for your reply, lincolnshiremarine.

Yes, I can see that the user in question has said that above, and Dave has acknowledged it. However, reports are sent separately, but don't worry as we report everything you flag with us straightaway. Once we find out more about this, we will let you know.

Thank you,

Marco