Is Selling Links Allowed on eBay

John_T_5

I have had a look through eBays rules but I can't find anything about this, I have come across a seller who seems to have flooded one section of eBay with listings selling links.

This is very annonying, since they have started doing it my sales have plummeted on this item, and strangely enough the number of watchers of the items I sell seems to have soared, but my items are no longer selling.

As far as I can determine the person is selling links to websites that are offering free samples rather than full size items that I am selling.

soolin

Selling links is not specifically banned, however look for other breaches you can report him for. For example, sellers are only allowed 10 identical listings, so if he has more (and they must be identical) report him for that.

Also, if he is selling, for instance, links to camera sales but in the camera section report him for that as it is the wrong category. Links are links, actual items are 'real' and they should not be in the same selling category.

If he is actually attempting to mislead or to scam ie by pretending to be selling something he isn't, report him for that as well.

Soo

John_T_5

Thanks Soolin for your advice, I have reported all of their listings, followed all the procedures and in typical eBay fashion so far they have done nothing, is 6 hours a reasonable time to expect them to take action or am I being too optimistic?

At the last count they have 70 identical listings selling links, and I spotted a further 30 odd that have since expired earlier today.

soolin

John_T wrote:

is 6 hours a reasonable time to expect them to take action or am I being too optimistic?

.

You should see something happen in about 12 hours if you are a power seller or several days if you are not

John_T_5

So I guess I am wasting my time then as my listings will have expired in a few days by the time they actually get round to taking action against them if at all.

Oh well thanks Soolin for your help.

Graham_Devon

Theres nothing wrong with it really. As long as the seller is stating that they are selling a link, then it's just competition for your listings really.

frivolous_fay

It is wrong (in my opinion) - if I go to browse the PSP section, I want to see PSPs in it, not links. Why should I have to trawl through the fine print of every single auction just to find out if I'm buying something tangible?

Graham_Devon

frivolous_fay wrote:

It is wrong (in my opinion) - if I go to browse the PSP section, I want to see PSPs in it, not links. Why should I have to trawl through the fine print of every single auction just to find out if I'm buying something tangible?

You should do that anyway.

Its annoying yes, I totally agree, but not wrong. They are selling a link, and probably have PSP in the title. It would be wrong say, if they were selling a link to shampoo, in the PSP section.

soolin

Graham_Devon wrote:

Theres nothing wrong with it really. As long as the seller is stating that they are selling a link, then it's just competition for your listings really.

It might not seem wrong but since ebay do not allow items to be sold in the wrong category then it will be pulled (eventually). Links are not tangible goods and should not be sold in those categories.

Soo

frivolous_fay

Rules is rules, if you break them, you're doing something 'wrong'.

Even if they're ebay rules.

John_T_5

After having spoken to Soolin initially I did some more research and it is in breach of eBays t & c to sell intangible items.

I am all for competition if it is on an even playing field, but they have simply taken advantage of a 10p listing day to do a blitz of identical listings none of them are actually selling anything other than a list of links to websites where people can apply to get a sample, not the actual item.

I don't care that much about what they are selling but it is in the wrong place and any potential buyers will have to trawl through their dross in the hope of finding real articles for sale and most people will give up because they would get the impression that only what they are listing is available.