I have gotten so MANY emails from sellers who have been contacted saying they talked to eBay and their listings are allowed and it's business as usual. PLEASE do not put your business in the hands of a CS rep! What they tell you ultimately means nothing if they don't have the right info-words are just words. Based on the many conflicting reports NOTHING is certain yet. STOP BEING OSTRICHES WITH YOUR HEADS IN THE SAND! If eBay allows spell cast or spirit bound jewelry it will be wonderful but it's looking more and more like it IS out. Come the end of the first week of September you could get so many listings pulled and the resulting policy violations your accounts could be suspended for good. Maybe THIS IS eBay's plan?
PLEASE NOTE: No Metaphysical seller is being excluded. We can only notify so many per day and I am using a Terapeak list of sellers sorted by sales amounts. Starting at the top and working down. There are HUNDREDS of Metaphysical sellers so this takes time. If you have not gotten a note to come here then no one has gotten to your name yet.
NOTE: Please see lists of eBay email addresses, fax #'s and phone numbers as well as all official Facebook pages on the Bombard Ebay post!
UPDATE: sent by jinnandtonics-Mon. Aug 13
From ebay FB - just now!
· · 29 minutes ago
llerinformation/news/fallupdat
eBay
Hi Lisa, as part of our latest Seller Release we announced the closing of some categories. Every year we restructure, close, and edit our categories to improve the shopping experience onsite. The Metaphysical category is going to be closed
at the end of the month, and items from that category will not be allowed to be listed onsite. More details can be found here: http://pages.ebay.com/se
e2012/categoryupdates.html?
ssPageName=
categoryupdatesABPost ~terri
This blog has been created so we merchants who offer metaphysical items on eBay can gather and coordinate how we will deal with the new rules issued by eBay taking effect on Aug.30, 2012. We can compare what eBay reps tell each of us, which has been conflicting information so far, and plan a course of action to mobilize all metaphysical sellers and our loyal customers to contact eBay if needed.
It seems even eBay is confused!
This was posted the evening of Aug. 9th--
The following items are also being added to the prohibited items list: advice; spells; curses; hexing; conjuring; magic; prayers; blessing services; magic potions; healing sessions; work from home businesses & information; wholesale lists, and drop shop lists.
This was posted the morning of Aug. 10th.
Items that will be prohibited include: advice; spells; curses; hexing; conjuring; magic services; prayers; blessings; Psychic, Tarot, Reiki, and other metaphysical readings & services; magic potions; healing sessions; work from home businesses & information; wholesale lists, and drop ship lists.
Ebay is discontinuing the categories below---supposedly because of a high number of complaints.
Discontinued categories:
- Metaphysical: Psychic, Paranormal > Readings
- Metaphysical: Psychic, Paranormal > Spells, Potions
- Metaphysical: Tarot Readings
From eBay Fall updates--
Category eliminations - Due to a large number of misclassified items and eBay policy violations, some categories will no longer be available on eBay starting the first week of September. Starting on August 30, 2012, attempts to list items in these categories will be blocked.
Transactions in these categories often result in issues between the buyer and seller that are difficult to resolve. To help build confidence in the marketplace for both buyers and sellers, eBay is discontinuing these categories and including the items on the list of prohibited items. The Digital delivered goods policy already covers all goods that can be downloaded from a website or received by email and includes requirements that items be listed in the Everything Else>Information Products category using only the Classified Ad format. By removing the Digital Art and Recipes categories we will be consistent in our enforcement of this existing policy.
Transactions in these categories often result in issues between the buyer and seller that are difficult to resolve. To help build confidence in the marketplace for both buyers and sellers, eBay is discontinuing these categories and including the items on the list of prohibited items. The Digital delivered goods policy already covers all goods that can be downloaded from a website or received by email and includes requirements that items be listed in the Everything Else>Information Products category using only the Classified Ad format. By removing the Digital Art and Recipes categories we will be consistent in our enforcement of this existing policy.
What is the last date I can list in these categories?
The last date you’ll be able to list in these categories is August 30, 2012.
What items will be prohibited?
Items that will be prohibited include: advice; spells; curses; hexing; conjuring; magic services; prayers; blessings; Psychic, Tarot, Reiki, and other metaphysical readings & services; magic potions; healing sessions; work from home businesses & information; wholesale lists, and drop ship lists.
How will sellers be affected?
The last date to list in these eliminated categories will be August 30, 2012 and sellers will no longer be able to sell these items on eBay. Sellers who continue to try to list prohibited inventory will risk having their items removed and could have their accounts suspended or removed.
Will my existing listings in these discontinued categories be removed?
You will need to remove any listings in these categories by the time the policy is enacted during the first week of September. eBay will terminate any listings not voluntarily removed or sold the first week of September.
What should I do if everything I sell on eBay now falls into the prohibited items list?
You will have until the first week of September to sell or remove any existing listings. If you sell digital images, digitally delivered goods, and wholesale lists, you can list them in Classified Ad format in the Everything Else>Information Products category. You will no longer be able to list or relist the rest of the items and any remaining listings will be removed.
Will my insertion fees be refunded if my category is discontinued?
If your listing was submitted and ended by eBay for any reason before August 30, your fees (including optional feature fees) will be refunded within 48 hours of the item being ended. You can see the refund in your Seller Account page.
If you remove a listing that will be prohibited in September and it was not listed as one of your 50 free listings per month, contact Customer Support for a refund of your insertion fees (not including optional feature fees).
If eBay removes a listing in September when a category is discontinued, your insertion fee (not including optional feature fees) will be automatically refunded and the listing will not be counted as one of your 50 free items for the month of September.
If you remove a listing that will be prohibited in September and it was not listed as one of your 50 free listings per month, contact Customer Support for a refund of your insertion fees (not including optional feature fees).
If eBay removes a listing in September when a category is discontinued, your insertion fee (not including optional feature fees) will be automatically refunded and the listing will not be counted as one of your 50 free items for the month of September.
Will eBay remove other categories in the future?
Other categories may be removed and items prohibited in the future if they are inconsistent with the spirit of eBay policies or impact the trustworthiness of the marketplace.
******************************************************************************
Sellers contacting eBay are getting a wide variety of answers when asking for clarification. (some being posted below in the comment section)
Some are told that it is only 'intangible items' being banned. Meaning listings where NOTHING is shipped but a service is performed. Direct cast spells, Reiki long distance healing, Prayers, Rituals, Candle Burnings, Psychic Readings, Channeling and the like. Tarot card readings are included too.
OTHERS are told that it is ANY mention of Magick, spells or spirits in any listing including those in the Metaphysical>Paranormal>Jewelry or Metaphysical>Paranormal>Other categories that have been left intact.
At least two were told that it would suffice to not mention 'Spell' or 'Magick' in the TITLE.
UPDATE:
this is to just give a synopsis of what eBay reps are telling people so far.
It is CERTAIN that any INTANGIBLE item that is not mailed is OUT. No direct cast spells, body bindings of spirits (conjures), readings of ANY type-psychic, tarot, aura, angel, etc..., distance energy work and healing, Reiki, rituals for any purpose, candle rituals, prayers, etc... ANYTHING NOT MAILED.
It seems what is in question is whether the term 'intangible' is being applied to energies (magick casting,spells, spirit bindings, blessings, energy empowerment's) placed on or already upon jewelry or other items making them become worth more than the actual intrinsic value of the item.
It has been stated by several eBay CS reps that this 'intangible' factor will NOT BE ALLOWED either.
Other eBay CS reps say anything in the metaphysical>paranormal>jewelry or metaphysical>paranormal>other is OK but there is conflicting info about whether this means adding spells and spirits to these pieces is OK.
Some CS reps say certain 'keywords' must not be used--'spirit', 'spell', 'enchantment', 'haunted', 'psychic', 'reading', 'potion', are some being mentioned. Some CS reps feel taking these words out of the title alone is sufficient others say they must not be used in the listing at ALL.
So what is needed now is a final clarification on the points above. We know the two categories of 'metaphysical-paranormal-jewelry' and 'metaphysical-paranormal-other' are remaining for now (but some hint not for long) BUT how we can use these categories is in question.
WE NEED CLARIFICATION BEFORE THE DEADLINE.
Each listing eBay might remove can be considered a policy violation and too many policy violations lead to suspension or limiting of even our compliant listings and our ID's.
UPDATE:8/13/12
From ebay FB - just now!
· · 29 minutes ago
llerinformation/news/fallupdat
eBay
Hi Lisa, as part of our latest Seller Release we announced the closing of some categories. Every year we restructure, close, and edit our categories to improve the shopping experience onsite. The Metaphysical category is going to be closed
at the end of the month, and items from that category will not be allowed to be listed onsite. More details can be found here: http://pages.ebay.com/se
e2012/categoryupdates.html?
ssPageName=
