I know there has been no update here for a while but that was partially because many updates were in comments plus many of us have been communicating privately by email. I realize now that many sellers are not in that email chain and are feeling alone and confused, angry and disgusted-or to speak plain-JUST PLAIN P*SSED OFF!
So-the 'Day' has come and gone and the worst has happened! Ebay as some of us feared all along, has decided that
NO spirited or spelled items are to be allowed.
This is in direct conflict with what many of you have been told by different CS reps all month but as I warned-NEVER believe what a CS Rep tells you because many of them know less about eBay policy than many of us.
Many of you have had listings pulled, some of you have voluntarily removed your listings to avoid policy violations and yes, some of you still have listings going. But not for long the way things look.
Ebay is removing several hundred to several thousand a day. They are not just mass 'slaughtering' us but are taking their time. My best guess is that they are running keyword scans and then checking and pulling the results.
The emails being received are mostly canned responses though I have seen a bit of differences between several sent me.
The main body though says this and some sellers are getting the added portion in red at the bottom---
Unfortunately, we had to remove your listing because of the following:
You listed an item which is “haunted” and/or includes a spell which intangible magical effects.
eBay has made the decision to no longer allow items with intangible attributes – such as haunted items or those which have had spells cast upon them. This is why we removed the category that these items were once listed in.
As such, we ask that you do not relist these items.
You can sell items which are used in spells such as sage or athames; however, the items you sell cannot include any promises of intangible attributes such as wealth, love, or any other "spell" effects.
The purpose of the eBay Web site is to enable members to buy and sell items from each other. Listings that do not offer an item for sale through the site, or that are designed for any other purpose, are not permitted. For example, listings for invisible or intangible items are not permitted. Buyers should be able to verify the existence of an item they bought when they receive it.
For more information on this eBay policy, please visit:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-no-item.html
Important: The next time you sell, you may be asked to take a tutorial. Once you've completed the tutorial successfully, please review your account status for any other possible concerns. If there are no other issues, you should be able to sell again.
Please note: violation of this or other eBay policies may result in forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings, limits on account privileges and account suspension.
Your listing(s) may be eligible for relisting through My eBay. If your listing is eligible, you will see the listing in your Unsold Items page within My eBay. Listings that are not eligible for relisting will not be visible in the Unsold Items page.
To relist your item, sign in to eBay, go to My eBay to your Unsold items, and select the item that was canceled -- it's highlighted with a yellow banner. Before relisting, please make any changes necessary to ensure that your revised listing is in compliance with the law and eBay policies. You might want to check your other listings for similar violations as well.
You can review our listing removal policies and seller rules by clicking the links at the end of this email.
Make sure your future listings follow these guidelines. If they don't, they may be removed, and you may be subject to a range of other actions, including restrictions of your buying and selling privileges and suspension of your account.
We appreciate your understanding.
If you have any more questions, contact our policy experts. Get started by clicking the link below.
http://contact.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ContactCS&Query=1387&Domain=Homer_EOA&From=163949
Thanks,
eBay
So this pretty much tells us that all the CS reps, the ebay spokesperson and the person from the president's office who said certain intangible attributes were allowed as long as no excessive value was put on them, were lying through their teeth or just ignorant of eBay's real policy--or both!
I see these statements above as the 'death knell' for ALL things metaphysical. I'm sure Crystal Healing/Energy will be the next to go. If a buyer gets a piece of jewelry with a spell or spirit and can't "
verify the existence of an item they bought when they receive it" then how does that work with a crystal and it's 'intangible' energy attributes?
Now we have to adapt or move on. Ebay is NOT going to allow any spells or spirit bound items anymore. You can
try and get by like many of you have, moving to other categories, offering the energy attachment for free, changing the wording to use alternate terms, etc.... but that is only going to buy you a few days at most and possibly a suspension if eBay gets tired of the 'game'. Plus there are always those few eager to turn you in for violating policy.
Many of us have moved to other venues. Some to our own websites, others to one of the many 'meta' marketing sites popping up. Some are on Bonanza, some on Etsy, some on Artfire, etc.... Sadly a lot of splintering going on. We need ONE good site with lots of traffic of both meta buyers and others too. Some vote for eBid, some Bonanza, etc... no real consensus yet.
The bottom line is that your sales will not be as good as on eBay for a long time, if ever, and you must work to build a business and pull in your clientele all over again.
Am I being negative yes, but in my defense I'm tired. Tired of eBay and their lies, tired of the press belittling us, tired of working 18 hour plus days to redo all over again our business from virtual scratch, tired and angry enough to take that athame and sage bundle eBay says I can 'legally' sell, and use one to poke the idiot execs who thought up this ban in the eye and shove the other one up their ignorant behinds. Which item goes where is still up in the air but I guarantee you I'd light the sage bundle first no matter where I was going to use it!
The current focus is on getting our items, which you love, to a safe place where you can find them. We understand it can be unsettling to experience sudden changes. However, we want you to feel assured we are all still here for you. You can rely on our strength and know that you will continue to experience the same dedicated customer services you have come to love. We are all very excited for these transformations are bringing great blessings. Look forward to finding us in our new locations and with great anticipation believe that great things are on their way!
