I hate E-bay

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Daemon688

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I tried to sell an AK-47 cleaning kit on e-bay only to have it removed. I thought it would be ok, so I sent an e-mail asking why. Here's the response I got.

________________________________________________________________
Hello,

Thank you for writing eBay.

I have reviewed the item in question and have determined it was removed
correctly. Your item was reviewed by an eBay customer support
representative, who found the auction to be in violation of our
policies. Accessories for assault weapons (including cleaning kits for
the AK-47) are not allowed on eBay.

eBay has recently revised its Firearms Policy so that the sale of any
assault weapon-related parts or accessories will no longer be permitted.
This will apply to all parts and accessories related to any firearm
defined as an "assault weapon" by either Federal or California law. In
addition, the sale of any firearm receiver or firearm frame will not be
permitted. While this policy has always been in place, this ban will now
also include complete receivers and frames, components and parts of
receivers and frames, "cut", "80%", or "partially complete" receivers.

The primary reason that eBay has changed its policy is that various
state and federal laws are particularly complex when it comes to
regulating, and even defining, assault weapons parts and accessories.
What is legal in one jurisdiction may be illegal in another, and as the
category grew, it became increasingly difficult for us to enforce a
consistent policy. To keep our community from inadvertently violating a
firearms law, and to simplify our enforcement into a policy that would
be fair and consistent to all sellers, we took the step of banning all
parts and accessories related to assault weapons. This decision was made
purely to help protect our community from inadvertently violating
firearms laws, and for enforcement reasons. eBay takes no position on
the gun control issue. eBay will continue to allow the sale of hunting
rifle parts and accessories because the laws surrounding the sale of
these items are much simpler and thus easier to enforce.

We appreciate your patience and understanding regarding this matter, and
wish you continued success on eBay.

Regards,

Guillermo
Community Watch Team
eBay Trust & Safety
________________________________________________________________


Great, since my brushes, oiler can, and rod are considered assault weapons now, do I need a permit to buy them? :banghead: Who thinks I should re-list this as a SKS cleaning kit? :p
 
AFAIK the sks and ak kits are the same - go for it.

I'm also of the opinion that the ebay owners need for someone to forcibly remove their heads from their rears. On the other hand, I'm all for business owners being able to set their own policies...the answer is to not do business with them. Unfortunately, most businesses will never feel the effects of such action on our part due to the tremendous lack of enthusiasm for boycotting such businesses.

www.gunbroker.com
www.auctionarms.com
www.gunsamerica.com

And of course, our own for sale section here on THR.
 
I managed to grab a HI CAP (12 round) pistol magazine on ebay before the overlords spotted it the other day. :neener:

There is so much stuff on ebay the only way something gets removed is if someone reports it.
 
How about a cleaning kit for a Russian 7.62x39 rifle with 16 inch barrel? If anyone has questions they can email you directly using ask the seller. You can confirm what it is at that time.
 
I stopped buying and selling there - their policies reflect what a Hillary presidency would look like. List it here, it's free.
 
what i dont get is that is was shopping for a gernade launcher site on ebay and they are listed as:

?
WW2 M15 Grenade Launcher Sight WITH Drilling Jig
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4721&item=6534277957&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Dear User:

Unfortunately, access to this particular category or item has been blocked due to legal restrictions in your home country. Based on our discussions with concerned government agencies and eBay community members, we have taken these steps to reduce the chance of inappropriate items being displayed. Regrettably, in some cases this policy may prevent users from accessing items that do not violate the law. At this time, we are working on less restrictive alternatives. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause you, and we hope you may find other items of interest on eBay.

Thank You.

Hit the return button to return to the previous page.
 
Perhaps I'm just being an ebay apologist, but I really don't find that email all that offensive. Sounds to me like they're exactly right. We all complain all the time about there being so many gun laws in so many places with so many different details that it's impossible to keep track of; what makes us think that ebay can do so? I understand their policies completely. Look at the number of threads just on THR just asking about how to legally transport a legally-owned and completely "benign" firearm across various states (like NY), and look at how many disparate answers get posted. And we're people who, by and large, make an effort and have a personal interest in knowing these things. Now change transportation of an unquestionably legal firearm into facilitating the sale of firearms, change personal interest to passing business interest (it's not like gun owners are their primary demographic), and I think it's pretty obvious why this is going on.

Doesn't mean I don't want them changed, of course, but I don't think it's fair to blame ebay for this one. Instead, blame the insanely bloated network of picayune laws that have accreted around gun ownership over the last seventy years.

various state and federal laws are particularly complex when it comes to regulating, and even defining, assault weapons parts and accessories. What is legal in one jurisdiction may be illegal in another, and as the category grew, it became increasingly difficult for us to enforce a consistent policy.
Click to expand...
This strikes me as a completely accurate, honest, and understandable policy on their part. Is anyone going to argue that the definition of "assault weapon" isn't vague, isn't subject to interpretation and change at the whim of TPTB, or that firearm regulations are consistent from jurisdiction to jurisdiction? I didn't think so.

We all know that a cleaning kit and a firearm are two completely different things, just like we all know there's no reason an 80% should be a problem for them. But from an implementation standpoint, consider the chore ebay faces if they have to sift through every firearm-related offering and make sure that it's legal everywhere they do business?

"For auction: 80% 1911 frame, package includes slide assembly, trigger assembly, and barrel. This is not a functional firearm, machining (cutting slide rails, drilling holes) required, assembly required."

"For auction: 80% 1911 frame, package includes slide assembly, trigger assembly, and barrel. This is not a functional firearm, machining (cutting slide rails, drilling holes) required (will perform before shipping on request), assembly required."

The legal difference is obvious if you know anything about 80% frames and their legal status, but do you really expect the average ebay employee to understand why one is legal without an FFL and one isn't? Ebay has decided to avoid any potential legal quagmire by not facilitating the transfer of guns via their web site. This may or may not be a policy I like, but it's a legitimate business decision, just like my local flea market doesn't allow FFLs to set up booths. Once that single, legitimate, decision has been made, this policy is a natural and logical conclusion, given the vast complexity of firearm laws.

Basically, it amounts to "don't go to ebay to buy or sell gun accessories," which, to me, is no different than "don't go to Pick'N'Save to buy gun accessories" or "don't go to THR to buy or sell sticks of RAM."

*shrug*
 
Its Ebay's store, and they can list what they want, this is America after all. You guys are whining about nothing. Take your business elsewhere, it's not like Ebay is the only place where you can sell that item. THR has a way to sell items of this nature, as well as several other online sites. Take advantage of their services, and then send Ebay another email saying how they lost out on your business, along with a reciept showing them how much money they lost out on due to their unfair policies. That will show them. :rolleyes:
 
I have an easy answer:

E-Bay doesn't want this stuff on their auction site. So be it. :cuss:

A lot of others do - including The High Road.

So forget E-Bay, and go to the sites that like you. You'll still sell your stuff, and you may even do better because the people that are looking for guns or gun-related accessories will more likely be looking where they will find them.

I need E-Bay like an extra hole in my head. They don't like me - they don't get my money. :evil:
 
Unfortunatley Ebay

is the best place to get the best price when selling non-gun items. I think from here on out anything I sell on ebay I am going to offset the negative that my monies bring them by donating 10% of what I receive to either the NRA or the Second Amendment Foundation. :mad:
 
Control Group is on my lines of thinking.

Ebay is a business. They want to remain a business and make money. They have found that by being restrictive in this (and other areas) they are able to avoid costly lawsuits needless hassle. Yes, they probably do lose some money by not allowing these things to be offered.

Ebay could take up the gun owners fight, but that isn't their primary business.
 
I still don't have much use for E-Bay, but I think Johnnybgood has the best answer for those that do.
 
Do take a look at their policy. Pretty much anything that may be illegal anywhere is not allowed to be sold. I'm not blaming them, they are in Cali after all. Whose to say that if someone bought a high cap magazine off there, had it sent to Cali, shot up some place, that the state wouldn't hold EBay responsible?

OTOH, I nearly bought an AR15 'sporting' upper on there , with the flash hider and bayonet lug ;)

Mostly though, I hate eBay because people get into biding wars, and end up sppending more on used stuff than you can buy it new for :banghead: It's not a good place to get anything common.
 
I'll have to check to be 100% sure, but I believe that ebay is bound by California law not to sell "assault weapon" related items. So it's a little more than just a policy decision...ebay doesn't want cops knocking on its doors.

I believe that in India the head ebay person was arrested because a teen sex video was being sold on the site.

http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y04/m12/i20/s01
 
The problem isn't eBay ... the problem is federal and state governments out of control ... making laws willy nilly that cannot easily be followed (which is the point ... see my sig).

I don't blame eBay from trying to keep themselves out of trouble because THEY will end up in court if there are "illegal" transactions taking place on their servers.


We all bitch and moan about how eBay is nothing but a bunch of anti-2A bigots, but they aren't the ones that write the laws and then murder the wives/children/dogs of those who MIGHT have broken them.
 
Ebay not allowing firearms and related equipment on their site is a symptom of the problem.

Like Wal-Mart not selling guns anymore in California.

Like the Navy Exchange system not selling guns, rifles, air guns, bows and arrows or peashooters and slingshots.

Like my local harware store no longer selling firearms or ammo.

The problem is the potlickers making laws and the bureaucrats providing further definition of same in the name of "Administrative Law" rules, regulations, ordinance's, fees, certifications, surcharges, qualifications and dismemberment.
It's a swamp of requirements and brutal consequences.

Even the FFL's are standing on spongy ground.

Vick
 
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