Question
I have just spent hours and hours and hours setting up our ebay store; editing auctions, etc. All unpaid labor as a volunteer for Cat Rescue of Maryland. We registered with ebay YEARS ago.
Now they've decided we must show a scanned copy of a "consent" from the charity IN our auctions. And rather than notifying all the charities they know sell on ebay (they had us register after all - it's not like we're sneaking around) they closed our auctions! (They haven't touched the store yet but that may be next).
Do they just plain not want seller fees? This is ridiculous.
Anyway consent is easy to obtain but how do I show it IN the auction?
The only way I can think of to do it is to have it as a second (or in some cases) third picture. But maybe I'm so angry I just can't see a better way.
Maryanne Dubbs, Cat Rescue of Maryland
Answer
Maybe you could add a sentence stating that you have consent and that the copy of it is on your about me page. Then put the picture or scan of the consent on your about me page for anyone interested to see. Then you could add the notice to all your auctions with a service like vrane? But that might not work if all the auctions have already been pulled. Good luck!
Answer
Will just a link to a scan of the consent be sufficient?
I would think it would be and falls within the "links" guidelines.
chloe
Answer
I love the link idea. But I'm sort of afraid of editing 125 store items and redoing 30 auctions to add a link and then maybe having to redo.
I just remembered there is html we used to use to put a jpg file right in our description. I guess I can do that.
Looking for a silver lining here - I was reluctant to edit all our store items to promote the store but guess I can do that at the same time (really really struggling for a silver lining here (gg)).
The other good news is they apparently credited our fees.
I don't know why I continue to be amazed by what idiots they are. I guess this answers the question as to whether I'll risk keyword spamming in our "promote our store" paragraph in the description.
I just hate reinventing the wheel and spending my 3 day weekend redoing all these listings just sucks.
Maryanne, still furious but moving along
Answer
Hi Maryanne:
I don't think ebay is really being idiots here. There are probably too many people running auctions in the name of charity that are not at all collecting money for any charity. Trying to protect the buyer from the scammers.
As the saying goes, it is those that try to screw the system that make it a real pain for the rest of us.
Jill
Answer
For once, I can see ebays side on this issue........check the sky for two moons tonight
I would put it in the ad and as well, have it on your me page, just in case, it shows you have nothing to hide
Answer
Maryanne, if it's any consolation your thread reminded me to have a look at your auctions (aka store), which I haven't done in awhile, and now I'm the proud owner of a shopping kitty cat night shirt!
I think the work you are doing is incredible! As someone who has had to find homes for dozens of stray cats (and had to have a few put to sleep) I can appreciate the good fight you are fighting! Thank you!
Tanya
>^..^<
Answer
What I think is idiotic about it is not giving us a couple days to edit in a scanned letter or giving us some notice they were going to drop this requirement out of the sky. Instead they just drop it and close auctions. They credited the fees so it's not like this is making them any money.
Ebay loves to get pr for its "charitable" work but in actuality it does nothing.
We pay all the same fees as every other seller and apparently get treated just as badly (ggg).
Maryanne
Answer
Tanya -
I'm glad you found something you like! thanks!!
I've got the ding danged letter scanned and edited into at least 80% of the store items. To get it done quickly I made up generic language. So our auction descriptions which I've been working on SO hard now look generic and chopped up. But at least they are in compliance (at least until the next time ebay sneezes).
Maryanne
Answer
Ebay cares about Ebay it is plain and simple. Buyers and sellers have to play by their rules that too change all the time and it is to protect them from not getting as much money they can get by the members there.
Sorry this happened to you but it is ebay way or you lose your account.
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