Another Ebay Rant!!!
 

I posted a Luftwaffe belt buckle on ebay yesterday. I blotted out the swastika in all views. This morning I received this message.

"You recently listed the following listing:
220487703873 - WWII German Luftwaffe buckle with 1941 Tab
Unfortunately, we had to remove your listing because the following information violates our policy:
Nazi items and items containing the Nazi Swastika and SS markings are not permitted on eBay. Please do not relist this item."

I went to ebay and typed in "WWII German". Out of 160 odd pages. These were in the first 5 pages of listings. I have 20 items in total, in the first 5 pages, 25% !!!. I'm going to pursue this until either they ban me completely, or....?

They have volunteers who scan the listings, called VeRO's. I guess they can just pick and choose. I have 2 messages off to ebay listing the photos and demanding an answer. I'm going to burn up their friggin' computers with complaints. The real pisser is that a majority of the coins have "NAZI" and "SWASTKA" listed in the titles in huge bold font!!!

I typed in "NAZI" in the ebay search. Over 3,000 items, nearly all display a Swastika. I typed in "Swastika" and another 900+ items are listed.

We need to bombard them with complaints.



Pissed off in Oregon....

The Ebay nazis permit photographs and period literature, stamps, currency and coins. Go figure.

Geo,

It doesn't take an Einstein to figure that the guy who made the buckle was probably just an average German worker trying to make a living. The soldier who wore the buckle most likely had no party affiliation. Probably a conscripted farm boy.

While the stamps, flags and coins were an active promotion of the Nazi system. Over seen by hard core party members. Yet these ebay minus IQ's can't grasp the concept.

Ron

Ron -

I knew there were some problems on eBay, but I had no idea it was this bad. I don't blame you for being disgusted.

Maybe it's time for eBay sellers to consider some other source? I think eBay has gotten a little too big for its own good.

Here is a link to a U.S. News & World Report article that offers three alternatives to eBay.

http://www.usnews.com/money/articles...ernatives.html

1941 Belt Buckle with tab
 

Ron - PM sent

The problem is that eBay also has the largest amount of people looking at it. I buy sell other things all the time (I'm mostly a vintage guitar guy). I use all of them for different things. Kijiji , Craig's List etc. I can have stuff up for weeks on one of the other sites and not sell, then post on eBay and sell in a few hours usually for more than what I was asking on the others.
I thought that g-broker was kinda the ebay of firearms and such ?
I agree that ebay needs to chill out and just let people sell what they have. The whole world has gone too PC. I guess they just figure if they don't talk about it then that period of history never happened ?? Sell all or none.
I agree it's sickening.
just my .02

Erik,

Exactly my thoughts...

Ron

Ron, I believe eBay has loosened up some recently..their spies are not so many in this bad economy. The main thing that will get you nailed are key words. Their autobots seek them out. Another thing..once you are on the list of offenders they will nail everything you list.

You are correct..there are many Nazi items listed. One way to do it is to put the item up with a buy it now. Buyers can BIN before it's kicked off.

Blocking out the swastica is not allowed even though you see it often. eBay is a minefield.

Jerry Burney

Another trick to listing Nazi items is to list them under WWI(1914-1918) German category. Not only do the Ebay nazis not comb this arena as well but European buyers are not blocked.

I started using Ebay in October 1997 when is was an amazing and fun experience. Now it is sad sack sorry but a viable alternative has not surfaced, not withstanding Mauer720's helpful post.

I would never have thought of Amazon.com.

David

I just sent the following suggestion to GunBroker admin.

Not a problem, a suggestion. Militaria collectors, myself included, are rapidly becoming fed up with ebay and PayPal and are looking for alternatives. You should actively promote that you have catagories for German holsters, buckles, helmets, Daggers, etc. I think you would get more business than you would expect in these catagories.

I am a member on several collectors forums. Many of the members are not aware of your services outside of a firearms auction.
Ron Smith

Good idea Ron, because I never knew of it either until I started using GB to find surplus ammo.

- WOT

Now that the bubble has finally burst with the VG amp and guitar market it is making me want to go on the hunt for a couple of items again as well.

- WOT

Worldoftone,

If you are a vintage guitar guy, you would probably enjoy this website:

http://www.frets.com

Owned by Frank Ford, one of the most gifted musical instrument repair people I have ever come across. Make sure you check out his "machining" section.

Hey Ron, why don't you quit beating around the bush and say what you really mean? :D :biggulp:

Hi Frank,

Your right , I've always been a wall-flower, I should take a course in Accertativeness. I just can't bring myself to raise my hand during the question segments.:o

Andy,

Thanks for the link. I sold the buckle to a forum member. It was the last Third Reich item that I had.

Ron

Same thing happened to me when i tried to sell an SS dagger and hitler youth knife on the bay. Even though i blanked out all the symbols, i get an email back saying 'because they are Nazi related items, they are prohibited, however, Nazi coins and books with visible swastikas are accepted, as they are rare, and desirable by collectors the world over'.
Uh, and somehow my things aren't

Went,

Only the Sophisticated Elite dabble in coins, stamps, etc. We "Knuckle Draggers" who are into military memorbilia give ebay a bad name.

Ron

Ebay Issues
 

Well, here is another example of what can happen on eBay. Check out the price on these Erfurt grips. Wonder how they escaped notice of the eBay police?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Luger-WWI-Erfurt...item48362bf4e1

Ron -

What about that auction would attract the overzealous eBay police???

That guy sure has a craphouse full of holsters...I liked this one -

only $395, too... :p