We strive to make eBay a safe and trusted marketplace for both buyers and sellers. Interference or attempted interference with the eBay site, site operations, or policies isn't allowed. This includes attempts to purposely circumvent our buying and selling policies, or the way our site functions. These kinds of activities can undermine trust, interfere with searching for items, and negatively affect both buyers and sellers.
Examples of the type of behavior that isn't allowed are in these guidelines, but any attempt to manipulate our site or policies may result in action against your account.
What are the guidelines?
How you list your item
Our listing policies are in place to help give all members a level playing field, and to ensure that a specific seller doesn't have an unfair advantage over competitors.
Not allowed
Examples of behavior that isn't allowed include:
- Listing items with false information in order to circumvent the duplicate listings policy.
- Using an incorrect category, or including special characters in your title in order to bypass our policies on prohibited and restricted items.
- Using a strike-through price or "compare at" price that is false or otherwise misleading.
- Changing the font color of the seller information area in a listing.
What kind of item you list
We have policies in place that prohibit the listing of certain items. Our policies are often based on country and state laws, although in some cases they may also be based on input from our members and our own discretion, especially for dangerous or sensitive items.
Not allowed
Examples of behavior that isn't allowed include:
- Having a listing for a counterfeit or replica item removed by us, and then relisting it without mentioning a brand or having an accurate title and description of the item.
- Having a prohibited item removed by us, and then relisting it without details such as an image or description to mask the nature of the item.
- Using alternative terms or slang to list an otherwise prohibited item
How you use your account
Accounts must follow all site policies.
Not allowed
Examples of behavior that isn't allowed include:
- Creating additional eBay accounts to avoid selling restrictions or suspensions on your primary account.
- Creating additional accounts to circumvent buying limitations, or manipulate other site features.
- Trying to transfer or sell your User ID or eBay account without our permission.
- "Scraping," or gathering data from our site for use on another site.
- Repeated violations of a certain policy or sets of policies.
- Purchasing your own items.
Additional information
All content, including but not limited to your listings, store pages, My World, and About Me page must abide by all of our policies. You may not change or block any eBay-generated content or pages, and you may only use our site features and processes for their intended purposes.
You may only modify or add content in the following areas:
- The description area of a listing page.
- The reply box on our discussion and help boards.
- Your About Me page.
- The Feedback comments area of the Leave Feedback page.
- The bid box.
- Our email forwarding system text boxes on any page where you contact another member.
For a list of all eBay policies, see the A to Z index of policies.
Why does eBay have this policy?
We have numerous site policies and features to protect our members, and ensure a safe and fair trading environment. This policy is intended to prevent circumvention or manipulation of these policies and features.
Activity on eBay is required to follow this policy, the eBay User Agreement and all applicable laws, as well as respect the rights of third parties. If it doesn’t, eBay may take action consistent with applicable laws and the eBay User Agreement, and may even be legally required to do so. Such actions may include, as an example only: Removing the listing or other content, issuing a warning, restricting activity or account suspension.
