Recently, I suffered a very humbling experience.  I had a listing removed by eBay.

Did you know that the customer's bidding or that have recently bought that listing get an email from eBay?  As a new seller to eBay, this didn't help me build my reputation at all!  Not to mention my goal of Powerseller...I almost cost the future of my business!

What happened?  I broke the rules..and didn't realize it!  Why?  I wasn't familiar enough with the listing policies on eBay.  It was all my fault and could have easily been avoided.  That is why I decided to share this with everyone.  I am sure that a quick "tune up" to make sure you are following all of eBay's rules will do every seller good.

I was reselling a weight loss product that closely mirrors a national product.  What I did was use the actual national brand name in my listing.  I should have known better.  It was all laid out for me really clearly.  I resell eBooks...but no matter what you are selling on eBay, you have specific rules to follow to list an item.  At the end of my quick "tune up", follow the links to read everything.  Take this 30 minutes to ensure you are following the rules as a seller:

1.)  You can not mis represent the item you are selling.  If it is a replica autograph, you must have REPRINT or REPLICA in the LISTING TITLE....not just in the auction description.  Go through all of you listings and make sure you are properly representing everything you are currently listing.

2.) Do not include BRAND NAMES (my bad) or other terms that may constitute KEYWORD SPAMMING in your listing title.  (Have no clue what keyword spamming is?  Key Word Spamming Rules make sure you do!)

3.) Links.  Do you know what links you can and can't have?  Did you know you can't link outside of eBay inside an auction listing at all?  Unless it is to an example of what is being sold....you can only link to a few things inside eBay within a listing.

4.) About Me.  This is the ONLY place on eBay where you can ask a buyer to sign up for your mailing list....did you know that?

eBay Listings Rules

Spend 30 minutes reading the rules....even if you already have before.  I found that I was in violation of several policies (not just the one that I got caught for)

Follow the rules....or you may not get the chance or choice!

Matt Carter, MBCarterBooks
My eBay Store