eBay now banning all Japanese Good Luck Flags

[imperialjapan]

"Out of respect for the families" of Japanese soldiers (not German) probably has a lot to do with the fact that they're headquartered in San Jose, CA. (Very significant Asian-American and Japanese-American population)- Of whom some may even be eBay employees. So I'm not surprised about this announcement in the least. And I still want a good luck flag...(

It was often the case that these flags were never taken to war. That is why many are in fine shape. It is also the case that even if they were taken with the soldier, that solider survived the war and brought back the flag. And then it was sold by the family.

So I call BS on this new restriction by ebay. But try and get ebay to change something! It is a waste of time.

[harrison987]

All of the above are good points. But it is impossible to ever know who reported the items, and, as for point #5, ebay never negatively affects buyers unless the offense is stunningly egregious--and sometimes not even then. I think sellers' competitors, too, report items to cull the field, so to speak.

Also, ebay has no email support. You have to call them, which discourages most people from doing so. Really astounding that a 'tech' company in the 21st century has no email support. It was eliminated because of too many hassles.

Another thing: ebay has bots that cancel auctions. I mean, 'ivory' can refer to a color as well as a material, and I have had auctions cancelled because I wrote something like 'This is NOT the swastika used by Germany. It is a Buddhist symbol.' Cancelled for spreading hate, they said.

ebay has a key word search engine. anything with "Good Luck Flag" in title/description will automatically pull it.

50% are member...50% are automatic

[ROBB]

I swear the Japanese used to torture and behead POW's during WW2 use live prisoners for bayonet practice , starve them etc etc etc ad infinitum . Poor them for having their little flags taken as souvenirs by the Colonialist British and Americans . Ebay are a bunch of poofters . Rob

[zachb]

Stu,

I say, without irony, that I appreciate your optimism and your positive contribution on here.

Rich,

My poor old dad wanted something to do after his wife died and he had retired. He always fancied himself a “horse trader” so he thought he would go to garage sales, estate sales, etc. find stuff and flip it on Ebay (several years back). We hail from far West Texas so he is not computer savvy to put it mildly.

Helping him fumble about on there and get setup selling was a huge education for me as I am always just a buyer. I helped him with all manner of ridiculous situations over the months he was doing this, e.g., paypal holding money, people not paying, listings getting cancelled (you know what I am talking about).

It is not well advertised but Sellers still have the power to affect buyers:

1. If someone contacts you wanting to buy your item off ebay and you decline, and your listing gets cancelled, then it was that person who got your listing cancelled and you should report them for contacting you and trying to do the sale off Ebay. Ebay hates this because they don’t get their fee and they put two-and-two together and see what is going on. That bidder/potential buyer will have restrictions put on their bidding or even their account suspended. I promise I have seen begging emails from buyers who have played games and gotten their comeuppance.

2. If someone doesn’t pay for an auction then open a non-paying bidder dispute. If a buyer gets three of these their account can be limited.

3. Ban people from bidding who send weird or hostile messages, don’t pay, or you suspect of doing something against you. Believe it or not I have heard of bidders/buyers whose accounts are limited because of being banned by numerous sellers.

I do not believe in the bot theory. There are 54 categories of restricted or banned items and they each have numerous subcategories. Also, no individual has gone through the 6,620 swastika listings I just took a screen shot of off Ebay tonight. No one is looking at all of the Netsuke to see which are Ivory. No computer or Ebay thought police are reviewing the tons of American Native Artifacts that are sold on Ebay all day long yet restricted and banned.

Rich, you are a known personality here. Sometimes you have played the “school master” and chastised people for not thanking others for help in a thread (which I’m not saying that is a bad thing). I could see some butt-hurt passive aggressive getting on Ebay and trying to mess with your auctions.

Gentlemen, Ebay may have a bunch of PC kids working for them but do not ever forget (despite the respect and comradery we have here) this is the most cutthroat hobby going.

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Swastika.jpg

[harrison987]

Hi,

regarding your 2 links...

Ivory is allowed and legal to own if it is made before a certain date (cannot recall when).

The swastika is thousands of years old...so ebay allows it...

When pertaining to Nazi Germany, however...they allow if on currency.

I still have NO CLUE why coins and stamps...I think it because they feel collectors of currency are not pro-nazi...while EVERY collector of belt buckles bust be a NEO nazi ready to start the 4th Reich.

They are hypocritical, as it is EXACTLY the same emblem...yet one is allowed??

[zachb]

Hi,

regarding your 2 links...

Ivory is allowed and legal to own if it is made before a certain date (cannot recall when).

The swastika is thousands of years old...so ebay allows it...

When pertaining to Nazi Germany, however...they allow if on currency.

I still have NO CLUE why coins and stamps...I think it because they feel collectors of currency are not pro-nazi...while EVERY collector of belt buckles bust be a NEO nazi ready to start the 4th Reich.

They are hypocritical, as it is EXACTLY the same emblem...yet one is allowed??

You can take my advice or not. I don't think you have read Ebay's policy on Ivory or otherwise.

Also, laws don't matter to these people anyway its whatever they "feel". I bet I could contact them tonight and have that Ivory auction cancelled if I was an A** or any number of auctions.

[imperialjapan]

Stu,

I say, without irony, that I appreciate your optimism and your positive contribution on here.

Rich,

My poor old dad wanted something to do after his wife died and he had retired. He always fancied himself a “horse trader” so he thought he would go to garage sales, estate sales, etc. find stuff and flip it on Ebay (several years back). We hail from far West Texas so he is not computer savvy to put it mildly.

Helping him fumble about on there and get setup selling was a huge education for me as I am always just a buyer. I helped him with all manner of ridiculous situations over the months he was doing this, e.g., paypal holding money, people not paying, listings getting cancelled (you know what I am talking about).

It is not well advertised but Sellers still have the power to affect buyers:

1. If someone contacts you wanting to buy your item off ebay and you decline, and your listing gets cancelled, then it was that person who got your listing cancelled and you should report them for contacting you and trying to do the sale off Ebay. Ebay hates this because they don’t get their fee and they put two-and-two together and see what is going on. That bidder/potential buyer will have restrictions put on their bidding or even their account suspended. I promise I have seen begging emails from buyers who have played games and gotten their comeuppance.

2. If someone doesn’t pay for an auction then open a non-paying bidder dispute. If a buyer gets three of these their account can be limited.

3. Ban people from bidding who send weird or hostile messages, don’t pay, or you suspect of doing something against you. Believe it or not I have heard of bidders/buyers whose accounts are limited because of being banned by numerous sellers.

I do not believe in the bot theory. There are 54 categories of restricted or banned items and they each have numerous subcategories. Also, no individual has gone through the 6,620 swastika listings I just took a screen shot of off Ebay tonight. No one is looking at all of the Netsuke to see which are Ivory. No computer or Ebay thought police are reviewing the tons of American Native Artifacts that are sold on Ebay all day long yet restricted and banned.

Rich, you are a known personality here. Sometimes you have played the “school master” and chastised people for not thanking others for help in a thread (which I’m not saying that is a bad thing). I could see some butt-hurt passive aggressive getting on Ebay and trying to mess with your auctions.

Gentlemen, Ebay may have a bunch of PC kids working for them but do not ever forget (despite the respect and comradery we have here) this is the most cutthroat hobby going.

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[ATTACH]3735051[/ATTACH]

zachb, you made goods points (with proof) about the lack of bots. Surprised to see both ivory and swastikas proliferating!! (The bots do catch me upon listing things, though.) So I guess most auctions I had cancelled were complaints/reports. That's discouraging. I suppose I felt better when I suspected ebay's dumb robots.

Yes, I am too gruff sometimes, so that may have caused some animosity. I'll have to be careful about that.

Basically, I would never advise anyone to start selling on ebay. I have been on it for 12 years and there are so many problems and FEES for sellers.

[harrison987]

Guys...

The reason swastika comes up is because the swastika has been around thousands of years and itself is not a banned item.

EBay allows swastikas all over the place because 95% of them are not banned or related to World War 2.

The ebay computer system pulls everything that appears to be suspect... And then that gets forwarded to humans... Then based on eBay policy, humans pull what listing they feel violate policy. They have a specific department hat does this all day long.

This is why all the M24 's and firearms that are sold on eBay coming out of Russia, are listed as "old steel Relic"... or whatever... the computer system does not pull it

I'm top rated powerseller on eBay and have had thousands of conversations with these eBay morons.... so I know exactly how the system works... And also how to get around it

[themariner]

I would be surprised, i have had at least 10-15 things removed by ebay over my years of selling some items to add to the list!

1- AK Bayonets- reasoning because they have anything to do with the AK-47 and the AKR (ebay believes a bayonet is one of the parts that makes the AK-47 work)
2- 1920s Boat Fire Extinguisher, Mini Hand Type- i guess in there eyes small old brass fire extinguishers are extremely dangerous, yet i see many other for sale ,so I'm guessing someone reported it as being dangerous!
3- Brands- certain name brand items have worked a deal with ebay to not allow there products to be sold second hand! I have forgot what they are but I'm sure a search could turn it up!
4- Nazi memorabilia
5- Us Valor Medals/ Ribbons

The list is a mile long! I dont think they realize all they are doing is hurting there own bottom line!
its a shame to here now these good luck flags will be banned! Before long ebay wont exist because they will have banned every item known to man!

[Geoff Ward]

Apparently the Tri color national shield is a " Hate symbol" they yanked a helmet on me for that My only satisfaction is they are losing millions of dollars yanking things they know nothing about.