Can you sell anything on eBay?

by Mieke Janssens

All around the world, people are buying and selling on eBay. As a result you can buy or sell items in almost every category you can imagine. Aren’t there any limits to what can be bought and sold? Of course there are!

EBay has a list of items that can’t be auctioned through their website. On this list are, for example, all illegal items and items that are considered ‘illegal for sale’ in any other format. And here’s more: you can’t sell copies of copyrighted items (such as copies of DVD’s, CD’s or software), nor replicas of designer items (copies of sunglasses, purses, dresses … that look identical to those that have designer labels.)

All alcoholic beverages, weapons, tobacco and both prescription and illegal drugs are forbidden on eBay, although some small exceptions are made. You are allowed to sell a collectable like a tin that contains tobacco, but only if the package hasn’t been opened yet, and if you state that the contents are not meant for consumption.

Next on the list are animals and reptiles. EBay restricts the sales of both live ones and stuffed ones. The same rule applies to items that are taken from endangered species, such as Ivory.

Selling tickets is allowed, but the law probihits you to sell a ticket for a higher price than you originally paid for it. Lottery tickets aren’t allowed, so are raffle tickets.

Take a look at the entire list: http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/items-ov.html

When you want to sell something on eBay and you’re not sure your item is eligible, either don’t list it or contact eBay about it. Don’t risk breaking the law!

Mieke Janssens is the webmaster of
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