When you start selling on eBay, you may wonder what can you not sell on eBay. eBay has strict rules regarding products that you can not sell on its platform. eBay-prohibited items are strictly forbidden from being listed, while eBay-restricted items may be sold on eBay under certain policies.
It’s important for sellers to thoroughly review eBay’s guidelines and prohibited items list to avoid account suspension or penalties. In this article, we’ll cover a detailed list of eBay prohibited items that every seller should know about, including:
- Alcohol
- Animal traps
- Illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia
- Embargoed goods
- Emissions control defeat devices
- Lockpicking devices
And more. Let’s check it out.
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eBay Prohibited Items List
If you’re a new eBay seller, you might not only want to know total eBay fees for selling but also the rules on banned items. This part gives you a comprehensive list of eBay prohibited items.
1 – Consumer goods
- Alcohol: Only wine can be sold on eBay US site (ebay.com) by approved sellers. Other alcohol products are eBay banned items.
- Animal traps: Bear traps and certain leghold traps, like jaw traps wider than 5½ inches, are banned from eBay.
- Illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia: Drugs and drug paraphernalia are not permitted. However, tobacco pipes and other smoking accessories meant for tobacco use, not drugs, are permitted.
- Embargoed goods: Items from embargoed countries like Cuba, Syria, Iran, and North Korea, etc. are prohibited.
2 – Electronics
- Emissions control defeat devices: Products that tamper with emission controls are banned. Some examples of these products are exhaust servo eliminators, throttle response controllers, etc.
- Lockpicking devices: Tools for picking locks, like bump keys, slim jims, devices to make or duplicate keys, etc., are eBay banned items.
3 – Government and Law Enforcement
- Government items: Selling government property, ID cards, and transit or shipping company property is prohibited on eBay.
- Police-related items: Police uniforms, equipment, and accessories are on the eBay banned list.
- Stolen property: Selling stolen goods from the government or companies is strictly forbidden on eBay.
- Violence and violent criminals: eBay doesn’t allow listings promoting violence.
4 – Services
- Personal information: eBay prohibits selling private data like phone numbers, social security numbers, social accounts, etc.
- Services: eBay doesn’t allow the sale of personal services or social media manipulation.
- Social media and reviews manipulation: Selling product reviews, social media likes, followers, and similar services, is not allowed.
5 – Others
- Human body parts: Body parts or relics are eBay prohibited items, except for scalp hair items.
- Chance listings: Items for a chance to win are on the eBay banned list.
- Counterfeit item: eBay doesn’t allow unauthorized copies or fake items. Products with brand names or logos must be genuine and made by the brand or their authorized manufacturers.
- Disaster and tragedy: Listings profiting from human suffering are not allowed.
- Encouraging illegal activity: Items promoting illegal acts are not allowed. Some examples are ballots or votes, USPS shipping materials, blank rain checks, etc.
- Illegal explicit content: eBay strictly prohibits illegal content like child pornography, bestiality, snuff films, or torture.
- Intangible items: Items that can’t be confirmed by buyers are not allowed to list on eBay. Some examples are haunted objects, spells, etc.
- Price gouging: Selling essential items at unfair prices is prohibited on eBay.
- Protecting minors: Listings must not show minors (anyone under 18) in compromising situations. Minors in images must be fully clothed.
With numerous eBay prohibited items, you may wonder, is selling on eBay worth it? The short answer is yes as still plenty of items you can list and sell on the platform as long as you follow its rules.
Now, let’s explore eBay restricted items and selling guidelines. But before moving on, consider checking out our comprehensive guide on what sells best on eBay to kickstart your journey.
eBay Restricted Items List
Certain items can only be listed on eBay under specific circumstances as follows:
1. Art and Collectibles
- Art: Original artwork and authorized resales are permitted, with certain eBay selling restrictions. For instance, you can only sell reproductions if they don’t break any laws or copyrights.
- Artifacts and cave formations: Items from protected areas or historical sites are prohibited, but others can be listed following eBay’s policies.
- Collectible currency: Graded currency listings require certification and raw currency listings must follow eBay’s policy.
- Replica coins and currency: Only replica currency complying with eBay rules can be listed.
- Stamps: Counterfeit stamps are eBay prohibited items, but replica or collectible stamps can be listed following eBay’s policy.
- Virtual currency: Virtual currency listings are prohibited on eBay. However, listings for specific accessories without virtual currency are permitted.
- Tobacco and e-cigarettes: E-cigarettes, tobacco products, and their accessories are prohibited on eBay. However, certain items like nicotine gum, tobacco seeds, etc. can be listed if they adhere to eBay’s guidelines.
2. Electronic items
- Electronic equipment: Most electronic devices are eBay prohibited items if used for illegal purposes. However, you can list recorders, cameras, and similar devices, as long as the description doesn’t promote their use for illegal activities.
- Electronically delivered items: Only approved sellers can list electronically delivered goods.
- Beta & OEM software: Beta software cannot be sold, and OEM software must be bundled with hardware.
3. Financial items
- Credit and debit card: Active store, debit, and credit cards are not allowed, but certain inactive or collectible cards can be listed.
- Gift cards: Gift cards can be sold on eBay, but some types are prohibited. These include store credit in receipt form, electronically delivered gift cards from sellers involved in high-risk activities, and prepaid credit cards.
- Stocks and securities: Most securities and stocks are on the eBay banned list. However, collectible certificates or single-stock gifts can be listed if they follow eBay policy.
4. Hazardous Materials
- Fertilizer and pesticides: Pesticide products can only be listed in specific eBay categories and must adhere to eBay’s regulations.
- Hazardous materials: Hazardous materials are usually prohibited on eBay. Pesticides have specific restrictions detailed in eBay’s Pesticides policy. Sellers must adhere to eBay’s rules and shipping carrier guidelines when selling eBay restricted items.
5. Health and Beauty Products
- Cosmetics: Used cosmetics, applicators, or sponges are not allowed, but certain items can be sold under eBay seller restrictions.
- Medical devices: Prescription devices are prohibited. Even though other medical devices, like over-the-counter, collectible or vintage, and new disposable syringes, can be listed following eBay’s policy.
- Prescription and over-the-counter drugs: Prescription drugs are prohibited, but other items, like veterinary medicines, vitamins, herbal products, etc., can be listed following eBay’s policy.
6. Jewelry
- Bullion: Only authentic bullion is allowed, and listings must include specific details, like photos of the item’s certificate of authenticity, its weight, purity, and brand.
- Jewelry: You can sell most jewelry on eBay. However, it’s crucial to describe items clearly and list them correctly following eBay’s rules.
7. Military items
- Airsoft, air pistols, air rifles, and BB guns: These are eBay prohibited items, but sellers must adhere to strict guidelines.
- Firearms and accessories: Firearms are prohibited, but certain parts and accessories can be listed as long as sellers follow eBay seller restrictions guidelines.
- Military items: Certain military items following eBay policy can be listed, but explosives and ordnance are prohibited.
- Replica, toy, and prop firearms: These items must include a blaze orange plug and adhere to eBay’s guidelines.
- Weapons: Most weapons are not allowed on eBay. But training weapons, like throwing stars, batons, etc., can be listed if they are made of dense foam, rubber foam, or foam with plastic interior tubes.
8. Plants and animal
- Animal products: Sellers can list specific items made from non-endangered animals, but they need to ensure compliance with licensing requirements.
- Live animals: Most live animals are not allowed. However, some exceptions apply, such as tropical fish, lobsters, tadpoles, etc.
- Plants and seeds: You can list most plants and seeds on eBay if they’re in the U.S., but there are exceptions, like certain seeds and harmful weeds. Plants or seeds banned by the government or shipping rules are eBay-banned items.
9. Tickets
- Coupons: Sellers can list a maximum of 25 coupons valued at $100 in total every 30 days, with specific limitations in place.
- Event tickets: Listings must comply with government laws and eBay guidelines.
- Lottery tickets: Lottery tickets or similar items are eBay prohibited items. However, expired lottery tickets with collectible value may be listed, following local law.
Please note that this summary may not cover all eBay restricted items or prohibited ones. For comprehensive information, please refer to eBay’s official guidelines for each item.
10. Others
- Adult: Most adult products are not allowed, but those listed in the Art, Sexual Wellness, and certain categories can be sold if they comply with eBay’s policies.
- Charity listings: Listings for charity must use eBay’s dedicated charity feature and follow its other rules.
- Food: Certain food items, like expired food, wild mushrooms, ackee seeds or fruit, etc., are prohibited, but others can be listed with adherence to eBay’s rules.
- Funeral items: New funeral items can be listed, but used items are not allowed.
- International trading: Listings must comply with the seller’s and buyer’s country laws to be listed on eBay.
- Knives: Only certain knives complying with eBay’s rules can be listed. Some prohibited knives on eBay are automatic knives, gravity knives, push knives, etc.
- Offensive material: Listings promoting hatred or violence are prohibited. Other items may be listed following eBay guidelines.
- Products with eligibility requirements: Certain items are under eBay selling restrictions that require pre-approval to be listed.
- Real estate: Real estate can only be listed by licensed professionals. Sellers must also follow eBay’s policy when selling real estate.
- Slot machines: Listings must comply with local laws regarding ownership.
- Travel: Individual sellers, licensed agents, and travel providers can list vacation packages or travel services according to eBay’s guidelines.
- Used clothing: Used socks and underwear are prohibited, but other secondhand clothing must adhere to eBay’s rules. For instance, used clothing must be clean and stain-free to be listed on eBay.
- Vehicle, parts, and accessories: Vehicles, accessories, and parts that don’t meet government regulations cannot be listed. Examples include Carfax or AutoCheck reports, leased vehicles, etc. All other items must also adhere to eBay guidelines to be listed.
While understanding eBay’s prohibited items list is crucial for avoiding account restrictions, it’s equally important to familiarize yourself with eBay’s Seller Protection policies, which offer safeguards against various transaction-related issues, ensuring that you can operate with greater peace of mind and financial security when dealing with eligible items and following platform guidelines.
The Difference Between eBay Prohibited Items vs eBay Restricted Items?
Understanding the difference between eBay prohibited items and restricted ones is crucial for successful selling without risking account suspension.
eBay banned items are strictly forbidden and completely prohibited from the platform. They are not allowed due to different reasons like potential illegal use or copyright violations.
Restricted items, however, are not entirely off-limits but come with specific conditions to follow strictly. This might include needing special licenses or adhering to certain selling rules. For instance, vintage wines aren’t completely banned, but their sale is limited to pre-approved sellers.
By knowing these distinctions, you can navigate eBay’s marketplace more effectively, avoiding pitfalls that could harm your selling endeavors.
You may also like: eBay VeRo Program: The Complete Explanation in 2024.
Why not Sell eBay Banned Items?
Selling eBay prohibited items is a risk for all sellers, whether eBay Business account vs Personal account. Violating eBay’s policies can result in penalties such as:
- Removing items from your store
- Limiting account features
- Losing seller statuses
- Getting account suspended
When eBay discovers a rule violation, they email the seller with instructions for removing the product.
Different eBay sites have their own rules, but they’re mostly similar. This article focuses on the eBay banned list on eBay US. Other eBay sites like eBay UK, eBay Australia, eBay Canada, and other international eBay stores may have different banned items. Please review the eBay prohibited items list for the region where you’re selling on eBay.
You may also like: Mastering eBay Selling Limits: Tips and Strategies for Success.
eBay Prohibited Items – FAQs
Yes, but only eBay-approved sellers can list wine on the eBay US site (ebay.com). No, alcohol products are now permitted to be listed on eBay except for wine. However, you can sell collectible alcohol containers, but they must be empty. Sellers can be banned from eBay for various reasons, including listing prohibited items, unpaid eBay fees, policy violations, or refunding eBay for a buyer’s refund. Selling Amazon items on eBay is not inherently illegal, but it might violate the rules of both platforms and involve copyright or trademark problems. Before listing items, it’s crucial to review and follow the policies of each platform.
Mastering eBay Prohibited Items for Success
Knowing what not to sell on eBay is just as crucial as knowing what you can sell. Understanding eBay prohibited items helps sellers avoid penalties and maintain a successful business. By staying informed and following the rules, sellers ensure a positive experience for both themselves and their customers, securing lasting success on the platform.
If you still have questions about eBay’s banned items and policies, feel free to reach out to us for further assistance.
