us flag
Hello,
I would like to take the time to thank those people out there that support my beliefs about the U.S. flag. I also would like explain what some of you do not know. EBay makes up a lot of their rules as they go along and what rules they do have are open to interpretation by whomever in trust and safety is on duty at the time. At least a 3rd or more of all eBay auctions have some type of buyer restriction and eBay itself allows sellers to set buyer restrictions. For example, the number of non paying complaints or feedback score and location. Many auctions state that an item is not for sale outside the main 48 states. I offer most of my items for sale worldwide.
For more than 5 years I have been selling vintage and antique flags on eBay restricting their sale to certain locations and have never had a problem. Let me state this I was told a while back by my senior account manager at eBay and I quote “You can state in your listings that items were not for sale in certain areas and the reason for that was there is a high amount of fraud being perpetrated in some countries and since eBay’s site is not set up to exclude shipment to some countries it need only be stated in the listing.” I would also like to state in this can be read in the usps shipping regulation book. Each country has different items that can not be imported to their countries. In Italy for example I can not ship edged weapons, clocks, jewelry and clothing. I can ship these items to almost every other country. Seeing I sell most items worldwide eBay’s system does not allow me to exclude Italy I can only state in the listing that these items are not for sale in Italy. Now does that mean those auctions should be ended as well? My surname is Italian does this mean I’m prejudice? Does not eBay want to cater to a worldwide audience?
In the past I have had auctions pulled because some kid at eBay’s trust and safety misinterpreted the rules. Last year this was the case when I had close to 500 auctions deleted by eBay in one day closing me down, this after I had the go ahead from someone at eBay to list an item that I questioned. The loss to me was over 30k in sales and a weeks worth of lost work. EBay did send me an email apologizing for their error.
The flag auctions were pulled because a few people complained. When I got the call from eBay’s trust & safety asking why I would not sell to California, France or the Middle East I explained why and that it was my right not to sell this item to them. EBay gave me the choice edit the auctions or have them ended. I chose the later. When I asked where it was stated in eBay’s rules that I can not restrict by location the person in trust and safety could not answer me. The reason is there is no such rule. They ended the auctions under 3 different rules and not one of them states that you can not restrict selling an item by location!
This is just another way in which eBay is trying to control the people who sell on their site. Just like a seller can no longer say anything negative about a buyer in the feedback forum no mater how true it is. It is my right as an American to refuse to sell my flags to someone in California. Why would they care, they burn them, they ban them from front yards, they ban them in public schools. My flag auctions being ended is just another assault on old glory herself. I did abide by their rules! As for France and the Middle East you need not be a rocket scientist as for why. And yes I did live in CA. once.
Mark E. Albino Sr.
You just happen to be surrounded by people who I wouldn't trust in a million years.