The “monster” is still not improving their customer service and is sending me again (another) automated answer.
My question to eBay Germany was quite simple: ” When it is forbidden to list government documents why there are so many old passports online and can I list old obsolete passports in this specific category -Documents before 1945 ?”
I mean how do you start when searching for passports? You type “passport” in the search field, set some filters (like condition:used etc…) and hit the button. There you are…many passports showing up. And I assuming the “monster” has better tools than that to find passports.
I was hoping to get a specific answer with a clear statement this time but what was sent to me was anything else than a clear message. It proves again that eBay don’t listen to their customers and they don’t care. Just another automated answer text and in some content rediculous. Below you can see the German text and I give you a summary in English.
The core statement of eBay is: “We can’t give you Information or consulting service if specific items are listed according our rules” SORRY! WHAT? …and further…“Each seller is responsible for the items he is offering”. Sure here I can agree. And finally…“By executing our regular and intensive inspections we will delete all unlawful and irregular offers”
If the last statement is true why you can still find a vast amount of passport online (no matter on which eBay site)? They do never follow their own rules! And it seems eBay’s want’s the eBay community to notify irregular / unlawful offers as this link for “denounce” is always communicated in any eBay email!
My several emails to eBay how to proceed if the passport collector community wanted to make a application to ease these strict (stupid) rules on government ID’s (we are talking about old obsolete and historical documents) was NEVER answered!
Very disappointing!!!
Sehr geehrter Herr T.,
vielen Dank für Ihre E-Mail.
Ich bitte Sie um Verständnis dafür, dass wir keinen Auskunfts- bzw. Beratungsservice hinsichtlich der Rechtmäßigkeit bestimmter Angebote oder Artikel anbieten können. Nach dem Rechtsberatungsgesetz können einer derartigen Beratung rechtliche Gründe entgegen stehen.
Jeder Anbieter ist für die Rechtmäßigkeit seiner Angebote selbst verantwortlich. Ein Verkäufer, der rechtswidrige Artikel anbietet, riskiert den Abbruch seiner Angebote durch eBay und darüber hinaus eventuell rechtliche Schritte anderer gegen sich. eBay als Marktplatz hat eine Kontroll- und. Sorgfaltspflicht. Wenn wir bei unseren regelmäßigen und umfangreichen Kontrollen regelwidrige oder ungesetzliche Angebote finden, entfernef wir diese.
Als Unterstützung haben Sie jedoch unsere Hilfeseiten, in denen Sie umfangreiche Informationen erhalten, ob der Verkauf bestimmter Artikel erlaubt oder verboten ist.
Unsere AGB finden Sie unter:
http://pages.eBay.de/help/policies/user-agreement.html Unsere Grundsätze finden Sie unter folgender Adresse:
http://pages.ebay.de/help/policies/overview.html Wenn Sie rechtliche Fragen haben, zu denen es keine Antwort auf unseren Seiten gibt, empfehle ich Ihnen, eine Rechtsauskunftsstelle zu konsultieren.
Mein Tipp:
Angebote können Sie direkt über den Link „Artikel Melden“ auf der Artikelseite an uns melden.Sie haben auch die Möglichkeit, unser Kundendienstformular zu nutzen, um uns über unzulässige Angebote zu informieren. Wir können die gemeldeten Angebote dann schneller überprüfen:http://pages.eBay.de/help/
contact_us/_base/index_ selection.html Ich wünsche Ihnen einen wunderschönen Tag und weiterhin viel Erfolg auf eBay.
Mit freundlichen GrüßenMaximilian Herzog
eBay-Kundenservice

Hey,
I recently sold a vintage Bosnian passport and I received a payment but in morning I got an e-mail that my listing was removed. I still have payment and I sent an item but I am in awkward situation because buyer can file a dispute and get money and the passport. What I dont understand is why ebay would forbid selling vintage expired passport (btw passport holder is dead). Also, I read that ebay forbid listing SFRJ (Yugoslav) passport !? That country does not exist for over 20 years. I have a chance to get vintage passports from Balkan region (ex Yugoslavia) but I do not know where to sell them now.
Hi Alen, yes eBay is a pain when it comes to obsolete passports. Nobody understands ther rules regarding this matter. They even delete 100 years old passports…Ex-Yugoslavia passports are plenty and inexpensive available – nothing special as also not that much wanted from collectors.
Yes, familiar with the eBay “MC036 eBay Listing Removed: Government IDs and Licenses” emails …
Most of the time their support staff also have problems with the interpretation of the rules. What is a defunct country? When do we allow foreign identity papers: 20 year old? 50 year old? 100 year old? Never?
Hence the simplyfication:
Passports from other countries may be sold on eBay as long as the
country is defunct. You are listing an passport. This passport is property of that country’s government and not permitted on this site.
eBay does not allow members to sell government IDs and licenses, or items that claim to be or look similar to these items.
US passports must be expired and 20 years old or older to be listed on the site.
In the end, the eBay Trust and Safety team member decides what items to remove under “MC036 eBay Listing Removed: Government IDs and Licenses”. So: Surprise! And 100 others stay online…
Dear Tom,
I experienced the same old stupid reply years ago!
Appreciate your great job in promoting passport collecting.
Best
GUY
Dear Guy good to hear from you. I though you disappeared. Yes, wth eBay you can’t communicate at all – unfortunately.