eBay shady on old passports
For collectors of vintage passports, the global platform is an essential resource. However, if only they would create policies that reflect reality rather than a theoretical approach. They are often vague about the laws they reference. Recently, I was banned from selling on eBay for 10 days. The reason? I listed a non-US vintage passport on their US platform.
Being on the platform for almost 25 years, I have quite some experience with their customer service (CS). Initially, they do not want to communicate as you always get a standard reply from them which is worthless. You have to push them to get a possible satisfying answer – but this case will be rare.
What does the current government ID policy say? eBay shady old passports
The following or similar items are not allowed:
- Government-issued IDs, passports, birth certificates or license plates
- Collectible license plates are allowed as long as they are expired and at least 3 years old or as allowed by law
They permit collectible license plates, but officially, they do not allow collectible obsolete passports, even though the response from @askeBay on X suggests otherwise.
The old policy from 2019 had a clear statement on collectible passports (as reported in this article on passports by Liz Morton, a seasoned ecommerce expert)
Why this part of the policy was deleted is unclear!
Consequences eBay shady old passports
I was also blocked several times when listing US passports in accordance with the current statement from eBay Customer Service. Why? I can only assume that new eBay CS rookies are not properly trained. They see the policy and assume that all passports are forbidden. Hence, such listings will still be deleted and members will get blocked, just because eBay is unwilling to publish a clear policy on government related IDs as it was in 2019.
Instead, they refer to an “internal policy” that permits US passports older than 20 years. Why eBay remains vague on this topic is a mystery. When I asked Customer Service for clarification, I received no response, which is typical when communicating with them. They reply for a while and then go silent, just as if you were blocked.
Another topic remains unsolved. Why does eBay allow US passports if they are the property of the issuing government? You can read more about this on my website in the chapter legal note.
And just as I finished this article, this notification came in. eBay’s inconsequence has no limits – and they’re using AI-tools!
What do you think?
Passport-collector.com is an extensive online platform dedicated to the study, preservation, and appreciation of passport history. Founded in 2010 by passport history expert & author - Tom Topol, the site offers a wealth of educational articles and resources that explore the origins and evolution of passports, their historical significance, and the impact of global events on travel documentation. With over 950 meticulously researched articles, Passport-collector.com not only serves as an essential repository for collectors and historians but also provides insights into the role of passports in shaping national identity and cultural heritage. Passport history, vintage passport collector, collectible documents, travel history, i94 travel history, passport collection, passport, diplomatic passport, passport office, famous people passports, celebrity passports, vintage passport, travel document, vintage passports for sale, old passports for sale, value of old passports, Reisepass, passport fees,
