How can you not allow the sale of a grip? ebay sucks.

[SIGarmed]

I recently had an auction and was selling a First Samco combat vertical grip. Ebay cancelled the auction. What they're saying is pretty much anything that can go on an "assault weapon" they will no longer allow for sale on ebay. I guess I can't sell tape.
These people have gotten so out of their minds lately it's not even funny. How pathetic.



From the e-mail:

Your listing was for a AR-15/ M16 Combat Vertical Grip. eBay has
recently revised its Firearms Policy so that the sale of any assault
weapon-related parts or accessories will no longer be permitted. This
will apply to all parts and accessories related to any firearm defined
as an "assault weapon" by either Federal or California law. In addition,
the sale of any firearm receiver or firearm frame will not be permitted.
While this policy has always been in place, this ban will now also
include complete receivers and frames, components and parts of receivers
and frames, "cut", "80%", or "partially complete" receivers.

The primary reason that eBay has changed its policy is that various
state and federal laws are particularly complex when it comes to
regulating, and even defining, assault weapons parts and accessories.
What is legal in one jurisdiction may be illegal in another, and as the
category grew, it became increasingly difficult for us to enforce a
consistent policy. To keep our community from inadvertently violating a
firearms law, and to simplify our enforcement into a policy that would
be fair and consistent to all sellers, we took the step of banning all
parts and accessories related to assault weapons. This decision was made
purely to help protect our community from inadvertently violating
firearms laws, and for enforcement reasons. eBay takes no position on
the gun control issue. eBay will continue to allow the sale of hunting
rifle parts and accessories because the laws surrounding the sale of
these items are much simpler and thus easier to enforce.

We appreciate your patience and understanding regarding this matter, and
wish you continued success on eBay.

 

[Langenator]

It's mostly a CYA thing, especially since eBay is based in California, which has a particularly strict AWB.

Of course, they're a bit out of touch-there is no such thing as a "assault weapon" according to federal law.

Sell it on Gunbroker or Auction Arms.

 

[AK-74me]

What I can't understand is why so many people on here continue to use Ebay. I think most people realized a long time ago they suck. Ebay free for 4 yrs and counting.

 

[rick_reno]

What I can't understand is why so many people on here continue to use Ebay.

I'm with you - we wouldn't consider doing F2F business with someone who posted a sign at their door "If you THINK firearms are good - you're not allowed in here" - yet some of us will shop on EBay. I stopped going there.

 

[scubie02]

ebay and paypal are both pretty antigun--I try to not use them anymore. When I sell something I usually say I'd just as soon have a check or money order and have it take a little longer.

 

[thatguy]

As noted ebay is based in CA and state law bars advertising for sale any AW stuff. Sucks but blame CA for the most part although ebay and PayPal (owned by ebay) are fairly anti-gun.

Why use it? Still the biggest single source for many parts and accessories.

 

[feedthehogs]

While there may be some personal anti-gun feeling at these companies their statement rings of liability concerns.
While not a lawyer, as a business owner I have to deal with this all day long and make decisions based on legal issues rather than personal issues.
It sucks but with the sue happy trial lawyers, people looking for a quick buck, and ever changing and vague laws, its a necessity.

Like has been said, you want to sell guns and parts, go to the sites that do this.

 

[dfaugh]

Yes, eBay sucks

but, I sell on several different auction sites(Some gun related items, some not, but no gun parts) ...And I get 10 times the response on eBay, as on all other sites COMBINED...Yes, they suck (as does PayPal) BUT, if you wanna sell online, you're kinda stuck if you wanna make any money at it.

Welcome to the world of free commerce.

 

[sssteinkamp]

So where's the best place to buy and sell such items on the Internet?

Shane

 

[Beav]

I usually check

www.gunbroker.com
www.auctionarms.com
www.gunsamerica.com

 

[AK-74me]

Firearms related?

www.gunbroker.com

As far as selling gun related stuff why even try Ebay? when gunbroker is just as popular with firearms related stuff as dolls or whatever else is with Ebay.

Now maybe if you were trying to sell non-firearm related stuff you are stuck with ebay but I don't see the point in even trying to deal with them when it comes to anything that is even remotley firearm related.

 

[Standing Wolf]

So many assault lawyers! So few opportunities to write, "No!" and know your word will be taken as a command by thousands.

 

[Shweboner]

gunbroker is the way to go. Ebay sucks for selling things. They charge you 2 times. One is a listing fee that you have to pay everytime your item lists, then if the item sells you pay a fee based on the selling price.

I sold a car in there once and it would have cost me $40/week/listing and then when it sold I had to pay another $40. THe car was only listed for $1500. Think about after a few weeks the listing fee would ad up to the point where you wouldnt make enough off the car.

I like GB because they only charge you if you sell the item. Thats the way to do it.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

I'm surprised that no one's brought up the particularly annoying weasel-out of "Federal or California law". As one person pointed out, the AWB sunsetted over the rest of the country some time ago now. But California's always behind the rest of us. In any case, the rest of us are to be kept in E-bondage to their state law.

Hmmmmm, how about a nice Federal Restraint Of Trade lawsuit? Anybody ( that's prit-near anybody at all ) who's more well-versed in matters tort care to comment?

900F

 

[bogie]

One thing to consider - Ebay has a buncha lawyers, and they're into covering ass. And they've got a buncha zero tolerance zombies who've the lawyers have somewhat trained.

Wanna play a little havoc with ebay?

Start reporting EVERY optic auction for a rifle scope because it may possibly be affixed to an "assault weapon."

Then every rifle sling.

Then every piece of leather.

 

[fletcher]

http://pages.ebay.com/TownHall/

Do you have a question about why eBay has a certain policy? Or a suggestion on how to improve the way eBay handles its marketplace policies and their enforcement? Matt Halprin, Vice President of Global Marketplace Policy Management, joins us for our next Town Hall event on Tuesday, August 23rd at 2:00 PM PDT.
Come and learn more about how eBay's Trust & Safety team is approaching policy management and what new policy initiatives are being introduced.



This Town Hall event will be a live audio event, streamed to you through Windows Media Player. To download and install the latest version of Windows Media Player, please click here.

We'll start taking submissions for questions approximately one week in advance. Come back to this Town Hall page (ebay.com/TownHall) to submit your question and to join the event on August 23.

Spam them with "why won't you allow completely legal firearms parts" type requests.

 

[GunGoBoom]

Start reporting EVERY optic auction for a rifle scope because it may possibly be affixed to an "assault weapon."

Then every rifle sling.

Then every piece of leather.

Now you're talkin...

Anyone got an NEF Handi-Rifle with a bottom rail that will accept such a vertical grip? Then it wouldn't be " 'assault weapon'-related". Give em hell.

 

[carebear]

As was said many times, they are based in California, it makes sense for them to just hew to the Cali line. Open your own auction site or don't use them, but quit whining.

I looked on the other 3 first, but the best auction for a rifle sight I just won was on eBay. So that's where I went. Saved $45 bucks over the minimums the sellers wanted for their, apparently made of gold, used sights on the 3 gun auctions.

That's just the market at work, gun guy lists an item, different gun guy buys the item, gun society rejoices.

 

[axmurderer]

If you take out any reference to "AR-15" your listing will probably not be refused. I had a similar problem trying to sell a scope with a "carry handle" mount. After I removed AR15 from the text, it sold ok.

I agree ebay sucks on their anti-gun policies though.

 

[Standing Wolf]

So many assault lawyers! So much fear!

 

[nomadboi]

I've found that when I just want to buy a cheap holster, or a magazine, or some other part/parephenalia, there's still more available on ebay than on gunbroker, and they're cheaper too. Sure, the auctions get cancelled half the time, but that's not the seller's fault- often the acutions are reinstated or re-listed later, after it has been shown that they weren't in violation of any policy.

Sometimes wonder who goes through and checks all these things, deciding what is or isn't kosher.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Some sellers/vendors get all twisted up in knots over gun stuff. Even companies that are gun-friendly, like Sportsmans Guide,

Awhile ago, after reading a thread on this forum about blank-firing 1911 pistols, I thought I'd like to buy one. Sportsmans Guide has them, and their price was far better than anyone else's, so I ordered one, along with a box of 8mm blanks.

They shipped me the blanks, but they declined to sell me the pistol based on something they think my state law says. Nonetheless, they WILL sell me a .44 caliber black powder revolver.

In their new catalog, they show an 1893 Turkish Mauser. Because it's older than 100 years, they can sell it direct -- no FFL required. I didn't want the Mauser, but I did want the bayonet that they sell for it, so I ordered one. Got an e-mail the next morning saying they can't sell the bayonet to my zip code. ??? Dunno why not, I can buy knives by mail where I live. I called to ask and the girl said it may not be a "legal" issue but a "liability" issue -- I live in a predominately liberal state and perhaps they are afraid of some kind of backlash.

So no bayonet for me. Out of curiosity, though, I pointed out to her that the bayonet goes with the military rifle they sell on the same page of the catalog. She acknowledged this. So I asked if they can sell me the rifle. She checked her restrictions list and said, yes, they can. So, they will sell me a genuine, fully-functional battle rifle capable of killing a person at up to about 1000 meters distance ... but they won't sell me the bayonet with which I might be able to injure a person who is within arms' length of me. She was silent for several moments, then replied as cheerfully as she could, "That's correct, Sir. I suppose it doesn't make a lot of sense, does it?"

To which I could only reply, "No, it doesn't. Thanks for your time, sorry to have bothered you."

Riddle me that Batman.

 

[Cesiumsponge]

I don't even think most people looking for firearms stuff will turn to Ebay. My first response would be gunbroker. You can still sell firearm accessories on Ebay if you put enough disclaimers and whatnot. Many people sell airsoft stuff or firearm stuff under an airsoft guise there. However its too much of a PITA to get your auctions pulled and a wagging finger warning sent

That said, as strict as Ebay might be on firearms, Nazi and Black America collectibles, and other things that are politically incorrect, but they still sell volumes of stuff you can't get elsewhere, and a lot of oddball stuff that you can't get elsewhere with reasonable turnover. I can't think of any other place on the Internet or in person that sells x-ray transformers, 50kV diodes, 10kA contact relays, square-profiled enameled wire, spun aluminum toroids--many items that are way too specialized to be found elsewhere on the Internet unless you're putting in a multimillion dollar order.

I've made a fair bit of money selling my stuff off on Ebay, if you know the system well and how to make proper listings. I've also found some killer deals and opportunities that don't exist elsewhere (bought some items for $30 on Ebay, sold it for just over $200 afterwards on Ebay). People will list stuff for cheap and not know the value of it.

While I don't support 100% of Ebay's policies...their serivce is too good to pass up. Call me a sellout, but a 700% return on something you purchased there a week earlier is hard to argue with, and some of the stuff I look for can't be found at any store or junkyard.

 

[Lucky]

Pity, ebay hooked me up! The only thing I couldn't get for cheap was a free-float handguard.

Tip of the day, 'Airsoft' stuff is so very very cheap, yet the items are so simple in design and manufacture that it's nigh impossible for them to be of lower quality. Laser, $4, Mount, $10-20, Forward grip (not shown) <$10 including a rail attachment.

 

[entropy]

They won't let you sell a vertical grip, but they'll allow stuff that'll get the NAMBLA bunch's blood racing.... I went in the 'adult' section once and was totally disgusted by some of the drawings there. Supposedly because they are drawings, they aren't kiddie p***.