posted on May 8, 2001 10:58:46 PM
I just received a news. Ebay just closed a number of auctions from seller using auction watch because their auction page has the follow link.
"Join My Mailing List
View my other auctions at http://shop.auctionwatch.com/terrrrrr"
Terry
[ edited by terrrrrr on May 8, 2001 10:59 PM ]
posted on May 9, 2001 09:48:01 AM
I had heard through the grapevine that Andale users received a warning that Ebay was going after mailing lists now... *sigh*
Wouldn't it be nice if EBAY told us these things?????
posted on May 9, 2001 04:31:09 PM
Hello. EBay will no longer allow mailing lists to be included in the auction listings as of May 7 and will cancel any auctions that don't comply. Here is a copy and paste from the Andale Announcement Board:
QUOTE
"Starting Monday, May 7, eBay will no longer allow us to have a email sign up for shoppers to join your mailing list. Previously, we included this feature at your request on certain 2.0 Andale Ad Templates. While we have disabled this functionality on all new ads that are listed, any relisted ads may still have the mailing list sign up. PLEASE double check any ads that you edit and relist for the mailing list sign up feature. If it is there, please choose another ad template. eBay may cancel any ads that still have show a mailing list sign up from May 7 on."
END QUOTE
posted on May 10, 2001 07:23:37 AM
Does this mean they can cancel your auctions if you use AW storefront in your auctions? All the link says is, see my other auctions at xxxxx. It doesn't show a sign up for a mailing list until you click on the link.
posted on May 10, 2001 11:06:50 AM
Hello lorndav. I think you're OK because of the "two click" rule. Andale's software had the sign-up mailing list links visible on the auction page so they were only "one click" away. I would still ask in the AW Services Forum just to be on the safe side.
posted on May 10, 2001 11:11:49 AM
eBay would prefer that Opt-In mailing lists be in the End Of Auction notices that SELLERS send out to their winning bidders.
Actually... I think eBay would like for Opt-In Mailing lists to disappear completely, but there is only so much they can do about that... since eBays power over what appears on other sites is limited (I believe) to the immmediate page being viewed on a "click through".
HOG TIE them buyers and sellers... don't let'em go ANYWHERE that we can't get a share of the profit! *snicker*
posted on May 10, 2001 11:27:42 AM
Here is an email from SafeHarbor in response to the mailing list rule which was posted on the eBay Trust And Safety Board some time ago. I've copied and pasted the relevant info.
QUOTE
"Response from SafeHarbor
"Thank you for writing to ebay. I apologize for the delay in getting
back to you. I will be happy to answer your questions and concerns.
Gathering email is a user agreement violation. Our User Agreement state
the following:
"Listing and Selling.
5.1 Listing Description. Listings may only include text descriptions,
graphics and pictures you supply to our site (or that you link to
from our site) that describe your item for sale (or as appropriate,
for which are soliciting offers to buy).
The User Agreement can be found at the following URL:
In addition, gathering these email addresses from your eBay auctions is
inconsistent with our Privacy Policy, which states:
"5. Your Use of Other Users' Information.
By entering into our User Agreement, you agree that, with respect to
other user's personally identifiable information that you obtain through
the Site or through an eBay-related communication or eBay-facilitated
transaction, eBay hereby grants to you a license to use such information
only for: (a) eBay-related communications that are not unsolicited
commercial messages.."
We are currently working with Andale to have this taken out of their
templates.
As we have just started to enforce this policy, you will see alot of
listings that continue to have this violation."
END QUOTE
I'm afraid the mailing list policy isn't very clear and I really don't think the referenced rules in the Privacy Policy and the User Agreement have anything to do with mailing lists. I believe eBay doesn't want them and is desperately picking at straws to try to find ANYTHING in the rules that could POSSIBLY be used for that purpose. The best thing to do is just include an Opt-In sign-up in your EOA notice since there's absolutely nothing they can do about that.
