I have received 2 lengthy responses from eBay regarding their new links policy, and their answers are something you need to be aware of.
About a week ago I requested that eBay take a look at one of my sample auctions & let me know what they thought.
Customer Support got back to me today. Here is the more important text from the Powerseller Support Services person:
Thank you for writing with your concern.
We certainly appreciate your desire to be in compliance with our
policies. I have reviewed your listing #xxxxxxxxx and found that it is
almost totally in compliance, just a few minor changes are needed.
While you may have a simple link for third party members such as Paypal,
BidPay or Billpoint and the like, they must still comply with policy.
This single link can be an 88x33 pixel clickable banner OR a text link
up to 10 characters (no larger than HTML font size 3) that is
non-promotional in nature.
You currently have two links for BidPay and two for Auction Watch.
For Bidpay, click here: www.bidpay.com and the logo. You need to choose one or the other, the logo or the www.bidpay.com.
For Auction watch you have the logo and the following promotional banner that states. "Bulk listing tools, image hosting, counters, auction management, and more at AuctionWatch." The last part needs to go.
While it is also appropriate to include links for third party auction hosting services or counters even if AuctionWatch is doing the auction hosting. However, the link must be specific to the purpose of the credit. For example, An AuctionWatch credit link for hosting could go to the AuctionWatch services page but not to the AuctionWatch home page
or the members AuctionWatch gallery as it is not specific to the credit. Please keep in mind, however, an AuctionWatch track your auctions link would not be allowed since it is not a credit to the listing and allows
you to track eBay's other auctions unrelated to eBay listings.
***********
Okay, so now it is clear, is it not, that the dual AuctionWatch links are not in compliance!
In addition to that 1st message, I received an additional information message, which while it really doesn't apply currently to my stuff, may be of direct interest to others here, so here it is, too:
More information about our Links policy that you might find interesting.
Under our new policy guidelines, the view item page allows for only certain links.
With regard to credit links, there can be a single link to one third party gallery of preference. For example, a member can have one link to an AuctionWatch gallery providing the link meets our current guidelines. This single link can be an 88x33 pixel clickable banner OR a text link up to 10 characters (no larger than HTML font size 3) that is non-promotional in nature. However, the gallery link cannot include items from other auction sites.
You may also have one link to a web page that further describes the itembeing sold in your listing. The purpose in allowing this is to
accommodate situations where the entire description takes up too much space on the main listing page. Please keep in mind the additional description page must provide information specific to the item being sold. You may not reference material that only generally applies to the item. For instance, if you are selling a set of golf clubs you could link to one page that gives the all specifications for each individual golf club in the set. It would not be permissible however, to link to a page that provides information about general golfing equipment.
In your description you may have an additional link to your About ME page that can be used to:
Create a storefront for yourself
Show off your fabulous finds
Display your items up for bid
Educate the world about your favorite hobby
Promote who you are in the eBay community
Since personal and commercial websites or unrelated web page links and references will no longer be permitted within the view item page description, location, images, etc. This single link can be an 88x33 pixel clickable banner OR a text link up to 10 characters (no larger than HTML font size 3) that is non-promotional in nature. Example: Check out my About me page or a About me page logo.
From the About ME page and additional description page, a member may provide a single link or reference to their website. This link (static or dynamic), as with all others, can be an 88x33 pixel clickable banner [[[OR]]] a (linkable) text reference up to 10 characters in length (no larger than HTML font size 3) that is non-promotional in nature. Please keep in mind, these linked pages must be used primarily for their intended purpose. Links to these pages that are designed for the
purpose of promoting a members website are not permitted.
*****
My questions now to AW are:
1. It is abundantly clear we cannot have BOTH an AW logo and statement on the view item page. When will this revised template be implemented?
2. Your current Auctionwatch link takes a viewer to your home page -- eBay says this is NOT allowed, it can only go to a services page, so what will AW do about this?
3. Note the according to eBay, an Auctionwatch Track Your Auctions link is simply not allowed.
Sorry for the length of the post, but I thought you would like to see all of it.
[ edited by upriver on Jun 2, 2001 04:59 PM ]
The text may contain no more than 10 words, and may be no larger than HTML font size 3. Examples of the text portion of a credit permitted within a view item page:
"Photo hosting, provided by ipix.com"
"eBay Online Payment solutions."
"Free Counters by Honesty."
posted on June 2, 2001 02:53:39 PM new
Hmmm, my mouse keeps on double-clicking for some reason on AW posts...edited to remove duplication.
[ edited by upriver on Jun 2, 2001 03:00 PM ]
