posted on June 18, 2001 04:27:04 PM
I don't normally deal in WW2 memorabilia items, however, I occasionally come across them... I wasn't aware of the policy change until 7 days ago when I listed an iron cross, and displayed the side that didn't have the swastika but mentioned in the description that the other side had it. That item was pulled, which I found confusing as there were 8 others up at the same time, although none of them referred to the swastika in their descriptions, even though they were fully visible in the picture of 5 of them... and all made it to closing... SO I figured that ebay must do only word searches for infringing items, and that the trick to getting around the ebay rule was to not mention the word...
So I listed a luftwaffe lighter and had the image showing the swastika, but didn't mention the word "swastika" in the description. Guess what, I was finked on by a fellow ebayer and ebay pulled the item! Now I am not looking for sympathy here, I know I was listing items that were verbotten on ebay, however, what I find really creepy is that they rely on other ebayers to police the site and turn people in... Meanwhile, ebay will gladly accept their commission on items, such as ebay item #1154375503 - a German tank watch with a swastika which sold for over $1,300.00 on June 17, providing nobody finks. WHat kind of policy is that? I guess its all about money, and it was easy to be pious with me and my $23.00 lighter, but wait a sec... ebay might not make its trillion dollar goal by November if they nix everything... so policing is only enforced when required....
