eBay further listing restrictions for price gouging consumer sellers

From 26 March 2020, eBay are restricting the sale of all Tampons, Baby Wipes, and Nappies from the platform to stop price gouging consumer sellers. For an indefinite period, only business sellers will be permitted to continue trading these items at the appropriate prices.

The new restrictions will apply to the following categories:

• Health & Beauty > Healthcare Products > Feminine Care Products > Tampons
• Baby Essentials > Baby Changing & Nappies > Baby Wipes, Creams & Cotton Wool (Baby Wipes)
• Baby Essentials > Baby Changing & Nappies > Nappies

Since the Coronavirus epidemic began, some consumer sellers have been stockpiling and selling essential products for profit on eBay. Many unfortunate people who are failing to find these vital items in supermarkets were being forced to pay unreasonable prices for them on eBay. If you’re one of these sellers, consider donating them to the mothers, fathers and people who need them most for free.

Listings or items that portray, glorify, or attempt to profit from human tragedy or suffering, or that are insensitive to victims of such events, are not allowed.
-eBay

Previous restrictions

Due to price gouging consumer sellers eBay have also heavily restricted the sale of all Face Masks, Hand Sanitisers, Cleaning Wipes & Pads, Baby Formula & Milk and Toilet Roll with only a whitelist of closely vetted eBay sellers permitted to continue trading these items at appropriate prices under the eBay Emergency Listing Restrictions policy. Sellers attempting to sell these items not on that list were warned they would find their listings blocked or removed and their account suspended.

Since the end of February, eBay has had block filter algorithms in place and a global security team working around the clock to remove listings and take enforcement action against unscrupulous sellers who persist in attempting to circumvent eBay filters. While the vast majority of non-compliant listings are blocked from appearing on eBay, a small minority are not. Due to the current unprecedented volumes, there may be some delay in items appearing on the site and being manually removed.