I keep a close eye on the topics that readers search for that bring them to the BuildaSkill blog and forums. Over the last few weeks there has been a growing trend in the number of searches with key words such as “eBay forced business registration” and “eBay private seller listings blocked”.

I know all about them topics – I’ve got two accounts in shutdown, that cannot list anymore onto any European country, because of an unannounced (outside of the PowerSeller discussion board) policy by Trust and Safety at eBay UK. I’m also pre-empting them with the wind down of my third ID with the intent to finally be off eBay for good by New Year.

So what’s the gripe? Well it seems the preciouses that eBay staff listen to on the boards, have complained so much that it’s foreign sellers swamping the site using free listings for 99p items, that UK sellers’ products can no longer be found on the UK site.

Now the powers that be have introduced a policy to prevent any and all further listings from sellers with too many listings on the UK site, under a private seller ID.  They’re justifying this under the EC rules about businesses identifying themselves in their adverts.  (Hint – watch British TV ads very closely – you’ll see many that identify the product, but not the company that makes it or sells it).

They’re playing judge, jury, and executioner solely under the premise of being registered as a business or private seller, with no regard to the exact requirements of UK law and whether or not the sellers identify their status (and contact address) in their listings, about me page, or in their eBay shop.  Once again, eBay UK have placed themselves as extenders of the law, using the law as justification.  When will UK authorities wake up to this bunch of muppets?  For that matter, when will the eBay board do likewise, and what about the UK-based shareholders?

The site visitors we’re getting off these key words provide some interesting data via our server stats and other sources – a far lower percentage of them than anticipated are from outside the UK. What’s more, the rate of arrivals is accelerating on a daily basis, here on the blog, over in the forums … and so are direct enquiries to us via the onsite contact channels.  UK sellers are worried and confused, with just cause – did I mention eBay UK never announced this policy officially?

It seems this hidden, never announced, policy is closing down far more British-based sellers than foreign ones …

…. Foot, meet gun … Bang!

If you’re affected, share your thoughts below, or join our forums and have a right good moan – we’ve got several boards that are perfect for that.

Gaz