New Ebay rules regarding firearms parts

[pontifex]

Matt Halprin
Hello everyone?In mid-August, we will be updating our Firearms, Weapons and Knives Policy to place more restrictions around gun-related items. Once these changes take effect, we will prohibit listings of any firearm part that is required for the firing of a gun. This includes items like bullet tips, brass casings and shells, barrels, slides, cylinders, magazines, firing pins, trigger assemblies, etc. Please read the Firearms, Weapons and Knives Policy for more details on our current policy.
As you may know, eBay does not allow the listing of any items which are regulated by individual states or the federal government; however, there are still a large number of firearm-related parts that are legal and are widely available in retail stores. These items have also historically been allowed on eBay.

After learning that some items purchased on eBay may have been used in the tragedy at Virginia Tech in April 2007, we felt that revisiting our policies was not only necessary, but the right thing to do. After much consideration, the Trust & Safety policy team ? along with our executive leaders at eBay Inc. ? have made the decision to further restrict more of these items than federal and state regulations require.

This new update continues to encourage safety among our community members and brings our policies in the U.S. and Canada in closer alignment with our existing policies in other markets around the globe.


Sincerely,

Matt Halprin
Vice President, Trust & Safety

Not that I buy gun parts on Ebay (I would if I could find what I needed at a lower price), but wtf????

 

[Appledrop]

ebay blows..wouldnt surprise me if some ammo retailers just paid them to restrict competition - seriously wish google would come up with an auction site to use with their new google checkout

 

[KK]

Another reason I'd want ebay to go belly up.

 

[lokiju]

Well it's their right to do whatever they want with their business IMO.

I can understand why.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: lokiju
Well it's their right to do whatever they want with their business IMO.

I can understand why.

true.

i don't really understand why though... its not like these people can't go to numerous other places to get these items anyway. its not like ebay has a monopoly on this stuff either.

 

[meltdown75]

Oh teh NOES!1!11 how will ppl get gunz?!?!!118

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: lokiju
Well it's their right to do whatever they want with their business IMO.

I can understand why.

true.

i don't really understand why though... its not like these people can't go to numerous other places to get these items anyway.

It's because the US has the most inventive lawyers in the world. If there's a way someone OTHER than the person pulling the trigger can be made liable, and therefore made to pay out a ridiculous sum, they'll find a way.

 

[vrbaba]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: lokiju
Well it's their right to do whatever they want with their business IMO.

I can understand why.

true.

i don't really understand why though... its not like these people can't go to numerous other places to get these items anyway.

Ebay was one of those numerous other places. Now its numerous other places-1.

They feel bad enough that they want to change, i guess

 

[pontifex]

what did the VA Tech shooter buy from Ebay anyway?
I'd like to see his buying history. Maybe they should ban everything else he bought from there as well?

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Matt Halprin
After learning that some items purchased on eBay may have been used in the tragedy at Virginia Tech in April 2007, we felt that revisiting our policies was not only necessary, but the right thing to do. After much consideration, the Trust & Safety policy team ? along with our executive leaders at eBay Inc. ? have made the decision to further restrict more of these items than federal and state regulations require.

Not that I buy gun parts on Ebay (I would if I could find what I needed at a lower price), but wtf????

That's the first I heard of that. What do they think "may" have been used by the shooter?

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: pontifex
what did the VA Tech shooter buy from Ebay anyway?
I'd like to see his buying history. Maybe they should ban everything else he bought from there as well?

He bought magazines.

Hell I've purchased magazines on ebay too.

The real issue here is that ebay didn't like the negative press. This is not exactly a surprising reaction to all the "OMG he bought them on EBAY!!!!!" news stories.

Viper GTS

 

[meltdown75]

The next VT shooter wannabe will only be able to buy dirty magazines :Q

 

[Xavier434]

Not that I believe it will reduce the amount of illegal firearms roaming the states, but I am glad they made this decision. Their reason for it is stupid though. I don't claim to be an expert in the sales of firearms over Ebay, but I am betting that there are more loopholes in their system for people to take advantage of than most places. I could be wrong of course.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: lokiju
Well it's their right to do whatever they want with their business IMO.

I can understand why.

true.

i don't really understand why though... its not like these people can't go to numerous other places to get these items anyway. its not like ebay has a monopoly on this stuff either.

That's the thing. I don't really object to them doing what they feel is in their own business/liability interest, nor do I have a problem with them doing this because they feel it's right. I don't believe this will materially inhibit anyone from buying and using guns, but in any case eBay has no obligation to sell anything they don't want to sell.

 

[lozina]

we need a goobay, or google ebay

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: lozina
we need a goobay, or google ebay

Interesting idea. It wouldn't surprise me to see Google get into that business, and God help eBay if they do. Yahoo! had an auctions site for a while that never really took off, but Google would almost certainly have more success if they tried.

 

[Wheezer]

Anyone who does not understand why needs to look at how sue happy people are in this country.

ebay is doing nothing more than protecting itself.

Even if someone attempted to sue them and lost ebay would fork out a fortune in defending themselves.


You wanna thank someone for this?

Thank the blood sucking lawyers of this country that look for any reason to make a buck.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: lozina
we need a goobay, or google ebay

Interesting idea. It wouldn't surprise me to see Google get into that business, and God help eBay if they do. Yahoo! had an auctions site for a while that never really took off, but Google would almost certainly have more success if they tried.

I am so hoping Google sets something up. I've had a bad experience with an eBay seller and trying to get my money back through PayPal and we all know eBay and PayPal are one in the same so it's basically a monopoly.

Being able to use Google checkout for an eBay type auction site would be a nice fresh change.

 

[lozina]

also, if anyone is interested in gun parts or whole firearms on the net and don't already know about it, there are the following 2 sites that are pretty good:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/
http://www.gunbroker.com/

 

[Xavier434]

Wheezer is probably on the right track. Most likely Ebay got some letters, e-mails, etc which made a few of the higher ups nervous and they played the better safe than sorry game. That was probably a good idea. VT is in the spotlight right now so it's best for businesses steer clear of the whole thing unless what they are doing is considered compassionate by the general public.

 

[lozina]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: lozina
we need a goobay, or google ebay

Interesting idea. It wouldn't surprise me to see Google get into that business, and God help eBay if they do. Yahoo! had an auctions site for a while that never really took off, but Google would almost certainly have more success if they tried.

I am so hoping Google sets something up. I've had a bad experience with an eBay seller and trying to get my money back through PayPal and we all know eBay and PayPal are one in the same so it's basically a monopoly.

Being able to use Google checkout for an eBay type auction site would be a nice fresh change.

The worst are the fees. They really rape you on commission between ebay/paypal. I am pretty confident that if google were to ever take on an online auction they would be very fair on any fees. Heck I wouldn't be surprised if they didnt charge anything and relied only on revenue from ads, but okay, okay - maybe thats too optimistic.

 

[amish]

Originally posted by: lozina
also, if anyone is interested in gun parts or whole firearms on the net and don't already know about it, there are the following 2 sites that are pretty good:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/
http://www.gunbroker.com/

thanks! i had heard of gun broker but not of guns america.

 

[zerocool1]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
The next VT shooter wannabe will only be able to buy dirty magazines :Q

and he'll be shooting blanks

 

[zoiks]

:thumbsup:

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Xavier434
Not that I believe it will reduce the amount of illegal firearms roaming the states, but I am glad they made this decision. Their reason for it is stupid though. I don't claim to be an expert in the sales of firearms over Ebay, but I am betting that there are more loopholes in their system for people to take advantage of than most places. I could be wrong of course.

Unless I am completely missing something, you could NEVER sell firearms on e-bay. The only thing you could but was minor parts, such as magazines. That is it.