Moderation problems in online marketplaces - Revision history

Tempo123: /* References */ Archive citation 2

2026-03-24T17:50:27Z

References: Archive citation 2

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:50, 24 March 2026
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	=====eBay listings violate the policy=====<!-- Note: this may violate the no "do your own research policy" but given its relevance I'm including it. -->		=====eBay listings violate the policy=====<!-- Note: this may violate the no "do your own research policy" but given its relevance I'm including it. -->
	It is not difficult to find several examples of the SCT being sold on eBay with objectively inadequate descriptions. A snapshot of all 63 posts found searching for "Spotify Car Thing" selling a Spotify Car Thing was made on 30 January 2025 at 3:15pm ET and stored as a .csv.<ref name=":0">[[:File:Ebay spotify car thing posts.csv.pdf\|"Ebay spotify car thing posts.csv.pdf"]]</ref> The findings of the snapshot are particularly concerning towards the efficacy of eBay's moderation system.		It is not difficult to find several examples of the SCT being sold on eBay with objectively inadequate descriptions. A snapshot of all 63 posts found searching for "Spotify Car Thing" selling a Spotify Car Thing was made on 30 January 2025 at 3:15pm ET and stored as a .csv.<ref name=":0">[[:File:Ebay spotify car thing posts.csv.pdf\|"Ebay spotify car thing posts.csv.pdf"]] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20250709010115if_/https://consumerrights.wiki/images/6/6f/Ebay_spotify_car_thing_posts.csv.pdf Archived]).</ref> The findings of the snapshot are particularly concerning towards the efficacy of eBay's moderation system.

	* 29 (46%) of all postings are "new" condition.		*29 (46%) of all postings are "new" condition.
	* 3 (4%) of all titles included "bricked" or similar.		*3 (4%) of all titles included "bricked" or similar.
	* 13 (20%) of all titles included discontinued.		*13 (20%) of all titles included discontinued.
	* 6 (9%) of all titles included mention of hacks or "DeskThing" — some are even pre-hacked.		*6 (9%) of all titles included mention of hacks or "DeskThing" — some are even pre-hacked.
	* 14 (22%) of descriptions mentioned the bricking.		*14 (22%) of descriptions mentioned the bricking.
	* 28 (44%) of descriptions mentioned discontinuation.		*28 (44%) of descriptions mentioned discontinuation.
	* 18 (28%) mentioned desk thing or hacks.		*18 (28%) mentioned desk thing or hacks.
	* 3 posts had no description at all.<ref>{{Cite web \|author=kabur-161 \|title=Spotify Car Thing posting \|url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/387721864564?_skw=%22Spotify+Car+Thing%22&epid=14048054641&itmmeta=01JJYRBCBW03SP76BKZ3PC69NR&hash=item5a46062574:g:PG0AAOSwoPJiUgVf&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKn3ZAVqeGnmDjKpd/qSh1Q8mdJ8k%2BDkvc9nvk06cgtah5Jk9MoRje2vZqZNSjoaCezIT91fIiKcdwSL%2B4W0Xr518kEe/n%2B0FymZs0fsBpQxzUf1Cx/qAdAZrh7sSkXRt2uKS2ud/yjbmpHiGrY0l9zcbNsFPxZC6sJI8oG9zfq5BqGSy/Ax9DhH4Kj6wHI6eUilsdBnzWYOPitDWJQrK67PcILyBS02Z7ozNWA2J8/YPIQe%2B%2BSrKITb7e3s/QVI6BcPkOZGFvzoR0laQdXkL28WmcvM35rU7RO%2Bzyvi/SjU/Q%3D%3D \|website=[[eBay]] \|date= \|access-date=14 Mar 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260315020652/https://www.ebay.com/itm/387721864564?_skw=%22Spotify+Car+Thing%22&epid=14048054641&itmmeta=01JJYRBCBW03SP76BKZ3PC69NR&hash=item5a46062574:g:PG0AAOSwoPJiUgVf&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKn3ZAVqeGnmDjKpd/qSh1Q8mdJ8k%2BDkvc9nvk06cgtah5Jk9MoRje2vZqZNSjoaCezIT91fIiKcdwSL%2B4W0Xr518kEe/n%2B0FymZs0fsBpQxzUf1Cx/qAdAZrh7sSkXRt2uKS2ud/yjbmpHiGrY0l9zcbNsFPxZC6sJI8oG9zfq5BqGSy/Ax9DhH4Kj6wHI6eUilsdBnzWYOPitDWJQrK67PcILyBS02Z7ozNWA2J8/YPIQe%2B%2BSrKITb7e3s/QVI6BcPkOZGFvzoR0laQdXkL28WmcvM35rU7RO%2Bzyvi/SjU/Q%3D%3D%7Ctkp:Bk9SR4bGrdiXZQ \|archive-date=15 Mar 2026}}</ref>		*3 posts had no description at all.<ref>{{Cite web \|author=kabur-161 \|title=Spotify Car Thing posting \|url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/387721864564?_skw=%22Spotify+Car+Thing%22&epid=14048054641&itmmeta=01JJYRBCBW03SP76BKZ3PC69NR&hash=item5a46062574:g:PG0AAOSwoPJiUgVf&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKn3ZAVqeGnmDjKpd/qSh1Q8mdJ8k%2BDkvc9nvk06cgtah5Jk9MoRje2vZqZNSjoaCezIT91fIiKcdwSL%2B4W0Xr518kEe/n%2B0FymZs0fsBpQxzUf1Cx/qAdAZrh7sSkXRt2uKS2ud/yjbmpHiGrY0l9zcbNsFPxZC6sJI8oG9zfq5BqGSy/Ax9DhH4Kj6wHI6eUilsdBnzWYOPitDWJQrK67PcILyBS02Z7ozNWA2J8/YPIQe%2B%2BSrKITb7e3s/QVI6BcPkOZGFvzoR0laQdXkL28WmcvM35rU7RO%2Bzyvi/SjU/Q%3D%3D \|website=[[eBay]] \|date= \|access-date=14 Mar 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260315020652/https://www.ebay.com/itm/387721864564?_skw=%22Spotify+Car+Thing%22&epid=14048054641&itmmeta=01JJYRBCBW03SP76BKZ3PC69NR&hash=item5a46062574:g:PG0AAOSwoPJiUgVf&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKn3ZAVqeGnmDjKpd/qSh1Q8mdJ8k%2BDkvc9nvk06cgtah5Jk9MoRje2vZqZNSjoaCezIT91fIiKcdwSL%2B4W0Xr518kEe/n%2B0FymZs0fsBpQxzUf1Cx/qAdAZrh7sSkXRt2uKS2ud/yjbmpHiGrY0l9zcbNsFPxZC6sJI8oG9zfq5BqGSy/Ax9DhH4Kj6wHI6eUilsdBnzWYOPitDWJQrK67PcILyBS02Z7ozNWA2J8/YPIQe%2B%2BSrKITb7e3s/QVI6BcPkOZGFvzoR0laQdXkL28WmcvM35rU7RO%2Bzyvi/SjU/Q%3D%3D%7Ctkp:Bk9SR4bGrdiXZQ \|archive-date=15 Mar 2026}}</ref>
	* The average price was $161.54 - Car Thing originally cost $89.99. The max price was $350, min was $30 (around the min price Spotify sold it at).		*The average price was $161.54 - Car Thing originally cost $89.99. The max price was $350, min was $30 (around the min price Spotify sold it at).

	The fact that even just one post exists without a description for a product that effectively does not work without significant modification is evidence that eBay does not truly require an accurate description and that eBay does not take preemptive steps to protect consumers from potentially bad products sold on the platform.		The fact that even just one post exists without a description for a product that effectively does not work without significant modification is evidence that eBay does not truly require an accurate description and that eBay does not take preemptive steps to protect consumers from potentially bad products sold on the platform.

Sojourna: Clean-up; pass on style. Categorizing under wiki root so that it's categorized somewhere — admins feel free to move it to correct one.

2026-03-15T02:36:03Z

Clean-up; pass on style. Categorizing under wiki root so that it's categorized somewhere — admins feel free to move it to correct one.

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:36, 15 March 2026
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	Before getting to the examples of bad moderation its important to understand why moderation is important. Here's a summary:		Before getting to the examples of bad moderation its important to understand why moderation is important. Here's a summary:

	#'''Protection from malicious scams''' ~~- the~~ most obvious purpose of moderation is to protect consumers from malicious scams especially those that use [[false advertising]] to attract customers.		#'''Protection from malicious scams''' — The most obvious purpose of moderation is to protect consumers from malicious scams especially those that use [[false advertising]] to attract customers.
	#'''Supporting informed purchases''' ~~- moderation~~ also forces sellers to provide buyers sufficient information to make informed decisions on their purchases. Bad moderation may result in buyers being unable to make informed decisions and could result in otherwise preventable returns and loss of revenue.		#'''Supporting informed purchases''' — Moderation also forces sellers to provide buyers sufficient information to make informed decisions on their purchases. Bad moderation may result in buyers being unable to make informed decisions and could result in otherwise preventable returns and loss of revenue.

	===Relevant seller rules===		===Relevant seller rules===
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	====eBay rules for sellers====		====eBay rules for sellers====
	The following descriptions are taken directly from the eBay seller practices policy page.<ref>[https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/selling-practices-policy?id=4346 ~~"Seller Practices Policy"~~] - ~~ebay.com~~ - ~~accessed 2025~~-~~01-30 ([~~http://web.archive.org/web/20251213035144/https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/selling-practices-policy?id=4346 ~~Archived])~~</ref>		The following descriptions are taken directly from the eBay seller practices policy page.<ref>{{Cite web \|author= \|title=Seller Practices Policy \|url=https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/selling-practices-policy?id=4346 \|website=[[eBay]] \|date= \|access-date=14 Mar 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251213035144/https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/selling-practices-policy?id=4346 \|archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref>

	======Item descriptions======		=====Item descriptions=====
	~~In regards to item descriptions eBay has the following requirements:<ref>~~[[:File:~~E bay~~ policy item description.png\|"eBay seller item description policies"]] ~~- wiki.rossmanngroup.com - accessed 2025-01-30</ref>~~		[[File:Ebay policy item description.png\|thumb\|right\|300px\|eBay seller item description policies]]
			In regards to item descriptions eBay has the following requirements:
	<blockquote>The listing page is where buyers get most of their information about an item. Information in the listing helps buyers decide what to buy and know what to expect when they receive the item. It's important to make sure that the listing is only used to describe the item for sale and to communicate the terms of the sale in a professional way.		<blockquote>The listing page is where buyers get most of their information about an item. Information in the listing helps buyers decide what to buy and know what to expect when they receive the item. It's important to make sure that the listing is only used to describe the item for sale and to communicate the terms of the sale in a professional way.

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	*Describe any defects or flaws in the item – this helps avoid problems or buyer dissatisfaction		*Describe any defects or flaws in the item – this helps avoid problems or buyer dissatisfaction

	Note: When selling a used, refurbished, or flawed item, you must include photos of the actual item for sale instead of a stock photo. </blockquote>		Note: When selling a used, refurbished, or flawed item, you must include photos of the actual item for sale instead of a stock photo.</blockquote>

	Any items that fail to meet description requirements should be at the very least temporarily taken off sale until the seller corrects the information. The "Note" section is also extremely important as it prohibits using stock photos for modified or flawed items.		Any items that fail to meet description requirements should be at the very least temporarily taken off sale until the seller corrects the information. The "Note" section is also extremely important as it prohibits using stock photos for modified or flawed items.

	===Examples of moderation failures===		===Examples of moderation failures===

	====Missing information in Spotify Car Thing resales====		====Missing information in Spotify Car Thing resales====
	The [[Spotify Car Thing]] (SCT) is a now discontinued and bricked-out-of-the-box product that continues to be sold on some online marketplaces. There are legitimate reasons to sell discontinued or bricked products~~: some people may be~~ interested in refurbishing them, ~~they may want to~~ use components for their own purposes, etc. Even with the positives in mind consumers have an expectation that the seller is honest, platforms must moderate content such that the consumer is aware of any flaws in the purchase. The SCT is a perfect item to demonstrate that companies do not moderate the content properly.		The [[Spotify Car Thing]] (SCT) is a now-discontinued and bricked-out-of-the-box product that continues to be sold on some online marketplaces. There are legitimate reasons to sell discontinued or bricked products, such as interested in refurbishing them, use components for their own purposes, etc. Even with the positives in mind consumers have an expectation that the seller is honest, platforms must moderate content such that the consumer is aware of any flaws in the purchase. The SCT is a perfect item to demonstrate that companies do not moderate the content properly.

	=====eBay listings violate the policy=====<!-- Note: this may violate the no "do your own research policy" but given its relevance I'm including it. -->		=====eBay listings violate the policy=====<!-- Note: this may violate the no "do your own research policy" but given its relevance I'm including it. -->
			It is not difficult to find several examples of the SCT being sold on eBay with objectively inadequate descriptions. A snapshot of all 63 posts found searching for "Spotify Car Thing" selling a Spotify Car Thing was made on 30 January 2025 at 3:15pm ET and stored as a .csv.<ref name=":0">[[:File:Ebay spotify car thing posts.csv.pdf\|"Ebay spotify car thing posts.csv.pdf"]]</ref> The findings of the snapshot are particularly concerning towards the efficacy of eBay's moderation system.

	~~It is not difficult to find several examples~~ of ~~the SCT being sold on eBay with objectively inadequate descriptions~~. ~~A snapshot~~ of all ~~63 posts found searching for~~ "~~Spotify Car Thing~~" ~~selling a~~ Spotify Car Thing ~~was made on 2025-01-30 at 3~~:~~15pm ET and stored as a~~ .~~csv~~.~~<ref name~~=":~~0">[[~~:~~File~~:~~Ebay spotify car thing posts.csv.pdf~~\|~~"Ebay spotify car thing posts.csv.pdf"~~]] - ~~wiki~~.~~rossmanngroup~~.com - ~~accessed 2025-01-31~~</ref> The ~~findings of~~ the ~~snapshot are particularly concerning towards the efficacy of eBay's moderation system~~.		* 29 (46%) of all postings are "new" condition.
			* 3 (4%) of all titles included "bricked" or similar.
			* 13 (20%) of all titles included discontinued.
			* 6 (9%) of all titles included mention of hacks or "DeskThing" — some are even pre-hacked.
			* 14 (22%) of descriptions mentioned the bricking.
			* 28 (44%) of descriptions mentioned discontinuation.
			* 18 (28%) mentioned desk thing or hacks.
			* 3 posts had no description at all.<ref>{{Cite web \|author=kabur-161 \|title=Spotify Car Thing posting \|url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/387721864564?_skw=%22Spotify+Car+Thing%22&epid=14048054641&itmmeta=01JJYRBCBW03SP76BKZ3PC69NR&hash=item5a46062574:g:PG0AAOSwoPJiUgVf&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKn3ZAVqeGnmDjKpd/qSh1Q8mdJ8k%2BDkvc9nvk06cgtah5Jk9MoRje2vZqZNSjoaCezIT91fIiKcdwSL%2B4W0Xr518kEe/n%2B0FymZs0fsBpQxzUf1Cx/qAdAZrh7sSkXRt2uKS2ud/yjbmpHiGrY0l9zcbNsFPxZC6sJI8oG9zfq5BqGSy/Ax9DhH4Kj6wHI6eUilsdBnzWYOPitDWJQrK67PcILyBS02Z7ozNWA2J8/YPIQe%2B%2BSrKITb7e3s/QVI6BcPkOZGFvzoR0laQdXkL28WmcvM35rU7RO%2Bzyvi/SjU/Q%3D%3D \|website=[[eBay]] \|date= \|access-date=14 Mar 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260315020652/https://www.ebay.com/itm/387721864564?_skw=%22Spotify+Car+Thing%22&epid=14048054641&itmmeta=01JJYRBCBW03SP76BKZ3PC69NR&hash=item5a46062574:g:PG0AAOSwoPJiUgVf&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKn3ZAVqeGnmDjKpd/qSh1Q8mdJ8k%2BDkvc9nvk06cgtah5Jk9MoRje2vZqZNSjoaCezIT91fIiKcdwSL%2B4W0Xr518kEe/n%2B0FymZs0fsBpQxzUf1Cx/qAdAZrh7sSkXRt2uKS2ud/yjbmpHiGrY0l9zcbNsFPxZC6sJI8oG9zfq5BqGSy/Ax9DhH4Kj6wHI6eUilsdBnzWYOPitDWJQrK67PcILyBS02Z7ozNWA2J8/YPIQe%2B%2BSrKITb7e3s/QVI6BcPkOZGFvzoR0laQdXkL28WmcvM35rU7RO%2Bzyvi/SjU/Q%3D%3D%7Ctkp:Bk9SR4bGrdiXZQ \|archive-date=15 Mar 2026}}</ref>
			* The average price was $161.54 - Car Thing originally cost $89.99. The max price was $350, min was $30 (around the min price Spotify sold it at).

	~~#29 (46%) of all postings are "new" condition.<ref name=":0" />~~		The fact that even just one post exists without a description for a product that effectively does not work without significant modification is evidence that eBay does not truly require an accurate description and that eBay does not take preemptive steps to protect consumers from potentially bad products sold on the platform.
	~~#3 (4%) of all titles included "bricked" or similar.<ref name=":0" />~~
	~~#13 (20%) of all titles included discontinued.<ref name=":0" />~~
	~~#6 (9%) of all titles included mention of hacks or "DeskThing" - some are~~ even ~~pre-hacked.<ref name=":0" />~~
	~~#14 (22%) of descriptions mentioned the bricking.<ref name=":0" />~~
	~~#28 (44%) of descriptions mentioned discontinuation.<ref name=":0" />~~
	~~#18 (28%) mentioned desk thing or hacks.<ref name=":0" />~~
	~~#3 posts had no~~ description ~~at all.<ref name=":0" /><ref>[https://archive.ph/4VEhS "Spotify Car Thing posting"] - archive.ph - archived 2025-01-31</ref>~~
	~~#The average price was $161.54 - Car Thing originally costed $89.99. The max price was $350, min was $30 (around~~ the ~~min price spotify sold it at)~~.~~<ref name=":0" />~~

	The fact that even just one post exists without a description for a product that effectively does not work without significant modification is evidence that eBay does not truly require an accurate description and that eBay does not take pre-~~emptive steps to protect consumers from potentially bad products sold on the platform.~~		==See also==
			{{Ph-C-SA}}

	==References==		==References==
	~~<references />~~		{{Reflist}}

			[[Category:Wiki root]]

Bananabot: Added archive URLs for 1 citation(s) using CRWCitationBot

2026-02-23T06:24:32Z

Added archive URLs for 1 citation(s) using CRWCitationBot

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:24, 23 February 2026
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	====eBay rules for sellers====		====eBay rules for sellers====
	The following descriptions are taken directly from the eBay seller practices policy page.<ref>[https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/selling-practices-policy?id=4346 "Seller Practices Policy"] - ebay.com - accessed 2025-01-30</ref>		The following descriptions are taken directly from the eBay seller practices policy page.<ref>[https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/selling-practices-policy?id=4346 "Seller Practices Policy"] - ebay.com - accessed 2025-01-30 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251213035144/https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/selling-practices-policy?id=4346 Archived])</ref>

	======Item descriptions======		======Item descriptions======

BytesTD: /* eBay listings violate the policy */ The third bullet point had "3." twice

2026-02-22T20:07:50Z

eBay listings violate the policy: The third bullet point had "3." twice

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:07, 22 February 2026
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	You're required to:		You're required to:
	* Specify the condition of the item		*Specify the condition of the item
	* Describe any defects or flaws in the item – this helps avoid problems or buyer dissatisfaction		*Describe any defects or flaws in the item – this helps avoid problems or buyer dissatisfaction

	Note: When selling a used, refurbished, or flawed item, you must include photos of the actual item for sale instead of a stock photo. </blockquote>		Note: When selling a used, refurbished, or flawed item, you must include photos of the actual item for sale instead of a stock photo. </blockquote>
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	#29 (46%) of all postings are "new" condition.<ref name=":0" />		#29 (46%) of all postings are "new" condition.<ref name=":0" />
	#3 (4%) of all titles included "bricked" or similar.<ref name=":0" />		#3 (4%) of all titles included "bricked" or similar.<ref name=":0" />
	#3. 13 (20%) of all titles included discontinued.<ref name=":0" />		#13 (20%) of all titles included discontinued.<ref name=":0" />
	#6 (9%) of all titles included mention of hacks or "DeskThing" - some are even pre-hacked.<ref name=":0" />		#6 (9%) of all titles included mention of hacks or "DeskThing" - some are even pre-hacked.<ref name=":0" />
	#14 (22%) of descriptions mentioned the bricking.<ref name=":0" />		#14 (22%) of descriptions mentioned the bricking.<ref name=":0" />

AnotherConsumerRightsPerson: /* Item descriptions */ rm template I'm about to delete with AutoWikiBrowser

2025-11-21T19:01:11Z

Item descriptions: rm template I'm about to delete with AutoWikiBrowser

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:01, 21 November 2025
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	======Item descriptions======		======Item descriptions======
	In regards to item descriptions eBay has the following requirements:<ref>[[:File:E bay policy item description.png\|"eBay seller item description policies"]] - wiki.rossmanngroup.com - accessed 2025-01-30</ref>		In regards to item descriptions eBay has the following requirements:<ref>[[:File:E bay policy item description.png\|"eBay seller item description policies"]] - wiki.rossmanngroup.com - accessed 2025-01-30</ref>
	~~{{Quote\|~~The listing page is where buyers get most of their information about an item. Information in the listing helps buyers decide what to buy and know what to expect when they receive the item. It's important to make sure that the listing is only used to describe the item for sale and to communicate the terms of the sale in a professional way.		<blockquote>The listing page is where buyers get most of their information about an item. Information in the listing helps buyers decide what to buy and know what to expect when they receive the item. It's important to make sure that the listing is only used to describe the item for sale and to communicate the terms of the sale in a professional way.

	You're required to:		You're required to:
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	* Describe any defects or flaws in the item – this helps avoid problems or buyer dissatisfaction		* Describe any defects or flaws in the item – this helps avoid problems or buyer dissatisfaction

	Note: When selling a used, refurbished, or flawed item, you must include photos of the actual item for sale instead of a stock photo.		Note: When selling a used, refurbished, or flawed item, you must include photos of the actual item for sale instead of a stock photo. </blockquote>
	}}Any items that fail to meet description requirements should be at the very least temporarily taken off sale until the seller corrects the information. The "Note" section is also extremely important as it prohibits using stock photos for modified or flawed items.		Any items that fail to meet description requirements should be at the very least temporarily taken off sale until the seller corrects the information. The "Note" section is also extremely important as it prohibits using stock photos for modified or flawed items.

	===Examples of moderation failures===		===Examples of moderation failures===

Shingo: Fixed citation punctuations.

2025-03-06T18:00:31Z

Fixed citation punctuations.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:00, 6 March 2025
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	======Item descriptions======		======Item descriptions======
	In regards to item descriptions eBay has the following requirements<ref>[[:File:E bay policy item description.png\|"eBay seller item description policies"]] - wiki.rossmanngroup.com - accessed 2025-01-30</ref>:		In regards to item descriptions eBay has the following requirements:<ref>[[:File:E bay policy item description.png\|"eBay seller item description policies"]] - wiki.rossmanngroup.com - accessed 2025-01-30</ref>
	{{Quote\|The listing page is where buyers get most of their information about an item. Information in the listing helps buyers decide what to buy and know what to expect when they receive the item. It's important to make sure that the listing is only used to describe the item for sale and to communicate the terms of the sale in a professional way.		{{Quote\|The listing page is where buyers get most of their information about an item. Information in the listing helps buyers decide what to buy and know what to expect when they receive the item. It's important to make sure that the listing is only used to describe the item for sale and to communicate the terms of the sale in a professional way.

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	It is not difficult to find several examples of the SCT being sold on eBay with objectively inadequate descriptions. A snapshot of all 63 posts found searching for "Spotify Car Thing" selling a Spotify Car Thing was made on 2025-01-30 at 3:15pm ET and stored as a .csv.<ref name=":0">[[:File:Ebay spotify car thing posts.csv.pdf\|"Ebay spotify car thing posts.csv.pdf"]] - wiki.rossmanngroup.com - accessed 2025-01-31</ref> The findings of the snapshot are particularly concerning towards the efficacy of eBay's moderation system.		It is not difficult to find several examples of the SCT being sold on eBay with objectively inadequate descriptions. A snapshot of all 63 posts found searching for "Spotify Car Thing" selling a Spotify Car Thing was made on 2025-01-30 at 3:15pm ET and stored as a .csv.<ref name=":0">[[:File:Ebay spotify car thing posts.csv.pdf\|"Ebay spotify car thing posts.csv.pdf"]] - wiki.rossmanngroup.com - accessed 2025-01-31</ref> The findings of the snapshot are particularly concerning towards the efficacy of eBay's moderation system.

	# 29 (46%) of all postings are "new" condition. <ref name=":0" />		#29 (46%) of all postings are "new" condition.<ref name=":0" />
	# 3 (4%) of all titles included "bricked" or similar.<ref name=":0" />		#3 (4%) of all titles included "bricked" or similar.<ref name=":0" />
	# 3. 13 (20%) of all titles included discontinued. <ref name=":0" />		#3. 13 (20%) of all titles included discontinued.<ref name=":0" />
	# 6 (9%) of all titles included mention of hacks or "DeskThing" - some are even pre-hacked. <ref name=":0" />		#6 (9%) of all titles included mention of hacks or "DeskThing" - some are even pre-hacked.<ref name=":0" />
	# 14 (22%) of descriptions mentioned the bricking. <ref name=":0" />		#14 (22%) of descriptions mentioned the bricking.<ref name=":0" />
	# 28 (44%) of descriptions mentioned discontinuation. <ref name=":0" />		#28 (44%) of descriptions mentioned discontinuation.<ref name=":0" />
	# 18 (28%) mentioned desk thing or hacks. <ref name=":0" />		#18 (28%) mentioned desk thing or hacks.<ref name=":0" />
	# 3 posts had no description at all. <ref name=":0" /><ref>[https://archive.ph/4VEhS "Spotify Car Thing posting"] - archive.ph - archived 2025-01-31</ref>		#3 posts had no description at all.<ref name=":0" /><ref>[https://archive.ph/4VEhS "Spotify Car Thing posting"] - archive.ph - archived 2025-01-31</ref>
	# The average price was $161.54 - Car Thing originally costed $89.99. The max price was $350, min was $30 (around the min price spotify sold it at).<ref name=":0" />		#The average price was $161.54 - Car Thing originally costed $89.99. The max price was $350, min was $30 (around the min price spotify sold it at).<ref name=":0" />

	The fact that even just one post exists without a description for a product that effectively does not work without significant modification is evidence that eBay does not truly require an accurate description and that eBay does not take pre-emptive steps to protect consumers from potentially bad products sold on the platform.		The fact that even just one post exists without a description for a product that effectively does not work without significant modification is evidence that eBay does not truly require an accurate description and that eBay does not take pre-emptive steps to protect consumers from potentially bad products sold on the platform.

Jack Andersen: Mention the CSV, use archived sale of SCT without even a description.

2025-01-31T18:09:56Z

Mention the CSV, use archived sale of SCT without even a description.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:09, 31 January 2025
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	The [[Spotify Car Thing]] (SCT) is a now discontinued and bricked-out-of-the-box product that continues to be sold on some online marketplaces. There are legitimate reasons to sell discontinued or bricked products: some people may be interested in refurbishing them, they may want to use components for their own purposes, etc. Even with the positives in mind consumers have an expectation that the seller is honest, platforms must moderate content such that the consumer is aware of any flaws in the purchase. The SCT is a perfect item to demonstrate that companies do not moderate the content properly.		The [[Spotify Car Thing]] (SCT) is a now discontinued and bricked-out-of-the-box product that continues to be sold on some online marketplaces. There are legitimate reasons to sell discontinued or bricked products: some people may be interested in refurbishing them, they may want to use components for their own purposes, etc. Even with the positives in mind consumers have an expectation that the seller is honest, platforms must moderate content such that the consumer is aware of any flaws in the purchase. The SCT is a perfect item to demonstrate that companies do not moderate the content properly.

	=====eBay listings violate the policy=====		=====eBay listings violate the policy=====<!-- Note: this may violate the no "do your own research policy" but given its relevance I'm including it. -->
	It is not difficult to find several examples of the SCT being sold on eBay with objectively inadequate descriptions, ~~its so~~ significant that ~~a video of~~ the ~~situation is far more effective than~~
			It is not difficult to find several examples of the SCT being sold on eBay with objectively inadequate descriptions. A snapshot of all 63 posts found searching for "Spotify Car Thing" selling a Spotify Car Thing was made on 2025-01-30 at 3:15pm ET and stored as a .csv.<ref name=":0">[[:File:Ebay spotify car thing posts.csv.pdf\|"Ebay spotify car thing posts.csv.pdf"]] - wiki.rossmanngroup.com - accessed 2025-01-31</ref> The findings of the snapshot are particularly concerning towards the efficacy of eBay's moderation system.

			# 29 (46%) of all postings are "new" condition. <ref name=":0" />
			# 3 (4%) of all titles included "bricked" or similar.<ref name=":0" />
			# 3. 13 (20%) of all titles included discontinued. <ref name=":0" />
			# 6 (9%) of all titles included mention of hacks or "DeskThing" - some are even pre-hacked. <ref name=":0" />
			# 14 (22%) of descriptions mentioned the bricking. <ref name=":0" />
			# 28 (44%) of descriptions mentioned discontinuation. <ref name=":0" />
			# 18 (28%) mentioned desk thing or hacks. <ref name=":0" />
			# 3 posts had no description at all. <ref name=":0" /><ref>[https://archive.ph/4VEhS "Spotify Car Thing posting"] - archive.ph - archived 2025-01-31</ref>
			# The average price was $161.54 - Car Thing originally costed $89.99. The max price was $350, min was $30 (around the min price spotify sold it at).<ref name=":0" />

			The fact that even just one post exists without a description for a product that effectively does not work without significant modification is evidence that eBay does not truly require an accurate description and that eBay does not take pre-emptive steps to protect consumers from potentially bad products sold on the platform.

	==References==		==References==
	<references />		<references />

Jack Andersen: Recorded a video to backup the ebay listings, will get some solid statistics on the quality of the posts and then update this article.

2025-01-30T20:05:25Z

Recorded a video to backup the ebay listings, will get some solid statistics on the quality of the posts and then update this article.

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:05, 30 January 2025
Line 31:		Line 31:
	The [[Spotify Car Thing]] (SCT) is a now discontinued and bricked-out-of-the-box product that continues to be sold on some online marketplaces. There are legitimate reasons to sell discontinued or bricked products: some people may be interested in refurbishing them, they may want to use components for their own purposes, etc. Even with the positives in mind consumers have an expectation that the seller is honest, platforms must moderate content such that the consumer is aware of any flaws in the purchase. The SCT is a perfect item to demonstrate that companies do not moderate the content properly.		The [[Spotify Car Thing]] (SCT) is a now discontinued and bricked-out-of-the-box product that continues to be sold on some online marketplaces. There are legitimate reasons to sell discontinued or bricked products: some people may be interested in refurbishing them, they may want to use components for their own purposes, etc. Even with the positives in mind consumers have an expectation that the seller is honest, platforms must moderate content such that the consumer is aware of any flaws in the purchase. The SCT is a perfect item to demonstrate that companies do not moderate the content properly.

	=====eBay listings ~~are inaccurate~~=====		=====eBay listings violate the policy=====
			It is not difficult to find several examples of the SCT being sold on eBay with objectively inadequate descriptions, its so significant that a video of the situation is far more effective than

	==References==		==References==
	<references />		<references />

Jack Andersen: ref for ebay policy image, also minor description

2025-01-30T19:31:26Z

ref for ebay policy image, also minor description

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:31, 30 January 2025
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	#'''Supporting informed purchases''' - moderation also forces sellers to provide buyers sufficient information to make informed decisions on their purchases. Bad moderation may result in buyers being unable to make informed decisions and could result in otherwise preventable returns and loss of revenue.		#'''Supporting informed purchases''' - moderation also forces sellers to provide buyers sufficient information to make informed decisions on their purchases. Bad moderation may result in buyers being unable to make informed decisions and could result in otherwise preventable returns and loss of revenue.

	=== Relevant seller rules ===		===Relevant seller rules===
	These rules will be referred back to multiple times so it is only sensible to list them out beforehand		These rules will be referred back to multiple times so it is only sensible to list them out beforehand

	==== eBay rules for sellers ====		====eBay rules for sellers====
	The following descriptions are taken directly from the eBay seller practices policy page.<ref>[https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/selling-practices-policy?id=4346 "Seller Practices Policy"] - ebay.com - accessed 2025-01-30</ref>		The following descriptions are taken directly from the eBay seller practices policy page.<ref>[https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/selling-practices-policy?id=4346 "Seller Practices Policy"] - ebay.com - accessed 2025-01-30</ref>

	====== Item descriptions ======		======Item descriptions======
	In regards to item descriptions eBay has the following requirements:		In regards to item descriptions eBay has the following requirements<ref>[[:File:E bay policy item description.png\|"eBay seller item description policies"]] - wiki.rossmanngroup.com - accessed 2025-01-30</ref>:
	{{Quote\|The listing page is where buyers get most of their information about an item. Information in the listing helps buyers decide what to buy and know what to expect when they receive the item. It's important to make sure that the listing is only used to describe the item for sale and to communicate the terms of the sale in a professional way.		{{Quote\|The listing page is where buyers get most of their information about an item. Information in the listing helps buyers decide what to buy and know what to expect when they receive the item. It's important to make sure that the listing is only used to describe the item for sale and to communicate the terms of the sale in a professional way.

Line 24:		Line 24:

	Note: When selling a used, refurbished, or flawed item, you must include photos of the actual item for sale instead of a stock photo.		Note: When selling a used, refurbished, or flawed item, you must include photos of the actual item for sale instead of a stock photo.
	}}		}}Any items that fail to meet description requirements should be at the very least temporarily taken off sale until the seller corrects the information. The "Note" section is also extremely important as it prohibits using stock photos for modified or flawed items.

	===Examples of moderation failures===		===Examples of moderation failures===

	==== Missing information in Spotify Car Thing resales ====		====Missing information in Spotify Car Thing resales====
	The [[Spotify Car Thing]] (SCT) is a now discontinued and bricked-out-of-the-box product that continues to be sold on some online marketplaces. There are legitimate reasons to sell discontinued or bricked products: some people may be interested in refurbishing them, they may want to use components for their own purposes, etc. Even with the positives in mind consumers have an expectation that the seller is honest, platforms must moderate content such that the consumer is aware of any flaws in the purchase. The SCT is a perfect item to demonstrate that companies do not moderate the content properly.		The [[Spotify Car Thing]] (SCT) is a now discontinued and bricked-out-of-the-box product that continues to be sold on some online marketplaces. There are legitimate reasons to sell discontinued or bricked products: some people may be interested in refurbishing them, they may want to use components for their own purposes, etc. Even with the positives in mind consumers have an expectation that the seller is honest, platforms must moderate content such that the consumer is aware of any flaws in the purchase. The SCT is a perfect item to demonstrate that companies do not moderate the content properly.

	===== ~~Ebay~~ listings are inaccurate =====		=====eBay listings are inaccurate=====

	==References==		==References==
	<references />		<references />

Jack Andersen: ebay rules

2025-01-30T19:26:26Z

ebay rules

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:26, 30 January 2025
Line 3:		Line 3:
	This stub will be used to document the significant issues with moderation in online marketplaces that impact consumers by exposing them to potential scams and harmful products.		This stub will be used to document the significant issues with moderation in online marketplaces that impact consumers by exposing them to potential scams and harmful products.

	== Why moderation is important ==		==Why moderation is important==
	Before getting to the examples of bad moderation its important to understand why moderation is important. Here's a summary:		Before getting to the examples of bad moderation its important to understand why moderation is important. Here's a summary:

	# '''Protection from malicious scams''' - the most obvious purpose of moderation is to protect consumers from malicious scams especially those that use [[false advertising]] to attract customers.		#'''Protection from malicious scams''' - the most obvious purpose of moderation is to protect consumers from malicious scams especially those that use [[false advertising]] to attract customers.
	# '''Supporting informed purchases''' - moderation also forces sellers to provide buyers sufficient information to make informed decisions on their purchases. Bad moderation may result in buyers being unable to make informed decisions and could result in otherwise preventable returns and loss of revenue.		#'''Supporting informed purchases''' - moderation also forces sellers to provide buyers sufficient information to make informed decisions on their purchases. Bad moderation may result in buyers being unable to make informed decisions and could result in otherwise preventable returns and loss of revenue.

	=== ~~Examples of moderation failures~~ ===		=== Relevant seller rules ===
			These rules will be referred back to multiple times so it is only sensible to list them out beforehand

	== References ==		==== eBay rules for sellers ====
			The following descriptions are taken directly from the eBay seller practices policy page.<ref>[https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/selling-practices-policy?id=4346 "Seller Practices Policy"] - ebay.com - accessed 2025-01-30</ref>

			====== Item descriptions ======
			In regards to item descriptions eBay has the following requirements:
			{{Quote\|The listing page is where buyers get most of their information about an item. Information in the listing helps buyers decide what to buy and know what to expect when they receive the item. It's important to make sure that the listing is only used to describe the item for sale and to communicate the terms of the sale in a professional way.

			You're required to:
			* Specify the condition of the item
			* Describe any defects or flaws in the item – this helps avoid problems or buyer dissatisfaction

			Note: When selling a used, refurbished, or flawed item, you must include photos of the actual item for sale instead of a stock photo.
			}}

			===Examples of moderation failures===

			==== Missing information in Spotify Car Thing resales ====
			The [[Spotify Car Thing]] (SCT) is a now discontinued and bricked-out-of-the-box product that continues to be sold on some online marketplaces. There are legitimate reasons to sell discontinued or bricked products: some people may be interested in refurbishing them, they may want to use components for their own purposes, etc. Even with the positives in mind consumers have an expectation that the seller is honest, platforms must moderate content such that the consumer is aware of any flaws in the purchase. The SCT is a perfect item to demonstrate that companies do not moderate the content properly.

			===== Ebay listings are inaccurate =====

			==References==
	<references />		<references />