eBay – New Listing Restrictions on Gun Parts

[Badger]

For those that haven't heard, eBay is announcing increased restrictions on the sale of firearm related items.

A Message from Matt Halprin – New Listing Restrictions on Gun Parts

30 July, 2007 17:51

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 eBay.com

This is unfortunate, as eBay has been a world wide source of scarce parts, particularly relating to old milsurps.

Gunbroker is an option, but it's a U.S. based site and many sellers on their don't want to export unless they're transacting through a U.S. based FFL licensed dealer. Auction Arms is also another U.S. option, but the sellers there often request the same arrangements to export to Canada.

There are Canadian options for auctions such as Valley Guns and a few others that are vacant most of the time, but they cost the you money to sell your parts or firearms.

We financially support CGN as a Contributing Dealer and it is a great straightforward option for outright sales, but that venue doesn't condone auctions. Sellers of rare pieces would prefer to use the auction technique to maximize value on a rare piece, which is why you never see anything of collector value in the EE Parts Forum.

As you know, using commercially developed software, we've recently created a new value added area for the Milsurp Collectors Forums called the Quartermaster Stores (click here)

The Military Surplus categories of the Quartermaster Stores, are open to advertisements (buy/sell/trade) and auctions (like eBay) from both private individuals and commercial dealers. Each group of advertisers has their own ad section and the various sub-categories are exactly the same for both, including, Rifles & Muskets, Pistols & Revolvers, MG/Anti-Tank, , Bayonets/Swords/Knives, Parts & Accessories, Ammo & Re-loading Kit, Uniforms & Kit and Books & Videos.

The cost to post ads for both private individuals and commercial dealers is absolutely FREE!

Dealers offer special discounts to members and there's a built-in feedback system to help members evaluate the integrity of buyers and sellers.

So, if you're in Canada and looking for someplace to offer any old milsurp collectible parts and accessories, as well as firearms, have a look and give it a try. Since it costs nothing, you have nothing to lose.

Regards,
Badger

Information

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[stencollector]

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.

What tripe. I am real sure this guy bought his stuff from ebay to save a few bucks before going on a suicide spree. After all, you don't want to have an outstanding balance on your paypal card when you go; by the time you were reincarnated and came back to pay it off you would owe a fortune.

I am now removing ebay from my favorites list, and am considering cancelling my account with them altogether. Their "Trust & Safety policy team" can regulate someone elses decisions in the future.

BTW, if you would like to let Mr. Halprin know how much you appreciate his concern to regulate everyone's wellbeing, here is his email: mhalprin@eBay.com

[sdh1911]

I thing I will celebrate there P.C. up grade to there policies by canceling my account. I would truly like to know exactly what had been bought on E-Bay that would prompt such a stupid policy change. One thing that has been driven home as a working gunsmith, it is illegal to make something with the intent of breaking the law, very illegal-SDH

[stencollector]

I believe he bought one or two spare mags from ebay.
What next? If someone buys a car from ebay, then has an impaired charge, or vehicular manslaughter, will all cars and parts be banned from ebay as well?

I sent a short note to mhalprin@eBay.com , and actually received a reply from one of his minions. It is as follows:

Hello Robert,

Thank you for your recent email to Matt Halprin in regard to changes to
our Firearms, Weapons and Knives policy. He has asked that I review your
email and respond on his behalf.

Like the rest of the nation, eBay was deeply saddened and shocked by the
events at Virginia Tech and we felt that it was not only appropriate,
but necessary, to revisit our related policies. While nothing purchased
on our site was illegal in any way, we felt compelled to ask ourselves
some tough questions and ensure we do everything possible to provide a
safe and trusted marketplace.

We have always valued an open and transparent marketplace; if items are
legal to buy and sell in an unrestricted manner we allow them on our
site. However, there are some items that while legal, may not be safe
for our marketplace. In these instances, our applicable policies go
beyond the law to ensure that our marketplace is safe.

Currently we do not allow actual firearms on the site. After careful
consideration our executives and our Trust and Safety team determined
that any item required to fire a gun has no place on eBay. All of our
policies are under constant review. As the Internet and the way our
communities use the Internet evolves, our policies and our marketplace
must evolve with it. We determined that this policy change was in the
best interest of promoting a safe marketplace for all members.


Regards,

Kristine
Office of the President
eBay, Inc.

If you look at the number of firearms liscences in Canada, there are some 2.3 million gun owners out of a population of somewhere around 30 or so million. These are all adult aged consumers. Also figure that there are many, many more owners who are unliscenced, and I am not talking about the gangs in Toronto and Winnipeg, I am talking about the otherwise law abiding farmers in rural Canada. So all told, we represent 10% of the population. If the US has similar numbers, then we should be a consumer group worthy of notice, and not able to be shunned like this.
A simple e-mail is the least any of us can do. Let e-bay know we are not happy. In the end, it is their shareholders they must answer to.