Explore Your Funny Side with eBay Fun Stuff Category

[sapana@ebay.com]

At eBay we are glad to share our newest category launch with you. The Fun Stuff category is a unique corner of the eBay world and an expression of the fun and vibrant spirit of our marketplace. This new category will showcase the most popular, eccentric, interesting and unique listings on eBay and help you express your creativity.

Remember the community member who wanted to sell advertising space on his forehead? Or the user who had an idea for sale – no matter what your problem was? Or even the plant that spelled your heart’s message? Well, eBay India has seen such and many more quirky, simply unusual and even inspiring listings in the past.






While eBay has always been a great place to buy and sell – it's also endeavored to be a launch pad for its vibrant community to share their lives, likes and dislikes. With the launch of Blogs and My World and now the Fun Stuff category, we want to give you all a chance to promote your talents, ideas, showcase a unique product or even bring out a smile in the reader’s face…

Your ideas whether eccentric or interesting can be presented to the world through unique listings on eBay India. The listings in the Fun Stuff category will be in Auction, Buy It Now and Classifieds formats. Following are the guidelines for Buyers and Sellers.

We are announcing a 30 day contest for the Fun Stuff category with eBay Gift Vouchers worth Rs. 1000 each for the 5 coolest listings during the month of December 2007. Go ahead, let your creativity flow. Log onto http://fun.eBay.in to know more.

Do share any feedback you may have on the following thread.

Warm Regards
Sapana

[creative_pursuits]

Dear Deepa,

Thanx for coming up with the guidelines once again!I cannot see any changes in the guidelines published now.

All i want to know is why my listing violates ebay policy???


(The guidelines reads this......In case this is a humorous or witty item such as “Plot for sale on the Dark Side of the Moon”, sellers are encouraged to specify it in the listings.)


My listing itself clearly indicates that there is nothing for sale and it is only for fun.is that not sufficient???please go through the removed listing---- COOL OFFER! FREE! FREE! FREE! FREE!...BUY IT FREE!!!! (#320193924617 ) and pin point how it violates the selling guidelines.

I dont want u to post the guidelines or the link again and again...i have already read them many times after i received that warning mail.All i want is an explanation as to how and why my listing violates ebay policy.

Thanx

[topaz@ebay.com]

Hi Creative_Pursuits

Thanks for your patience. I wanted to clarify that listings in the fun category need to have a minimum starting price of Rs. 0.99. I realise that this has not been explicitly stated in the current Seller Guidelines and they are being updated w.e.f Monday, December 17, 2007 to include this.

The updation will read.....
"Is there a minimum starting price for listings?
Yes, the minimum starting price for all listings is Rs. 0.99. You may not list items at a starting price of lower than Rs. 0.99 or at ‘Free’."

I was amused by your listing and seasonal message and would encourage you to explore relisting it at a starting price of Rs. 0.99 or higher. You could also consider coming up with other creative listings. As a reminder, the contest for the 5 coolest listings through December 2007 is very much on.

cheers

Deepa Thomas

topaz@ebay.com

[topaz@ebay.com]

Dear techniwas

Thanks for your patience. I wanted to clarify that listings in the fun category need to have a minimum starting price of Rs. 0.99. I realise that this has not been explicitly stated in the current Seller Guidelines and they are being updated w.e.f Monday, December 17, 2007 to include this.

The updation will read.....
"Is there a minimum starting price for listings?
Yes, the minimum starting price for all listings is Rs. 0.99. You may not list items at a starting price of lower than Rs. 0.99 or at ‘Free’."

Do consider relisting at a starting price of Rs. 0.99 or higher. You could also consider coming up with other creative listings. As a reminder, the contest for the 5 coolest listings through December 2007 is very much on.


cheers

Deepa Thomas

topaz@ebay.com

[creative_pursuits]

Thanx Deepa for the update.

I wud like to know whether the policy violation will still affect our selling ids or will ebay ignore it because the guidelines was silent on the minimum price criteria.

Also wanted to know whether the listings wud be eligible entries for the contest.

Also wanted to know whether including a Line in the listing requesting buyers that the whole idea is fum and hence not to bid wud suffice.

Please do let me know

Regards
Mala

[topaz@ebay.com]

Dear Creative_Pursuits

I would encourage you to use the contact us link to ask the Trust& Safety team specific questions regarding your account status.

I am responding to the two general questions which would be helpful for all members of the community:

Reference contest entries, please relist this or any other listing to be eligible for the contest obviously at over the minimum starting price.

Reference, buyers bidding on the item or purchasing the item: All items in the Fun Stuff Category can be purchased by buyers. If the buyer is purchasing the item and it is non-tangible (no physical or electronic delivery), please state it explicitly in the listing so the buyer knows and can then decide whether to buy it.

Good luck and have fun:-)

topaz@ebay.com

[topaz@ebay.com]

We are pleased to announce our first two winners of the Fun Stuff Category for two very cool listings.

1. Winner 1: eBay id Techniwas for the listing "My Dad's Shaving Brush"

2. Winner 2: eBay id creative_pursuits for the listing "New Year Surprise Gift Box"

Congratulations to our first two winners. We are still looking for three more winners. Reminder that the contest ends by the end of 2007. Last 10 days to go!

Enjoy the festive season and have fun.

cheers

Deepa Thomas

topaz@ebay.com

[jaipur_fashions]

Many congratulations to Mala (creative_pursuits) and Techniwas for winning the contest 🙂

Techniwas, I really must appreciate your creative idea. Both of you are deserving candidates.

Well done !

Cheers
Meenu :-)

[techniwas]

Thx Deepa & Meenu,

Congratulation's Mala

[creative_pursuits]

Thanx Deepa Meenu and TECHNIWAS for ur wishes.

Who says Failure is not a stepping stone to success!!!we have proved it here!

Well,The start of this contest was dissapointing for both of us (me and techniwas)as our fun listings were cancelled with allegations of policy violation....I am sure community menbers must have seen our cribbings on the board...But we dint give up and here is the result...wow...i am so happy...i dont have words!!!:-)

Techniwas,ur Idea is FUNtastic!!!!Really cool!!!Many Many congratulations to u.




Cheers
Mala

[cochinmall]

LISTING REMOVED!!!

Dear Deepa,

I am really excited to be a part of selling in the fun category listing.I still dont know why there is a huge difference in the department of the trust and safety and the fun category.I listed an item and it was removed in the morning.The formal email from ebay is as follows:-

Hello cochinmall (ebayseller_rahul@yahoo.co.in),

We appreciate that you chose eBay to list the following Multiple Item Auction listing
(s):

320198835230 - Brand New Air Guitar for Sale+Warranty after Death Too!


However, your listing was in violation of eBay's No Item policy and has been removed from eBay. We notified members who placed bids on the item that the listing has been canceled. We would like to take this opportunity to let you know what part of your listing is not permitted.

Your listing(s) contains the following information:

Brand New Air Guitar for Sale+Warranty after Death Too!


Listings not offering an item or service for sale are not permitted on eBay. Listings that do not offer an item clutter the site making it harder for buyers to find and sellers to sell items. Furthermore, these listings undermine trust in the eBay marketplace.

I listed this item after going through the FAQ's or the guidelines especially the following question(go through the sentence in the bold lettering):-

Will the buyer pay for the item?

Definitely! All the items in this category are for sale. Sellers are responsible for ensuring that the item they list can actually be delivered or owned by the buyers. In case this is a humorous or witty item such as "Plot for sale on the Dark Side of the Moon", sellers are encouraged to specify it in the listings .

Now,how can one sell land on the moon when it cannot be physically acquired!!! I think the team hasnt done the homework before removing the listing. You can go to www.google.com and check what exactly is my listing.

One more listing is currently live,so i guess i have to remove it soon,else my id would be suspended.I will not be listing anymore in this category.I think ebay.in should learn from ebay.com's listings.When ebay.in has approx 10-20 listings in the fun category,ebay.com has a whopping 3600 listings in the fun category,especially the fun category listings.

Is there anyone from ebay team to comment on this?? Help??

Rahul
cochinmall