This was posted on the US Power Seller Board this morning. Recently I suggested that it appears that eBay may eliminate Buyers from being able to email Sellers directly and it now appears that new procedures are being introduced to eliminate any links to our web sites (from our About Me page) and links to email us directly.
If this is in fact what is happening, there will be some very serious problems given the apparent difficulties existing with eBays mail system.
Malcolm
Here is the copied text:
With the introduction of a number of eBay Stores enhancements over the past few months, including Custom Headers and Custom Pages, we are adding a new section to the eBay Links Policy to help sellers better understand what links are permitted within their eBay Store. Please note the following changes that are effective today:
Links within eBay Stores
The links that sellers may include on their eBay Store home page or other Store Custom Pages are listed below:
Links to your email address that enable potential buyers to ask questions via email about items in your store.
Links to your on-eBay pages and items.
Up to 10 links to other sellers’ eBay Store pages, as long as you have the permission of those other sellers.
Links to off-eBay pages that provide information about your store or service; however, the pages may not advertise any specific off-eBay items or contain any links to pages that offer items off-eBay.
We will also no longer allow new eBay Store names to be a URL (i.e. a Web address such as www.yourstorename.com). Existing Store sellers who have a URL as their store name will be exempt from this change.
Any links other than those listed above are not permitted.
Live Chat links
In addition, a number of members have asked us to clarify our Links policy as it applies to Live Chat technology. The current Links Policy does not permit Live Chat links from the item page; only links from an About Me page are allowed. We have added text to make the policy clearer on this issue.
For the complete policy or for additional information please read our Links Policy and Links Policy related Frequently Asked Questions.
Regards,
eBay
Here is the section dealing with the Linking:
You may link to your own Web store or Web site. However, you may not directly offer any non-eBay merchandise on the About Me page itself.
eBay does not permit its users to place the following types of links on your About Me pages:
Links that directly offer any non-eBay listing or merchandise on the About Me page itself.
Links to other online trading sites or pages, including auctions and fixed-price formats.
Links to sites offering the same merchandise for the same or lower price (including the Buy It Now price).
Links to sites offering merchandise or information not permitted on eBay
On your About Me page, you may link to your own Web site or individual Internet store where you are offering to trade, sell or purchase your goods or services. However, you may not link to any page within online trading sites that offer goods from multiple sellers either in a fixed price or auction format.
About Me pages that do not meet this policy may be removed.
