Still a restriction on selling N95 masks?

[electronic_dist_intl]

I recall back in the height of COVID that eBay put a restriction on the sale of N95 masks. However, it's still in effect today it appears. I have a large stock to move and I get the error "Because this item is susceptible to price gouging, it may be sold only by authorized sellers." Is eBay going to ever allow the sale of N95 masks again?

[lotzofuniquegoodies · Accepted solution]

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@electronic_dist_intl wrote:

I recall back in the height of COVID that eBay put a restriction on the sale of N95 masks. However, it's still in effect today it appears. I have a large stock to move and I get the error "Because this item is susceptible to price gouging, it may be sold only by authorized sellers." Is eBay going to ever allow the sale of N95 masks again?

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@electronic_dist_intl 

If you do a search for just that phrase a large quantity of listings are available. Because much of what happens with eBay is done by bots....AI...hard to confirm exactly what is going on.

In digging further you require business status to sell masks. See link for details. You will have to confirm to see if you meet those requirements.

https://www.ebay.ca/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/products-eligibility-requirements-poli...

-Lotz

[mrdutch1001]

In a word,"NOPE"! you are an electronics seller...highly doubt eBay sees you as a qualified business seller for the selling of N95 masks or any other such restricted health /medical supplies. eBay has done its due diligence by keeping those restrictions and they are to be commended for such actions. Solution is simple: find somewhere else to sell them or donate them.

[pjcdn2005]

Why do you think those masks should be restricted on eBay and why they should be commended for doing so?  Afaik they allowed any sellers to sell them until there was a shortage and there was a problem with price gouging.  I'm not aware of any reason for them to continue to be restricted as they are an over the counter purchase and can be bought at any drug store as well as Uline and other suppliers. 

I can see them restricting some medical devices but I can't think of a reason to  restrict a face mask.  I undertand of course that they can restrict anything that they want to but I'm curious about your response to it as you might know more about it than I do.

[mrdutch1001]

Many governments and hospitals are still/and again recommending masks and with that comes those persons who take advantage of these situations....

[pjcdn2005]

Ok.  Thanks for explaining your point of view.  I don't see how a person can take advantage of a situation unless the item is in high demand and has low supplies.  I hadn't heard anything about that being the current situation. 

[mrdutch1001]

it really matters not ...this is eBay's site, eBay's rules & policies and happens to be one of a few that I actually agree with>like much else on this site it is what it is>one either agrees with or not but life on eBay will continue as masks have been added in to that nice long list of other "restricted"/"prohibited" items that sellers tend to ignore and/or then find out the hard way that NO that is not acceptable to list here...Too many sellers NEVER read/fully understand &/or comprehend that selling sites do have the right to restrict/prohibit whatever items/products they so choose and do not have to give a reason why or justify that decision.

[ricarmic]

If I had to put my money on anything it would be that it's never been a priority to revisit/update the list of restricted items out of COVID. 

If one looks at how long it takes to resolve "low level" bugs here, might be another year or two before the list got update....but perhaps I'm just wearing a bigger pessimist hat today than usual....😉

[pjcdn2005]

That would my guess.  That it has never been a priority and that it may stay there forever whether there is a reason for it or not.  My hat is bigger than your hat. 😁

[flipistics]

I would imagine they wouldn't be in a hurry to change the policy because of the number of fake ones. It may be a case of it not being worth the headache for them.

[midwestdistributors]

The ban on msks was completely ridiculous during cvd & remains completely ridiculous in 2025, given cvd's been over for years. I’d argue the move was made so a special few could have exclusive control over the sale of msks, even tho eBay could easily limit/cap prices in listings if they wanted to. Also, eBay's a free market, so nobody’s forced to buy/bid on items that are beyond what one can afford a/k/a one bids according to what they want to spend & if the price goes up, you stop bidding & move on to the next auction, or simply go find the item somewhere else.

[mrdutch1001]

eBay may be a" free market" to a degree, but there are rules, policies,restrictions to follow on eBay same as there are on other selling sites.  eBay has every right to set whatever restrictions it so chooses> This is eBay's site, and eBay sets the rules, policies and restrictions....and if eBay wants to limit such items, THAT is their right to do so as they set the rules here.

If you don't like eBay rules and polices, the restrictions of certain products, you can remove yourself from the eBay environment. If your dislike for such rules and policies,restrictions is so strong that you have to rant about it here in the forums, perhaps eBay is not for you.

With the new strains of flus that continue to evolve and spread across the globe, there is every possibility that mask-mandating may also become more widespread and guess what? there will most likely be another influx of the price gouging **bleep**s that see $$$ & an opportunity to take advantage of these health & medical sutuations.

[reallynicestamps]

Covid is still around, my girlfriend's husband has it --again-- in spite of vaccination and masking. He's just very susceptible. Had to give up a job as a harbour ferry pilot because he was in too close proximity to the tourist passengers.

And now there are warnings about norovirus, which has no vaccine but can be held at bay just by washing your hands with soap.

[recped]

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@midwestdistributors wrote:
The ban on msks was completely ridiculous during cvd & remains completely ridiculous in 2025, given cvd's been over for years. I’d argue the move was made so a special few could have exclusive control over the sale of msks, even tho eBay could easily limit/cap prices in listings if they wanted to. Also, eBay's a free market, so nobody’s forced to buy/bid on items that are beyond what one can afford a/k/a one bids according to what they want to spend & if the price goes up, you stop bidding & move on to the next auction, or simply go find the item somewhere else.

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Completely ridiculous?

eBay is a free market?

It wasn't a good look for eBay to be seen as being involved in ILLEGAL price gouging on masks during 2020 & 2021.

eBay is not, never was a "free market". eBay is a marketplace operated by a coporation owned by shareholders, presuming they are legal eBay can insitutute ANY restrictions they wish to and certainly prohibiting sellers from violating laws which eBay could be equally be responsible for is well within their domain.

The bans which were in effect for more marketplaces than just eBay were needed to curb the near instant bad press that marketplaces like eBay, Amazon etc were getting as early as the end of March 2020.

Should the ban have been removed in 2023/24? probably but maybe not, there has been some reports of price gouging right now in California and one of the items in question is N95 masks.