What’s the deal with eBay?

Ebay has recently amended their policy regarding the sale of teacher editions on their site.  They have defined “teacher edition” in the broadest sense, including any book with answers, solutions, teaching tips, or lesson plans.  They have been elusive in their explanation as to why they have done this.  eBay has outgrown its capacity to monitor its listings, or to manage the listing practices of sellers, and therefore pulled the plug on everything, regardless of grade level or subject matter.  They have not made any exceptions for homeschooling or vintage books.

It is relevant to note the degree of aggressiveness (albeit lukewarm and inconsistent) with which they are enforcing this new policy: Sellers are not the only ones finding themselves in the eBay doghouse – now eBay is actively pursuing buyers.  There have been several instances where an auction or store listing was allowed to close with a winner and be removed by eBay post sale.  In cases like this, both the buyer and the seller are penalized in varying degrees ranging from removal of all listings, restricted access to eBay buying and selling, or even permanent suspension.  Ebay has even modified its definition of teacher edition to include “items intended solely for use by teachers or parents.”  This broad definition has made books with teaching tips, answers, solutions, lesson plans, and instruction as well as books intended for parents, teachers or instructors to be disallowed on the site.

This is not an attempt to boycott eBay, but rather a heads-up to those who are unaware.  Although we at TLPSH have been less than thrilled with the action and the manner of enforcement eBay has chosen to take with so many loyal and honest sellers, we also realize that it still has its place – just not a place for homeschool curriculum! 

Enjoy FREE listings and a wide variety of homeschooling books and curriculum on TLPSH!