Question: Do you have "Cleaned" statement on used clothing/shoes listings?

[Retro Treasures WV]

So question time folks – do you have a generic statement in every used clothing/shoes list that your item has been cleaned “properly”? If not, you probably should!

So I had a listing removed yesterday – a pair of shoes.

The reason: I was not in compliance with ebay used clothing policy because I didn’t have a statement in my listing that “the item has been cleaned properly”.

I’ve sold THOUSANDS of used clothing/shoes for almost 5 years now and I’ve never included this line in a single listing I’ve made. This is the first time a listing has been removed because of it.

I called about this listing and they have allegedly appealed on my behalf.

What does “properly” mean?Who knows! Ebay’s policy don’t state what “properly” actually is! There is this snippet in the policy:

We have a used clothing policy so buyers can be confident they’ll get clean, stain-free items when they buy on eBay.

Does this mean you can’t sell anything that has a stain or other flaw???

I asked multiple questions about this policy while on the phone but I didn’t get any answers. Here is a sampling…
1. What does “properly” mean?
2. Why do I need a generic statement in the listing when by listing the item I’m agreeing that I’m following the policy of selling clean items by listing the item.
3. Why was my item deleted when ebay released a statement in a seller update that violation listings would no longer be deleted and would just be made inactive with a recommendation for what the seller could do to fix it? Why was this deleted? I have no recourse as I can’t even access the item to properly discuss it with Customer Service.
4. Why was this item singled out? Are all of my used items in immenent danger of being deleted? Do I need to immediately update them all?
5. Why does ebay only send an email for serious issues like this and no ebay message? Shouldn’t I be contacted through the official channel of ebay messages?

All I got was canned “I’m sorry” responses.

[sonia]

Eek. This is really weird.

If you’re on facebook, I suggest contacting the FB for Business page. Typically get better answers there for stuff like this.

[Jay]

This is crazy. I thought eBay was moving away from descriptions with all the mumbo jumbo sellers used to cram in there.

[Sharyn]

I used to clean all the clothing until my store started to get bigger. If something looks clean, I don’t bother. Most of my clothing listings don’t say anything. I wonder why Retro’s listing was targeted. There are so many clothing listings on eBay, and I’m sure most don’t say anything.

[Paul]

It may have been for the foot fetish “well worn” thing that was going on a couple years back.

The type of shoe or category may have triggered it.

Hope this isn’t a new thing.

[Retro Treasures WV]

I still haven’t heard back on the appeal that the CSR allegedly put in for me.
In the mean time, for all new clothing and shoes listings I’ve added the word “clean” to.

Before my final line in all my listings is “see pictures for details & condition”.
Now it says “Clean. See pictures for details & condition.”

Hopefully that is good enough to meet their vague standards.

[ctebay]

I got hit with this yesterday. I had described a pair of men’s workboots that were beat up as well worn after seeing other listings like this and not realizing it was a foot fetish term.

The eBay message did say that all clothing and shoes should contain a statement that they are clean which none of my listings do and most other sellers don’t seem to have either. I’m hoping that this issue really was just about the well-worn term and I don’t have to modify all of my clothing and shoes listings.

[Author]

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