I can't believe it. ebay hates Google so much that any mention of them and they shut you down.

2 days ago I listed one of my Google domains (PayGbuy.com) on ebay. Then last night I get hit with an cancellation email and subsequently 3 more violation e-mails. Wow I must have did something very bad!!! Well maybe not. You tell me. Here is the first email:

Dear wwwsendpaypalcom,

You recently listed the following auction-style listing:

300073989189 - Hot new Google .com Domain name 1,2,3, letter Short


The listing was removed because it violated the eBay Keyword Spamming policy. The violation occurred when you included the following information in your listing:

In Title:
Google

Keyword spamming is the practice of placing inappropriate words in searchable text to draw attention to Web content. To ensure that members' searches produce relevant results, sellers are not permitted to put brand names or other inappropriate keywords in a listing title or description for the purpose of attracting members to a listing. Sellers can only include a brand name under certain limited conditions.

The Next email explains that my "title was misleading":

Dear wwwsendpaypalcom,

TITLE: Hot new Google .com Domain name 1,2,3, letter Short

The listing was removed because it violated the eBay Misleading Title policy. The violation occurred when you included the following information in your listing:

In Title:
Hot new Google .com Domain name

.....Okay granted I put 1,2,3 letter in the title but guess what everyone does that. See for yourself. Why are they picking on me? The 3rd and 4th e-mail were titled "inappropriate links, SPAMMING VIOLATION" because I put a couple of links in the listing to my DomainExperiment website which is explains the experiment and displays more domains for sale. Well apparently thats okay because as they stated in there violation email:" Sellers can include some types of links in their listing if those links are intended to give potential buyers more detailed information about an item in their listings."

Well thats peculiar considering thats exactly what the link was for. I should also mention that this is the second time they have done this to me for a google domain name. The first time it was for a google Checkout domain. There Violation e-mail stated that I was prohibited to offer the checkout service as payment. Therefore my auction was cancelled. When I tried to contact them to explain that they had made a mistake and that I was never offering the Google Checkout service just a domain name they never got back to me. So i'm thinking they must have a program within ebay that searches for words "checkout or google" then automatically shuts them down. Is this Corporate prejudice? I think ebay has gone a little too far besides isn't a little competition healthy?

The rule is simple:

sellers are not permitted to put brand names or other inappropriate keywords in a listing title or description for the purpose of attracting members to a listing

You put a brand name (Google) in the title. You violated the rule. Why are you surprised your listing got removed?

Because I have seen endless listings with brand names time and time again, especially in the domain name section but when it comes to Google they attack like pitbulls.

You have 4 options:

1. Report each and every one of those listings for potential violation.

2. Find out from one or so of them how they're doing it right.

3. Follow ebay's rules next time. Ask them first before listing, if need be.

4. Look elsewhere.

There's actually a fifth. But I thought of listing only 4 that appear pragmatic.

Because I have seen endless listings with brand names time and time again, especially in the domain name section but when it comes to Google they attack like pitbulls.

That's probably because Google is a company which is known to take a very hard line on anything they perceive as a trademark infringement. Ebay doesn't want to be sued by Google.

It seems clear that you violated their policy. While they may not care if you include the brand name of other companies, they may not allow it for Google. Can't you just leave "Google" out?

I have found that the name google is not the problem. the problem is any domains that contain the word checkout or gbuy. It appears that ebay has software that searches your listing containing these words and prevents you from including them in your listing. They are assuming that you are offering the Checkout service as a form of payment. After many trial and errors I have found the best way to list my google domains without getting shut down. I currently have 10 checkout names up for auction on ebay and well it's only been a day but so far so good.