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eBay Bans the Sale of Spells and Magic Items

Posted by samzenpus on from the +1-or-better-weapon-to-sell dept.

Starting in September bidders won't be able to snipe curses, spells, or potions on eBay anymore. The company has decided to ban the sale of magic and magic items. “EBay regularly reviews categories and updates our policies based on customer feedback,” a statement from the company read. “We are discontinuing a small number of categories within the larger metaphysical subcategory, as buyers and sellers have told us that transactions in these categories often result in issues that can be difficult to resolve.”

11 of 295 comments (clear)

  1. Does this also include by daveschroeder · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Judeo-Christian prayers, sayings, incantations, blessings, and similar?

    From TFA:

    “Ebay bans alternative religious items.But! Not for Christians. Holy water and other sundry ‘holy’ items are discriminately allowed. Hm. Let me get this straight. Some guy in Rome wearing long robes can wave his hand over some water and imbue it with something, and then it’s very ‘powerful?’ How is that different fromany other magical item previously sold on ebay?”

    1. Re:Does this also include by Desler · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This just in: businesses have control of what actions they will allow others to do on their property.

    2. Re:Does this also include by Baloroth · · Score: 5, Informative

      Holy water, et alia have no form of guaranteed effect or power whatsoever. None. Any religious-affiliated individual who makes such a claim should be reported to his/her superior, if they have one, and if they don't, should probably be ignored. A magic spell that "make your partner desire you with lust & pasion.only you . spell" 9sic] is, I would say, slightly more assuring of a definite effect. Which, given it won't work, is most likely the source of the problem for eBay. They don't care if you offer a blessed item that is simply "blessed", with no promise of some particular effect.

      --
      "None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
    3. Re:Does this also include by cpu6502 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This just in: Doesn't mean we have to be quiet with our complaints.

      Ebay has long deserved the hate speech it receives online. Such as forbidding negative feedback for buyers that rip-off the seller via nonpayment of goods, keeping the new shoes but returning old/wornout shoes, claiming nonreceipt of item when they have it in their hand, et cetera. (No neg feedback == No way to warn other sellers to stay away from the buying scam artist.)

      --
      My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
    4. Re:Does this also include by Nadaka · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Holy water is a tangible item that can at least can delivered, even if its supposed quality can not be proven.

      A hex or prayer can not be shown to be delivered, leading to a higher rate of contested payments.

  2. Well there goes my plan by royallthefourth · · Score: 5, Funny

    to sell magic brownies on Ebay

  3. Could be a problem by Tapewolf · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does this also include oxygen-free cables and that CD that's supposed to re-tune your speakers?

    1. Re:Could be a problem by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny

      Does this also include oxygen-free cables and that CD that's supposed to re-tune your speakers?

      Sounds to me like any sufficiently advanced technology will now be banned as they are indistinguishable from magic.

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  4. You're telling me! by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 5, Funny

    transactions in these categories often result in issues that can be difficult to resolve.

    I have to sand down these horns every morning, and the seller keeps giving me the run around about the antidote and seapony tear scarcity.

    Expeto Viagrus potion? My shiny metal ass!

    Seriously, it's metal now.

  5. Complaints by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The issue for eBay is complaints. They don't really care otherwise and they're not really interested in fairness or equality or any other bogey men you might wish to throw up. Here's how it goes:

    People buy magic, spells, potions, what have you and when it doesn't work, they dispute the purchase and complain to eBay. This increases eBay's administrative overhead significantly for stuff that, we'll all agree, is ridiculous.

    Meanwhile, Christians purchase holy water or whatever. But, when it doesn't work, they say that it was God's will. Or God has his reasons for my magic water not working and they do NOT complain to eBay. Making these transactions nothing but a profit center for eBay.

  6. Instead of bobcat, by Arancaytar · · Score: 5, Funny

    potion turned me into newt. Would not buy again.