'inappropriate' ebay items

[herringbonekid]

i tried to view a pair of vintage brown shoes today on ebay and instead of the item got this message:

Dear User:

Unfortunately, access to this particular category or item has been blocked due to legal restrictions in your home country. Based on our discussions with concerned government agencies and eBay community members, we have taken these steps to reduce the chance of inappropriate items being displayed. Regrettably, in some cases this policy may prevent users from accessing items that do not violate the law. At this time, we are working on less restrictive alternatives. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause you, and we hope you may find other items of interest on eBay.

Thank You.



the item was in GB £ so i presume the seller is british too. what could be inappropriate about a pair of shoes ?

 

[Tin Pan Sally]

It's probably just an adjective in the description of the product that is on the inappropriate word list.

 

[Johnnysan]

I know that in the past eBay was concerned about pre-worn clothing. I can't imagine this policy extending to shoes.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I know that in the past eBay was concerned about pre-worn clothing. I can't imagine this policy extending to shoes.

Only for underwear.

HBK: do you have the item number? I'll bet the US has no laws against seeing a pair of shoes. They wouldn't dare infringe my rights and freedoms ...

bk

 

[herringbonekid]

go to newly listed page of ebay.co.uk mens 1940s

9 items down

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Greengrocer's ...

Description Seller assumes all responsibility for listing this item.
"the avalon super shoe. a pair of mens brown leather shoe's. with leather sole, made in england, size 11. any questions please ask"

bk

 

[herringbonekid]

anything in the write-up that sounds a bit, you know, rude ?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

That is the entire write-up quoted above.

eBay warning: Misplaced apostrophes have been designated offensive by the British government. eBay will not allow any British user to view such absurd misuse of the language.

eBay warning: Due to successful debunking of the Myth of King Arthur, no reference to Avalon will be permitted.

bk

 

[BellyTank]

Is it not these ones?:

B
T

 

[Marc Chevalier]

In any case ... nice shoes!

 

[jake_fink]

I can't believe you guys! You've heard of subliminal images, haven't you? Can't you see the image in the shoes, in the shadow and the folds of the leather? THAT'S what was inappropriate.

Sheesh.

 

[db5zx]

That happens quite a bit when I (from Germany) try to access eBay.com WWII militaria categories using my standard German Windows settings. I guess that is because it is illegal to buy and sell Nazi paraphernalia in Germany, and so they restrict access to the entire Militaria category.

My workaround: I change my Windows settings (in the Control Panel) to US. Then it let's me access any category on eBay.com that I want to...

You might want to try this...

...Jens

 

[MrBern]

I had that problem on my sister's emac a few years ago when it was new.. Couldnt view some WWII items. Just american uniforms.
Militaria is not permitted for sale in some countries.

I forget which setting ebay uses to locate your computer. It wasnt the time zone, I think it was the language. Her new computer was set to view almost every language. IIRC, I turned off all the language preferences except for english.

 

[Twitch]

Maybe they were shoe bomber shoes......:eusa_doh:

 

[Alan Eardley]

Avalon shoes...

Avalon Shoes were made near Glastonbury.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Avalon Shoes were made near Glastonbury.

Ha Ha. lol lol I guessed so. Cheers for confirmation.

bk

 

[BellyTank]

No laughing matter...:rage:

Clarks' have production down there too- in Street actually.

B
T

 

[magneto]

I forget which setting ebay uses to locate your computer. It wasnt the time zone, I think it was the language. Her new computer was set to view almost every language. IIRC, I turned off all the language preferences except for english.

Nowadays, though, I think they would use your IP address. I can't imagine ebay would use something so trivial to change as your lang/TZ settings as an accurate sign of the user's location! Wait, this is ebay we're talking after all...:eusa_doh: IP address would be much harder to work-around, unless you were browsing through a web proxy.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

No laughing matter...:rage:

Clarks' have production down there too- in Street actually.

B
T

Not sure they still -produce- there....I think more of their stock is now made elsewhere and just packaged and shipped from Street.

I actually know people in Street who worked for Clarks and have been there to visit them numerous times... wee place.....other then the outlet shops they put in recently there isn't much there at all.

 

[BellyTank]

I think you're right but they did when I was last there...
I know they still have an outlet there.

B
T