Understand What’s Holding Your Listing From Going Live
It can be incredibly frustrating when you’re trying to list an item on eBay, and your listing keeps getting held or delisted. “Why Can’t I list on eBay” – just keeps doing the rounds in your head, adding to the frustration.
You might be wondering what you’re doing wrong, or if there’s something wrong with eBay. There are actually a few common reasons why listings can get held on eBay, and fortunately, most of them are relatively easy to fix and you can get your listing live as soon as possible.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most common reasons why listings are held on eBay, as well as how to fix them.
Check Out: How to Sell on eBay and Amazon in 2024!
How to Create a Listing on eBay?
An eBay listing is a description of an item that a seller wants to sell. The listing includes information about the item, such as the title, description, condition, and price.
Creating a listing on eBay is simple. Just go to the “Sell” page on eBay, and then click on the “List an item” button.
You’ll be prompted to enter keywords related to the product you are selling. eBay will then generate a list of similar items that have sold recently.
You can use this information to help you write your own listing.
Once you’ve created your listing, you’ll need to choose a category for your item. eBay has thousands of categories, so it’s important to choose the one that is most relevant to your item.
You’ll also need to set a starting price and shipping cost for your item.
7 Common Listing Errors that Hold Your eBay Listing From Going Live
There are a few common errors that can hold your listing from going live on eBay.
1. Incorrect or Irrelevant Category
One of the most common reasons why listings are held on eBay is because they are listed in the wrong category.
eBay has thousands of categories, and it’s important to choose the one that is most relevant to your item.
If you’re not sure which category to choose, you can search for similar items that have sold recently and see which category they were listed in.
You can also contact eBay customer support for help choosing the correct category for your item.
2. Incomplete or Incorrect Item Information
Another common reason why listings are held on eBay is because the item information is incomplete or incorrect.
Make sure that you include all relevant information about the item in your listing, such as the title, description, condition, and price.
3. Spammy Content
Some sellers try to stuff keywords inorganically within their product description or use other spammy tactics in an attempt to improve their listing’s visibility.
This will not only hold your listing from going live, but it can also get you suspended from eBay.
It’s important to write your listing in a natural way and only include relevant information about the item.
4. Including Spam or Phishing Links
It’s also important to avoid including spam or phishing links in your listing.
Spam links are usually unrelated to the product you’re selling, and they can be harmful to the buyer.
Phishing links are designed to steal the buyer’s personal information, such as their eBay login credentials.
If you include either of these types of links in your listing, it will be held until you remove them.
5. Incorrect Shipping Costs
If you set the wrong shipping cost for your item, your listing will be held.
Make sure that you check the shipping cost for similar items that have sold recently and use that as a guide when setting your own shipping cost.
6. Poor Image Quality
Poor image quality is another common reason why listings are held on eBay.
eBay requires that all listing images meet a certain standard. They should be clear and highlight the product without obstructions of any kind.
Below are some best practices that eBay recommends for photos:
- Upload as many pictures as possible
- Photos should be clear, crisp and of the highest quality
- The item that is being sold should be focused
We recommend that you upload photos that are at least 500 pixels in length on at least one side of the frame.
7. Incorrect Spellings or Grammar
eBay requires all sellers to use correct spelling and grammar in their listings.
If you make a mistake, such as listing an item as “new” instead of “like new,” your listing will be held until you fix the error. You can avoid this by proofreading your listing before you submit it.
While spelling mistakes may be genuine mistakes on the sellers’ part, it may also be an indication of spam for eBay’s bots and review team. Hence, we highly recommend that you double check your content before publishing.
Wrapping Up
There are a number of reasons why listings are held on eBay. The most common reasons are related to the quality of the listing content, such as incorrect or incomplete information, spammy content, promotional titles, poor image quality, and incorrect spellings.
If you’re having trouble getting your listing live on eBay, make sure to check for these common errors and fix them before submitting your listing again.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Why am I restricted from listing on eBay?
A: You may be restricted from listing on eBay due to various reasons, including account limitations, unpaid seller fees, policy violations, or restrictions specific to the item category you’re trying to sell.
Q2. How do I fix eBay listing restrictions?
A: To fix eBay listing restrictions, check your account status, clear any outstanding fees, review eBay’s policies, and ensure your account information is up-to-date. Contact eBay Support if the issue persists.
Q3. Why can’t I list certain items on eBay?
A: Certain items may be restricted or prohibited on eBay due to legal regulations, eBay’s policies, or brand-specific restrictions. Always review eBay’s list of prohibited and restricted items before listing.
Q4. What does it mean if eBay says my listing is in a restricted category?
A: If your listing is flagged as being in a restricted category, it means you may need special approval to list in that category, such as selling branded products or items that require additional permissions.
Q5. How do I remove an eBay selling limit?
A: To remove selling limits on eBay, consistently maintain good performance metrics, fulfill orders promptly, and request a selling limit increase through your eBay seller dashboard.
Q6. Why am I getting an error message when trying to list on eBay?
A: Error messages during listing can result from invalid item details, mismatched product categories, or incomplete listing information. Review the error message carefully and adjust your listing accordingly.
Q7. Can I list on eBay with an unverified account?
A: No, eBay requires your account to be fully verified with updated contact and payment information before you can list items. Complete the verification process in your account settings.
Q8. What do I do if my eBay account is suspended?
A: If your eBay account is suspended, review the suspension email for specific reasons, take the required actions to resolve the issue, and contact eBay Support for guidance on reinstating your account.
