eBay to delist domain name auctions?
An article on ecommerce-guide.com today says that eBay will no longer allow digital goods to be auctioned, instead requiring them to be listed using its classified ads format.
It is presumed by ecommerce-guide.com that domain names would fall into the digital goods category. From the article:
“EBay has not provided specific examples of items that are affected by the new policy, but it’s safe to assume that it covers all items delivered through Internet downloads or by e-mail. This includes goods such as e-books, graphics and digital photos, software, domain names, Web site templates, Web hosting and many other types of goods that are sold on eBay in digital format.”
I put the question to eBay support for clarification and was told that domain names were not considered digital goods and sellers could continue to list them for auction. We’ll try and get a more definitive statement from eBay over the next few days.
A check of eBay listings in the domain names category shows more than 3,700 items up for auction right now.
The official announcement from Brian Burke, Director, Global Feedback Policy at eBay says the move is being made to “preserve the integrity of the Feedback system.” Burke says because digital goods can be reproduced at little to no cost for the seller, the potential exists for Feedback Manipulation.
Predictably, there is a good amount of outcry about the change within eBay’s own community forums. Most of those opposed to the change are seeing a source of income disappear quite literally overnight. Some were in the business of selling ebooks, or PDF woodworking plans, for example.
As for the domain names, Bill Sweetman, General Manager, Domains Portfolio, Tucows, says if domain names end up being part of the digital goods category, he’ll be sad to see the listings go. He tells me that eBay auctions is one of the only places where portfolios of multiple domain names can be bought and sold in addition to individual domain names.
Thanks james for posting such great information which can be helpful to many, i am glad to go through such article.
Comment by auction selling — March 26, 2008 @ 2:01 am
The new policy basically says digital products must use the Classified Ads Format, which prevents transactions from going through eBay. In other words, no digital product auction listings, and no feedback.
Comment by Janet — March 26, 2008 @ 2:09 am
Bad news Guys, I got this mail.. from eBay for my support request… Seems Websites and Domain names are also included.
Dear Nirosha,
Thank you for writing eBay in regard to our new policy regarding digitally delivered goods.
At this time all items that are digitally delivered including websites and domain names are included in this new policy.
I would highly recommend you keep up to date on this policy as there could be some changes.
eBay guidelines are modified periodically to ensure that we stay up to date with the Community as it evolves. We recommend that you review our policies from time to time so you’ll always have the very latest information.
Comment by Niro — March 28, 2008 @ 10:04 am
Thanks for sharing this, Niro. I am also trying to get an official answer from eBay on this new policy and whether or not it does apply to domain names. Since domain names are unique items and can only be sold to one person (per item), my thinking is that domain names should NOT be included in this new policy.
That being said, I feel especially sorry for the thousands of people who run legitimate information product businesses (selling educational e-books and other digital products) using eBay who will now be put out of business almost overnight. At first I thought maybe this was some kind of sick April Fool’s Joke on the part of eBay, but as it turns out this is real.
Comment by Bill Sweetman — March 29, 2008 @ 10:33 am
Good news, I think…
I just got this email from Amber Lo in eBay Customer Support:
“Thank you for writing eBay in regard to the new digital item changes and whether or not domain names are affected. My name is Amber and I will be happy to assist you!
I understand you would like to know whether or not domain names will be affected by the new digital item poilcy.
Good news!! No, domain names will not be affected.
What I can suggest is listing your domain names in the below category.
Business & Industrial > Other Industries > Websites & Businesses for Sale > Internet Businesses, Websites > Other Internet Businesses”
This, of course, contradicts the email Niro got on March 28.
Go figure. ;+)
Comment by Bill Sweetman — March 31, 2008 @ 7:29 pm