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Can't sell empty iPhone box on eBay

A

airflite40

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 6, 2009
22
0
My wife traded her beat up 4S to apple when we upgraded to the 5S and I sold my iPhone 5 on eBay.
I found her left over 4S box and threw it up on eBay thinking someone would want it.

Today I got a stern email from eBay citing a vague code "MC067" that my item was removed.

I called eBay for more information, and was told that they prohibit selling empty iPhone boxes because the box "should go with the phone" and could be "used for other purposes."
The rep went on to elaborate that Apple prohibits eBay from allowing sales of empty boxes and even the shopping bags that are given out when you buy an iPhone unless they are sold with the original iPhone.

I find this to be a bit ridiculous, but not worth losing my eBay account over. Just gonna toss the box in the trash.

Has anyone heard of this before?
 
I received a similar auction cancellation, I actually forget which product.

My auction clearly stated, in title and body, that it was for the empty box only. Nevertheless, eBay claimed that folks would be confused and possibly deceived.
 
There have been many stories in the past of people selling boxes in a slightly misleading manner and getting lots of cash for then by insinuating it had a phone

eBay want to keep their image - such as it is - by limiting avenues of obvious scams.

Your sale might have been perfectly legit and clear - but there used to be plenty that weren't
 
It's an empty box, does it really matter? If eBay doesn't want people scamming others into thinking theirs an iPhone in said empty box then thats well within their rights to do as a company.
 
I am into model railroading (mainly around Christmas time) and I can tell you there are TONS of empty boxes for trains on eBay for sale.
 
noisycats said:
I received a similar auction cancellation, I actually forget which product.

My auction clearly stated, in title and body, that it was for the empty box only. Nevertheless, eBay claimed that folks would be confused and possibly deceived.
Click to expand...
And they are right. Search these very forums for links to auctions where people bid a substantial amount of cash for a box. In spite of the listing stating it was for the box only, bidders bid and obviously enough were duped to the point where eBay made a good decision to not allow the sale of empty boxes.

This is a wonderful move by eBay.
 
The value of many **COLLECTIBLE** items (ex: toy trains, Hess trucks, Hot Wheels) increase when sold with the box. I can understand eBay's position on iPhone boxes but how much do we have to protect people from their own stupidity?

Try sending a message to a buyer or a seller with ANY email address in it and see what happens. eBay is just getting out of hand.
 
user-name-here said:
It's an empty box, does it really matter? If eBay doesn't want people scamming others into thinking theirs an iPhone in said empty box then thats well within their rights to do as a company.
Click to expand...

I've bought many boxes in the past. You'd be surprised at how much more you can get when re-selling an iPhone when it comes with a box.

While I agree that eBay can do what they want, it also sucks that legit sellers have to miss out on making a few extra dollars because retards bid $20 on an auction and expect to get an iPhone in the mail.
 
eBay protects the buyer 1000%. If you buy something on eBay, and then decide that you didn't like the way it looks/smells/tastes/feels/sounds weeks later, you can get your money back no questions asked (usually getting a refund for shipping too).

Because of this, there is NO reason for eBay to need to protect the mentally handicapped from buying a BOX and believing the word BOX to have really meant PHONE. I know it's a hard distinction to make, and I sincerely apologize to anyone that has been fooled by the similarity (see mods, not making fun of anyone...).

BUT

eBay can run their site however they want. They've decided to take extra steps because it is very difficult to read, and even harder to comprehend, extremely simple listings and pictures for some people.

It is what it is. Sell it with the phone, or sell it on Craigslist. Better yet, sell it on the marketplace at a site like this! You might even find someone that's been scammed into buying a phone thinking they were buying a car instead, and they might really need the box for it!!
 
Steve121178 said:
Why do you want to sell a box? Just throw it in the trash.
Click to expand...

I once sold a MacBook Air box on eBay (it must have been before they changed their policies) with the power cord. I lost the computer and had it replaced by insurance, but still had the old box. I had no need for it or the other power cord, and so put it up for sale and found a buyer.
 
Thierry ba said:
I thought there was an IMEI or some kind of phone identification printed on the box. How could you sell different iPhone in it?
Click to expand...
Although, if you get a replacement phone, you don't get a new box. So if you sell that phone, there you have a scenario where you have a different phone in the box.

I think it's silly to prohibit boxes, as long as the auction is clear that it's only a box. How many auctions do you see where there are other items in a picture, but the auction is for only one of those items? "Here are my wheels for sale. The car is not included!"

The value of the phone is definitely increased with a box. I wouldn't be surprised if a person wanting to buy a used phone would pay a 10% premium for one with a nice box.

I traded my 4S into the Apple Store when we got our 5S's, and so now I have an empty 4S box. Someone might see the value in that. It's not like I'm selling drugs in it.

Is it only Apple boxes that are prohibited? I'm sure there are plenty of other boxes (like the train example) that are on eBay...

Maybe if you're looking for a loophole, you could have an auction for something small and worthless, like a bottle cap or something, and then in the auction title say:

Mountain Dew bottle cap -- will be shipped in an iPhone box!

Is that anything?
 
yeah I'm not too worried about it just was curious if others experienced the same.

I clearly wrote BOX ONLY in the title and description and the pictures showed only that.

Rules are rules I guess.

I laughed when the rep told me if you see other items listed as box only to report them to eBay to be removed. I said there are hundreds right now if you search "iPhone empty box" I'm not doing your job for you
 
GoCubsGo said:
And they are right. Search these very forums for links to auctions where people bid a substantial amount of cash for a box. In spite of the listing stating it was for the box only, bidders bid and obviously enough were duped to the point where eBay made a good decision to not allow the sale of empty boxes.

This is a wonderful move by eBay.
Click to expand...

Duped due to not reading is not duped.. It's just not reading.

I remember some people being intentionally misled here in the past, I think that's completely different.
 
It's a recent policy. I used to sell leftover iPhone boxes on eBay but the last time I tried to list one I also got the policy email that you got. Guess it's not allowed anymore.
 
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