How to report inappropriate buying and selling

	How to know what to report What we'll investigate Some examples of what we won't investigate Results of the investigation

We investigate and try to resolve cases of inappropriate buying or selling. If you encounter something that violates our policies, we'd like to know about it.

How to know what to report

We understand that it can be difficult to know when to report a potential offense. If you see a suspicious listing or if a member's behavior appears to violate our policies, review our rules and policies and make sure the offense is something we'll investigate.

You can also look at:

• Rules for sellers

• Rules for buyers

• Rules for everyone

• Prohibited and restricted items

• A-Z index of policies

If you find a listing you think violates a policy, go to that listing. Then click the Report item link on the right side of the page. We'll review your report and take appropriate action.

If you find another type of violation, you can follow the directions on the policy page that describes that policy.

Read below to learn what we'll investigate and to see some examples of what we won't investigate.

What we'll investigate

Here's a quick overview of the types of violations we'll investigate. To see the full policy, click the link to the left of the description.

	Feedback violations Feedback extortion: Members aren't allowed to demand goods, services, or specific Feedback by abusing the Feedback system. Feedback manipulation: Members can't artificially inflate their Feedback or the Feedback of others. Inappropriate Feedback comments: Feedback can't include profanities, abusive language, or other text that violates our policies. Feedback removal: Feedback can't include profanity, abusive language, or other text that violates our policies. We may also remove Feedback in other situations.
	Buying violations Buying practices: We don't allow unfair or unsafe behavior from buyers—such as making unreasonable demands of sellers, or taking advantage of our protection systems. Transaction interference: Members can't interfere with another member's transaction. Offers to buy or sell outside of eBay: Members can't offer to purchase or sell a listed item outside of eBay. Invalid bid retraction: Members can't retract or cancel bids, except in a few circumstances. Unpaid items: Members must pay for items that they purchase. If you're a seller and haven't been paid for an item, follow the process for unpaid items. Shill bidding: Members can't use bidding techniques to artificially increase an item's price or desirability.
	Selling violations Seller performance standards violations: Sellers are expected to complete sales and offer a consistently high level of buyer satisfaction. If you're a buyer, find out what to do if you don't receive an item or it's not as described. Listing violations: Sellers can't list prohibited or restricted items and need to follow our rules for listings. Offers to buy or sell outside of eBay: Members can't offer to buy or sell a listed item outside of eBay. Avoiding eBay fees: Members can't use systems or techniques to avoid paying eBay fees. Shill bidding: Members can't use bidding techniques to artificially increase an item's price or desirability.
	Contact information and identity violations Misrepresentation of identity: Members can't misrepresent themselves as other eBay members or eBay employees. While members can have multiple user IDs, those user IDs can't interact with one another. For example, members can't bid on or buy their own items or leave comments on their own Feedback Profile. False or missing contact information: Members can't falsify or leave out contact information. Invalid and dead email addresses: Members must always have a valid, working email address associated with their account. Underage users: Members must be 18 years of age or older.
	Other violations Interfering with eBay's site or operations: Members can't interfere with the eBay site and can only add or change content in areas specifically designated for member use. Sending spam: Members can't send unsolicited or commercial messages to other members. Email threats: Members can't send threatening messages to other members. Publishing contact information: Members can't publish the contact information of another member. Use of profanity or patently vulgar language: Members can't use profanity or vulgar language.

Some examples of what we won't investigate

We don't investigate simple misunderstandings, members who won't communicate, and personal disputes between members. Here are some examples:

• Someone outbid me at the last minute. Placing a high bid in the closing seconds of an auction-style listing is called "sniping" within the eBay community. Sniping is part of the eBay experience, and all bids placed before a listing ends are valid, even if they're placed one second before the listing ends. Learn how to avoid being outbid.

• The seller refuses to answer my emails, won't acknowledge my valid payment, or has already sold the item. If you don't receive your order, go to your Purchase history in My eBay to report the problem. If your purchase is eligible for eBay Buyer Protection you can get a refund for the purchase price plus original shipping. You should also leave appropriate Feedback for the reluctant seller to warn other buyers of his or her past history.

• The buyer insists that I ship COD, accept a third-party post-dated check, or box each item separately. Make sure you clearly state your shipping and payment terms in your listings. We encourage you to communicate with your buyer to see if you can reach a solution that you're both satisfied with.

• I have a technical or billing question. To get your questions answered, contact Customer Support.

• The buyer left negative Feedback for me even after I left positive Feedback for the buyer. Per our user agreement, we won't remove these comments. eBay will only remove Feedback in certain situations.

Results of the investigation

Because we respect the privacy of our members, we can't discuss the results of an investigation in detail. However, we might contact you to tell you that an investigation is complete.

Before taking action against a member, we'll consider the circumstances of the violation and the member's buying and selling record. Our actions may include removing listings and range of other actions, including limiting buying and selling privileges and account suspension. Out of fairness to our members, if a complaint can't be proven, we won't take action.