Hello everyone. I see , as usual, lots of misinformation online regarding what eBay's actual coupon selling policy is. So with this post we willy simplify it step by step to help you better actually understand what really takes place and why your listings may get flagged, removed and your account potentially suspended, which no one wants.
The actual eBay coupon policy is linked here.
This is what one account can do:
You may sell up to $100 or 25 valid, unexpired, original coupons per month.
What this means is that you can sell literally only 25 coupons that are valid, original and unexpired per month per account and combined they cannot a value of $100.00. Simple enough.
Example of correct listing: (25) Save $1.00 off XXX product coupons.
Example of listing that can get removed: (50) random assorted grocery food coupons. Or : (25) Save $10 off purchase of $100 or more at Kroger coupons.
These are the restrictions:
Multi-quantity listings: You can't sell more than 25 coupons in a single listing. The allowed 25 coupons per month include multi-quantity listings.
This translates into no more than 25 per listing. So you can't sell more than 25 coupons in a single listing at all or if you have 25 of an item and the coupon is say more than $4.00 off an item and you are trying to sell them individually with a quantity of 25. You can't do that either as it would go over the $100 max value mark.
Make sure you clearly state in your description how many coupons you're
selling. If we can't tell how many coupons are offered, the listing
violates our policy.
This should be self explanatory. Here is an example of a listing violation: "Random lot of grocery food coupons in envelope as shown in picture."
This is what you absolutely cannot do:
Coupons for "free" products: You can't sell
coupons for "free" products. This restriction includes coupons for free
items, or coupons where the coupon holder buys a quantity of items at
one price, and receives additional items for free.
The translation here is "No Bogos" and none of those coupons you get from like Coke rewards stating "Have a Free Coke on Us." Nope can't do that anymore either.
Electronic "scanned" coupons:
All coupons sold through eBay must be physical coupons printed on
paper, not coupons that can be sent electronically to the buyer to be
printed. Also, to reduce the potential for coupon fraud, don't include
unaltered scans of coupons in their listings that could be copied,
printed, and redeemed in stores.Note: The
sale of scanned or photocopied coupons may violate federal copyright
laws, and sellers of unlawful items like these could face prosecution
under federal law. We don't allow the sale of these kinds of coupons.
The translation here is you can't sell electronic coupon "codes" or a percent off or pay for a file that you can print and bring into a store to try an redeem. Yup, that has actually happened. These are usually fraudsters getting you to pay a ridiculously cheap price like (Pay $1 for a $10.00 off a fake pet food coupon) and indicate it is going to be delivered to you via email for you to print and use in the store after payment. That is actually a copyright violation at the least and could escalate from there. What they are saying is right, it's just probably not clear.
Coupons for recalled items: Coupons for items that have been recalled can't be listed on eBay.
This should be self-explanatory as well but we can't take anything for granted anymore. If there is say a massive recall of like "Cheerios" or something. You can't sell or buy "Cheerios" coupons.
Recalled coupons: Coupons that have been recalled can't be listed on eBay.
What this means is that if a coupon is "recalled" by the manufacturer there is an error in the terms, value or some other feature and if it is on their recall list (usually on their website) then you can't sell it on eBay. Usually they are recalled by the manufacturer more often than not because fraudsters have figured out a way to manipulate the coupon to make mass fake quantities of them for resale or change the value, etc. That's really what a "recalled coupon" is.
Coupon Inserts: Coupon inserts containing numerous coupons commonly found in Sunday papers or delivered with your mail or to your door.
This actually is simple, but people just don't seem to get this one either. This means you can't sell your Red Plum, P&G, Unilever, Smart Source, Kroger, Shop Rite, etc insert you would get in your Sunday newspaper in any quantity whatsoever.
So anyone you see on a forum or message board asking about this and complaining either doesn't understand you can't sell coupon inserts on eBay (no matter how many coupons are in them), is a troll or just lost. However, the eBay coupon policy doesn't seem to apply to fast food coupons such as Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, Long John Silvers, Chiptole etc. Since I assume from a legal standpoint they aren't actually the manufacturers of the food themselves but a reseller of the items after prepared. Those companies don't care how many coupons they redeem because these days, they are just happy to get you in the door. They won't be calling the CIC anytime soon I can promise you that, especially Chiptole and their eColi burrito meals.
The most important thing eBay does not tell you in regards to the 25 coupon / $100 limit is..
It's based on a calendar month structure of which the clock begins on the day you list it. If you list your lot of 25 coupons or $100 value say on August 1st. Duration and format don't matter. You cannot relist another lot of coupons for 30 calendar days. So your next listing on same account, couldn't begin until September 2nd to be safe. After that October 3rd and so on. Initially we believed it was on a calendar month structure but after numerous conversations with numerous eBay reps they actually all confirmed the same uniform response that it is actual real-time date. It is tracked on your account. And you will be flagged and your listing removed immediately if you don't follow this simple rule. It's unstated and you have to find out the hard way but this is how it is.
Now we understand that about 50% of the coupon listings on eBay still violate these policies above. We also know that people have multiple accounts (which when spotted is really easy to identify) that also violate this policy. We hate this policy and the logic behind it right along with you. But we have to work with what the CIC and the large retailers allow us peons to work with to make our $5-$10 a month extra for a 1/4 tank of gas I guess. Our advise is simple: If you see a listing violation on eBay - report it. It may not get removed that second, but it will eventually. That or retro-removed. There is no conspiracy. There is no selective enforcement. It's a simple matter of when someone at eBay looks at it (I've found mid afternoons are great for reporting) and gets it off of their site. It may be before the auction ends or it may be after it ends. They don't want the CIC breathing down their necks anymore with nonsense threats and lawsuits. So it's easier for them to just remove a listing than deal with all of that.
eBay is a large place, with lots of moving parts, I know we want everything done now now now but that's often not how things work with large corporations. Especially eBay who well, often takes a couple of quarters to make adjustments if enough people freak out.
Once again, we can thank the CIC, P&G, Unilever, General Mills, Red Plum, Smart Source with their six figure salaries and paid international vacations as well as the idiots who still try to commit coupon fraud for all of this.
And don't forget, eBay lost millions of dollars in fees yearly in order to put this policy in place due to the threat of a faux lawsuit spearheaded by the CIC and the companies above toward the end of the Extreme Couponing frenzy we all loved (or hated.) So before you go slamming eBay for this one, please step up your knowledge and education on this history of why this is like it is and who is to blame.
Not like it matters anymore, since the tear pads we used to sell for popular items have vanished from the stores over the past two years and the actual coupons you get in the paper are pretty much worthless since no one double or triple coupons anymore. Hell, they aren't even worth stealing.
I'm coming up on my monthly allotment time and I can't even find a tear pad to take worth selling!
Extreme Couponing is dead my friends, the eBay Coupon Selling Policy was basically the final nail in the coffin for all of us in September of 2013.
For those who are continuing the struggle by selling coupons on eBay we applaud you for your efforts. I hope this posting has shed some light on how the eBay coupon policy really works so hopefully we can enlighten the many who seem to be confused about it.
Thank you.
