eBay Bans the Sale of Spells and Magic Items 295
Starting in September bidders won't be able to snipe curses, spells, or potions on eBay anymore. The company has decided to ban the sale of magic and magic items. “EBay regularly reviews categories and updates our policies based on customer feedback,” a statement from the company read. “We are discontinuing a small number of categories within the larger metaphysical subcategory, as buyers and sellers have told us that transactions in these categories often result in issues that can be difficult to resolve.”
Does this also include (Score:5, Insightful)
Judeo-Christian prayers, sayings, incantations, blessings, and similar?
From TFA:
“Ebay bans alternative religious items.But! Not for Christians. Holy water and other sundry ‘holy’ items are discriminately allowed. Hm. Let me get this straight. Some guy in Rome wearing long robes can wave his hand over some water and imbue it with something, and then it’s very ‘powerful?’ How is that different fromany other magical item previously sold on ebay?”
Complaints (Score:5, Insightful)
The issue for eBay is complaints. They don't really care otherwise and they're not really interested in fairness or equality or any other bogey men you might wish to throw up. Here's how it goes:
People buy magic, spells, potions, what have you and when it doesn't work, they dispute the purchase and complain to eBay. This increases eBay's administrative overhead significantly for stuff that, we'll all agree, is ridiculous.
Meanwhile, Christians purchase holy water or whatever. But, when it doesn't work, they say that it was God's will. Or God has his reasons for my magic water not working and they do NOT complain to eBay. Making these transactions nothing but a profit center for eBay.
Re:Does this also include (Score:5, Insightful)
This just in: businesses have control of what actions they will allow others to do on their property.
Just about complaints and reversed transactions (Score:4, Insightful)
This is really about the number of complaints on these types of auctions, nothing more. People who scream discrimination are wrong.
The problem with bidding on an intangible item is a simple matter of delivery. If I pay you to cast a spell over eBay, did you do it? How do I know? If what I want didn't happen, I can blame you and just use buyer protection to get my money back.
Tangible goods are still largely acceptable (magic potions seem to be an exception). Which is why holy water is alright - it's a physical thing that doesn't promise to do anything in particular.
Re:Does this also include (Score:5, Insightful)
This just in: Doesn't mean we have to be quiet with our complaints.
Ebay has long deserved the hate speech it receives online. Such as forbidding negative feedback for buyers that rip-off the seller via nonpayment of goods, keeping the new shoes but returning old/wornout shoes, claiming nonreceipt of item when they have it in their hand, et cetera. (No neg feedback == No way to warn other sellers to stay away from the buying scam artist.)
Re:Does this also include (Score:5, Insightful)
Holy water is a tangible item that can at least can delivered, even if its supposed quality can not be proven.
A hex or prayer can not be shown to be delivered, leading to a higher rate of contested payments.
Re:Complaints (Score:5, Insightful)
Are you claiming that holy water blessed by a level 10 Cleric is the same as that blessed by a level 1 Cleric?
Well, you're right. It's a level 1 divine spell with no level modifiers.