Examples of keyword spamming that are not permitted:

• Like New/As New

  Items that are used should not be described as ‘Like New’ or ‘As New’ in the listing title, even if they are in excellent condition.  Using such terms can affect the search results for buyers looking specifically for new items, and is considered to be a breach of the Keyword Spamming policy.

   

  If you want to make it clear in the listing title that your item is in excellent condition, we advise you to consider alternative wording, such as ‘mint condition’.

   

  Note that the exclusion on the use of ‘Like new’ or ‘As new’ applies solely to the listing title.

• Lists of words

  • The inclusion of words as a means to attract viewers via eBay search engines that do not truly describe the actual item:

    • Example not allowed:

      • "oil reproductions, art recreations, gallery, art gallery, impressionist, impressionism, oil paintings, reproduction, painting, recreation, copy, quality, reproductions, recreations, realistic, copies, paintings, old masters, replica, posters, prints, video..."

  • The inclusion of words that are used to promote the seller’s other eBay listings.

    • Example not allowed:

      • "Please view my other eBay listings for Beanie Babies, vintage Barbies, Rolex watches and Chanel scarves."

    • Example allowed:

      • "Please view my other eBay listings."

• Hidden HTML text
  Sellers may include hidden text (for example "white on white") or source tags (meta or header tags). However, such text may not include any keywords or be used as a means of promoting the item. Keywords "hidden" within the title, description or through other means are not allowed.

• Dropdown boxes
  Because the search engine will pick up words listed within a dropdown box, this interferes with the search results, and so is not permitted. As an alternative, sellers may include dropdown boxes on their About Me pages, as this would not interfere with the search engine.

• Brand Name Misuse
  Do not include any brand names or company logos in listings other than the specific brand name used by the company that manufactured or produced the item being listed. Certain uses of brand names may also constitute trademark infringement and could expose sellers to legal liability.

  • Examples not allowed:

    • A homemade product that incorporates in its name another company's brand name (such as Beanie™ Box).

    • An Internet domain name that contains the brand name of another company (such as www.disneymovies.com).

  • Film and Celebrity Names:

    • Celebrities’ names and cartoon names are treated as brand names or keywords (ie: Cher or Madonna).

      • Example not allowed:

        • “Denim shorts Jessica Simpson Daisy Dukes” because Jessica Simpson does not have a clothing line called “Daisy Dukes.”

      • Example allowed:

        • “Jessica Simpson Dessert Treats Lip Gloss” because Jessica Simpson is the sponsor for a line of makeup called “Dessert Treats.”

  • You can put the name of a film or television show in your listing title or description if the item you are selling is directly related to the film or television show.

    • Example not allowed:

      • “Brown Leather Jacket Fight Club (or Brad Pitt)”

    • Example allowed:

      • “Brown Leather Jacket”

  • If the item you are selling has a picture or print depicting a particular celebrity, you can include the celebrity name in the listing title.

    • Example not allowed:

      • “Striped dress shirt as worn by Brad Pitt” because Brad Pitt is not directly relevant to the item being sold.

    • Example allowed:

      • “Kalifornia Brad Pitt Serial Killer Movie T-shirt Black”

• Compatibility

  Brand made items

  Sellers who list accessory items that are intended to be compatible with specific brands and/or models may identify those brands or models in the listing title. However, sellers may not mislead buyers into believing they could be purchasing a product made by the same company that makes the brand or model with which compatibility is claimed. To help avoid confusion regarding who manufactured the accessory, sellers may want to include words such as “compatible” or “fits” preceding the brand/model names.

  It is the seller’s responsibility to write a title and description that ensure buyers are not confused over who is the maker of the products offered.

  Some Examples:

  • Not allowed:

    • “Colour printer cartridge comp. Epson Stylus printer”

      (The use of “comp.” is not sufficiently descriptive to indicate compatibility.)

  • Allowed:

    • “Colour printer cartridge compatible with Epson Stylus.”

      (It is clear that the printer cartridge is not manufactured by Epson, but is compatible with Epson printers.)

  • Not allowed:

    • “Headset Samsung i330 i500 i600 i700”

      (It is unclear if the headset was manufactured by Samsung.)

  • Allowed:

    • “Headset made for Samsung i330 i500 i600 i700”

      (This headset was manufactured to fit these Samsung models.)

  • Not allowed:

    • "Dedicated flash 4 Pentax cameras"

      (The number "4" is not sufficiently descriptive to indicate compatibility.)

  • Allowed:

    • “Camera lens fits all Nikon 35 mm cameras”

      (This camera lens has been manufactured to fit Nikon cameras.)

• Comparisons
  Sellers are not permitted to make comparisons between items in a listing title. Only in the description are sellers permitted to compare the item being offered to the functionality of one other similar product, so long as the listing is not misleading in any way, as to which company made the item offered.

  • Example not allowed:

    • The titles "Leather Handbag, like Chanel","Leather Handbag, Chanel style", or "Leather handbag, not Chanel" are not permitted on eBay because they make comparisons between the item being offered, a leather handbag, to a Chanel handbag.

  • Example allowed:
    In the description only, sellers are permitted to compare the item being offered to one other similar product, so long as the listing is not misleading in any way as to which company made the item offered.
    Example:

    • "This vacuum cleaner does a much better job at cleaning ground-in dirt than Acme brand vacuum cleaners."

• Compilations and information items
  Listings that include compilations or informational content on any media are subject to the following restrictions:

  • Any listing that offers general wholesale items may not use any specific brand or keywords words in the title.

  • The listing description may not contain the excessive use of keywords to describe the contents of the compilation or informational media.

• Bonuses and Gifts
  Keywords describing bonus items cannot be included in the title of a listing.

Category Guidelines
All words used to describe an item, whether in the title or description of the item page or any other way that may be found using Search, must be strictly related to the item being listed and adhere to the guidelines below. eBay allows other non-relevant text to appear in listings as long as that text is not searchable, which could manipulate eBay’s search engine.

• Motors: With vehicular compatible items, sellers may include compatible brands/products in the title, provided the title still accurately describes what is being listed. In the same scenario, reference to 25 compatible brands/products may be included in the description.

• Books and other printed media: Books and other forms of printed media may use the necessary means to describe their contents. However, these items may not use excessive keywords to do so.

• Catalogues: Catalogue titles and descriptions may not contain extensive lists of specific items included within the catalogue.

• Filmographies, discographies and bibliographies: Specific names, locations, etc. may be included in a listing for a book, film, or album. However, the excessive use of keywords will not be permitted.

Keyword spamming results in a poor shopping and finding experience for buyers. Keyword spamming returns listings in which the buyer may have no interest and also results in an unlevel playing field for sellers who do not keyword spam and may receive fewer potential buyers.