New ebay selling rules relating to knives & blades articles in March 2025

[pleasant]

Received this attached ebay email today.

 

I occasionally sell chainsaws and saw components on ebay. I generally prefer collection in person for machines as it's a faff having to pack them up, plus the cost to send and then you get the emails afterwards asking how to re-fit the bar and chain for example (it happens) Anyhow, as from March you won't be able to sell chainsaws on a collection basis anymore, and if you do decide to send them out, ebay will stipulate not only does it have to be tracked, but also will need age verification upon delivery to a confirmed adult at the household. Before all that, the buyer has to confirm they are over 18, and you must change you listing delivery preferences to delivery only and age verified..if you don't they will end your listing (assuming you have managed to list it in the first place) Even if you sold a body only with no chain or bar, because it is listed in the chainsaw category you will still have to comply. Oh, and the only company ebay recommend to use is UPS. Although I have found that Royal MaiI parcelforce offer a service for this, but from my experience UPS don't have loads of handy agents to drop parcels off to, and as for the RM sure there's a few more branches, but the queues tend to be round the block, and some large items they won't take over the counter so you end up having a 30 mile round trip to drop it off at the parcelforce sorting office.

 

Here's the email. Click on the 'our policy page' link to see the banned stuff, and the stuff they will allow if you now jump though hoops.

 

This is the one that concerns our kind of stuff: 'Tools such as axes, billhooks, chisels, hatchets, hoof trimming tools, chainsaws, and saws '

 

Expanded safety requirements for listing bladed items on ebay.co.uk

Since you’re listing bladed items on ebay.co.uk, we’re writing to let you know about some upcoming new requirements. From 11 March 2025, we’re expanding and strengthening buyer age-verification requirements for bladed items to ensure only people aged 18 or older are able to purchase and receive them. This protects both buyers and sellers, provides safety and reassurance, and helps keep you legally compliant. Please note that the sale of many types of knives and bladed items remains prohibited on eBay. Those that we allow need to be located in the UK, and delivered using an age-verified delivery service. Proof of age will also be required from buyers at checkout. To find out which items need to meet these requirements on eBay, take a look at our policy page. When you list bladed items on ebay.co.uk, you need to: Add an age-verified delivery option. Choose a delivery service that requires age-verification on receipt. You'll also need to remove any delivery services that don’t support age-verification for your existing listings, including any local buyer collection options. Currently, UPS is the only carrier offering age-verified delivery if you purchase labels on eBay. Alternatively, you can make your own arrangements with carriers who offer an age-verified delivery service. Safely package the bladed products, and clearly label the parcel to indicate there are bladed items inside. Ensure your packages are delivered to buyers in person, not to parcel lockers, PO boxes or collection points. Any sales to buyers who’ve given one of these as an address will need to be cancelled. Verify your listings If you haven’t added an age-verified delivery service by 11 March, and removed all other services, these listings may not be visible to buyers on ebay.co.uk. But don’t worry, they’ll still be available for you to revise in Seller Hub. Once you’ve added an age-verified delivery service, they’ll be visible again. You can also find a copy of this email under Messages in your eBay account. If you have any other questions or concerns, just get in touch, we’re here to help. Was this information helpful? Help us improve by sharing your feedback through a short survey.

Edited 12 hours ago by pleasant

[maybelateron]

And of course this will make absolutely zilch difference to the sale of weapons to those who want to but or sell them. It just makes life more difficult yet again for the law abiding decent majority of us.

 

Pretty sad state of affairs.

[GarethM]

Does that just apply to the chain, as I usually buy them on eBay ?.

[pleasant]

4 minutes ago, GarethM said:

Does that just apply to the chain, as I usually buy them on eBay ?.

I believe it will. Which means a colossal hike in postage costs as age verification courier delivery is a fortune (I've checked) and they won't leave it as you have to supply proof of age at point of delivery. TBH I haven't had any saws listed for nearly a year, but because I have a chainsaw recoil and a chainsaw ignition module listed, it has picked up on 'chainsaw' and sent that email. I can see a lot of issues unless they sort their algorithms out. If it just picks up the word chainsaw in the chainsaw or chainsaw parts and accessories listing categories, then it's plausible even selling a spark plug for a chainsaw could need age verification to buy, and to deliver!

[rapalaman]

Wow that’s just mad- what with buyer protection fees as well, sales have literally fallen off a cliff this last month.

i only do a few bits on there but I’ve only had one sale since Christmas 

[GarethM]

Yeah, I definitely hopefully they tweak the algorithm.

 

As the more you think what's sharp probably also falls into the very vague description would include lawnmower blades, razor blades etc.

 

Makes you wonder if they're just forcing you into the arms of Amazon?.

[spudulike]

Razor blades were stopped some time ago...that is the double edged safety type. I used to get most of mine off the bay but can't now. 

[GarethM]

9 minutes ago, spudulike said:

Razor blades were stopped some time ago...that is the double edged safety type. I used to get most of mine off the bay but can't now. 

Bought a 100 pack box of Dorco a few years ago, but yeah just checked nothing now.

 

But Amazon have them by the bucket load.

[scbk]

They used to sell crossbows on ebay years ago (I bought one!), how times have changed

[openspaceman]

52 minutes ago, scbk said:

They used to sell crossbows on ebay years ago (I bought one!), how times have changed

Are they still legal? I have the remains of one in the loft which I bought as I was lousy at throwing a line into a tree. It didn't work well and got put away.