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Links from an eBay Store

eBay allows sellers to place only certain types of links within an eBay Store. (See the Links Frequently Asked Questions for the definition of a link.) Links that are permitted on eBay Store homepages or other Store Custom Pages and areas are listed below.

  • Unlimited links to a member’s own items and pages on eBay

  • Links to an email address that opens an email client for potential buyers to ask questions about items in the eBay store

  • Up to 10 links to eBay Store pages of other members at any time on the eBay Store homepage and unlimited links on other Store Custom pages, as long as the other seller has given permission

  • Links to pages off eBay that provide information about a member’s store or service, provided the link and pages are not promotional in nature of items not offered for sale on eBay

  • Links to your “Add to My Favourite Sellers and Stores” page

Linking from an eBay Store to Web sites that offer to trade, sell, or purchase goods or services, or including links for any purpose other than those listed above is not permitted.

Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions, including:

  • Listing cancellation

  • Limits on account privileges

  • Account suspension

  • Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings

  • Loss of PowerSeller status

Some Examples

Examples of links that are not permitted include, but are not limited to:

  • Links to Web pages that offer to trade, sell or purchase goods or services outside of eBay. This applies whether it is a static URL or an active link. Exception: URL's that redirect to eBay product or Store pages are permitted.

  • Links to Web sites or pages offering merchandise not permitted on eBay

  • Links to sites that solicit eBay User IDs, passwords, or email addresses from buyers.

  • Links that encourage buyers to place their eBay bids through a site other than eBay.

  • Solicitations to join a marketing mailing list that the seller maintains outside of eBay. Such requests are permitted on the member’s About Me page.

Additional Information

Store sellers are not permitted to include additional contact information or tools on their Store homepage or in any header area of their Store. This includes phone numbers as well as Live Chat, help, or other immediate online communication tools. Such information and links are permissible on Store Custom Pages that are not currently set as the homepage of the Store or on the member’s About Me page, provided that the links and pages are not promotional in nature of items not offered for sale on eBay.

Sellers may not place a static URL or clickable link in listings or Store homepages that represents, brands, or otherwise advertises a homepage URL outside of eBay even if the URL redirects to the member’s eBay Store.

eBay Store Names and Logos

Store sellers with Store names or logos that include ".com", ".net", ".org", ".edu" or any variation of such as "_com" or "-com" may not include their Store name or logo in the title or description area of an eBay item page or eBay Store homepage (other than automatic insertions by eBay), and may not turn on the Stores Custom Listing Header without being in violation of the Links policy. Effective July 1, 2004, Store sellers cannot select a URL as a Store name. URL's as Store names selected prior to then will be grandfathered, but still must abide by all other Links policy guidelines.

Anchor Store logos that are used on the general Stores homepage (stores.ebay.com) must include the official Store name, and the Store name in that case may not include any of the variations of ".com" or other URL extensions mentioned above.

Store logos and Anchor Store logos may not include phone numbers, email addresses or other contact information nor may they include any animation.

Anchor and Store logos may not otherwise move, flash, or animate because these logos are also displayed in other areas of eBay (e.g., listing page, emails, checkout) where animation is not permitted.

Note: Store Inventory item pages must adhere to the rules outlined under the "Adding Links to Item Listings" section above.

Why does eBay have this policy?

Links can allow sellers to provide potential buyers with more detailed information about their Stores and listings. This policy promotes a level playing field by ensuring sellers do not link inappropriately in a way that creates a disadvantage to those sellers who link appropriately. Listings with inappropriate links undermine the trust and legitimacy of eBay’s marketplace.

The purpose for allowing sellers to include links to other eBay sellers is to enable individual sellers to cross merchandise with other individual sellers. Use of this capability for other reasons, including requiring sellers to pay to be part of a group that includes each others' links on their Store pages is not permitted.

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