Thread: Ivory razors - I am flabergasted

I've been collecting, buying, and sometimes selling old ivory razors on e-bay for years. I just had a nice Jos Rodgers set listed and it was bid on. The auction has been up for 4 days.
All of a sudden, I just got an e-mail from e-bay saying that they will not allow sale of any ivory items unless it is prior to 1900 and then it must be less than like 5% of the item. So they pulled the auction. They also said that I might have to take an e-bay tutorial before I can see again because of this.
To say that I am taken aback would be an understatement.
Is anyone familiar with this new rule? I think it's absurd.
Any comment from the razor nation??

I'm well aware of this rule.

When I list ivory razors, I say something to this effect in the auction:

"Scales are made out of a natural material that is NOT bone, and has an off-white color. Please send me a message if you'd like more information."

Whatever you do, don't put Ivory in the title of the auction. They are triggered to check all auctions with ivory in the title.

Thanks Brad. I still don't understand why they waited 4 days when the razors had already sold. Oh well. I guess it is what it is.

Whatever you do, dont try selling anything made of whalebone. That can be an even bigger no-no than ivory!

Yes, it has happened to me too. I listed a BONE handled razor on eBay, with obvious pores and described as cow bone. Within 10 minutes of my listing it, it was pulled and I got an email similar to the one you did, and a strike. The email said that the listing had been examined by some kind of eBay "expert" and was determined to be ivory. Within 10 minutes of listing it! I pointed out the obvious differences between my bone scales and ivory, but it was to no avail. Some sellers say "camelbone", but even that might be dangerous! Absolutely ridiculous, since preban ivory is legal for sale in the US. As long as you don't sell outside CONUS, Alaska or Hawaii, no law would be broken, but eBay does not care, being an internationalist organization.

Either it took their web bot a few days to find it or someone just turned you in for using "that" word in the solicitation, imo.

They are really a worldwide site and have been under increasing critique for selling alot of this illegal stuff so they are going way to the otherside now.

Personally I see all this "preban" Ivory coming to the market lately. The price hasn't really increased that much over the last couple of years to shake it free so I suspect most of it is illegally smuggled stuff.

The only other thing I can think of is if someone from outside the US had bid on the item.

I was researching selling some of my grandfathers Ivory for him that he inherited, when I contacted them about restrictions that was the other thing they mentioned is if someone from outside the US bid on the item it would be pulled even if I specified I would only ship in CONUS.

Honestly, buyers are allowed to 'report' an item as well, eBay doesn't really catch crap. Ivory is illegal to buy and sell, this rule isn't new for ebay. The smart sellers get around it by calling it Natural Material or even XXX. Do as they do and you should be fine. Be cool about it. Or sell them on the classifieds here where you can call them anything you want.

Hi,
How do you tell the difference between Ivory and whalebone? also how would you recommend cleaning it.
Thanks for the help
Harry