Why Do Listings Get Removed?
Prevent illegal or unsafe activities: No illegal drugs, weapons, or dangerous goods.
Protect users from fraud and scams: No misleading claims, counterfeit goods, or predatory practices.
Maintain a positive user experience: No spam, harassment, or inappropriate content.
Ensure fair trading: Clear, honest descriptions and legitimate items.
Key Policy Categories & Common Violations:
1. Prohibited Items:
Illegal, Prescription, or Recreational Drugs & Related Paraphernalia: This includes cannabis, opioids, illegal steroids, and even items used to create or consume them.
Weapons, Ammunition, Explosives: Firearms (real or replica), gun parts, ammunition, knives (specifically for combat or with specific blade types, though kitchen knives are usually fine), fireworks, and explosive materials.
Animals (Live Animals & Animal Parts): You generally cannot sell live animals (including pets, livestock, or exotic animals). Specific animal parts (e.g., ivory, certain furs) are also prohibited, often due to endangered species protection.
Hazardous Goods & Materials: Flammable, explosive, toxic, or radioactive materials.
Medical & Healthcare Products: Prescription drugs, medical devices (e.g., pacemakers, defibrillators), contact lenses, first aid kits, or anything that implies a medical treatment or diagnosis.
Adult Products or Services: Sexual enhancement products, pornography, or services of a sexual nature.
Alcohol & Tobacco Products: This includes cigarettes, cigars, vaping products, e-cigarettes, and any alcoholic beverages.
Real Money, Counterfeit Currency, and Financial Instruments: Counterfeit money, bank notes, or documents like stocks or bonds.
2. Restricted Items (Require Specific Conditions):
Dietary Supplements: Generally allowed, but claims must be truthful and not misleading. Claims of miraculous weight loss or cures are often flagged.
Event Tickets: Often permitted, but scalping (selling above face value) or selling unauthorized tickets can lead to removal.
Gambling Products: Products facilitating illegal gambling are prohibited.
Vehicles: Vehicles are generally allowed, but listings must adhere to specific automotive guidelines (e.g., proper title, VIN).
Recalled Products: Any product subject to a government or manufacturer recall is prohibited.
3. Listing Content & Practice Violations:
Misleading, Deceptive, or Fraudulent Listings:
Inaccurate Descriptions: Product condition, features, or price must be truthful.
False Claims: Exaggerated promises (e.g., “guaranteed to make you rich”).
Clickbait: Using sensational headlines or images unrelated to the item.
Non-existent Items: Listing something you don’t actually possess or intend to sell.
Spamming:
Excessive Duplicate Listings: Posting the same item repeatedly or creating multiple similar listings, especially if they’re identical. While sometimes allowed for different regions, doing it too frequently or without clear differentiation can be seen as spam.
Irrelevant Tags/Keywords: Using keywords in your title or description that have nothing to do with the item to try and game search results.
Discriminatory Practices:
Listings that express or imply a preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family status, disability, or medical condition.
Infringement of Intellectual Property:
Selling counterfeit goods or items that infringe on copyrights or trademarks (e.g., fake designer bags, unauthorized reproductions of artwork).
Off-Platform Transactions:
Attempting to redirect buyers to external websites or asking for direct payments outside of Messenger before any agreement is made. Facebook wants transactions to start within its ecosystem.
Inappropriate Images:
Using sexually suggestive images, graphic violence, or anything deemed offensive.
Using stock photos for used items when the actual item’s condition needs to be shown.
Why Your Listing Was Removed?
1. You'll Get a Notification:
2. Review the Policy:
3. Edit and Relist:
4. Appeal the Decision:
Best Practices to Keep Your Listings Live & Compliant:
Read the Commerce Policies: Seriously, take the time to read them. They are updated, so periodic review is a good idea.
Be Honest and Clear: Your description should accurately represent the item’s condition, features, and price.
Use High-Quality, Relevant Photos: Show the actual item from multiple angles. Avoid overly edited or misleading images.
Categorize Correctly: Choose the most accurate category for your item.
Avoid Forbidden Language/Keywords: Steer clear of terms that might trigger automated flags for prohibited items, even if your item isn’t one (e.g., avoid “gun” if you’re selling a water pistol, use “toy blaster” instead).
Stay Within the System: Initiate communication and discussions about the item within Facebook Messenger. While you’ll eventually exchange personal details for pickup/delivery, don’t try to force transactions off-platform prematurely.
Keep Your Account Clean: Maintain a good standing on your personal Facebook profile. Repeated Community Standard violations can impact your Marketplace access.
Don’t Try to Trick the System: Attempts to circumvent policies (e.g., misspelling forbidden words, using symbols) are often detected and can lead to harsher penalties.
