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EBay is the biggest online auction in the world and one can find almost anything being sold here. The categories go beyond your imagination, and the prices are just great. People often sell items that have absolutely no real value for very high prices – one man’s trash is another man’s treasure here. However, if you are thinking that there are no limits to what you can sell, better go through eBay terms and conditions again – and read the list of prohibited items carefully.

EBay does not allow certain items to be auctioned through their website. For example, you can’t sell services – simply because it is not an item. Of course, there are sellers who blatantly ignore this. Occasionally, you can even find illegal items being sold through eBay – and not at all because eBay allows it. In fact, eBay restricts the sale of any type of item that is considered ‘illegal for sale’ in any other selling format. Illegal items such as satellite descramblers are forbidden as well.

Anything that is copyrighted – such as copies of DVDs, CDs, or software – may not be sold through eBay auctions, unless you are selling a DVD, CD, or any software that you bought legitimately. Selling a copy that you made of these types of items is a violation of the law. EBay does not allow the sale of ‘replicas’, i.e. a knockoff version of designer items, such as purses, dresses, shoes, or sunglasses that look identical to those that have designer labels.

Items that are regulated by the state or federal government are also forbidden on eBay. These items include alcoholic beverages, weapons and firearms, all tobacco products, and both prescription and illegal drugs. There may be individual exceptions to this rule, though. For instance, if you have a collectable, such as a tin that contains tobacco, you may sell that item if the package has never been opened, and if you state the contents of the package are not meant for consumption. There are other conditions that must be met as well when selling these types of collectables.

Any type or breed of animal or reptile may not be sold through an eBay auction. This includes animals that were once living, and are now stuffed and mounted. Items that are taken from endangered species, such as Ivory, fall into prohibited items group as well.

Tickets may be sold, but it is illegal to sell tickets for a higher price than you originally paid for them. This is called ticket scalping, and it is illegal. Lottery tickets are also banned from eBay auctions, as well as raffle tickets.

If you are in doubt whether or not you are allowed to sell an item, check with the list of prohibited goods or don’t list it at. You can also contact eBay to get an answer one way or the other. But don’t get into a trouble by breaking the law – your illegal business will not be successful anyway.