Every online marketplace has rules about what you cannot list for sale. Below, we break down the prohibited items on eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, Etsy, and Depop, with examples from each platform’s forbidden categories. We’ve also included direct links to each marketplace’s official policy page for reference.
Why This Matters
Each platform enforces strict listing rules. Selling prohibited items can lead to item removal, account suspension, or permanent bans. Use this guide to protect your selling privileges.
eBay – Prohibited Items
eBay maintains an extensive list of items that may not be listed on its platform. Key prohibited categories include:
- Adults Only – Pornographic materials, sexually explicit content (e.g., explicit adult films, sex toys)
- Illegal Drugs & Drug Paraphernalia – Narcotics, drug pipes, bongs
- Embargoed Goods & Prohibited Countries – Items from sanctioned countries
- Firearms, Weapons & Knives – Guns, ammunition, switchblades, assault weapon parts
- Government and Official Items – Police badges, government IDs, mail carrier uniforms
- Hazardous Materials – Explosives, radioactive materials, flammable chemicals
- Items Encouraging Illegal Activity – Tools for burglary, hacking guides
- Lock-Picking Devices – Lock-pick sets
- Mailing Lists & Personal Information – Lists of personal data
- Medical & Healthcare Products – Prescription medications, contact lenses
- Offensive Materials – Racist propaganda, hate symbols
- Police-Related Items – Law enforcement badges, uniforms
- Prescription Drugs – Prescription-required drugs
- Prohibited Services – Hacking or academic essay-writing services
- Stolen Property – Items with tampered serial numbers
View eBay’s official “Prohibited and restricted items” policy
Poshmark – Prohibited Items
Poshmark strictly prohibits certain products to maintain community safety:
- Counterfeit or Infringing Goods – Fake designer goods, pirated media
- Nudity & Explicit Content – Pornographic materials
- Hate Symbols or Violence – Items promoting hatred or violence
- Food & Consumables – Food, beverages, vitamins
- Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco & Paraphernalia – Cannabis, vaping devices, cigarettes, bongs
- Hazardous Materials – Aerosols, combustible chemicals
- Weapons and Firearms – Guns, ammunition, knives beyond basic kitchen knives
- Medical Devices and Health Products – Contact lenses, insulin pumps
- Recalled or Unsafe Items – Recalled infant sleepers
- Sanctioned or Illegal Goods by Region – Items from Cuba, North Korea, Iran
- Live Animals and Animal Products – Ivory, shark fins
- Human Remains or Body Parts – Human organs, bones
- Impersonation and Official Items – Police uniforms, vaccine cards
- Misrepresented Native American Arts – Items falsely claiming to be Native American–made
View Poshmark’s official “Prohibited Items Policy”
Mercari – Prohibited Items
Mercari’s policy explicitly prohibits:
- Illegal and Controlled Substances – Illicit drugs, prescription medications
- FDA-Restricted Ingestibles – Homemade foods, dietary supplements
- Price Gouging on Tragedies – Exploiting emergencies for profit
- Stolen Goods – Stolen property
- Counterfeit or Copyright-Infringing Items – Fake luxury goods
- Weapons and Explosives – Firearms, ammunition, stun guns
- Alcohol and Tobacco – Alcoholic beverages, vaping devices
- Identity Theft & Malware Items – Stolen credit card info, malware devices
- Digital Goods and Codes – e-books, digital downloads
- Items Not In Hand (No Pre-Sales) – Drop-shipped goods
- Unsafe or Recalled Products – Recalled items, flammable liquids
- Hacking/Mod Tools – “Mod chips” for gaming consoles
- Age-Restricted or Regulated Items – Prescription contacts, pesticides
- Gambling and Lotteries – Lottery tickets, “mystery boxes”
- Financial Instruments – Cryptocurrency, gift cards
- Animals and Animal Products – Taxidermy in fluid, banned wildlife products
- Human Body Parts/Used Intimates – Human teeth, used underwear
- Pornography & Sexual Items – Explicit materials
- Hate/Offensive Content – Racist symbols, hate propaganda
View Mercari’s full “Prohibited Items” policy
Etsy – Prohibited Items
Etsy forbids these categories:
- Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drugs (Medical Devices/Claims) – Alcohol, tobacco, drugs, medical devices
- Animal Products and Human Remains – Ivory, human remains
- Dangerous Items – Hazardous materials, recalled items
- Hate Items – Nazi memorabilia
- Illegal or Highly Regulated Items – Lock-picking tools
- Internationally Regulated Items – Items protected by CITES
- Nudity and Sexual Content – Pornographic materials
- Violent Items – Items promoting violence
View Etsy’s official “Prohibited Items Policy”
Depop – Prohibited Items
Depop prohibits:
- Adult Material & Nudity – Pornographic media, unwashed underwear
- Advertisements or Spam – Pure advertising posts
- Alcohol – Alcoholic beverages
- Animals and Wildlife Products – Ivory, endangered wildlife parts
- Counterfeit Currency & Stamps – Fake money, forged stamps
- Counterfeit Goods & Unauthorized Copies – Fake designer goods, bootleg media
- Financial Items – Credit cards
- Personal Data and Mailing Lists – Databases of personal information
- Drop-shipping – Items not in your possession
- Drugs and Paraphernalia – Illegal drugs
- Medicines and Medical Products – Prescription medications
- Tobacco & Alcohol Products – Vapes, cigarettes
- Weapons – Firearms, knives beyond household use
- Hazardous/Flammable Materials – Propane tanks, explosives
- Official Documents, Currency, Personal Data – Government IDs, passports
- Unsafe Products for Children or Health – Recalled baby items, unsafe cosmetics
View Depop’s official “Prohibited and Restricted Items” policy
🔭 Pro Tip: Automate Compliance with List Perfectly
Don’t let risky items slip through! Use List Perfectly Word Alert Setting to automatically flag terms like “bong,” “switchblade,” or “ivory” before posting.
👉 Learn more: Log in to List Perfectly and then click here Word Alert Setting guide
🧭 Final Advice
- Regularly check each platform’s official policy pages – updates happen frequently.
- Use automation tools and template alerts to stay consistent.
- Keep this guide handy as your quick reference for safe, compliant listings.
👉 Ready to stay compliant across marketplaces?
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