Should eBay ban Jimmy Savile memorabilia?
A story in the Mirror over the weekend stated that “Sir Jimmy Savile memorabilia may be removed from online auction website eBay in the wake of allegations that he sexually abused young girls”.
Dan and I had a quick browse today and there seems to be a healthy appetite for Jimmy Savile related goods on eBay. We’ve seen fancy dress costumes selling regularly over the last few days (Halloween anyone?) as well as books, autographs and of course “Jim fixed it for me” medallions.
Whilst there’s no doubt, if the allegations are true, that such items are in the poorest of taste, but should eBay be making a moral judgement on whether they should be bought and sold?
eBay told the Mirror that they “do not allow the sale of offensive items on the site, this includes those that promote violence or criminal activity” and that eBay will “carefully consider all items listed and exercise our judgement to decide whether they should be removed”.
The thing is there’s never been a similar eBay proclamation regarding, say, Michael Jackson music and memorabilia who was similarly accused – is there a difference with Jimmy Savile?
What do you think? Should eBay be reacting to stories in the press and banning merchandise in cases like this, or is it a marketplace which should step back and allow sales to determine what’s acceptable to the public and what’s not?
Editors’ note: It appears that eBay sellers can’t even spell Jimmy Savile. There are more eBay listings for the misspelt “Jimmy Saville” than there are correctly spelt search results.
Jamie Parkins says
12:01 pm on 15/10/2012
Muddy waters if eBay wants to start taking a judgement call and position on such cases. Nothing has been proven to date in a court of law and more interestingly where would the business draw the line in the future?
- No Beatles memorabilia because John Lennon once dropped an illegal drug?
- Gary Glitter brings up 500+ results for pop memorabilia and CDs etc?
Just can’t see it happening? Such a decision would render so many categories and listings subject to questioning.
It is a shame that such an iconic piece of UK memorabilia like a Jim’ll Fix It Badge has to be questioned? At present are there any lines to be drawn between the award of such medals and the accusations being made of the late Jimmy Saville?
gerard says
12:27 pm on 15/10/2012
Well ,i think it depend on people ,if they went to buy memorabilias that remember theme a twisted sick man well it means the society is sick it self ,than savill is just a victim of an selfish society thats is not different from him .if you dant believe just remember that everyone in bbc new about it ,but businesses came first .SO stop laying for yourselves and start looking at thinks as they are .
Ross Wagman says
12:53 pm on 15/10/2012
Surely this is self regulating? I can’t imagine there’s a big demand for it anyway. If you’re banning Jimmy Savile outfits you’re ruling out shell suits and plastic cigars! It would also rule out books on him, when they could be something that would help stop anything like it happening in the future.
The real victims here can justifiably be offended but if Ebay started banning everything that someone was offended by, they may run out of stuff to sell
Gary says
1:01 pm on 15/10/2012
There are other “celebrities” who have actually had convictions for similar offences whose memorabilia is for sale on ebay. And that is over and beyond Gary Glitter.
The law should decide this not ebay.
Strange though that there is plenty of Hitler memorabilia for sale on ebay Germany yet I had a listing removed for the reason that it was not permitted to sell gear with a Hitler association on ebay Germany.
I relisted it excluding Germany and it was then OK.
If buyers don’t want gear on the back of it being considered bad taste then they will pass and not bid.
This Mirror story is a typical made up press non story for the sake of a story.
Newspapers are making a lot of money out of Jimmy Saville right now. There seems to be a public appetite for news. Bit hypocritical that they are having a go at ebay sellers.
rick says
1:46 pm on 15/10/2012
a few Kings of England had some strange habits, we dont ban Royal memorabilia,
Mark says
8:00 pm on 15/10/2012
Some of the items look like unauthorised merchandise using the likeness (and catchphrases) of JS. I would assume that the BBC [or the estate of JS] own the Jim’ll fix it logo). I would avoid anybody who thinks it wise to wear a JS t-shirt!
I don’t see any reason to ban the merchandise on sale from the link in the article on moral grounds (although I have no reason to buy it).
ebay may wish to prevent goods like these appearing on the suggested items/feed pages (along with other items that are not family friendly) but still allow them to appear when specifically searched for.