Not sure of this...

[morgansacre]

Hi,

I bought an item here in Australia, I received that item and I am happy with it, but inside the parcel were Christian pamphlets....I am a little put out by this.

But I just wanted to know if this is against EBay policy?

I have received advertising for the sellers eBay seller page etc, but this is a first for me.

[scotty*75]

I've never received religious material in a purchase but if I did

I doubt I would be getting as worked up as you are now lol

[mr.glow]

"carp" was mentioned ghost + I was called a bible basher which is funny since I haven't been to a church in a very very long time. if it was a save the whale or help cancer would there have been the same reaction? just find it amazing that quite a few on here said they would neg over it, which shows to me that they as well as the person who sent the pamphlet have "problems" or "faults".

[digital*ghost]

"carp" was mentioned ghost + I was called a bible basher 

Ok, fair call. 

I can't tell you if others would have the same or similar reactions if non-religious material was included with an eBay purchase, but I think many would take exception to it if it pushes an agenda other than what we're all on eBay to do. And that's really the crux of why people take exception to it, IMO - because it does push an agenda, or at least give the impression of trying to. Marketing material for the seller's items does too (push an agenda), but I'd say it's more acceptable to most because by purchasing from them, the buyer has already indicated they've accepted that person as their store and seller. 

:8}

[lyndal1838]

How is this so different to unsolicited letterbox drops of religious material, or the Bible Bashers knocking on the door?

Would you write to the local paper complaining about it, or would you just throw the literature in the bin and close the door politely on the callers?

[digital*ghost]

How is this so different to unsolicited letterbox drops of religious material, or the Bible Bashers knocking on the door?

Would you write to the local paper complaining about it, or would you just throw the literature in the bin and close the door politely on the callers?

It's not much different, but it is different because a buyer chooses to purchase something and IMO it should arrive free of other agendas, particularly since there's options in the real world to prevent or avoid such solicitations. People can make the choice to put a No Junk Mail sign on their letterbox, or No Doorknockers sticker at the door, something someone sending something to you that you've bought gets around. 

Personally, I dislike all the energy company reps that knock on doors (not the people themselves, just the practice). I have a Do Not Knock sticker, and if someone does knock, no, I wouldn't complain to the newspaper, but I sure would complain to the company they work for. 

[mr.glow]

but after reading everything the op wrote including the response from the seller I saw no malice in it just someone who is happy about Jesus, annoying yes but not warrenting a last cigarete and blindfold. a quite word would have solved it. it was the hostility of many of the posters which was surpricing to me.

[crystal-gems]

To me, including religious pamphlets is equivalent to including political party pamphlets.....a bit presumptuous.....maybe even arrogant.....but certainly, in my case,  a waste of valuable resources.

[morgansacre]

Wow thank you for all the replies.

I gave the seller positive feedback, because I was happy with what I bought. I came on here to ask if it was against ebays policy. I have spoken to the seller, though he never replied that I didn't like being sent this.

No I am not an atheist as such. But I don't like people shoving religious pamphlets at me. If I received them in my letterbox I throw them away, it's always expected In the letterbox at one time or another. I don't even like political pamphlets being shoved in my face at voting time.

If I want it I'll go look for myself. I just though eBay wasn't the time or place for this sort of thing.

Thanks though for the different opinions, and I'm sorry it got a little heated. I'm not complaining, and the pamphlets are in the bin. I told the newbie seller I thought it was against Ebays policy, but then I couldn't find it, so came here to ask, just to make sure.

Oh well thanks again for your help.

[digital*ghost]

I told the newbie seller I thought it was against Ebays policy, but then I couldn't find it, so came here to ask, just to make sure.

I think eBay have some rules - somewhere - about the nature of material that can be sent to buyers, but I think it predominantly concerns marketing for off-eBay sales and I haven't been able to find anything specific. I only heard these rules mentioned through the grapevine, anyway (an eBay rep told someone who told ... IYKWIM), so I don't know if there's any reference to them buried in the help pages. 

[foxette-in-sox]

I don't know if unsolicited pamphlets would come under this policy or not-read the Additional Information link at bottom

http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/policies/rfe-spam-ov.html