eBay's New Policy To Ban The Sale Of Legal Ivory Effective Jan. 1, 2009. Please visit their website to read about the specifics of their policy.

As of Jan. 1, 2009 eBay, (The Leading Online Auction Website), has prohibited the sale of ANY TYPE OF IVORY, whether inside or outside the USA. Banned items include: Elephant Ivory, Hippo, Mammoth, Whale Teeth, Warthog, and others. The Leading Online Auction Website's ban has NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FEDERAL OR STATE LAW since it is still legal to collect, trade, sell, and buy all of the above items within the USA and within the states of other countries. The export of ivory from one country to another is however, regulated by International law and generally requires a permit for export and import from CITES. The sale of mammoth ivory ( petrified ivory ), is NOT ILLEGAL or regulated anywhere on this planet.

Our Opinion On The Leading Online Auction Website’s Decision To Ban Sales Of Ivory

It appears that The Leading Online Auction Website is lacking any clear cut solutions to deal with the pressures and problems they face by having built empire and a monopoly. They control the market in two important ways; (1) They lead the industry of online sales by "items available for sale" by more than 12 times than the next lower competitor, eBids.com; and (2) They lead the industry on method of payments options with their ownership of a METHOD OF PAYMENT enterprise.

First, let's address the issue of the Mammoth Ivory Ban : The Leading Online Auction Website Rescues The Endangered Wooly Mammoth 10,000 Years Too Late!

The reason The Leading Online Auction Website gives for banning all items derived from mammoth ivory is that they claim their TRUST AND SAFETY department has no way of telling from a listing's pictures whether or not the item is being falsely listed as ancient mammoth when it might, in fact, be derived from modern day elephant ivory. What they are saying is profoundly stupid. They believe that poachers and people who traffic in illegal ivory would enter their site in meaningful numbers and try to list their illegal items on their site. Its absurd and it has never happened in the past. Using that logic, why do they allow users to list name brand items such as Louis Vuitton or Tiffany? These items have caused them far greater problems than the sale of Ivory. So their is a profit motive behind the continued sale of problematic items and political or public image motive behind the ban of ivory. According to many leading experts the ban on Ivory and Mammoth will cause problems for extanct species and not solve them. How will their TRUST AND SAFETY department be able to determine a legitimate Louis Vuitton from a fake? Do they have a counterfeit department checking the photographs for listings to determine if they are fake? No. The Leading Online Auction Website relies on whistle blowers and luck.

The ultimate hypocrisy in The Leading Online Auction Website’s Ban On Mammoth is that they allow the sale of FAUX whale scrimshaw items which are generally made from plastic. However, they look exactly like real whale teeth. How does The Leading Online Auction Website intend to monitor the FAUX items? What is to keep dishonest traders from listing a real tooth as a fake hoping a buyer will know the difference? Nothing.

The Leading Online Auction Website’s Ban On Mammoth May Actually Contribute To The Endangerment Of Elephants By Ignoring Two Key Points:

(1) In many industries mammoth ivory has replaced the use of elephant ivory, such as in the guitar manufacturing process where ivory is used, in jewelry crafting, for pool cues and cue balls, in carved netsuke and other traditional collectibles. This has resulted in a decreasing demand for modern day elephant tusks.

(2) Some conservation groups believe that the discovery of the mammoth tusk quarries in recent years has been successful in lowering the demand for elephant tusk. (See http://green.msn.com/Home/ebay-Ivory-Ban-May-Hurt-Conservation).

Should The Leading Online Auction Website ban the sale of all famous brand items because some unscrupulous sellers would pass off fakes as originals? Of course not. Buyers rely on a seller’s feedback score to determine whether they are getting the real thing.

Mammoth ivory, unlike a counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbag, IS NOT ILLEGAL TO SELL IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD and The Leading Online Auction Website faces no lawsuits nor does it break any laws from the fair trade and sale of items derived from mammoth ivory.

Conclusion

While we understand that the protection of endangered species is a noble endeavor sometimes people can go to far. The banning of mammoth ivory carvings on The Leading Online Auction Website is an example.

The wooly mammoth has been extinct for nearly 10,000 years. A large cache of mammoth tusks were discovered in Siberia and sold to Chinese craftsmen. This provided jobs and sustenance to thousands of human families. These people, as well as honest dealers and their loved ones, are being hurt by The Leading Online Auction Website's ban, not the wooly mammoth. There are no national or international laws restricting the selling and/or shipment of mammoth. Mammoth ivory is distinctly different than elephant ivory in its color, shape and consistency.

In their ingenious manner Chinese carvers have utilized the discarded bones of camels and oxen, mammoth tusks and hippo tooth to continue their centuries old tradition of carving, further providing jobs and sustenance to the human species.

Again, these are the people being hurt by The Leading Online Auction Website’s ban, not the endangered elephant. These bone products are distinctly different than elephant ivory in their color, shape and consistency. Keep in mind that mammoth ivory protects living elephants because mammoth is a desirable commodity with similar properties as modern elephant tusks and can legally fulfill the needs of the industry. To ban the sale of mammoth because some unscrupulous dealers may use it to launder the sale of elephant ivory is arbitrary and unfair because it punishes the innocent. To lower the illegal sales of elephant ivory increase the penalties and strictly enforce those laws and leave law-abiding citizens alone.

The Leading Online Auction Website Power Seller Lizord6 sent an email to both the IFAW ( the leading organization that pressured The Leading Online Auction Website into instituting the ivory ban), and to The Leading Online Auction Website executives asking for a detailed explanation of the reason for the ban.

Only the IFAW responded.

IFAW response to lizord6's inquiry - Jan 5, 2009

IFAW: On the mammoth ivory question - The Leading Online Auction Website is banning all animal ivory regardless to when it lived. This is exceptionally good news as mammoth ivory is a way that people launder elephant ivory. Unless in person, it is impossible to tell the difference. If they left mammoth ivory on The Leading Online Auction Website then it would not be a complete ban that protects elephants and it would be a loophole used for those who would sell ivory in spite of the consequences.

We are working with The Leading Online Auction Website on this and they are very committed to making the ban work as are we. We are truly sorry if it makes it difficult for legitimate dealers but in the bigger picture - this is the only way to protect elephants and unfortunately bad people have ruined it for everyone. The safety of the elephants and the people that protect them is our most urgent concern. Thank you for taking the time to write to us.

Tracy Weeks,
IFAW Supporter Relations >> visit http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw_united_states/.

In response to Tracy Weeks email dated 1/5/09

Dear Tracy:

While I understand that the protection of endangered species is a noble endeavor sometimes people can go to far. I suggest that you research the subject from a more neutral position and you may find that there are many experts that believe that The Leading Online Auction Website's ban will adversely affect the African elephant's struggle for survival.

I want to remind you the wooly mammoth has been extinct for nearly 20,000 years, their extinction now believed to have been caused by a meteor hitting the earth. Carving mammoth ivory provides thousands of Chinese people with jobs and sustenance to their families.

I understand your concern with "laundering" elephant ivory with mammoth, but that's why The Leading Online Auction Website has a system of scoring and rating its sellers for trust and integrity. Long time The Leading Online Auction Website sellers with high feedback scores are concerned with violating The Leading Online Auction Website's Trust & Safety rules and jeopardizing their seller status and selling privileges. That should count for a lot with easing your concern.

eBayers are the ones being hurt by eBay's ban, not the majestic elephant and certainly not the wooly mammoth. Bear in mind that there are no national or international laws restricting the selling and/or shipping of mammoth. Moreover, despite what you may believe, mammoth ivory is distinctly different in color, texture, and grain than elephant ivory. A clear photograph will almost always reveal the distinctions.

Also, it should be noted that offering an item derived from Elephant ivory at an "elephant ivory price", describing it exclusively as "made from mammoth ivory", a cheaper commodity, and expecting that item to sell, is as ludicrous as offering a genuine "African conflict diamond" worth say $56,000 per carat, describing it exclusively as a Cubic Zirconium, worth a few hundred dollars per carat and expecting it will sell.

When I say describing the item exclusively as one thing, I mean that no where in the item's description are you hinting that item is actually made from another material. The seller is stating in all parts of the description that is the lesser valued material.

Finally, mostly people are hurt by The Leading Online Auction Website's ban, not the endangered elephant. Mammoth ivory protects living elephants because mammoth is a desirable commodity with similar properties as modern elephant tusks and can legally fulfill the needs of the old elephant ivory trade. To ban the sale of mammoth because some unscrupulous dealers may use it to launder the sale of elephant ivory is unfair because it punishes the innocent. Increase the penalties for the sale of ivory and strictly enforce those laws and leave us law-abiding citizens alone.

I want to close by re-emphasizing three points: (1) that mammoth ivory has in many industries nearly replaced the use of elephant ivory, such as the guitar manufacturing process where ivory is needed, jewelry crafting, pool cues and cue balls, Chinese netsuke and traditional carvings. Just to name a few; (2) if the argument that mammoth and elephant can not be distinguished on a website, then certainly that philosophy should extend to the listing of name brand items and any item that can be counterfeited since one can not distinguish the real from the fake thru photos. The Leading Online Auction Website should ignore the seller's history and feedback and not extend trust to anyone for anything. Mammoth ivory, unlike a counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbag, is not illegal to sell and The Leading Online Auction Website faces no lawsuits from the fair trade and sale of items derived from mammoth ivory; and (3) some conservation groups believe that the discovery of the mammoth tusk quarries in recent years has been successful in lowering the demand for elephant tusk.

Thanks for your time,

AntiqueSpider

Below, we included some easily obtainable photos of the varieties of ivories that are commonly traded. We also included the CITES publication for your information: Guide to Identifying the Varieties of Ivory READ IT | CITES

Above: A sample of petrified ivory from a 23,000 year old specimen.