Is It Possible Ebay Is Using Some Sort Of Image Recognition Software?

I've tried repeatedly to list a 1948 US Naval Operating Base, Guantanamo, Cuba cover and each time I try, I get an error message that tells me 'Money Orders are no longer an accepted payment method.' Since I only accept PayPal, this clearly must be tied into the fact that I'm trying to list a Cuban item. I've tried using variations like C**a and the like and have even tried to put up the listing with no mention of Cuba or Gitmo at all, and it still bounces. Meanwhile, all my other listings go thru without an issue. All I can think of at this point is ebay must be picking up the 'Cuba' in the cds in the scan of the cover. And yes, its legal to sell this item...at this age its been grandfathered in and is not affected by the current embargo. ...swines !

It is always possible. But you could test your theory by making an image with the word Cuba in it and starting a new listing.
Don

Try Cubs or Abuc

So what's the difference between this listing and yours?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NAVY-115-G...AOSw2UVbdInx
Most sellers either use [number]Cuba or do not use "Cuba" as the first (or second) word in the title as a workaround; but you tried listing without mentioning Cuba. The ebay site search will still find "Cuba" and generate results so I doubt that your guess is the problem. It may be more that nothing in your listing changed except for the title, and the system did not like that, either. Relisting and perhaps something small like changing the scanned image size beforehand might do it.

That's how it should work, but ebay just throws out the baby with the bathwater. When I was buying 19th-century postal stationery from Cuba, the item descriptions contained workarounds like "Quba," "Spanish West Indies," and "U.S. Possessions".

I notice that the OP's Item Specifics don't include:

"Country/Region of Manufacture: United States"

I don't know if this will help, but it may.

I like to use Çuba or Cúba. I don't think the system picks up on those spellings just like it doesn't pick up on Ïran.

Its possible that ebay has a system to pick up identical images for just this reason -- it would be easy enough to implement.
But any such system is unlikely to be very sophisticated, so just take a new photo of the item (or simply crop the old one).

meanwhile, PayPal will refuse to deal with anything on the US trade embargo list (eg Cuba, Iran, DPRK) -- so just use a workaround title.
eg, Spanish Caribbean, Middle East or whatever.

I had stuff bounced back, but not since I've used the more generic titles. I think the collectors who want that kind of stuff know how to search appropriately.

Cropping both images for the listing didn't help. Even with no mention of Cuba whatsoever (or any related euphemisms), I keep getting the below error message in red. Screw ebay...I'll just list it directly into my HipStamp store.

"It looks like there's a problem with this listing.


Please review your item
It appears that you are offering money order as a payment method which is no longer permitted in the ebay marketplace. As of January 15th, we will be removing any items that offer this payment method within the listing. Sellers must offer to accept one or more of the following payment methods
Paypal
Credit or debit card processed through an Internet merchant account
Propay
Sellers may in addition offer to accept Payment Upon Pickup.

Please revise your listing by removing the banned payment method. Based on the safety concerns and input from the Community, ebay has established an Accepted Payments policy that clarifies ebay's position on payment methods.
For more information on the Safe Payments policy, please click on the following link: ...'

...and in it went, no fuss, no bother...

https://www.hipstamp.com/listing/19...cel/27513448

"There's a "sash" lower right, attached on back by hinges, that holds a small clipping: "New York X3458. Naval Operating Base,...with money order facilities effective Nov. 14, 1948."


There's your problem - you cannot have "money order" in the description.

Battle...you're a genius !
I jumbled up 'money order' and the listing went up (with no references to Cuba, just in case) on ebay. Thank you !

I tried that pre-embargo bit with ebay and they didn't bite. Yeesh--Spanish for cowabunga.