What is not allowed?
SellFree’s priority is to ensure that our community remains safe for all members. We do not allow the sale of anything illegal or dangerous. We also prohibit certain items at the request of our community. If we feel you have posted a banned item, we will ask you to take it down or remove it ourselves.
The list (non-exhaustive) below details what cannot be posted on SellFree, in alphabetical order:
Adult-only
Adult toys or other erotic products
Adverts for sexual services are not accepted.
Adverts for escort services are not accepted.
R18 classified videos or DVDs may not be advertised.
Non BBFC classified videos or DVDs may not be advertised.
If your feel your advertisement has been declined by us incorrectly, please provide us with the film’s BBFC classification reference.
Alcohol
We do not accept adverts of alcohol.
Animals
We have a separate policy on selling and buying animals at sellfree.africa which can be found here.
Black Magic and other spells
We do not allow any ads that promotes or offer any services relating to black magic and any other spells due to ethical and moral issues.
Botox and Dermal Fillers
Including related equipment and services
Business Opportunities
MLM schemes that generate income solely through recruiting new members may not be advertised.
Adverts for business opportunities must clearly state the product or service to be sold, whether any upfront payment is required and whether the work involves the recruitment of further people to the opportunity.
Capital & Prize bonds
Cigarettes, cigars and related products
Loose tobacco
Electronic cigarette filters and e-liquids (with or without nicotine)
Note: Electronic cigarettes themselves and rolling papers are allowed
Copyright Infringement
Copies or backups of software and games may not be advertised. Games machines that have been chipped or otherwise modified to allow copied games to be played may not be advertised.
Items that exist only in electronic format (software without original media, eBooks etc.) may not be sold without written permission from the copyright holder.
Counterfeit Goods
Ads for products described as knock off, replica, imitation, clove, faux, fake, mirror image, or similar terms when referring to a brand name in attempt to pass themselves off as genuine products of the brand owner
Ads for non-genuine products that mimic brand features in an attempt t pass themselves off as genuine product e.g., non-authentic products that have brand name labels or logos
Counterfeit Money/Notes
Cream chargers (where not explicitly for catering use)
Dangerous chemicals
Drugs and prescription goods
Ads for substances that alter mental state for the purpose of recreation or otherwise induce “highs” e.g., cocaine, crystal meth, heroin and other illegal opioids, marijuana, cocaine substitutes, mephedrone, “legal highs”
Ads for products or services marketed as facilitating recreational drugs use e.g., pipes, bongs, cannabis shops
Ads for instructional content about producing, purchasing, or using recreational drugs e.g., forums to exchange tips or recommendations on drug use
Digital goods
Domain names
E-books
E-tickets
FIFA coins
Online accounts
Virtual merchandise, including in-game currencies or items
Virtual currencies (e.g., Bitcoin, Litecoin, etc.)
Note: Asking to be paid for an item or service in a virtual currency is allowed, but the currency itself cannot be sold directly.
Any other digital products
Vouchers and Gift Cards
Explosives
Products that are designed to explode and could damage to nearby people or property e.g., nail bomb, chemical bomb, firecrackers, grenades.
Any instructional content about the assembly, enhancement, or acquisition of explosive items e.g., bomb-making sites, guides, software, or equipment for 3D printing of parts if grenades.
Fake, replica, or unauthorised trademark items
Financial Services
Businesses advertising consumer loans, credit cards or other services covered under the Consumer Credit Act should be licensed with the Office of Fair Trading and comply with the regulations laid down in the act.
Firearms, ammunition and equipment (even if they’re legal to buy)
Guns, including air guns, BB guns, replica guns, and paintball guns
Silencers
Ammunition, including ammo for paintball
Note: Paintball equipment not related to the gun (goggles, gloves etc.) are allowed
Hunting equipment
Note: Scopes, straps, and gun cabinets are allowed
Fireworks (of any kind)
Food and Other perishable goods
Anything with an expiration date
Gambling machines
Fruit/slot machines
Gas and electric meter seals
Hate organisations of any kind
Human parts, remains, or services
Blood, bone, and waste
Donor, surrogacy, and fertility services
Organs
Sperm and eggs
Used pregnancy tests
Inappropriate contents
Ads that display shocking content or promote hatred, intolerance, discrimination or violence
Items promoting hate, discrimination, or stereotypes of a particular group of people Including gollywogs.
Language
Adverts using or obscene or racist language are not allowed.
Lingerie
We do not accept ads of Lingerie.
Lottery tickets
Massage & Therapy
We do not accept ads about massage and therapies.
Medical Grade PPE
Medicines
Any type of edible and topical medicine (including herbal and homeopathic etc.) ad is not allowed on our website.
Nazi memorabilia
Ownership
You should personally own the item or provide the service you are selling (except agents selling or renting property or brokers selling vehicles).
If the item is new, you should have it in stock. We do not accept adverts for items that are to be ‘drop shipped’.
We do not accept adverts for items or services where the advertiser earns a commission through a third party affiliate program.
Parking permits
Tip: If you’d like to give your pass to someone else, get in touch with your local council
Personal information or mailing lists
Bulk emails, Internet Protocol (IP), instant messenger (IM), or mailing lists that contain names, addresses, phone numbers, or other personal info
Tools or software designed to send spam
Premium Rate Telephone Services
Adverts for telephone chat lines and other premium rate services should comply to guidelines set out by the ICSTIS. In particular, they must make clear how much will be charged for the call.
Advertisers using personal numbers beginning 070 should make clear how much will be charged for the call.
Red diesel
Requests for Money
We cannot accept adverts requesting money unless placed by a registered charity. If you are a registered charity, please contact us, quoting your registration number.
Sensitive events
Ads that potentially profit from or exploit a sensitive event with significant social, cultural, or political impact, such as civil emergencies, natural disasters, public health emergencies, terrorism and related activities, conflict, or mass acts of violence
Ads that claim victims of a sensitive event were responsible for their own tragedy or similar instances of victim blaming
Ads that claim victims of a sensitive event are not deserving of remedy or support
Security tag removal items
Stolen goods
This includes blocked phones or no-signal phones
Supplements
Including supplements that contain DMAA
Tickets not intended for resale. Including, but not limited to:
Cricket World Cup Tickets. For more information on how to sell Cricket World Cup tickets, please read ICC’s website.
Any other sports tickets.
Train and bus tickets.
Note: Coach tickets are allowed.
Tobacco
Ads for tobacco or any products containing tobacco e.g., cigarettes, cigars, snus, chewing tobacco, rolling tobacco, pipe tobacco
Ads for products that form a component part of a tobacco product, as well as products and services that directly facilitate or promote tobacco consumption e.g., rolling pipes, tobacco filters, hookah lounges, cigar bars
Ads for products designed to simulate tobacco smoking e.g., herbal cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes
Unlocked hardware and software
Copied games, DVDs, and computer software
Fully loaded Kodi, Android, and Amazon boxes
Games consoles
R4 cards (with or without the console)
Unlocking software (software that unlocks any electronic item, like a phone)
Used underwear
Briefs, knickers, thongs, boxer shorts, nappies, and so on
Vehicle Accessories
Devices designed to detect radar may not be advertised.
Devices or software designed to decode radio security devices may not be advertised.
Votes
It’s illegal to buy or sell votes.
Weapons and knives
We do not accept adverts for any guns or other firearms.
We also do not accept adverts for deactivated firearms, replica firearms, or any firearm accessories.
Historical and ornamental weapons (like Samurai swords and bayonets)
Spear guns
Advertisements for crossbows and archery sets are not accepted.
Adverts for any kind of knives are not accepted.
Note: While this list is intended to be thorough, we reserve the right to remove any and all content that we feel is inappropriate for SellFree or that interferes with the well-being of the community.
For more information on laws regarding particular product/service, please visit your official government website.
This list was last revised on 20 July 2021.
