In their attempt to eliminate counterfeiters from being 'encouraged' to pair fake Rolex watches with real boxes and blank papers, eBay has been implementing an obscure and misguided policy of removing listings containing vintage Rolex papers and collectible Rolex boxes. I have experienced the adverse effects of this policy including a temporary account suspension. The experience has left a very bad taste in my mouth and I have heard similar horror stories from fellow collectors.

Although currently eBay is still the best place to buy and sell Rolex ephemera, unfortunately, their staff has lumped collectible vintage papers and boxes into a bad catch-all policy. If they went about it with some intelligence, they would realize that it would make better sense to draw a distinction for vintage items. I don't believe that watch counterfeiters are looking for vintage papers or boxes. Maybe I am wrong.

What's even more frustrating is that there is nobody at eBay that can be reached for any intelligent discussion on this subject. Repeat attempts using email get canned responses with the same link (below) over and over. I gave up trying to make a case to them. 

eBay would have to cancel many more listings and accounts if they started enforcing this incomprehensible policy on items currently considered to be 'valid' listings. Why stop at vintage papers and boxes? Counterfeiters can easily engrave whatever serial number they wish, so eliminating 'blank' papers has absolutely no impact. Why not remove all ephemera? For that matter, aren't watch parts used to make up fake watches and not ephemera? By their own misguided policy, eBay should eliminate watch parts as well. Dials, hands, cases, casebacks, bracelets, etc. -- all these items can all be used to encourage counterfeits, right? How about all those refinished dials with the Rolex logo?

Depending on feedback, the sales corner can be set up on this website to have an alternative place for collectors to buy/sell/trade vintage Rolex ephemera, especially if eBay continues to remove valid ephemera listings or if their policies get even worse.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/encouraging.html