I reported a bug to eBay the other day unrelated to javascript/api errors etc. Eventually however I actually did get to speak to a human being at eBay. He did tell me that engineers are doing work on some of the listing based stuff, about it.
The problem I reported was in regards to Cascading Style Sheets. I made a menu system that uses pure CSS for a flyout menu. The menu worked fine locally in all browsers. When I sent a listing up to eBay it worked in all browsers except MSIE (which about 50% of web users choose as their browser of choice and AOL is also based upon the IE ActiveX control (as is MSIE)).
Something at eBay is causing problems with MSIE CSS munching. I have not had the time to attempt pin it down.
As I suggested to NannySue she could try doing the "popup" in CSS. The question at hand might be (time will tell) is eBay getting more restrictive in usage of javascript/CSS? Furthermore if so, are they more restrictive towards third party vs direct listing?
Your error: "API Error
Either your Description, Location, or Checkout Instructions appear to have Java script in it according to eBay. eBay is very strict about anything that looks like it may be Java script. Try checking your description for parenthesis and try posting without them if they do exist."
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Note this says "API Error" so eBays Application Programmers Interface is throwing this exception. It'd be interesting to see if you post the auction direct at eBay do you still get the exception.
I understand why eBay would want intercept various javascript and CSS. However, it must be horrible to try and do so! One can embed javascript into HTML and then write said HTML via document.write function of the document object.
Atop this as things evolve in web browsing the so do the various plugin's and virtually every new release of browsers contain more support/functions within objects such as the Document Object.
Whats a document object?
The Document Object is a "Class" that holds all data of the page you are viewing (in laymans terms). It also has functions, such as the Write function which allows for data to be written to the object. For eBay to try and regulate and filter things could end up being extremely problematic for vendors and thus eBay.
IMHO its simply not smart.
I'll tell you why.
By limiting content at the function/data level via programmation ultimately it means the site gets "limited". In other words vendors might not be able to use the latest greatest innovations to sell better, sell more etc. It effectively keeps things back in "age", like their being new electric cars superior in every way... for everyone yet we all get forced to drive gas guzzlers if you will whether we want to or not.
In eBays case it leaves a "door open" for some new venture to hurt them by allowing state of the art lets say.
Rather... eBay should let vendors know, we wont allow this. Period. If you use pop-up's for example to redirect any user off site in any listing we will cancel all listings non-refundable. Should it happen "nn" times, suspension etc.
By really limiting abilities of what can be done to help "Sell" in listings the solution if you will might be worse than the crime per se.