Manufacturer says I can't sell their stuff?

[sammoab]

Can a manufacturer tell me to take down my listings of their products?

[dirk12955]

Yes.

Who's the manufacturer?

What's the item?

[sammoab]

They are boots that I bought from a liquidator. I did not buy them from the manufacturer. Most are store returns (Amazon), new but returned.

[lacemaker3]

@sammoab,

What was the reason they wanted you to stop selling them? Did they say the boots were counterfeit?

Did you get a VeRO notice through eBay, or did the manufacturer contact you outside of eBay?

[sammoab]

They did not allege that the boots are counterfeit, but rather said that I do not have a seller agreement with them which meant that I could not sell them. They opened and eBay account yesterday and emailed through eBay. I don't know what a VeRO notice is.

[sammoab]

Thsnk you to those who are reading this and trying to help

[tdl_collectibles]

Unless you get something from an attorney or eBay, I'd sell them.  No professional would just open an ebay account to message you....

[tdl_collectibles]

Here's the VeRO list if you want to make sure the company isn't on it in the meantime:

https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/ebay-for-business/verified-rights-owner-program

[albertabrightalberta]

---

@tdl_collectibles wrote:

Here's the VeRO list if you want to make sure the company isn't on it in the meantime:

https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/ebay-for-business/verified-rights-owner-program

---

That link only shows VeRO reps who choose to have accounts made public but isn't all-inclusive. Any rights owner can apply for an be a VeRO representative. 

As for the message you got, @sammoab , please post a copy of it, removing any personal/identifying information. 

Did they get your listings removed or was it just a message sent through your listing? 

[kensgiftshop]

The problem might be that you're selling them as new.

Some companies you have to be an authorized dealer to sell their new items.

[ckimodog]

@sammoab 

That happens sometimes.  Some companies want their own dealers to sell their items, some companies don't want their items to be sold on eBay.  Don't relist them as you could jeopardize your account permanently. 

Happy Selling. 

[sammoab]

It was just a message they sent through ebay. I responded that I couldn't know who they really were since they just opened an ebay acct that day.

They are not on the VeRO list.

Listings have not been removed, they just asked me to take them down.

Initial email below.

I am contacting you for   ----- ----- ==Boots. We have found that you are selling our boots on Ebay. We don't have you setup as an authorized reseller. Can you please provide your  -------- account details. Regards,

[soh.maryl]

Verified Rights Owner.

[bauble-babes]

@sammoab  "I am contacting you for ----- ----- ==Boots. We have found that you are selling our boots on Ebay. We don't have you setup as an authorized reseller. Can you please provide your -------- account details. Regards,"

This part, 'Can you please provide your -------- account details,' is very suspicious!  You should not have to provide your account details to anyone. I think this person is a scammer. Glad you have not complied!

[albertabrightalberta]

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@sammoab wrote:

It was just a message they sent through ebay. I responded that I couldn't know who they really were since they just opened an ebay acct that day.

They are not on the VeRO list.

Listings have not been removed, they just asked me to take them down.

Initial email below.

I am contacting you for   ----- ----- ==Boots. We have found that you are selling our boots on Ebay. We don't have you setup as an authorized reseller. Can you please provide your  -------- account details. Regards,

---

You aren't obligated to respond nor do you have to end your listings. 

If you do respond, I'd send something like this: 

"Dear So and so, 

I've received your message and would refer you to "First sale doctrine" which limits rights owners' ability to control distribution of their items when such items are legally obtained. I have purchased the boots through a legitimate source and now that I own them, I'm within my rights to resell them.

Sincerely, 

Ebay seller"

Note that rights owners CAN control distribution of their items with those with whom they have contracts, i.e., their own authorized distributors, but you aren't one of their contractors.