Now eBay gives a warning message if you report violations. How special is this?
Just received a message from eBay warning me about reporting violations on eBay. LOL! This is so sad and funny at the same time. eBay is riddled with fraud, abuse, and policy violations. I mainly report items in the coin category. Examples: Displaying MS grades when not certified or not certified by one of their approved grading companies. Report coins over $2500 listed NOT certified. Coins in the 5 figures listed that are NOT certified. Sellers misrepresenting coins in the main category that I sell in as genuine, but are pot-metal fakes from China. These sellers' FB shows buyers getting ripped off by their comments. I am sure I will get the few here. Why do I care? Why? Because I sell in these categories and have spent 27 yrs on eBay and over 50 years specializing in what I sell. It is pathetic that eBay supports sellers who negatively impact financially unknowing buyers who rely on these listings and descriptions. We pay for this platform. Part of that payment goes towards providing a platform that people can trust. Yes, it is eBay's responsibility to police itself. I paid them $30+k this year in fees. I expect better. Go ahead and do what some do best - attack the OP. Everyone, seller and buyer, should be concerned with this issue. And eBay believes sending me a slap-on-the-hand message will do nothing but make me laugh. Isn't AI and ignorance wonderful? Have a good one! PS: 99% of my reports are closed with nothing happening either way, even though I copy and paste the eBay regs along with the clear violation. Go search in the coin category filter, set to price high to low. I guarantee you will find all kinds of coins over $2500 not certified.
cardcrackcollector
·7 months agoLook at psavault for example, PSA took over ebay vault btw so they're business partners with ebay now. PSAVault breaks TOS constantly with adult item policy all the time, they let them leave it cause it makes them money, reports dont matter for them only.
12345jamesstamps
·7 months agoThe problem also which makes this bad is that is it 'crowds the category.'..and these sellers promote items to get to the top....
Anyone with common sense knows the listings will never be sold.
There should be authenticity of something being sold for so much on eBay.
gloryglorygifts
·7 months agoThanks for the heads up. I'm not one to report other sellers, and yes, even in my niche there are blatant issues, but it is good to know. I would tend to do it more as a buyer. I think they carry more weight anyway.
redlinear
·7 months agoI reported a violation while ago.
Got a message back saying no violations found.
Immediately followed by another message stating Voilations Found and listing was removed.
I could end almost all of this sellers listings I guess.
Not sure it's worth the time or trouble.
I do wonder though.........how many must be reported and found as violations before eBay just ends an account?
deltilogical
·7 months ago"how many must be reported and found as violations before eBay just ends an account?"
It seems to be considerd a trade secret.
grann-4629
·7 months ago**** 11 ****
ccomic
·7 months agoYou are all correct in that no one can prove they are fakes, so why does the same logic not apply to trademarked items? On any trademarked item that eBay takes down, can eBay prove its a fake?
The only difference I see in a fake silver dollar selling for $60 instead of $10K and a fake Rolex selling for $60 instead of $10K is that there isn't a large company ready to sue eBay over the silver dollar. There is no difference in the fake vs. genuine detection side of it.
gurlcat
·7 months ago@ccomic That's a really good point actually. Although I am not informed enough on how VERO works, like maybe it takes more than one report; otherwise it WOULD be very easy for sellers of the same brands to eliminate their competitors. But I do get the impression that reports of fakes in luxury corporate goods are taken a lot more seriously than those of 'hobby' collectability, even very high-value collectables.
ccomic
·7 months agoYes, I think it always comes down to bean counting with companies. What is more expensive, policing the listings or dealing with the law suits? But when there is no one to sue, it comes down to ... What is more expensive, policing the listings or doing nothing?
stephenmorgan
·7 months agoGood observation.
eBay has no real incentive to police what is sold thru their platform.
A short time ago eBay was fined millions of dollars by the EPA for continuing to allowing certain automotive emission devices to be sold thru their platform after they were previously warned by the EPA. eBay challenged the fine in court and it was determined that eBay did not actually sell the devices and the fine and case was dismissed.
jonathanbrightlight
·7 months agoVeRO is the "Verified Rights Owner" program. My understanding is they have to show evidence that they own the trademark/copyright on something in order to submit a removal, or else if challenged and they are shown not to be, it carries a significant penalty. It's not something that can just be casually used to eliminate competition.
slippinjimmy
·7 months agoYour understanding is not correct. When anyone sends a Notice Of Copyright Infringement (NOCI) to eBay claiming a copyright or trademark infringement eBay does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to verify if it is a legitimate claim. It is up to the "victim" to file a counter notice against the party claiming infringement if they feel that the claim is not legitimate.
If eBay was to make any type of attempt to verify the claim they would lose their Safe Harbour provision of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
The only thing the VERO program does is to provide a system for the bulk submission of claims by copyright owners. One does not need to be a VERO "member" to send eBay a NOCI which will trigger an instant takedown.
FYI - There is no penalty for filing false claims, the DMCA does not provide any punishment against false claims beyond allowing the "victim" to counter sue for damages.
gone.c-33
·7 months agoThe only threat is to remove your ability to report listings. Big deal.
But really, to get that email, how many listings do you report, say, in a week?
luckythewinner
·7 months agoSellers misrepresenting coins in the main category that I sell in as genuine, but are pot-metal fakes from China.
These reports are probably the ones getting you in trouble. You need to understand that while you think you are policing the site and reporting counterfeits, this is also a technique that unscrupulous sellers use to try to eliminate their competition.
fm2000
·7 months agoI swear the picture of Liberty in that phony 1799 silver dollar listing is smirking, unlike the real coin. Probably trying not to laugh at the ridiculously fake listing she is forced to be in.
Seriously though, as frustrating as it is, don't waste your time reporting those listings, eBay won't do anything and they are just going to get mad at you for reporting so many. The people selling such obvious fakes will eventually be reported by buyers and banned. People sell fakes of some items I sell, believe me, I completely understand the frustration, it just is what it is.
wri-8727
·7 months agoIf you are in The United States report fraud here: (edit*link removed) Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
I used to report neo-nazis sellers then one day I got a message telling me that I have been noticed (by eBay) then suggested that I contact the sellers myself.
I never bothered again.
short_circuit.lineman61
·7 months agoits simple, ebay relies on buyers to identify bad sellers.
ebay considering a seller reporting a competitor highly suspect is a very good thing in my opinion
christworks
·7 months agoI don't like people scamming others, but I really dislike people who appoint themselves eBay police.
thrifters-nh
·7 months agoAmen to that. Totally agree.
christworks
·7 months agoIt truly boggles my mind. Until eBay starts paying me or buyers start caring enough to actually do their own research, I have a business to run. I learned a long time ago you cannot stop someone from making a stupid mistake. Nobody appointed me hand-holder for anybody.
If there is clearly a listing that is harmful to others and clearly violates the law, I have no problem reporting it. But to go around on the platform and SPAM eBay with a bunch of tattletale reports - competitoin or not - may be principled on the surface, but it doesn't help anything.
eBay does not want any user acting as unpaid enforcement at scale. The reporting tool is there not to eliminate 100% of the fraud; it is there to limit eBay's liability. They still receive fees off such sales, and removing them creates labor because you have disputes and appeals, and this ends up costing money for every seller eventually. Reporting listings at scale adds work, not value. Reporting listings should be done sparingly and selectively.
Edit to add: Buried deep within the terms of service is a clause that allows eBay to use discretion when removing listings. You can have two identical listings by two different sellers. Both violate eBay policy. eBay has full discretion to remove one and not the other.
willingdealer_make-me-an-offer
·7 months agomakes sense because lots of sellers abuse the reporting to kick the competition.
toomuchstuffagain35
·7 months agoJust my humble opinion, but from what I've seen, most of our reports are considered "unfounded" because their idiot AI bots can't even tell what's an obvious fraud and what's not.
ccomic
·7 months agoI supposed next you’re going to claim this coin is fake …
https://www.ebay.com/itm/358041635048
gurlcat
·7 months ago@ccomic Wow they made a PG-13 version. Get a drape over that bust, girl!! And don't cry "wardrobe malfunction" -this is United States currency, not the Grammys Honey.
EDIT: Who says you can't feed a baby with a dollar anymore?
EDIT: She'll a gi-gi-gi-git you drunk, git you love drunk off them humps.
Somebody stop me, it's just going to get worse.
stephenmorgan
·7 months agoIt is a Buyer Beware situation.
Why would someone think they could purchase this for a fraction of the going price or maybe make an offer and get it for even less?
grann-4629
·7 months agoWhy would someone think they could purchase this for a fraction of the going price or maybe make an offer and get it for even less?
Because it's really cool, even if it is a fake ...
😎
gurlcat
·7 months agoExactly! I've purposely bought replica coins for upcycling old jewelry, belt buckles, etc. Of course I state in the listing that they are fake, even if the original coin seller did not, LOL. What they do is literally not my business -my business is honest and that's all that matters.
krazzykats
·7 months ago@ccomic wrote:
I supposed next you’re going to claim this coin is fake …
https://www.ebay.com/itm/358041635048
Well gee, let’s see... 406 sold, so it must be the real deal—at least the picture looks like it.
á“šá˜á—¢
stephenmorgan
·7 months agoWell there is a 78% feedback rating with some claiming a magnet will pick up this silver coin.
itsjustasprain
·7 months agoOne line in particular in that fake 1799 coin listing made me giggle: 'Each person is limited to purchasing 1 piece.' Of course they are. Otherwise they would quickly notice that every 1799 Draped Bust Silver Dollar they bought is dead-nuts identical to every other one they bought.
Thus one of the cluelessly Positive feedbacks they received says 'Very nice coin! Looks just like just like the one in the photo.' Yes! That one as well as all the other 405 sold so far... 🙄
nh_sales_lv
·7 months agoThe guy has sold 408 Fake Busts. People really love Boobs from China 😂
magicjohnsonsvariety
·7 months agoBack a few years ago I started reporting items others were selling but my same item was taken down...
Some were removed, some were not removed and I got a message about them both, but then some reports were just completely ignored by ebay...with no message or paper trail whatsoever.
Point is, ebay can and will ignore your reporting whether you get a message about it or not.
After a while i just gave up....
tsme35
·7 months agoI quit reporting listings years ago, ebay won't or doesn't care. Biggest problem is the duplicate listings, same item listed 6-20 times, don't even change the heading. Some now put 1,2,3 or A,B,C to trick ebay. Even called into the rep, pointed it out, they agree and told me they get right on it. NOPE, nothing done. Last time I check, it warned ebay could contact the seller and may let them know who reported them. All it does is drop the price of the items when you flood the market. I don't waste my time anymore
magicjohnsonsvariety
·7 months agoOne time I was reporting an item that was taken down at least 50 times...and the seller kept putting it back up every single time...
Then this guy started putting up multiple listings of the exact same item and photo...so I would report them...and over and over he kept putting them right back up the same day they were taken down...
Then ebay started taking down only some of his multiple duplicate listings... saying others did not violate policy when in fact they were all exactly the same thing.
Ebay is hot mess of confusion...
fern*wood
·7 months agoI always thought the mere action of relisting a removed listing was a violation that would jeopardize an account .
magicjohnsonsvariety
·7 months agoA lot of people on these boards like to spread fear about how strict ebay is if you relist a removed item.
The evidence i have proves exactly the opposite.
Of course, i guarantee if i personally ever relisted a removed item ebay would be right on it within seconds🙄
...ebay's selective enforcement and penalties depends on who you are...
stephenmorgan
·7 months agoTheir policy pretty much say this. It is no different then how life works in general. It always depends on who you are as to how the rules will be applied towards you.
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/member-behavior-policies/user-agreement?id=4259
5. Policy Enforcement
When a buyer or seller issue arises, we may consider the user's performance history and the specific circumstances in applying our policies. We may choose to be more lenient with policy enforcement in an effort to do the right thing for both buyers and sellers. The foregoing does not limit or impair our right to refuse, modify, or terminate all or part of our Services to anyone, or to terminate this agreement with anyone, for any reason at our discretion.
stephenmorgan
·7 months agoJust curious, but what did the emails say about your previous reports? Seems like eBay would want to know about violations but maybe not. Some of their policies don't seem to be enforced like a hard fast rule but seem more like suggestions.
inhawaii
·7 months agoIncorrect:
Now eBay gives a warning message if you report violations.
Correct:
Now eBay gives a warning if they notice a pattern of unfounded reports.
kennys-kollectibles
·7 months agoyes, but the key word here is, "unfounded".....Just because someone isn't able to prove it, doesn't mean
it didn't happen. And just because ebay claims it's "unfounded" doesn't mean that it is.
I have noticed on ebay plenty of the policies are not followed, and they are "founded", and yet
ebay does nothing about it. I have been on ebay over 25 years so I know what I have seen over the years.
People on this board sometimes act like ebay is flawless and fair and always sides with the right people.
I have had instances over the years where I complained to ebay about various violations and
all they told me was the party didn't break any policies.
It used to you could attempt to scam someone and if you failed you broke no policy.
Your scam had to be successful for it to be a violation. How's that for logical?
I rarely report anyone anymore because I have a feeling it's doesn't do any good anyway.
inhawaii
·7 months agoLet's say you report something to ebay as being fake.
YOU have no way of knowing for sure.
EBAY has no way of knowing for sure.
Thus your report is unfounded.
atlasesattic
·7 months agoHmmm, I've never received anything like this, im not a snitch.
oldwestgold
OP7 months agoCute little trinkets you sell for a couple of bucks.
sin-n-dex
·7 months agoWhen I worked for minimum wage, part time, I was ever so excited about a $10 sale. I was over the moon if I did $200-300 in sales in a month. Just because your time isn't worth $5-25 (your reply to my post), doesn't mean other people can't be very excited about a little extra income.
C.
sakic92710
·7 months agoIf they sell 50 items for $100, maybe that means crucial funds that will buy their groceries for a week or cover a past due bill? Not everyone trying to sell on eBay is in it for riches. They might be trying to survive.
bonjourami
·7 months agoThey think you are trying to get rid of the competition with so many reports.
oldwestgold
OP7 months agoSo far from the truth. So if any seller reports anything or anyone, they assume it is competition. [Disrespectful tone removed by Moderator] So basically, you are telling me I cannot report anything. LOL My reports are 99% not in my category or even close to what I sell.
funfactorychannel
·7 months agoI reported a seller on sunday. Seller was ban today. I didn't abuse. Just report and place provided necessary information.
Report abuse waste time and money and makes actual real issues get delayed.
rugerskick
·7 months agoIts really ironic.
Sellers cant leave honest fb, because ebay fears all negs would be retaliatory. Meanwhile buyers can leave negative nonfactual feelings and ebay won't remove.
Sellers cant warn other sellers of problem/bad buyer/scammers to pre-emptively avoid drama and fraud situations. Even though ebay does little to nothing to remove the bad buyers and scammers, who also damage ebays reputation.
Now the ebay system says too many seller reports about sketchy listings is you trying to take down competition, yet ebay is totally ok with not being able to stop sellers from clicking on competitors listings to force them to pay promoted listings fees on their items.
grann-4629
·7 months agoWhat's the matter with trying to take down your competition? That's the American Way and he who does it best is the winner. In the real world rules don't matter, so why should they on eBay?
* Walmart wiped out the corner store.
* Loblaws wiped out the corner grocery store.
* etc.....
ed8108
·7 months agoIs eBay making an assumption & determination without a factual basis & evidentiary support about oldwrestgold ?
If yes, would this possibly help erode user confidence & trust ?
bonjourami
·7 months ago"Is eBay making an assumption & determination without a factual basis & evidentiary support about oldwrestgold ?
If yes, would this possibly help erode user confidence & trust ?"
Sounds to me like Ebay did make 'a factual basis and evidentiary support".
ed8108
·7 months agoed 8208 wrote:
Theory noted
inhawaii
·7 months agoATTACK!
Ebay notices a pattern of unfounded reports made by you.
They sent you a friendly reminder about it.
So what?
oldwestgold
OP7 months agoI would explain it again, but you wouldn't understand.
grand-and-glorious-purpose
·7 months agoI think I'm beginning to see the problem.
lakefor94
·7 months agoCopy that, pretty sure I read somewhere that when a member hits the 20,000 mark for violation reports, they start getting the friendly-grams 😉
stainlessenginecovers
·7 months agoGlad to see it. This site might have its share of fraud but the one thing this entity CAN prevent is 'competition reporting sellers'.
oldwestgold
OP7 months agoSo you are stating I am reporting my competitors? If so, that's pretty lame and presumptuous. $5million listing not certified for a Disney coin right now. Sorry, I don't sell Disney junk. Try again.
tarotfindsandmore
·7 months agoNo attack coming from me, just curious like @dhbookds . Did you happen nab a screen shot?
oldwestgold
OP7 months agoI posted to the original post. Hopefully it shows up.
tarotfindsandmore
·7 months agoThanks! Was it in response to the counterfeits? I've never once seen the great brain pull even an obvious counterfeit. I gave up on even trying. 99% of the indie tarot decks on the platform are not just counterfeit but absolute trash. It's quite sad, as the artists put years of their lives into creating these little "pocket galleries" only to have some greedy little jerk in China flood the market with knock offs of all their hard work.
Come to think of it the only thing I've ever seen them act on is/was open cosmetics. I don't report anything else anymore because ebay doesn't bother following its own rules in the majority of cases. The cosmetics thing is so nasty and such a huge health risk that I still tattle on that violation.
grann-4629
·7 months agoHave you tried to report these counterfeits to the owner of the copyright or whatever? How eBay can tell the difference, or those 'experts' that buy this stuff, is a mystery that still needs to be solved. I suspect that whatever their solution is, it will cost you some extra money.
😎
oldwestgold
OP7 months agoInteresting. There is a non-certified coin that is the most expensive currently listed for $5 million. Seller has low FB. And this is what eBay allows, even though extreme in most cases. I will report it. lol
toysaver
·7 months agoIt's not against the law to sell things to idiots.
oldwestgold
OP7 months agoThe sellers are violating eBay strict policies by listing coins NOT certified over their threshold of $2500. YOu would have to understand the coin regulations to comprehend my post, which you obviously do not.
oldwestgold
OP7 months agoWhat can I sell you?
sin-n-dex
·7 months ago1. How does someone pay 5M for a coin on eBay?
2. Who buys a 5M coin on eBay?
3. They will just create a new account and keep posting, wasting time on reports against people that aren't likely making any real sales will not help your store make more sales. All the time spent reporting is time you could have spent sourcing, listing, selling, etc.
C.
oldwestgold
OP7 months agoWhy is it that people always reply here, always attacking the OP and not the post? I find that very sad. You ask questions that no one would have the answer to. I believe $30k in eBay fees this year clearly shows I am capable of managing my time. Yet the answer to your last question is clear - I care about people getting ripped off in the industry I have chosen and been in for over 50 years. Is that such a bad thing? And I wouldn't waste my time selling anything for $5-$25. I KNOW MY time is more valuable.
stainlessenginecovers
·7 months agoI thought it was a $5M Disney coin and you 'don't sell Disney stuff'.
sakic92710
·7 months agoDo you honestly believe someone is going to come on here to spend $5M on a coin? They didn't accumulate such wealth by easily being ripped off. If your time is so valuable, why are you wasting it on obvious failed listings that are going nowhere? It's great that you care about others being ripped off. It does not mean your opinions are always correct when judging others. 🙂 Much continued success!
reallynicestamps
·7 months agoThere is an "odd" seller whose even odder listings keep showing up in the advertising-- including on my MSN news feed.
They have ordinary stamps, so far used Canadian and modern. One example with a multi-thousand price tag is described as extremely rare, but is the "stamp" portion of a postal stationery envelope (preprinted stamp) used and cut off the envelope . Original face value 6cents (Cdn). Actual value 0c.
I suspect mental issues.
But eBay has promoted this several times on MSN newspage.
stephenmorgan
·7 months agoDo you think this may be a cleaver advertising gimmick for the seller. Price a item way higher then anyone would pay and promote it. Knowing that no one will actually purchase it but it does bring them to your listings for possible sales of other items.
reallynicestamps
·7 months agoDo you think this may be a cleaver advertising gimmick for the seller.
No I looked at the listings.
All of the offerings are similarly valueless.
The seller does not even appear to be aware of catalogue numbers. (Basically all the stamps of the world have been catalogued. The two most used for Canada are Scott (in US dollars) and Unitrade which uses Scott numbering with more varieties listed and prices in Canadian dollars.
Pretty sure a suitable case for treatment.
gurlcat
·7 months ago@reallynicestamps They're not promoting that seller's listings to whomever happens to go to the MSN newspage. They're tailor-promoting (to you) listings that you have looked at on eBay, when you are on the MSN newspage. I see thumbnails for listings I've looked at on eBay all over the internet. They're just trying to remind and nudge you to come back and buy.
So why aren't you buying this weirdo's stamps? Come on you know you want to. 🤣
gurlcat
·7 months ago@oldwestgold No you won't. 🤣
grann-4629
·7 months ago14% of 5 million is a decent piece of change that eBay stockholders would love to share. They would love a sale on this, regardless of authenticity. Even just the interest during the 'investigation' would by a tidy little sum.
😎
sin-n-dex
·7 months agoIf you're talking about FVFs, there's a cap. I thought it was $750 (once the item exceeded the maximum value for the $750 to be the correct percent of fees).
C.
stephenmorgan
·7 months agoThat Max Fee has been adjusted a while ago. On most items It is now FVF of item price up to $7500. That would be $1020 for my rate of 13.6%. There is no max on the money process fee. It continues at 2.35% for the total sales amount.
slippinjimmy
·7 months agoOne addition to this, if you have a Basic or above Store the cap is $2,500 for standard FVF's.
dhbookds
·7 months agoWhat did the message say?
oldwestgold
OP7 months agoHere it is.