Does eBay Actually Remove Counterfeit Items?

[iliketurtles112]

I reported a listing that had counterfeit items, bad ones, and it is still listed almost a full day later. Funny how they're sooooo concerned about counterfeit items but I guess if it makes them money, they're ok with it. These items in this listing are terrible counterfeit items, clearly not the brand the seller is claiming but they're priced at $200 so eBay wants that sale I guess. The RN textile number is on the labels of the items listed and when you look up the numbers on the textile search, they are a COMPLETELY different brand!

[simba6]

Unless you purchased one,  those reports don't seem to do much.

[iliketurtles112]

Interesting... Years ago I had some "Designer Inspired" items that I listed as "Designer Inspired", never claimed they were authentic brands. There were 10s of thousands listed. eBay literally deleted my DRAFT from my account before I even listed it! Saying it was prohibited. But now I guess they don't mind counterfeit items being sold on their site. Maybe I should try to relist my "Designer Inspired" items! Ha! 

[iliketurtles112]

They won't let me upload photos of the phony labels. Gee, what a surprise! An unexpected error has occurred?

[kensgiftshop]

Yes, they do remove items, but you have to be sure to select the correct reason when reporting the listing.

I've reported some as counterfeit and they didn't see a problem.

Reported a second time using another one of the reasons and they removed it.

[klitschk-70]

This topic is funny. I'm actually sending back a counterfeit item. It was sent through FedEx and it was a tiny device. I don't know if I'm allowed to say what it is on here. I know in the past when I give out details on certain issues I've had. I've been contacted by the mods on this messageboard. So I don't know if I'm allowed to say which counterfeit device I received. All I know is this is a pain in the butt. I don't even know how to send FedEx items back. For USPS I just put it in the mailbox. I don't drive so I hope FedEx does something similar. However, the instructions I was sent by Ebay seemed vague so I don't really know what to do after I repackage this. 

[albertabrightalberta]

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@iliketurtles112 wrote:

Years ago I had some "Designer Inspired" items that I listed as "Designer Inspired", never claimed they were authentic brands. 

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@iliketurtles112 

If your "designer inspired" items that weren't claimed to be authentic had designer labeling, markings, logos, etc., those are NOT designer inspired. 

I'd love to see a picture of one of your items. 

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@iliketurtles112 wrote:

eBay literally deleted my DRAFT from my account before I even listed it! Saying it was prohibited.  

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I find that hard impossible to believe. Ebay wouldn't delete a draft. If they "said" it was prohibited, I'd love to see that message about a deleted draft. 

[pidgeun1]

eBay doesn't care as long as they make money from it

[ryry-jj]

Ebay has no real way to know, just because any of us say so, doesn't make it so. 

Contact the actual company that is being knocked off and ask why "their" items being sold on eBay are terrible and of lesser quality than their store bought items.  Let them go after eBay to then put a stop to the listing.   I have always thought if the manufacturers aren't going to protect their own items, brands and trademarks....how do they expect anyone else to put in the effort?

[tobaccocardyahoo]

EBay is likely to remove a counterfeit if a complaint is received from the rightsholder or if there is a pattern of Ebay Money Back Guarantee claims for INAD.

Random reports are usually ignored, if the listing does not trigger an Ebay bot which checks the listing.

[mudshark61369]

@klitschk-70,

"I'm actually sending back a counterfeit item. It was sent through FedEx..."

If you filed an Item Not As Described (INAD) dispute through ebay, (You have 30 days from receiving the item to file) the seller will be responsible for providing a return shipping label.  If you have not done that, go to your purchase history click on the More Actions button. If a drop down menu of reasons for a return does not appear click on the Return Item button, then select does not match Photos or description, and follow through to file the dispute.

 The dispute will appear just above the item in your purchase history, and the seller will have 3 business days to reply by either providing a label or issuing a full refund, if they do not want to pay the return cost. Click on the dispute to read any replies by the seller or ebay, or check your ebay messages.

  If the seller does not send a label or reply on day four open the dispute and click on the ask ebay to step in button, they will issue a refund from the seller's account.

If you get a FedEx label you can schedule pickup from them. The link below tells you how to do that.

"I don't even know how to send FedEx items back. For USPS I just put it in the mailbox. I don't drive so I hope FedEx does something similar".

https://www.fedex.com/en-us/shipping/schedule-manage-pickups.html  

You should receive a link from ebay that when opened will allow you to print out a return shipping label. You usually have only 5 days from receiving the label link, to get a returned item into the shipper's hand. If you do not have a printer, you may want to look up and call FedEx's customer service phone number and ask them what to do.

FYI, FedEx packages cannot be placed in your mail box, so you will need to have a secure location to put the package for the driver to pick it up. I'm not sure but you may be able to have a driver to ring your doorbell to receive the package from you if you do not have a secure location on a porch. That's something you can ask a FedEx CS rep on the phone.

[powell-collectibles]

If you had a legit item listed, and a random guy submitted a complaint that it was counterfeit, would you want it to be removed? Of course not. eBay doesn’t know your credentials – why should they take your word for it? Sure, they will take down counterfeits – has to be something Telling in the title or description, a high enough number of complaints, actual purchases with complaints of not being authentic, etc..

[rimtrim]

The auto parts categories are full of counterfeits, meaning aftermarket replica parts that are using the OEM trademark emblems without permission. In my experience, the only effective way to get them taken down is to contact the "brand protection" office for the company that owns the trademark. Often the companies have an email address that can be used to submit information about fake products being sold. The trademark holder can then investigate and submit a VeRO takedown request to eBay, which eBay will generally accept.

In my experience, some brands will really follow through and do this, while others don't seem to care about trademark infringement even when it's pointed right out to them. (In the automotive sector, Ford and Volkswagen are two brands that I know are responsive to trademark violations.) So if you can find contact info for brand protection at the company who makes the genuine item, that's probably your best chance for getting counterfeits removed from eBay.

[doc-holmes]

EBay would be in serious trouble if they took everyone's word for it and just removed items they claimed were counterfeit. It would take all of 2 seconds for competitors to start reporting each other's legitimate listings. 

[bdmh-enterprises]

I've had about a 50% success reporting fake Pokemon cards. I don't do it often, but I've noticed that while those looked at by a CSR don't always get removed, those looked at by AI are never removed.