Duplicate Listings are not being removed.

[flysupplies]

Why isn't ebay policing fradulent duplicate listings?  There are many duplicates from Japan sellers, ie two listings, from 2 sellers for the same item with the same pictures.  These are not garden variety items with stock photos.  These are rare collectible one of a kind used fly fishing reels.

[kathiec]

There are hundreds of millions of listings on eBay on any given day. Do you honestly think eBay can police them all? There's a Report link on every listing where you can report it to eBay.

[dogchow747]

This has been a discussion here before.

I know what you are talking about, it also occurs with desirable higher end stereo gear.

It sounds like several sellers try to sell products that are at second hand shops that may not be on the international market. You buy it from them, they go to the shop and get it at a cheaper price then ship it to the US.

My understanding is that it is a grey market and hard to enforce.

I would be very careful, it seems that these businesses have a lot of problems completing sales.

A buyer beware situation.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@flysupplies wrote: ...  two listings, from 2 sellers for the same item with the same pictures. ....

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If the items are listed by two different sellers, then that doesn't come under eBay's definition of duplicate listings. And eBay certainly isn't in a position to know or judge whether an item such as a used fly-fishing rod is unique.

[dogchow747]

@nobody*s_perfect  said:

"And eBay certainly isn't in a position to know or judge whether an item such as a used fly-fishing rod is unique."

I have experienced what he is talking about.

I think the seller cuts and pastes a photo from a Japanese sale, like a local stereo shop, then  puts that photo on their international sale targeting US buyers.  Same exact photo by multiple hawkers.

Some of the items are very unique and have high value.

It is a valid concern, but I am not sure what can be done beyond reporting that item.

[dogchow747]

Two sellers selling the same amplifier:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/203652306319

https://www.ebay.com/itm/115081632664

[flysupplies]

I don't think ebay can police them all but they should act when these listings are reported by experts but they don't.

Why have a report button for duplicate listings where item numbers are supplied?  They don't seem to care to protect their buyers. 

[flysupplies]

Two sellers, same item, very rare fly reel:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/194474171414

https://www.ebay.com/itm/313771668473

[flysupplies]

Two more:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/313772619130

https://www.ebay.com/itm/133950404383

These are not hard to find.

[nobody*s_perfect]

That's an intriguing pair of listings; each listing has 4 images that match the other listing, but each listing also has one image that doesn't appear in the other listing. Are both sellers drawing upon some other source for these images?

[dogchow747]

I do not disagree with you on this one.

I am not sure that in the end you would be defrauded by these sellers.

They seem to be acting somewhat like a drop shipper, they are selling items they do not personally stock.

The main complaint generally is they do not follow through with the sale.

In other words, you buy it from them, they go to get it, its already sold.

They get away with it because they are not being inherently dishonest.

Ebay has their hands full of sellers that are completely dishonest,  they are probably overloaded.

[flysupplies]

Ebay says:

"Clear and accurate information about where the item is located, including the postal code, city and country where the item will ship from, must be included in listings".

So in these duplicate listings that claim the actual unique item is located in 2 different cities, isn't at least one of them fraud? Unless ebay operates in parallel universes, these sellers are in violation of ebay policy.

[downunder-61]

One seller can have more than one warehouse location, but as they are listed as 2 different seller's, I guess they can't be flagged for it anyway ?

Tricky one.........

Just realised there is a third seller - not good FB while the other 2 have 100%

[mudshark61369]

@flysupplies,

When you find two separate listings for a rare item using the same photos try doing a reverse image look up.  You can learn how to do that by doing an online search for reverse image look up (Windows 10 or what ever operating system you use)  Some allow you to search multiple images at one time. That way you can see who is using the original images and who is using copied images.  In some instances (yours) maybe both sellers are using copies.  My uncle had one a Peerless reel and if I remember correctly it had a serial number on it. If I am right about that I would message both sellers and ask what the serial number is. If one doesn't know or doesn't reply, that might indicate they do not have the item in hand.

The use of copied images happens on many sites. Sometimes it is an indication of a fraud, in others a seller  may have done it because they are not a good photographer and/or are rushed for time.  Most sites can't come near being able to  afford the people needed, to vet each of the thousands - millions of listings added to the site daily.