Account restricted due to counterfeit policy but items passed eBay authentication?!

[sasiapps]

I got a message last night saying my account was restricted for selling counterfeit items, with a list of six items that eBay deemed to be counterfeit. (I specialize in Louis Vuitton and other handbags that I find in local thrift stores or which I buy through eBay and refurbish myself.) Three of the items in the list had been sold in the last month and had gone through eBay's authentication hub with no problems; the other three were active listings but had also gone through eBay's authentication hub when I purchased them in the last few weeks.

I called an eBay customer service rep, explained the situation, and was told I'd get a callback today at a certain time today. When I didn't get the callback, I called eBay again. This CSR told me that my only option is to attempt return the de-listed items to the original seller. I'm sure that person will have the same reaction that I did. I've gone through authentication problems in the past and I have lots of experience in spotting items with problems, especially the particular makes and models that I specialize in. I have a strong suspicion that eBay has goofed, though I have no idea how to convince them to "look again".

Any advice?

[coastaltechsolution]

Well first if you got a call back from eBay CS, they are just reading from scripts and have no clue to what exactly the problem is

Besides that, how are you proving the authenticity of these items when purchasing from thrift stores or from eBay? 

[tex-421]

Another possible issue.  Refurbishing a branded product, depending on the extent of the refurbishment, could be considered a total remake, effectively making it no longer the original brand but something completely different.

[sasiapps]

When I buy through a thrift store, if I have any doubts, I use a third-party authentication service and then cross my fingers that eBay agrees. When I buy through eBay, the high-end products go through eBay's authentication service that does a physical inspection. I'd hope that whoever de-listed the items based on photos and text would have the same ruling as whoever inspected them directly.

[salt_marsh_collectibles]

I had my own supplier claim I had a fraudulent item and ebay removed the listing without consulting me at all.  I contacted the people I had purchased from and sent them the receipt.  They reversed the claim with ebay and it was back online in a day.  Perhaps your supplier can help or the manufacturer.

[sasiapps]

Thanks, but by refurbish, I mean using saddle soap, leather cleaner, removing interior pen stains when possible, carefully cleaning and polishing the hardware, and so on.  Sometimes I'll pay a local shoe store to make repairs, but I always note in the description any repairs or changes (such as the items being previously dyed).

[albertabrightalberta]

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@sasiapps wrote:

When I buy through a thrift store, if I have any doubts, I use a third-party authentication service and then cross my fingers that eBay agrees. When I buy through eBay, the high-end products go through eBay's authentication service that does a physical inspection. I'd hope that whoever de-listed the items based on photos and text would have the same ruling as whoever inspected them directly.

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Although there have been reports of mistakes made by the authenticity program and I can't comment on your bags, I recommend that if you bought and/or sold the items that went through the handbag "Authenticity Guaranteed" program, you need to contact them. 

I'd recommend you repost this discussion or have it moved to this board: 

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Handbags/bd-p/luxury-handbags

And tag luxury_handbags@ebay 

On second thought, I'll request that this thread be moved to the appropriate board. 

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@sasiapps 

Hun, why don't you post this on the handbags forum and the ebay luxury handbag team ( they will be the 1st post you'll see) could possibly help you out.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Handbags/bd-p/luxury-handbags

[coastaltechsolution]

OK but you do understand that it will always fall upon the seller to prove authenticity and chain of custody?

Can you prove all that?  

[dhbookds]

Ugh..........that's ugly.........and I wonder if ebay notifies the buyers that (tho all were sold.......3 to you) that they "were counterfeit"..........and if the seller from whom you bought got notified.....and sanctioned....

[sasiapps]

Thanks so much!

[fashunu4eeuh]

I see 3 active listings under your account. What kind of restriction did you get?

[coolections]

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@sasiapps wrote:

I specialize in Louis Vuitton and other handbags that I find in local thrift stores.

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That there is the problem. 99.9% of those are fakes.

[janet9988]

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@coolections wrote:

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@sasiapps wrote:

I specialize in Louis Vuitton and other handbags that I find in local thrift stores.

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That there is the problem. 99.9% of those are fakes.

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Then ebay's very own authentication program should have spotted the fakes and not let them pass the inspection. 

[glasser]

Well, if in fact eBay now says that the items you purchased that they authenticated are now counterfeit, I wonder if you have an INAD claim. I would assume that the manufacturer or their hired IP protection service contacted eBay about the items you have listed (that you bought on eBay) and eBay was forced to take them down.

Since they have rightly or wrongly been deemed counterfeit and you bought them as original, you should be entitled to return them.

That said, I anticipate some problems if you do as the seller and the authenticator will of course object.  I fear you are in some kind of catch-22 where part of eBay says the items are fine and another says they are not and no one is empowered to maker a final decision.