eBay

treasuredcharmsjewelry · ‎11-12-2018

It has recently come to my attention that a seller on Amazon has taken my photos and listed my items for sale on Amazon. When they sell something they buy it from me and put a note on the order asking it to be sent without an invoice or any type of branding. From what I read on Amazon, drop shipping this way is not allowed. They are also selling my items for 2-3 times more than what I sell them for on here. I have reported this to Amazon but have not heard back. Can I report them to eBay or should I just block the buyer and hope they don't have more buying accounts? I like the sales, but I'm still not happy this is happening. My items are branded with my seller name and website and it will be easy for customers to go to my eBay Store and see that they got ripped off on Amazon, then contact me thinking that I was the seller. Anyone else have experience with this?

nowthatsjustducky · ‎11-12-2018

Don't forget, tribalism among Homo Sapiens manifests in the modern world with irrational brand and site loyalty. That means that there are good odds that many of the sales the OP is getting from her drop shipper are going to buyers who will only buy on Amazon, and would never consider shopping eBay themselves.

So upping prices too much, like to the price the dropshipper is asking could suddenly kill sales altogether, as none of his buyers would come here instead. Also remember that buyers on eBay are as a whole, cheapskates for lack of a better word; whereas over there buyers are more concerned with simply getting what they want as conveniently as possible, which can possibly explain why despite higher prices, sales still happen there.

If it works, sell it. If it works well, sell it for more. If it doesn't work, quadruple the price and sell it as an antique.

-- Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #80

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castlemagicmemories · ‎11-12-2018

I've read about this. Why not raise your prices? If they are selling your items for 3 to 4 times more, that would be a valid consideration.

adsta22 · ‎11-12-2018

If you're making money, don't complain

monster-deals · ‎11-12-2018

With someone helping me sell my items?

No, unfortunately I don't.

What is their amazon name, maybe they want to sell my stuff for me too.

southern*sweet*tea · ‎11-12-2018

These are your own branded items, correct?

How did you report it to Amazon? They have an infringement program where you can enroll your brand in their trademark registry. I'm not sure if they would do anything as I'm not familiar with how they operate in that respect. I know on Ebay when they get a VERO report they pull the reported listing.

It's not against Ebay rules to dropship, so there's nothing to report them for to Ebay.

You can block the buyer if you wish, that's up to you. If you enjoy the extra sales, do nothing. Buyers didn't buy from YOU, they bought from a reseller selling on another venue. They need to deal with the person they bought from if they have a problem.

You can up your pricing and possibly discourage the buying. Are you priced very low compared to others? You may be selling yourself short.

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell

threshold.sales.group · ‎11-12-2018

If the buyer can make money reselling your stuff on Amazon, then consider raising your prices and maybe list on Amazon yourself?

nowthatsjustducky · ‎11-12-2018

You are getting sales on a venue that you do not need to put any time and effort into, because your buyer here is doing the legwork and taking all the risk there.

What is the complaint again?

If it works, sell it. If it works well, sell it for more. If it doesn't work, quadruple the price and sell it as an antique.

-- Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #80

nc-daydreamer · ‎11-12-2018

Yes, you can report it - and should, in my opinion as this borders on fraud and you could get caught in the middle. I'm unsure if they will/can do anything about it, but at least your protest will be on file.

Use your block list and prevent this person from buying your things in the first place (if you don't need the sales that badly). And since watermarks are still allowed (I think - please research it first) in photos, consider branding your photos with your store name so they can't be stolen and used as you describe.

You can also contact the FTC - maybe they will have a solution. Good luck.

I am a founding member of the eBay Community Expert Group: a USA volunteer mentor with over a decade of experience. I am not an eBay employee.

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treasuredcharmsjewelry · ‎11-12-2018

If they are using my photos with my watermark, a quick google will find my items for sell for much less. It looks bad for me, Amazon and eBay. I work hard and price competitively and don't like to see this. Maybe it is just a principal thing. Once I bought something on eBay and it came from Amazon with a gift receipt. I looked it up and found out they drop shipped from there and charged me $20 more. I just don't like being part of it.

adsta22 · ‎11-12-2018

Other sellers are complaining about no sales and you're complaining about making sales smh. First world problems

the_fancy_fox · ‎11-12-2018

@treasuredcharmsjewelry wrote:
If they are using my photos with my watermark, a quick google will find my items for sell for much less. It looks bad for me, Amazon and eBay. I work hard and price competitively and don't like to see this. Maybe it is just a principal thing. Once I bought something on eBay and it came from Amazon with a gift receipt. I looked it up and found out they drop shipped from there and charged me $20 more. I just don't like being part of it.

Pretty simple really. You are drop shipping direct to their customer right? Add a discount coupon and a link to your store. Encourage that buyer to come to you for their next purchase.

So either "steal" that customer away

Raise your prices

or

Sell on Amazon

While your standing on principle, that other seller is making sales. Be smarter then they are.

The Race is over
The Rats won.

luckythewinner · ‎11-12-2018

From what I read on Amazon, drop shipping this way is not allowed.

I think you are correct.

I have reported this to Amazon but have not heard back.

What exactly did you report to Amazon?

If you reported that the seller drop-shipping against Amazon policies, that is between Amazon and the seller; I doubt Amazon will discuss the outcome of policy violations or seller discipline with you.

If you reported the theft of your pictures, did you the proper mechanism (i.e. the Report Infringement link)?

They are also selling my items for 2-3 times more than what I sell them for on here.

It sounds like your seller has better knowledge of the market for your items that you do.

Can I report them to eBay

What would you report to eBay? That you are getting sales because he is buying your item at your asking price and then paying for it?

itsjustasprain · ‎11-12-2018

@nc-daydreamer wrote:
Yes, you can report it - and should, in my opinion as this borders on fraud

How?

and you could get caught in the middle.

How? Cought in the middle of what?

I would stick the Ebay packing slip in the package as usual. Impress the buyer with your good service -- and your low prices -- and hopefully bring them back to YOU for more sales. The Amazon seller will never know that youre siphoning off his buyers.

treasuredcharmsjewelry · ‎11-12-2018

I reported the drop shipping and my photos.

I've been selling my jewelry for almost 10 years on multiple venues. I price competitively but I actually lose out often to sellers who price even lower than me. I've looked at this buyer's feedback left for others and see that he repeatedly buys from my competitor's too. His Amazon store has over 20,000 items that are all charms from dozens of other eBay sellers. Honestly he probably only buys from me when other people are out of stock because I am not the cheapest on eBay at all. I think he is getting most of his sales from people who don't shop around. If I raised my prices 2-3x I would have no sales. This is not about my pricing. This is about taking advantage of shoppers.

All of my charms, necklaces and earrings are carded with my branding that includes my business name and eBay store. Buyers are going to know it didn't come from Amazon.

I tried to sell on Amazon a few years ago but didn't meet the photo requirements of having a white background. I don't know if that changed or this person is just violating the policy with my photos beccause none of them have a white background.

southern*sweet*tea · ‎11-12-2018

@itsjustasprain wrote:

I would stick the Ebay packing slip in the package as usual. Impress the buyer with your good service -- and your low prices -- and hopefully bring them back to YOU for more sales. The Amazon seller will never know that youre siphoning off his buyers.

Yep

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell