eBay

therma-tec · ‎09-22-2019

Hi,

I have a competitor who is copying the products I sell. They have even bought my items to get the details and then offers them slightly cheaper than me.

The products I sell I have to do a lot of research finding which parts fit which cars and for someone to come along and basically steal my listings is very annoying.

I have now blocked them from being able to purchase any more of my items & it looks like I now have a price war on my hands!

I was just wondering if I could take this up with Ebay? I doubt they would actually do anything as my products can't be copyrighted and they have taken only what is needed from my product descriptions.

Also by blocking them, can they actually see my listings? I don't want to help them out anymore than I already have.

Thanks in advance for any replies!

dhbookds · ‎09-22-2019

Nothing you can do....however, if they can't purchase the items as cheaply as you can, there is probably only a limit number they can sell below your price. I'd probably just wait it out......

Yes they can see your items.

therma-tec · ‎09-22-2019

That's a bummer!

I manufacture these so looks like the price war is on.

dhbookds · ‎09-22-2019

oops......... I didn't realize you were in UK..........I was speaking from a US standpoint.. there could possibly be something in the EU rules that might help you.........I would ask on that board. Don't know if you could register the items in some way.........

turquoisetulips · ‎09-22-2019

I doubt they would actually do anything as my products can't be copyrighted and they have taken only what is needed from my product descriptions. OP

I think you're probably right about that ,, sad to say . However it's a dirty trick that could be begging for another from one of their victims . Tulips

muttlymob · ‎09-22-2019

@therma-tec wrote:

I have a competitor who is copying the products I sell. They have even bought my items to get the details and then offers them slightly cheaper than me.

I am writing from the US policy standpoint also, so this may or may not apply to you.

Do you have permission from the rights holders for those facepainting stencils and/or other likely highly protected images? If not, then how does your making stencils of others' work differ from what your new competitor is doing?

If you do have permission then the point is moot. But if you don't, then you may want to clean your own house first. Neither one of you are right but you really aren't in a position to push the issue.

ersatz_sobriquet · ‎09-22-2019

Look into VERO and see if it may work for you to apply. You can then order that his listings are taken down. Since you manufacture the pieces, you could also sell them cost prohibitive for someone else to make money besides you.