Counterfeit Item Policy errors on eBay's part

[trains_n_otherthings]

For the second time in a week I've listed an item which eBay has removed claiming Counterfeit Item Policy was violated. Both were t-shirts.

I suspect the first item was flagged  because we originally purchased the shirt from the Miami Shirt Company more than 12 years ago, never removed it from the bag, took pictures showing their info on it (a proper wear and care sticker still stuck to the shirt), and even mentioned Miami Shirt Company in the Listing Header (probably a mistake to do that). The shirt cannot even be found on eBay or MSC's website. I'm assuming mentioning them in the listing, or maybe they didn't like it, is what caught eBay's "eye", but I'll never know as eBay won't tell you how they determined an item was counterfeit. They also don't allow appeals. I let that one go and chalked it up to a learning experience.

Today I re-listed an item that had already been up for a week as an auction and didn't sell (original listing# 404524143747). eBay even sent an email suggesting it was "Time to resist..." It's just a $10 item. A Toyota t-shirt, that was handed out at the dealership in 2007 when the new Tundra launched, still shrink-wrapped. The Listing title was "Toyota Tundra Prove-It! T-Shirt Mens XL Blue Tundra Truck Car Logo Tee Christmas" Within 2 hours it was flagged as Counterfeit and removed. 

None of this is Gucci, Nike, or anything remotely worth anything. I should just let it go as it's a cheap item, but at this point, it's now the principle of it. I'm so steamed at the way eBay has made 2 errors in a week (these items are NOT counterfeit, despite whatever they believe), and they go about their business without appeals. I guess I'm just blowing off steam by writing this.

[mam98031]

You'd better STOP listing something Ebay has told you NOT to list.  What you will end up with is a notification by Ebay that your account has further sanctions against it for repeatedly ignoring the policy violations you have received.  And at one point that could cause you to entirely lose your selling privileges.  

[trains_n_otherthings]

I don't follow. Each item is unique and different. The first one wasn't re-listed. The second was re-listed and the re-list was erroneously flagged. Are you telling me to stop listing t-shirts?

[bonjourami]

Just sounds like you are on Ebays radar now.

[soh.maryl]

Regarding the listing for the Toyota Tundra T-shirt, maybe you used the word "Tundra" in the listing title and eBay was concerned that someone shopping for an actual vehicle would wind up finding your listing.  Just a thought.  

[ckimodog]

@trains_n_otherthings 

As others have suggested, don't relist.  You can jeopardize your account.  Permanently. 

Happy Selling

[trains_n_otherthings]

I'd allow THEM to resist it. I won't.

[trains_n_otherthings]

I should probably look at opening a store elsewhere for some of this stuff, or sell it locally. Any other good sites to try? Etsy?

[ckimodog]

@trains_n_otherthings 

Etsy is for hand crafted items, vintage items, tools for crafting as well as supplies, etc. Vintage items must be at least 20 years old.  You might want to google it and see what you can come up with. 

Good luck to you!

[mam98031]

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@trains_n_otherthings wrote:

I don't follow. Each item is unique and different. The first one wasn't re-listed. The second was re-listed and the re-list was erroneously flagged. Are you telling me to stop listing t-shirts?

---

My bad, you had said "second time in a week I've listed an item which eBay has removed claiming Counterfeit Item Policy was violated. Both were t-shirts."  and I took it incorrectly.

While I respect that you may feel it is an "erroneously" removed item, unless you get Ebay to also agree to that, you only hurt yourself by trying to list the item again, no matter what the item is.  

So if you have Ebay agreeing that they made a mistake, then you should be fine.  If you don't, you risk sanctions on your selling account if you continue to try and post these items. 

I would recommend contacting Ebay as they do make mistakes on these types of violations as most are done by bots.  So I think it is time well spent to contact Ebay and try to get this worked out.  I hope you will come back and let us know how it goes.

I would suggest that you contact Ebay for Business on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for the better trained CSRs.

Here are your options for contacting Ebay Customer Service.  Please be aware that for social media CS, you send them a Private Message and briefly explain what your problem or issue is.  Feel free to leave your Name, address, phone number and/or your email address in this message.  It is private and secure and it may help to speed up the response for you.

https://twitter.com/askebay

https://www.facebook.com/eBay/

https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/

Your options will be on the left.  If you use the link below you can only get to the Automated Assistant or Chat box type AGENT in the box and hit enter. You will then get more options.  Not all options are available 24/7.  It will depend on staffing available.  So sometimes you can request a call back and sometimes you can't.  Sometimes you have the Chat option available and other times it won't me.  If it is important to you to use one of those options, just try back later.

If you use a cell phone or other mobile device, you may need to turn off your Spam filter so that Ebay can call you.

If you are a seller outside of the US or Canada, you will need to use the Chat Option.

https://www.ebay.com/help/home

[dbfolks166mt]

     There are a number of specialized sites that are known for vintage/retro clothing and while the board rules prohibit listing any of those you can Google it. While I don't sell on any of those sites I do shop on them. 

[mam98031]

The rules don't prohibit mentioning other site names, it prohibits suggesting or saying someone could or should sell on another site by name.

[dbfolks166mt]

The rules don't prohibit mentioning other site names, it prohibits suggesting or saying someone could or should sell on another site by name.

     I prefer not to leave a post open to interpretation by one of the monitors as to whether it crossed the line. I have had a couple of temporary suspensions where the moderators felt I crossed the line. One of them was for information that was cut and pasted directly from one of the eBay help files. 

[mam98031]

That is fine.  You need to do what it right for you.