Ebay taking down listings for counterfeit when items are AUTHENTIC

[nickys-store]

Hi everyone. I am just getting so tired of eBay taking down listings without a rebuttal. They took down four of my listings again I just listed yesterday and always from same brand. I know the first thing many will recommend is STOP selling this brand. Question is why? Should we stop selling all brand who get strikes, it just seems unfair business practices. There are many other sellers selling same brand without a problem who look actually more questionable since their prices are sometimes $25-$30 lower than mine which makes me wonder what is their source when my margins are roughly 10-20%. I put picture of the front of the item, the back with model and serial showing, along with price tag. When I called them eBay rep says put receipt in picture. Yes, they actually said that and I've been told the same before by another rep. 

So I tell them it is the most ridiculous suggestion and show me one listing where a Top Rated Seller puts receipt in listings. If I put receipt than buyer will know the price I paid and try to haggle for lower price not knowing I still have to pay eBay 15% commission and shipping fees. Further, it would allow competitor to know my source. Btw, I buy form authorized dealers and straight from manufacturers. I've told eBay I am willing to submit receipts for this item showing they're authentic but they don't want to hear that. I have moved most of my business to another competitor because of this repeated strikes on my account without me being able to back my case. I know that most common response here will be "eBay can take down your listings for any reason and they reserve the right to do so". The thing is I have 100% Feedback and NEVER had one customer complain about authenticity of the brand in question or any other brand. If I am a new seller selling at ridiculously lower price than they'd question my account. But for someone selling as long as I am with 100% positive feedback doesn't make sense to me.

I spoke to someone higher up last year who finally I  convinced to let me submit my invoices, which they accepted and removed all violations from account but this time I am getting nobody to help. Due to this reason, I've moved 75% of my business to another selling platform because it is unfair to accuse someone of a crime and not letting them defend they're wrongly accused unless we're living in a banana republic. Icing on the cake, this time account restricted for 3 days so no income. I am just glad I have other platforms to sell as I have family to support. But I am just gutted currently because being accused of something without ability to clear yourself is one of the worst things that can happen to anyone.

I honestly do not know what to do anymore or how to reach a supervisor or someone higher up the chain because the reps are giving typical answers from a list given to them on what to say.

[pburn]

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@nickys-store wrote:

Hi everyone. I am just getting so tired of eBay taking down listings without a rebuttal. They took down four of my listings again I just listed yesterday and always from same brand. I know the first thing many will recommend is STOP selling this brand.

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Just because that's not the answer you want to hear doesn't mean it's the wrong answer.

How about this for an answer, then: Keep listing that brand and receive a permanent ban from selling.

Those are your only choices, really.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

[donsdetour]

Simple stop listing the brand (or brands) you are selling on eBay that get the dread message and items pulled. : DO NOT RELIST EM; Ebay dont want em one their site...

Easy to understand ...

As for the CS reps they will do and say anything to get rid of you: including advice and other, that will just get you into more trouble:

Opps that has already happen to you has it not??????

[m60driver]

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@nickys-store wrote:

Hi everyone. I am just getting so tired of eBay taking down listings without a rebuttal.

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We have all had this happen as corporate America continues its assault on the small online retailer by encroaching on our rights that are guaranteed by the first sale doctrine.  This is especially true of "brands" which have argued that their "brand" needs a corporate approved seller to maintain the "brand".  The easiest solution for a company is to claim that the widget sold by a third party is counterfeit and their argument is that purchasing from a third party seller on Ebay is not the same experience as purchasing from a corporate approved vendor.  Their argument is not really that the item itself is counterfeit but that the purchasing experience is counterfeit.  Chanel has been one of the leaders in this fight against the first sale doctrine.  You sell in a category that is almost exclusively  comprised of "brands".  Many of your watches are not made by the name on the watch, the watch is made by someone else entirely and then branded with the company name.  The more highly regarded the brand the more they can charge even tough they all have the same relatively inexpensive watch movements inside.  Resistance is currently futile.  We must resist the continued takeover of the courts by the Federalist Society which gives their nod of approval to judges which will doing the bidding of the corporate oligarchy.

[nickys-store]

Yeah, that is really sad. I am mean this is still America where a person is innocent UNTIL proven guilty. If the other two comments said is true than they shouldn't give us the reason as being COUNTERFEIT because that is a lie. 

[donsdetour]

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@nickys-store wrote:

Yeah, that is really sad. I am mean this is still America where a person is innocent UNTIL proven guilty. If the other two comments said is true than they shouldn't give us the reason as being COUNTERFEIT because that is a lie. 

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EBay is a company: and not the America: they can and do what they see best for their bottom line.

We users don't mater to em if you have not noticed....

As for not counterfeit please prove it...... 

Waiting for this: as eBay does make mistakes as well as them VERO members...

Usually does not mater as it is still easier not to list such: and to risk not selling on ebay......

[nickys-store]

So I am willing to prove it since I keep my invoices and yes once or twice I was VERO'd but I challenged it and won because they were my pictures they were just from same angles. But from what I've heard and I do believe it is that these companies pay people overseas bottom dollars to just browse through listings and mark them as VERO or counterfeit.

[nickys-store]

One thing I forgot to mention is I spoke to a supervisor last year when this sort of stuff was happening more frequently and she did ask for invoice, which I submitted and then she never contacted me about the status. I had called at least 5 times and each time the rep would "promise" she'd call but never need. Although, I did assume that she did take care of it since I hadn't had this problem for next 6 months then it started again.

[fashionsandbeauty4u]

In looking at your previous posts, it seems you have been dealing with VeRo notices and final notices from eBay for at least the past 15 months.  I've been selling on eBay for 11+ years and manage three eBay stores and haven't received even one.  Honestly, I could never handle that amount of stress.

I guess my question would be: why are you doing this to yourself? You don't have to answer that. I'm just wondering why if someone got burned whenever they put their hand in a fire, how many times should they continue to put their hand in a fire?

[donsdetour]

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@nickys-store wrote:

So I am willing to prove it since I keep my invoices and yes once or twice I was VERO'd but I challenged it and won because they were my pictures they were just from same angles. But from what I've heard and I do believe it is that these companies pay people overseas bottom dollars to just browse through listings and mark them as VERO or counterfeit.

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VERO is god to ebay: it is the way to stop eBay from being sued as has happen in the past;

You got a 3 day this time: you may or may not get a seller review from this. You may or may not get a full and everlasting ban from this:

yet if you continue to do so you will.

As a user asked And I will just plain say: why you keep sticking your hand in the fire.

It will not stop this from going on....

You may just have to find a different place to sell your items.

I see a lot of problems with your set up... I am wondering why they have not already banned you....

[flyingmvp]

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@fashionsandbeauty4u wrote:

  I've been selling on eBay for 11+ years and manage three eBay stores and haven't received even one.  Honestly, I could never handle that amount of stress.

At this point it is not about "if" but more about "when" one or more of your items will be targeted and removed.

We had items removed using the  authenticity excuse that are still being sold by other sellers on this platform.

Since Ebay decided not to support the resellers, the resellers should and are taking their business somewhere else

and the results can be seen in the Ebay  "profit" reports, quarter after quarter.

[fashionsandbeauty4u]

Have you read the April 2022 eBay Recommerce Report that support resellers?

[flyingmvp]

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@fashionsandbeauty4u wrote:

Have you read the April 2022 eBay Recommerce Report that support resellers?

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Yes I have, Ebay is claiming to promote selling of used high end brand name shoes and purses while allowing the removal of other items on daily basis blocking sellers from reselling here.

this method is not helping the cause of sustainable shopping, that's one of the reasons their profit and market share is the way it is.

[frugality_inc]

I'm a VeRO member and I try to take the time when I can to help others understand why their listing was removed and what their options are going forward. Listings can be removed for a variety of reasons.



Without revealing the brand or their information, is there contact information in the communication you received? There should also be a reason stated in the communication why the listing was removed.



If you truly know the item is authentic, as long as you have invoices from the distributor you purchased from that you know is 100% authentic, send a kindly worded email to the contact email described in the VeRO communication with your item number, a copy of the removal communication, and your invoices. Put the ball in their court to make it right. A lot of the larger brands outsource listing removals to an agency that gets paid for each removal. Unfortunately, many of these agencies are poorly run and do zero due diligence prior to having a listing removed.



If that fails, document it and send it to eBay. You may be able to at least get the violation removed (wouldn't mean you could relist). While I know it's difficult and understand how you feel, leave emotion out of the communication with the rights owner.



Another thing worth checking would be to see if the brand owner has any warranties on their item that would prohibit you from selling it as 'new'. This is a common practice to prevent unauthorized resellers from selling 'new' items (even if 100% authentic).

[flyingmvp]

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@frugality_inc wrote:

I'm a VeRO member and I try to take the time when I can to help others understand why their listing was removed and what their options are going forward. Listings can be removed for a variety of reasons.



Without revealing the brand or their information, is there contact information in the communication you received? There should also be a reason stated in the communication why the listing was removed.



If you truly know the item is authentic, as long as you have invoices from the distributor you purchased from that you know is 100% authentic, send a kindly worded email to the contact email described in the VeRO communication with your item number, a copy of the removal communication, and your invoices. Put the ball in their court to make it right. A lot of the larger brands outsource listing removals to an agency that gets paid for each removal. Unfortunately, many of these agencies are poorly run and do zero due diligence prior to having a listing removed.



If that fails, document it and send it to eBay. You may be able to at least get the violation removed (wouldn't mean you could relist). While I know it's difficult and understand how you feel, leave emotion out of the communication with the rights owner.



Another thing worth checking would be to see if the brand owner has any warranties on their item that would prohibit you from selling it as 'new'. This is a common practice to prevent unauthorized resellers from selling 'new' items (even if 100% authentic).

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Thank you for this clarification,

At this point and time Ebay still keep asking for more fees via Promoted Listings while pushing all those updates and glitches + Vero hardships on top of it all instead of trying bring us some confidence or trust in their ability to perform.

I wonder if it would be more productive  to spend the same time listing the removed items on other Venues/platforms  🤔 

There is a limit to how much one can chase a moving target.