Fake account from china using a copy of my listing

[newage_jo]

I am facing a problem with fake accounts from China that use the same information as my listing, including the photos and everything, and offer it at a lower price. I contacted the seller about this issue and he responded and deleted the ad. Then he did it again from another Chinese account. I don’t know what the goal of this is. Is it just to ruin my listing because it has a lot of views, or is it a scam on buyers on eBay? Ebay have to Solve this problem because I am tired of this behavior and I am thinking of canceling my account

[mtgraves7984]

For what it's worth, the Chinese seller may have problems, too, if he/she has an Order but no product to send.

[inhawaii]

If they are using your information it's not a fake account, it's a real account.

[caldreamer]

EBAY encourages other Sellers to copy your listings by using the "sell similar" feature.   This is allowed on EBAY.

[ittybitnot]

@newage_jo 

Interestingly there is another thread on this topic on the boards today as well.  You might find it interesting. 

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/DAY-8-OF-EBAY-NOT-SHUTTING-DOWN-A-CHINESE-SELLER-WHO-HAS-COPIE...

[kensgiftshop]

There's nothing to solve.

Ebay allows other sellers to use photos and descriptions from other sellers.

[fashunu4eeuh]

eBay will not intervene on this issue given that it is not against the rules. However, if you wish to pursue it, that is your right, hough it will be nearly impossible to effect what an international seller does when it is cost-prohibitive to address the matter legally for possible infringement or whatever. Sorry this is happening to you.

[mam98031]

@newage_jo 

What makes it a "fake" account?  

[inhawaii]

Let's say someone makes a user ID similar to mine, let's say "inhawaii2".

He can copy all of my listings and all of my photos, all of my texts and all of my prices.

So what?

What's going to happen when the first few items sell?

He doesn't have them to ship.

The account will eventually be shut down.

[newage_jo · Accepted solution]

I think this will destroy eby business gradually ,the Chinese sellers sellect our best lisiting to make a one like it .

I understand that ebay allows to use another listing data to help us make our listing faster .but when seller make an exact copy of everything this is not a normal behavior.

I offer a Gucci belt at 499 usd and they use two different accounts to sell it at 160usd with same photos and descriptions 

[mam98031]

It is unlikely to do that, but I understand it is an issue for you.   Report the listings as you find them.  If you don't know how to do that, just ask.

Other members are allowed to use all or part of any listing they want to.  

If these sellers can't fulfill their orders, they will get too many defects and fail.

[chapeau-noir]

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@newage_jo wrote:

I think this will destroy eby business gradually ,the Chinese sellers sellect our best lisiting to make a one like it .

I understand that ebay allows to use another listing data to help us make our listing faster .but when seller make an exact copy of everything this is not a normal behavior.

I offer a Gucci belt at 499 usd and they use two different accounts to sell it at 160usd with same photos and descriptions 

---

It won't destroy eBay, but if they advertise a product they haven't got, it WILL destroy them. I have no idea what they're trying to do, but if they're shopping out fake versions of your real item, that will get them taken down, too.

[ramtpim]

Put a "watermark" on future listing photos.

[mam98031]

You may not want to do that since it is against the rules.

The following are not allowed:

• Photos that don't accurately represent the item
• Placeholder images used to convey messages
• Stock photos for used, damaged, or defective items
• Photos with added borders
• Photos with added text, artwork or marketing material
• Watermarks of any type, including those used for ownership attributions

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-policies/picture-policy?id=4370

[chapeau-noir]

eBay may have that in their rules, but I've never known of anyone relegated for having a watermark, this includes people who slap them right in the middle of their photos (!). After a back-and-forth about watermark transparency (is 20% OK? 50%? 80%?) at one Q&A eBay said it was something they were not really following up.

But it will probably not do much good - people can be pretty shameless about this stuff and they'll run photos with someone else's watermarks, anyway. Also, one can get software to remove them. 

(I don't use watermarks, but I do add text).