Frustrated with eBay Policies- The are appearing to allow a counterfeit network work freely on eBay!

[southwestacousticproducts]

After being an eBay seller (and a happy one) for over 12 years, I am astonished that eBay seems to be allowing a multi-million dollar counterfeiting operation and network to operate right under their noses.  This is not my supposition this is a fact.  There are at least 30 shops and probably up to 50 shops selling counterfeit guitars (Gibson Les Paul, Fender, Rickenbacker, Paul Reed Smith, and others)  All shops appear to be legitimate with great ratings, however the ratings for the most part are coming from buyers who resell the counterfeit items to unsuspecting buyers outside of eBay.  I have brought this to the attention of eBay on several occasions and they do not appear to be taking any positive action on this issue.  What is taking place is a violation of eBay's policies, and more importantly, constitutes violations of Federal, State, and Local statutes regarding Interstate commerce and Customs Enforcement.  Essentially eBay appears to be allowing counterfeiters to distribute counterfeit products through their distribution network.   To the legitimate sellers on eBay, this is impacting your business, but more importantly, creating issues of ethics and legitimacy on the products being sold through this platform.  Regarding this allegation, I can only speak of guitars and Acoustic Instruments.  I am a subject matter expert in this area, and I run a successful instrument business.  As well, I do appraisals and evaluations weekly.  EBay needs to address this matter head-on and has not.  Any suggestions on raising the level of this to the appropriate individuals at eBay would be appreciated.  I am a happy seller and eBay has been great to me, however, they are doing a disservice, not only to us, but to themselves, as this practice is against every policy written regarding authenticity, copyright, and trademark laws as well as counterfeiting.  Input would be greatly appreciated. 

[wallys_records35624]

Are we trying to shutdown the world economy??

[gurlcat]

Have you reported them to the guitar companies?  They would care more about their brands getting diluted than eBay would.  

[fashunu4eeuh]

---

@southwestacousticproducts wrote:

I agree, so, against my better wishes, I am buying a counterfeit item and reporting it.

Thanks, it's a great idea,

---

No!! NO NO!!!! Don’t do that!!!

This violates eBay policy. It could backfire!!! You could get into trouble, not them!!!

@southwestacousticproducts You have already complained multiple times. It’s on the record, and this could look like site interference, or efforts to manipulate matters in order to damage a competitor. The seller may successfully fight back. 

There is a better way, and it is tailor-made for the purpose you are attempting to affect—reporting counterfeits in an online venue. 

Are you familiar with the new law recently passed by our Federal legislative bodies? It is called the INFORM Consumers Act.

A key provision of the INFORM Consumers Act requires online marketplaces to give people a way to report questionable (criminal) conduct. Here’s what the law says:

“An online marketplace shall disclose to consumers in a clear and conspicuous manner on the product listing of any high-volume third party seller a reporting mechanism that allows for electronic and telephonic reporting of suspicious marketplace activity to the online marketplace.”

If these guitar counterfeiters fall into the eligible category as “high value sellers”, then there is a method at eBay to report them. It is the law. Below are links to more information. Good luck.

https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/resources/inform-consumers-act

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/default/report-item-listing?id=4739#:~:text=You%20can%20report%20....

https://www.nema.org/advocacy/links-to-report-counterfeit-or-non-compliant-products

[sumsum70]

               You admit this in a public forum, why would you jeopardize  your account like that? Ebay frowns on                          vigilante tactics.

Let's ask the Steiners if that is true!

[baydealz]

Ebay has become a corrupt organization of its own.  Embrace the counterfeits or ove on.  I will not buy (especial 'new' stuff) on ebay and am now stopping selling.  Enjoy...

[littlestoreofwonders]

It is in all the categories. There are authentic things I sell that have thousands of counterfeits listed for $.99 -7 free shipping. There are Youtube videos showing how to spot the fakes because of how bad it has gotten.  Ebay denies 99.9% of reports and give warnings about fraudulent  reports and abuse of reporting, when you arent. The last time they took down a counterfeit was over 5 years ago. Everything else comes back as declined report saying authentic. There is blatant counterfeit designer bags up that come back as authentic. The name is not correct on them, but still comes up authentic. I think the designers are having same trouble getting them taken down, but they would have legal power to stop it. Reports will come back as group declines even if they were made two weeks apart so I think  they just click decline on them. The same thing happens whether it is from people I know who do not sell, sellers reporting items they have never sold similar ones of, sellers selling similar, or any other site policy violations including listings with blatant racism. I think they have been understaffed since Covid so the reports just get declined in mass batches. 

[kh-shakhib]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.