Got an eBay Vero violation for showing a close up picture of the items tag????

[thevintageparadise]

So i posted an item a few days ago (it is hidden now so you can't see it) but it was a Build-a-Bear workshop bear from the Hudson Valley Renegades minor league baseball team.

Shortly after listing it I got a Vero notification about Logos. I used both the Build-a-Bear and the Hudson Valley Renegades Logo in the main photo. I totally understand the complaint, I revised the listing, took the first image out and waited to hear back. They said once again that the listing is in violation with no real explanation.

I called customer service and the rep told me i am not allowed to show close up pictures of the tags because the Build-A-bear logo is on the tag and it's copyrighted and I can't show the back of the tag because the Hudson Valley Renegades logo is also copyrighted.

I have never heard of something so asinine - I'm not allowed to show close up photos of the item I am selling???? To make matters even more ridiculous the tag on the back is ripped (so obviously I want to show that in the listing) the rep told me because the ripped tag shows their copyright I'm not allowed to show it.

Has anyone else had this issue? I'd understand if i was trying to sell a bear I personally made and slapped a Build-A-Bear patch on it but this is an item that THEY made

[simba6]

Companies don't like their wares being sold in venues like this.  Like the company that sells a set of silver ingots in the shape of each of the fifty states.  They sell it for 400.00 but it only has about 50.00 worth of silver in it.  Many of their "collectables" end up here for much lower prices.  Shows people it's real worth.

They tend to abuse VERO to get things removed.

By that thinking, you can't show a close up of the item either? 

[bashort]

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@az93 wrote:

If it was listed as used/pre-owned, they should have left you alone. Listing things as brand new can cause problems.

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I fail to see what difference item condition makes,  something is  either counterfeit or infringes on  copyright or it does not.

[redlinear]

Recently got one taken down (Used denso coils removed from a Jaguar).  
It was the word denso that got me.
I tried changing everything with no mention of denso.  Still no luck.
I had to start a new listing from scratch, no mention of denso. 
Then all was fine

[bashort]

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@redlinear wrote:

Recently got one taken down (Used denso coils removed from a Jaguar).  
It was the word denso that got me.
I tried changing everything with no mention of denso.  Still no luck.
I had to start a new listing from scratch, no mention of denso. 
Then all was fine

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so if you extrapolate this kind of idiocy it looks like that there could be a time coming where one is not allowed to use the make or model of a vehicle to describe what the particular part fits. 

[glgenterprise]

I've gotten two notices in the last two weeks from a company that is not on the VeRO list. Mind you, not through eBay messages but through my direct email, somehow they managed to get my email address. I have no idea how that happened - especially as I have a reseller account with this company through a different company of mine and that email addy is totally different. So is eBay giving our email addresses to these companies?? I did a google search of both my account name and my store name and nothing is showing up with my email address attached to it.

I intend on ignoring these emails until they actually message me through eBay. Note that there are more than 3600 different listings of items from this company. 

On that note - does anyone know how up to date eBay keeps the VeRO list?  

[thevintageparadise]

Ok so just to update this post:

I reached out to the email address provided for Build-A-Bear via the VeRO email. THEY have been extremely nice about the entire thing. They said the only thing they requested be removed was their logo from the first photo (which I totally understand) I was polite and apologetic as it was my fault for that specific image. They said they DO NOT require the blurring or removing of their logos on tags or anything else, whether they are close ups or not. They said eBay is the one that tried going that extra step trying to say I couldn't even show a close up image of the tag. Due to eBay's (frankly ridiculous) policy - they require the actual company to contact eBay directly to have your listings restored.

Build-A-Bear wrote me back earlier apologizing for the headache and told me they did contact eBay to have them restore the listing and would follow up with me after they heard back. They seem like very nice folks over there, hopefully eBay will respond and everything will get cleared up. I'd strongly suggest eBay to train their customer service reps better and not have them give out false information but I'm sure that request would fall on deaf ears.

Thanks to everyone who responded. My advice would be as some users have responded, contact the business via the email that's provided in the VeRO notice and work it out with them. eBay's customer service isn't going to be able to do anything about it anyway and might steer you in the wrong direction 😞 at least the rep I spoke with did.

[itscalledapostingid]

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@glgenterprise wrote:

I've gotten two notices in the last two weeks from a company that is not on the VeRO list. Mind you, not through eBay messages but through my direct email, somehow they managed to get my email address. I have no idea how that happened - especially as I have a reseller account with this company through a different company of mine and that email addy is totally different. So is eBay giving our email addresses to these companies?? I did a google search of both my account name and my store name and nothing is showing up with my email address attached to it.

I intend on ignoring these emails until they actually message me through eBay. Note that there are more than 3600 different listings of items from this company. 

On that note - does anyone know how up to date eBay keeps the VeRO list?  

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@glgenterprise 

The vero list on ebay doesn't show all vero members. It says that right at the top of the section about  participant profiles.

Also just because a brand is a member of the vero program doesnt mean you can't sell it on ebay. That's a myth.  It just means it's quicker and easier for them to report trademark violations.

[itscalledapostingid]

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@bonanza125 wrote:

True I don't disagree with you however with that copyright they can complain to Ebay about selling on its platform and it gets removed. I have had multiple listing removed a few times during the years. Basically they want licensed dealers to sell there products on Ebay even if resold. A lot of folks don't get that Ebay is not a yard sale where you lay out what you want to sell and just get rid of it. It's a platform for businesses to do transactions. If you aren't licensed to sell a certain product it then can get removed. I had used items removed because of this.

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@bonanza125 

source: Verified Rights Owner Program | Seller Center

Vero isn't supposed to be used in that manner to enforce authorized dealership agreements.  This is from the vero help page:

Ineligible reasons to report a listing

• Wanting to control where a product is resold by trying to enforce contracts or distribution of goods to authorized sellers (selective distribution).
• Not allowing the sale if items are below a controlled price point (minimum advertised pricing or MAP).
• Any terms a brand puts into their contracts that controls the way items are resold (contractual issues).
• Government-controlled items that are illegal to sell (regulatory compliance issues).

[robbie31415]

Isn't supposed to but is used.

And there is little recourse.

I get then all the time. A lot of VeRO abuse. I don't fight it. All my VeRo violations just go straight on Mercari.

[itscalledapostingid]

Some do fight the vero abuse when it happens to them and some are successful.

[robbie31415]

Maybe.

I've won appeals just to have them hit me again few weeks later.

It's not worth it. And my last fight was with Bayer. They could tie me up and would be less than what they have in their couch cushions.

[bonanza125]

@itscalledapostingid 

"Vero isn't supposed to be used in that manner to enforce authorized dealership agreements. "

Well dealers do complain about it and either they or the license disturbers make a fuss about it. I have personally had stuff removed and talked to the manufacture of the goods on multiple occasions. They don't want me selling there stuff on Ebay cause I am not an authorized dealer. 

[movieman630]

I don't understand that at all.  The only way it makes sense is if ebay does not allow that kind of item to be sold at all. 

How can a company stop people from selling their own property?  Aren't there laws against that sort of thing?

[bonanza125]

@movieman630 

"How can a company stop people from selling their own property?  Aren't there laws against that sort of thing?"

Even though you own a product especially new merchandise manufactures still have licensed dealers who sell there products. In order to sell there product you must become a licensed dealer. Ebay is an online marketplace so under the Vero Program a dealer who is selling a product or the manufacture can complain that a particular seller is not authorized to sell that item. It's like the manufacture is not giving you permission to use there name as a copyright which is under law. So yes they legally can get your ad removed to answer your question. It's basically this. Dealer on Ebay complains others seller are selling there products which they have rights to and so they contact Ebay and get the ad removed. So just be careful when you buy bulk lots of stuff especially new stuff or if you purchased something new by mistake and can't return it to the store you might not be able to sell that product on Ebay or any online marketplace.

[brightlightbookseller]

Sounds like you're on track to being back up and running!  I agree, eBay's customer service often gives wrong answers, but in this case I'll note that the email you received should not have said to contact eBay, but rather to contact Build-a-Bear in this case, so that's something to pay attention to.  Hopefully everything will be all set for you soon!