Is Coach's efforts against counterfeit illegal if items are real.

[2ndhandeverything]

I have received 7 day suspension for trademark infringement on coach purse. This is my second violation. The first involved 2 Coach purses that were removed. This time 1. I have a friend who will remain nameless ( because Coach doesn't authenticate) who works at the outlet in Nashville who verified two of the three were authentic. Yes one was counterfeit. I now run the all by her after the first listing was removed. Now the other one has been removed and have been restricted all though authentic. Is all this Coach policing against the first sale doctrine (slapp) if I am selling authentic especially since this has happened to many people on here who are receiving the same harrasment. I understand looking out for counterfeit but it seems more likely it's because we aren't liscensed retatilers. Any help would be appreciated thanks

[lacemaker3]

@2ndhandeverything

You should always make sure that designer items like that are authentic before you list them.

Employees at Coach retail stores are not trained or experienced enough to verify authenticity, especially with older items or items that may never have been sold through the outlet stores.

You can post detailed pictures and measurements of Coach items (and some other brands) on the Fashion discussion board here, and they will advise you if an item is worth paying for an authentication, or if it would be a waste of money (ie its a fake).

[retrose1]

Unless you bought your Coach purses at a licensed Coach shop or store - you can not know for sure they are real.

Most of the outlet store employees are just department store employees and are not fully trained in the actual product, only to sell them to the public that is willing to pay less for a blemished one.

Once you got one pulled, you should have only listed ones that you have receipts from an authorized store (online Chinese is not authorized) so that you can show ebay that yes indeed, they are real.

[marigoldzcloset]

I would call ebay, a robot/computer is the one who detects those listings. Not a human. Call them and tell them you have proof of it being real. Other sellers will flag your listings as competition. CALL EBAY! don't let this suspension stay on your account for no warranted reason. Also, Ebay allows counterfeits. So many sellers in CHINA sell replicas of Free People and high end designers with the inside tags missing. So you get a knock off dress and no tag. Ive reported them in the past but they don't reply to my emails and they simply don't care because they make them money in the end. I'm sorry this happened to you. This platform is the furthest from fair. It's pure luck.

[2ndhandeverything]

But how do I get authentication for used item. eBay tells me to contact coach ,coach says they don't authenticate. If I post on here is that really authentication or am I still running the ris of suspension. Also if I'm restricted will my other items already posted still be available for sale or are they hidden for next 7 days.

[bonjourami]

Take your Coach purses to the Fashion board with lots of pictures..there are several Coach experts in there who do a fabulous job.

[dougsue123b]

I see your items for sale.

[rosie247]

I would not trust a person who worked as a retail clerk in a Coach outlet to authenticate my handbag. Many of the items sold there are lesser quality and are made only to sell at the discount store. Since you are now on their radar it would be best for you to not list any Coach items. 

[bonjourami]

yes,clerks at these designer stores are never supposed to authenticate.

[sg51]

Take your Coach purses to the Fashion board with lots of pictures..there are several Coach experts in there who do a fabulous job.

Does Ebay take their word as protection against a claim of counterfeit?

I think that is the essence of OP's question, even  though OPs facts are a little different.

[bonjourami]

Had nothing to do with being a licensed retailer..your bags were pulled because they were fake.

[myangelandmyprincess]

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@bonjourami wrote:

Had nothing to do with being a licensed retailer..your bags were pulled because they were fake.

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Maybe maybe not.  Coach is one that is known for pulling authentic items as fake and even when showing evidence of purchasing directly from them won’t budge on agreeing that’s it not fake. 

[couldabeenworse]

Coach does appear to be overzealous in protecting itself and its dealers, and probably misusing the VeRO program.  However, you apparently don't know if your items are fake or not - much less proof -  so you don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to fighting the VeRO takedowns.  It would seem inevitable that you will be permanently suspended if you continue to sell these.

[bonjourami]

no they dont..but they can tell an op if their bag is authentic and safe to list. Ebay does have a designer bag authentication service, if the op wants to pay for authentication..there is also authenticate4u..for a nominal fee. There is no autnetication service for free, that I know of.

[bonjourami]

Yes I have seen a few authentic Coaches pulled, but thats not the norm.