Is it "bad" to point out a fatal, intentional inconsistency in a competitor's listing?

[storagecraft-gps]

I have a single competitor who packages and photographs his products with a counterfeit major brand logo.

This has been going on for years and I can't really do anything about that . . but I have question related to this deception.

Near the bottom of his list of product details, he reveals a detail proving the product he ships is not equal to the major brand product.  Its a technical detail that - I guarantee - 90% of his prospects don't comprehend.

So in my listing with a tone of no prejudice, I suggest viewers read his details to understand what he is shipping.

This deception is material because he is my only competitor and it cuts his product cost by 75%. 

The subject of his trademark infringement has been discussed at length in this forum.  So am asking if my simple countermeasure is a bad practice  . .  or what ?

[castlemagicmemories]

This strikes me as being too direct and can come across, IMO, as being too straightforward and cut throat, trying to damage someone else's sales, simply because you are directing them to specifically check his listing descriptions.  I'm just not comfortable with the direct finger pointing, which isn't necessary as the buyer will see that you only have one competitor.  True or not, some may perceive your statement as a petty jab at your competitor and it could come across as sour grapes.  JMO

If he is your only competitor, you don't have to state his id.  You could simply put a general statement that plays up the advantage of your item as opposed to his.

Something like, Quality matters.  This item has the virtue of then fill in whatever that is, and then tell them why this is an advantage to them.  Just a suggestion, you might want to play with this, and of course, consider what others have to say in regards to your question.

[castlemagicmemories]

Unless the advantage of your item is substantial, and even if it is not, there will be those who will go for his lesser price, especially if it is is a significant cost savings.  IOW, no matter what you do or say, it may not make a difference as it may boil down to, price rules.

[mysalonsavings]

I guess being in the salon for so many years where we "shared" clients and sales I personally do not understand why you would want to try to negatively affect another person's sales. I would never look at my 'competitors' auctions to see if I could cause them harm. If they get a sale I am happy for them. We are all just trying to make a go of our businesses and trying to build these businesses to eventually make a profit from them. We should be kind to not only our buyers but also our fellow sellers. Treat them as if they were in the store right across the street from you. In essence they are. Remember they and we are all in this together. Compassion and helping your fellow seller is what we should all strive for! Just sayin 🙂

[jeannicho22]

Honestly when I come across a listing trashing another member's items, I can't hit the "back" button fast enough.

Don't do it.  Ignore, Ignore, Ignore.

Spend the time and effort on making your listings and photos look great.

[jeannicho22]

This?

This is the only Automotive Duty  RHR drive listed on ebay.
    (The other RHR listing is a standard laptop drive - see his details)

Remove the second line.

[jeannicho22]

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@jeannicho22 wrote:

This?

This is the only Automotive Duty  RHR drive listed on ebay.
    (The other RHR listing is a standard laptop drive - see his details)

Remove the second line.

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Eh? even the first line is a bit objectionable.  Figure another way to say that.  I'm having brain flatulence or I would help you with it.

[kathy507]

How about saying something like...

This is an Automotive Duty RHR drive. This drive has an advantage over a standard laptop drive because.....

No need to be derogatory about a competitor when you can stress an advantage of the one you have for sale.

[escuintla]

I go to a flea market. I have seen what the "police" meaning their security does to the non-law abiding citizens there, they take away their counterfeit DVDs or CDs, they make them hide the porno magazines, I've seen people being shamed for taking something without paying, or banned from that place, even the arresting of thieves or dishonest people. 

So, one day, I see this device my kid wanted. He was bugging me for one. The seller at the flea market had it on display, tons of them, 70% cheaper than anybody. I just asked "are these originals?" and he replied "yes".

3 days later, my kid gives the unpleasant story of it not working as an original product would. It didn't charge, the settings were weird, etc. Too good to be true, right?

So, I went back to the seller and in a very friendly tone told him that the device wasn't an original, I wanted my money back. 

He gave me the politician speech of my life, how he was doing a good service to the community by discounting products worth $100s, yada, yada, yada. He refused to give me my money back. 

He is no longer selling there. 

That's why, when you see an item you are selling and they are legitimate, a product others are selling with impunity given they are selling the same thing, you know that somebody is using the legal way to get you out of here. That is not acceptable to me, but if the item I am selling is not legit, I am apologetic and I know I made a wrong purchase. But I get **bleep** when I see others, pages and pages full of the same item, same brand, same anything on the box, or bottle, etc. 

So, again, you need to look at the moral of the story. If it's a legit, legal item to sell, sorry, he is using what he deems appropriate for his own benefit, even discounting something 75%. Knockouts, fakes, illegitimate things? Get them out of here! 

[tunicaslot]

Kathy's advice is spot on. For those that disagree - put yourself in a buyer's shoes. We've all been there where something has been misidentified as being something it's not and the only way you know that is if you read the fine print - and often times even then it's hard to find. 

Ebay knows it's losing buyers because of the fakes on this site and to me someone misrepresenting their item is just as bad.

[storagecraft-gps]

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@mysalonsavings wrote:

I guess being in the salon for so many years where we "shared" clients and sales I personally do not understand why you would want to try to negatively affect another person's sales. I would never look at my 'competitors' auctions to see if I could cause them harm. If they get a sale I am happy for them. We are all just trying to make a go of our businesses and trying to build these businesses to eventually make a profit from them. We should be kind to not only our buyers but also our fellow sellers. Treat them as if they were in the store right across the street from you. In essence they are. Remember they and we are all in this together. Compassion and helping your fellow seller is what we should all strive for! Just sayin 🙂

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I hear what you are saying, but this person commits intentional fraud by using a major brand LOGO on something he makes in his shop . .   I won't mis-label my product and I won't mislead about the product.  So his cheating has cost me a lot sales and dollars over the years

[18704d]

" I would never look at my 'competitors' auctions to see if I could cause them harm. "

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It seems clear to me the OP is not trying to harm his competitor.

He is reacting to a competitor's unfair advantage.

(Counterfeits are far less costly to source than the 'real thing'.)

He is trying to mitigate the damage occuring to his own business.

fwiw,

Lynn

[jeannicho22]

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@storagecraft-gps wrote:

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@mysalonsavings wrote:

I guess being in the salon for so many years where we "shared" clients and sales I personally do not understand why you would want to try to negatively affect another person's sales. I would never look at my 'competitors' auctions to see if I could cause them harm. If they get a sale I am happy for them. We are all just trying to make a go of our businesses and trying to build these businesses to eventually make a profit from them. We should be kind to not only our buyers but also our fellow sellers. Treat them as if they were in the store right across the street from you. In essence they are. Remember they and we are all in this together. Compassion and helping your fellow seller is what we should all strive for! Just sayin 🙂

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I hear what you are saying, but this person commits intentional fraud by using a major brand LOGO on something he makes in his shop . .   I won't mis-label my product and I won't mislead about the product.  So his cheating has cost me a lot sales and dollars over the years

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You asked for opinions and you've gotten genuine opinions of both other sellers and buyers.  You seem to have already made up your mind, no one wants to argue with you over it.  Do with that information as you like.  

[ed8108]

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@storagecraft-gps wrote:

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I hear what you are saying, but this person commits intentional fraud by using a major brand LOGO on something he makes in his shop . .   I won't mis-label my product and I won't mislead about the product.  So his cheating has cost me a lot sales and dollars over the years

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When we Promote Honesty, it's good for ebay, good for sellers, & good for buyers.

Dishonesty is detrimental to ebay, it's buyers and sellers.

[itsjustasprain]

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@storagecraft-gps wrote:
I won't mis-label my product and I won't mislead about the product.  So his cheating has cost me a lot sales and dollars over the years

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'Never interrupt your enemy while he is making a mistake.' - from Napolean

I dont think you can really know for sure how many sales you actually lost to him. You also have no way of knowing how many of his got returned. I would just explain clearly what yours is and why its the best for the job. Dont make any comments about your competition. If buyers see what they are looking for - size or speed or dimensions or whatever makes yours better - and they dont see those same good details in the competitors listing then you will get the sale.