Selling Water Filters

[savhotspot]

I got accused and suspended for selling a counterfeit Water filter, which in fact was an OEM. Now no matter what type filter I try to list, it is blocked. How can I appeal this action? Or is there any other action I could take? I have a large supply of filters and routinely acquire name brand filters for a large discount.

Thanks,

RG

[dbfolks166mt]

     You did not provide much detail. What brand name was on the filter and what type filter was it. Possible either another seller tagged the item as counterfeit or VERO caught it. EBay seldom provides the details on why it got flagged/removed but I would not list it again until you figure out the issue. Can you post an example of one of the listings? Board members may be able to spot any keywords in the listing that may be flagging the item. 

[lacemaker3]

Just because the package says that it's an OEM filter, that doesn't mean that it is one.

There are a lot of counterfeit water filters out there, and the OEMs rigorously patrol the market (or eBay, at least) and have the counterfeits removed when they are spotted. Of course, the OEMs are not going to publish HOW they identify them, because if they did, the counterfeiters would learn how to conceal them better.

There have been other reports of water filters being removed as counterfeits. At one point, the seller shared information about their listing, and their photos. I was able to research and confirm that a number of listings that matched his had also been removed at the same time. Not all the listings, but the photos of the packages were similar on the ones that were removed. I concluded that there was something on the packages, which was visible in the photos, that the OEM had used to identify which ones were legitimate, and which were counterfeits.

One possibility at the time, was that there may have been a range of serial numbers, or lot numbers, which were not legitimate. Knowing how the Chinese factories work, those serial numbers or lots may have been unauthorized production, or may not have passed inspection and were supposed to have been scrapped. Instead, the factory sold them cheaply "off the back of the truck".

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@savhotspot wrote:

...

... I have a large supply of filters and routinely acquire name brand filters for a large discount.

..

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If you find a large number of water filters that you can purchase at a "large discount", that's a very good sign that they are counterfeit.

You should find another kind of item to sell, one that you can get from reliable sources.

[toysaver]

"I have a large supply of filters and routinely acquire name brand filters for a large discount."

Already a red flag that the item could be counterfeit.

[rfmtm]

Do not continue to relist until this matter is resolved.

In the meantime you have to find a way to authenticate the item as a name brand OEM part.  Then you can fight the take down.

You might ask the brand manufacturer as just a home user, if you could send them a unit to authenticate for you.

[ckimodog]

@savhotspot 

You still have items up for sale, so it must be a temporary suspension.  Just do the time and don't relist them again.  If Ebay believes they're counterfeit, then that's it.  Again, don't relist them.  

Happy Selling. 

[savhotspot]

The brand was Everydrop, now, no matter what Brand, I try to list, Kenmore, Samsung or any 3rd party filter gets flagged as Whirlpool..

Maybe, I'll just give them away and move on.

[s.scharmu0]

Hi!

     Try listing them on other sites😊

[inhawaii]

I just wanted to share my water filter story with you.

I bought a water filter for my GE fridge on ebay.

When I received it it looked genuine.

It looked identical to my original filter.

It was in a GE box and the filter itself was shrink wrapped.

When I installed it, it  would not work. I would keep getting an error message

I called GE for help.  They told me that most likely it was a counterfeit.

Most counterfeits don't have the electronic chip that is required.

I ended up buying one from Lowe's (for twice the price) and it worked fine.

So apparently there is a counterfeit water water filter problem.

I'm not saying that yours ARE or AREN'T counterfeit.

I just wanted to share my story with you. 

Good luck!

[rfmtm]

Do not relist until the matter is resolved.

If a VeRO take down you can fight it, as you have a legal right to resell an authentic legally obtained item as long as you don't otherwise infringe on the owner's rights, or have a contract with the company agreeing not to. Companies can not legally have ebay remove an item just because the don't want you selling it on ebay. Unfortunately some abuse VeRO and do it anyway.

However, if this wasn't a VeRO complaint, but an ebay take down, you have a problem. Ebay appears to be doing more and more of this sort of thing against sellers of various products without giving them any recourse whatsoever to appeal it. The best you could do is have your attorney send a letter to ebay's legal department, but hardly worth it for a single item.

Obviously ebay is trying to protect against counterfeits, but at times seems to not be applying the take downs fairly to all sellers. I suspect if this practice continues to escalate, some public advocate or news group is going to call them out on it.

[savhotspot]

Already looking at Facebook Market place and mecari.  Thanks

[savhotspot]

Thank you for sharing.

[savhotspot]

If it was for a particular item, I wouldn't be concerned, they won't let me list other brands, name brands or 3rd party.  Almost like it's an entire category.

[rfmtm]

I agree and that is the problem with ebay doing this without allowing any recourse for the seller.

[mynewandusedstuff]

Sorry but you all are mis informed, their are no such thing as counterfeit water filters, (NO WHERE IN THE WORLD) this does not exist. Counterfeit is reserved for clothing, glasses, jewelry, collectables ect.. what you call counterfeit water filters are aftermarket filters and legal, and dont need name brand logo'ing to sell for near same price. often they sell for within $1-$2 of the "name brand" some even costing more. you all either paranoid or ring of thieves looking to get free filters from sellers through extortion tactics (declaring item to be counterfeit in snad claims as a trump all refund method). theirs no reason a seller would sell an aftermarket filter bearing the name brand. Nor aftermarket manufacture spending money logo'ing a name brand on their filter, when it can sell just about same amount (with 1-2$) of the original. all that work cost for potential lawsuit and jail? yea, i dont be leave it. Even at aliexpress or wish, the filters sold are aftermarkets bearing the aftermarket name. not the big brand name. I buy my filters from brand name manufacture directly in bulk (with receipts and packing slips and certs). if that manufacture doesnt have retail minimum for the resellers or have (not for individual sale on wrap), then we're allowed to sell for that low price you all think is to good to be true. the logic that even oem manufacture can be selling their own filters to resellers as counterfeit? LOL... then its no longer counterfeit now is it? LOL I cant begin to tell you have many customers throw me "its counterfeit" "give me refund now" demands, with either dont want to send item back for the refund (because they feel that a "counterfeit doesnt require returning by some made up law of their own, or the filter they sent back is their old filter. Yes filters can be expensive but, its a consumable, dont expect lifetime warranty on them and sure as hell dont expect some poor seller to "replace" your old filter at their expense. Do your swap and return at your local walmart, target costco, leave that out of ebay.