Someone has plagiarized my text and photos and eBay is refusing to help me...

[goldstaroffers]

I have called eBay six times so far. I have talked to one supervisor. I have talked to the Trust and Safety department probably five times. The last person I talked to filed a new claim. Nothing has changed. It's been five weeks now. This guy has taken over $3000 in sales using my ad copy. Why won't anyone help me?

For the love of God, can someone at eBay please help me?

Thank you.

-Scott

[goldstaroffers]

Thanks.

[gloryglorygifts]

So what is really upsetting you? Is it the fact that the other vendor can use your same photos and descriptions, which is not only okay with ebay due to the catalogue and "have one to sell" option on your listings..... or the fact that they sold $3,000 more than you? Maybe it's a price issue.

Is your distributor okay with you using their stock images? Some are not and want you to use your own photos just fyi. 

[goldstaroffers]

Right. I edit most of those. I get them from my Alibaba supplier. If those can't be copyrighted, even after heavily editing them, then so be it. He can at least take down the text copy he stole.

[coolections]

First off no one took $3000 of your sales. Maybe the other guy had cheaper prices. Even if it is the same price the guy would have sold his anyway. Secondly it is perfectly fine to find a listing and use sell similar. Ebay allows that so no need to call CS anymore.

[goldstaroffers]

The guy is using false adverting. That is called fraud. It is not legal. He is also using my words to make money. That is the precise definition of plagiarism. This guy is a parasite. I am already in talks with an expert at copyright law. Ebay has no right to let other people steal my words.

[coolections]

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@goldstaroffers wrote:

I care about the photo I edited that he is using. It is an edited stock photo.

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Hopefully someone does not sue you for stealing a picture and editing it to make it your own.

[goldstaroffers]

I never gave permission to my competitor to use my sales copy. This is **bleep**.

[lakefor94]

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@goldstaroffers wrote:

People screw me over so much, I feel like I have no choice but to waste some money on an attorney and learn how the Judicial system works. It took my bank 5 weeks for me to sign a legal document to get a wire transfer reversed from a scam artist. I had his bank put the money on hold and took all the necessary steps. I lost over $1200 because someone at my bank couldn't spend 5 minutes to get me to sign a piece of paper. As for this problem with ebay, someone is obviously not doing their job. Sometimes, ebay makes more money than I do on my sales. The least they can do is spend two seconds deleting this guys listing for me.

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You have the waste part right. Hopefully the attorney you talk to will turn you down right away or only charge for interpreting the eBay User Agreement for you, since you don't believe anyone here.

If eBay is making more money than you on your sales, that is a problem I can't imagine. Faint margins would be a tough business.

[coolections]

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@goldstaroffers wrote:

I will probably have to have a price war with this guy.

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@goldstaroffers   Every single item sold on Ebay is a price war. I win many times over because I prefer turnover and not let an item sit. May COG sold is probably lower than others which helps.

[goldstaroffers]

Thanks for the reply. I meant stock photos, as in generic photos that are given to me by my supplier. If I can't copyright and edited "stock" photo then fine - he can at least take down my text that he copied.

[goldstaroffers]

As I said, I care mainly about the text. He is claiming he is offering accessories which he is not.

[goldstaroffers]

lol

[coolections]

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@goldstaroffers wrote:

He is claiming he is offering accessories which he is not.

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Let the buyers decide if he is telling the truth. Believe me if he lists with accessories included and the buyer does not get accessories the seller won't last long. Keep trying to convince yourself of everything wrong with that seller.

[goldstaroffers]

I don't care if he wants to compete, but he has to use his own sales copy. If he clicked on "have one to sell," then that in itself is not true since his offer does not include accessories. My supplier is ok with me using their photos. If I spend an hour editing one photo that is free to use, then I consider it mine. It's not about the money, it's about his disrespect, and ebay's disrespect. He is falsely advertising and no one cares. I hope a customer sues him for false advertising.

[lakefor94]

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@goldstaroffers wrote:

Right. I edit most of those. I get them from my Alibaba supplier. If those can't be copyrighted, even after heavily editing them, then so be it. He can at least take down the text copy he stole.

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If you spent half the time already thrown away chasing your competitor, you might could source some additional and better products with better margin, since margin is an issue according to another post you made.