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]

I know, I know, but I don't know what else to do. Perhaps taking a road trip to TX to meet this guy in small claims would be the cheapest route. I hate this so much.

[goldstaroffers]

I know, it's just capitalism. That being said, it's not true capitalism if you don't play by the rules.

[goldstaroffers]

It is true, they do win, but not when the seller is using false advertising. Took me 4 months to find all the accessories I include with my offer. If he does not offer these parts, he should not be making this false claim.

[goldstaroffers]

Exactly. My work is my work, period. The platform it is on is not relevant.

[goldstaroffers]

As I said, I contacted / called ebay six times. That is why I am trying the forums. I don't understand how something so wrong can be tolerated by ebay. But, if that is the way it has to be, I will take care of matters myself.

[goldstaroffers]

Best answer yet. However, I would rather let him keep falsely advertising so I can sue him in court.

[goldstaroffers]

How do I file a SNAD claim? Just call them? And how the hell can you not get mad at someone for stealing your work? I've been raging for 5 weeks now.

The guy took parts of my ad copy, set his offer to a promotional listing, and is out bidding me via the promotional advertising.  His ad is above mine, and is getting the majority of the bookmarks /  watchers. My sales have also decreased.

[goldstaroffers]

Thanks. I wish INAD's applied to other sellers as well. It does make me feel better knowing this guy is eventually going to screw himself over via angry customers. I include my accessories for a reason - to make my main product awesome. There is a reason why I have a 5 star review whereas other big sellers of this product have only a 3 star. I work hard to keep my customers happy. They are the ones that feed me. I have a lot of respect for them. I know he will be gone in a few months, but he is still going to be taking away sales from me in the short term. Thx for the reply. 

[ibuyoldstuf]

I understand your frustration! I also understand in that moment when your fortunate enough to even speak to a human being, your mind narrows and zeros in and focuses all frustration on that no nothing intern that's reading off a script that barely knows how to communicate let alone solve the issue of this POd american that needs instant justice!  Then, to add insult to injury, your method of conveying your displeasure is just another thing they don't want to hear.... Welcome to tech support.. "are you satisfied that I solved or am working to solve your concern today"?

Breath man Good Morning

[goldstaroffers]

He's only sold a small handful so far. Trust me, people will start complaining sooner or later. It just sucks for me. The guy is using my copy to take away my (potential) customers. Instead of buying what they need from me, they instead buy from this guy, find out the accessories were not included, and then they return the product. The buyer now has to do a return, is frustrated, probably doesn't want to buy from ebay again, and in the end, both me and the other seller lose. It's a lose-lose situation.

[goldstaroffers]

Thx man, I'm trying to breath. Thanks for understanding my frustration. I'm not trying to sound like a greedy / entitled American. I have waited patiently for 5 weeks now. Tech support guaranteed me six times this will be resolved and they are making it a high level issue... then nothing happens. I'll figure it out - just gotta weigh my options first.

[luckythewinner]

The buyer now has to do a return, is frustrated, probably doesn't want to buy from ebay again, and in the end, both me and the other seller lose. It's a lose-lose situation.

That may be true, but that is how eBay has chosen to write its policy regarding pictures and descriptions.

I have waited patiently for 5 weeks now. Tech support guaranteed me six times this will be resolved and they are making it a high level issue... then nothing happens.
It sucks that eBay support lied to you six times. eBay has a clearly written policy that says your only recourse is to send the other seller a message asking them to please stop. eBay support is not going to override that policy because you call a lot. It will never be a "high level issue" because they have already considered the issue and made a policy decision.

[fern*wood]

I decided to look at one of your listings -- a set of night vision binoculars that you state are unbranded in the item specifics.   The listing was quite long, and if I were shopping, I would think that information came from the manufacturer's or ebay's catalog.  If all of those graphics and photos comparing what scenes look like viewed through the binoculars were created by you, that is quite an impressive, professional looking ad.  

When I scroll to the bottom I get the part that reads:  "Item description from the seller"  and all I found there was information about you as a seller.   It didn't describe anything else about the item or possible accessories.  Are you saying all the verbiage in the listing prior to the description was created by you and the other seller copied all of that?

Since it is a new item, the photos wouldn't matter to me as to who took them because they should accurately represent the item regardless. 

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@goldstaroffers wrote:

I went to college to learn HTML, how to speak, how to write, etc. This is what gives me an unfair advantage over my competition - I can make customized listings. Ebay has no right to take any of my copyrighted material and let other competitors use it. This is making me sick.

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You actually copyrighted your verbiage word for word? 

Also- what says you are not copying that seller?

Lastly- how do you know what that seller includes? If that seller states they are including things they are not, most will file for a refund and that seller will be gone. So, this all seems for naught. 

[ibuyoldstuf]

Outstanding!

IMO, The most accurate truthful description of eBay support/involvement (unwillingness to get involved) I've read this thread! 

I may copy it and place at the end of all my future responses, (with permission of course).

Thanks for that!