eBay

wilsonharborsales · ‎09-02-2023

I’ve never listed a counterfeit item. Never. I’ve never had items removed for being counterfeit until the past two weeks. It is now happening often, specifically in the hats category. I am on my final warning and I am afraid to continue listing. If this is happening to you, you aren’t alone. This is terrifying and I am not sure how to proceed. Here is one of the ‘counterfeit items’ that was removed. It appears the brands: John Deere, Budweiser, Bud Light, Starbucks, Walmart, October’s Very Own, Monster Energy, Walmart, Ontrac, Nortrax, Chevrolet, and Ford are impacted.

stuff4divas · ‎09-02-2023

@wilsonharborsales here is a recent thread with a similar title as yours> https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Tons-of-Listings-Removed-Chance-listings-policy/m-p/33960918#M...

toomuchstuffagain35 · ‎09-02-2023

Totally different scenario involving MV listings for Pokemon trading cards.

"If a product doesn't sell, raise the price" - Reese Palley
"If it sold FAST, it was priced too low" - also Reese Palley

stuff4divas · ‎09-02-2023

@toomuchstuffagain35 Ah, DUH, I know, but my reference was that "TONS of listings being removed" as said, "similar TITLE as yours"

wilsonharborsales · ‎09-02-2023

I believe they are beta testing Certilogo on the live site in the hats category. I have a fairly strong seller network, and many of them have been experiencing these ‘take-downs’ of legit items over the past two weeks. Brands enrolled in Certilogo have a special CGG number on their tags. These CGG numbers did not exist before 2019. The items being removed for being counterfeit (no CGG number on tags) are from 1980s-2019. Of course they don’t have a CGG ident number. Certilogo didn’t exist then.

The big problem is that with this beta testing, big sellers who are having items removed are losing visibility because it is impacting their selling metrics. It is a horrible feeling to be accused of fraud by an AI bot, have no recourse or anyone who can assist you, and then operate under the fear that your account can be suspended at any time.

ittybitnot · ‎09-02-2023

@wilsonharborsales

Are you getting actual VERO takedowns, or simply eBay takedowns? There is a difference that can be determined by the message you receive. Hopefully, if it is the latter, you have already found other options/places to sell your items.

wastingtime101 · ‎09-02-2023

@wilsonharborsales wrote:
I believe they are beta testing Certilogo on the live site in the hats category. I have a fairly strong seller network, and many of them have been experiencing these ‘take-downs’ of legit items over the past two weeks. Brands enrolled in Certilogo have a special CGG number on their tags. These CGG numbers did not exist before 2019. The items being removed for being counterfeit (no CGG number on tags) are from 1980s-2019. Of course they don’t have a CGG ident number. Certilogo didn’t exist then.

The big problem is that with this beta testing, big sellers who are having items removed are losing visibility because it is impacting their selling metrics. It is a horrible feeling to be accused of fraud by an AI bot, have no recourse or anyone who can assist you, and then operate under the fear that your account can be suspended at any time.

There has been a fair amount of coverage on this issue across groups, social, etc. A lot of sellers are reporting takedowns of legit merch. Is there any advice you can offer sellers in this situation devon@ebay ? This isn't the type of situation sellers feel confident contacting front line CS reps about. Is there a way your team can forward these situations to the eBay team working with Certilogo and/or Trust & Safety for investigation on the accuracy of these takedowns?

Walk without rhythm, it won't attract the worm.

khetzel · ‎09-02-2023

Meanwhile, listings for actual counterfeit auto parts I have held in my hand and proven with the help of the OEM to both eBay and the seller were counterfeits, listings are still up over 9 months later.

robbie31415 · ‎09-02-2023

Chance and counterfeit are two completely different things.

stuff4divas · ‎09-02-2023

@robbie31415 Ah, DUH, I know, but my reference was that "TONS of listings being removed" as said, "similar TITLE as yours"

robbie31415 · ‎09-02-2023

@stuff4divas Sorry when I replied your response was the last one, should have refreshed screen.

I do get your point, and they could be removed by the same manner (overzealous bots), but this is mainly assumption.

Doubt eBay would ever reveal the truth behind their decision making.

wilsonharborsales · ‎09-04-2023

Commonwealth Picker just got suspended for ‘counterfeit item policy’. His account is 22 years old. Watching high profile accounts on YouTube and IG get suspended or restricted is concerning. If you read the comments, it seems to be happening to a lot of sellers.

whatamisellingtoday · ‎09-04-2023

This is wild. They are potentially ruining people's years old businesses implementing this AI in this manner.

broto_64 · ‎09-04-2023

@khetzel wrote:
Meanwhile, listings for actual counterfeit auto parts I have held in my hand and proven with the help of the OEM to both eBay and the seller were counterfeits, listings are still up over 9 months later.

Absolutely, the same applies to flash drives and many other truly counterfeit items because as is once again the case, the "solution" to the problem only hurts legitimate sellers.

broto_64 · ‎09-04-2023

@wilsonharborsales wrote:
Commonwealth Picker just got suspended for ‘counterfeit item policy’. His account is 22 years old. Watching high profile accounts on YouTube and IG get suspended or restricted is concerning. If you read the comments, it seems to be happening to a lot of sellers.

I just did a search for that account and their items are up for sale and thus appears to be alive and well, of course they might have been suspended but ebay actually allows sales for present listings to continue just won't allow any new listings / relistings.

broto_64 · ‎09-04-2023

@whatamisellingtoday wrote:
This is wild. They are potentially ruining people's years old businesses implementing this AI in this manner.

Yes, it isn't the incredibly powerful "self-learning" intelligence of the AI we need to be concerned about, but rather the complete lack of foresight on part of the programmers.