Using Existing Listings Word For Word

[jooki22]

It's been discussed in the Forum of course before but as more and more people jump on the platform, basically looking at a couple of YouTube videos and thinking they know what they're doing, it's important to at least call them out when you find someone has copied your listing, especially if they have stolen your photos. Although eBay does allow copying the verbiage from your listing, calling them out on it perhaps will make them realize how lazy they are and how offensive it actually is to just use someone else's hard work as their own. Sometimes a nice stern message to the seller is all it takes.

[robbie31415]

Can be annoying, but if I was them I'd just block you and not care.

I don't need to be harassed by someone who is upset about something that is allowed and agreed to by using the platform.

[greatmidwestcoin]

I have had that happen to me several times over the 23 years of being on eBay, both photos and listings. My suggestion would be NOT to send a "stern" message. All the times that I have communicated with these types, I found they did not realize someone may be upset. You could also tell them that it is against eBay policy, even though it isn't.  Chances are they are too lazy to confirm your statement and not take the time to look it up themselves - NEWBIES. Face it, they were too lazy to create their own listing words.

I wouldn't get in a bunch over it. It happens. Good luck!

[whatamisellingtoday]

I do this a lot with no shame. Sometimes I don't know the best way to title the listing, and copy pasting a successful sale title makes my listing process a little faster. The way I see it I'm not taking anything away from you by doing that. I only do it with sold listings though, not current listings.

[collectfest]

They have not stolen your photos or text. You know the terms on eBay and what's allowed. I'm not saying I do not understand your position, but that ship has sailed. 

Unless the rules change, and they won't because sellers keep on listing on eBay despite objections, it is what it is.

They are many sellers who are watermarking images because of their inability to accept the rules. As a buyer, it's getting to the point where it hard to see the item. I see it as petty.

[lamber9347]

Sorry but I disagree on your stance. I would never use someone else's photos, frankly that does just seem lazy, but wording, heck yeah. I look for specific details I wasn't aware of and will use that information for my own listing. I look for dates and description detail I wouldn't have noticed, then I go back and edit what I need to. Boy, would I have fun replying to any 'stern' message from another seller accusing me of copying their description, lol- I'm almost looking forward to it....

[jooki22]

It's interesting because I didn't know that people were watermarking their photos but then I heard that it is discouraged by eBay because it causes your photos to not be accepted by Google shopping.

[jooki22]

The responses to my post are very interesting. It's telling when people could care less about copying someone else's work. Just because eBay allows using everything except the photos (which I still think is dumb and will not bend on this point) does not mean, in my opinion,  that someone should feel free NOT to at least change the wording in some way to make it "original". Perhaps I'm the only one that feels that the time and effort that it has taken to come up with descriptions and/or decent photographs is a commodity? If I'm going to spend my time doing all that just to have it taken and used by someone else then I want to get paid for that!

[jooki22]

And I could even respect you not using current listings. But some of these lazy people not only use what they've copied on eBay but take it to other platforms. I've seen my "borrowed" listings on Poshmark even..🤷‍♂️

[vintagecraze50]

Over the years I  HAVE SEEN FAKE WEBSITES stealing my pictures and putting them on their fake website selling them for 1/8TH of the price. Of course they do not have the product at all, they are scamming the public big time. I just saw this the other day with MY listings. How do they get away with this and not get taken down quickly?

[natoman777]

I have been selling since 1999 on eBay.  I totally get what you are saying, but eBay policies allow for it.  Selling on eBay is not as easy as the youtube influencers make it out to be.  Those who merely copy will not stick with it for the long haul.  Best to ignore and move on.  No reason to let something like this bother you when the platform says it is ok to do.  I do wish it wasn't happening, but all you'll do is wast time and energy arguing with someone who has the right to do what they are doing

[theteamsetguy]

This is very true.

[theteamsetguy]

@jooki22 ,

I’m sure you have heard the saying “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery .” Why get bent out of shape regarding something you can’t do anything about it.

[pcobra93]

If you see a listing using your EXACT wording and your EXACT same pics, then it will be the Ebay Global Shipping (Now EIS) doing it. When an item is restricted from export/Import, you keep the original payment, the buyer is refunded and Ebay keeps the item. They have wholesalers they use to then relist the stuff on ebay using the same exact listing you created (may change the international shipping requirements). I have had this happen....and even bought an item back cheaper than I sold it for. The next time you have an international sale that gets restricted, wait a few weeks and keep checking for it but eventually it will show back up on here. Now, it is possible they have changed things up a little due to the Pitney Bowes/EIS switchover and I have not had any restricted since to watch. If you want to know if a "seller" is one of these wholesalers, it is easy to determine from their items. Just do an ebay completed items search on a sold item of theirs and you will see 2 identical sold items with the same title and pics....usually a few weeks apart.

[inhawaii]

I've had that happen to me many times over the past 20+ years.

I just ignore it and don't let it bother me.

Those sellers always seem to "go away" after a while.