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.

[onefootflipper1]

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@jooki22 wrote:

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.

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I assume you are on ebay looking to make money.

You get zero return on your time investment spending time looking for, complaining about, messaging about or worrying about this issue.  You won't make a single dime for this time.

In fact not only do you not make any money for this time spent, you actually run the risk of losing money because you now upset some maniac who will then look to enact some sort of revenge.

You might be "right" about this issue on all sorts of level, but being right won't make you any money and it won't remove your competition.

[the-hook-and-the-loop]

What's even better is, after they duplicate your listing and list it for $0.05 less, they promote it, and eBay puts their listing under yours or anywhere a potential buyer will see it right up to checkout.

[onefootflipper1]

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@the-hook-and-the-loop wrote:

What's even better is, after they duplicate your listing and list it for $0.05 less, they promote it, and eBay puts their listing under yours or anywhere a potential buyer will see it right up to checkout.

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If it is an identical item then the one for 5 cents less is probably going to sell first anyway, promoted or not.

[janet9988]

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@jooki22 wrote:

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!

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When you agreed to the ebay user agreement and listed an item you agreed to give up your rights allowing others  to copy your pictures and words.

[jooki22]

That's just the problem. Everyone seems to think they "can't do anything about it". But you can! I think people have become complacent about it and just don't care anymore. But if enough people complained to Ebay, management would HAVE to at least look into fixing the problem in some way. All these apps and platforms operate this way (especially the gig apps), doing things that are detrimental, knowing most of the "herd" that uses them aren't going to take the time to complain as long as they get their carrots. And I know....I'm beating a dead horse here...but it's worth discussing.

[jooki22]

I wasn't "looking for" this issue. I was trying to google and see if the listing had ever made it's way to google shopping and found the copycat. 

[jooki22]

The issue is that Ebay allows the copying of the description details. I don't know if technically there would even be a way to prevent this. Clicking on "sell similar" or "sell one like this" only populates the title and item specifics. The seller then has to MANUALLY copy and paste all of your description verbiage, if I'm not mistaken. THAT is offensive.

[legalbeagle52]

LOL, you are right about that!!  After they copy your listing from head to toe, the whole works, they ALWAYS undercut by a teeny-tiny amount & their listing often goes ABOVE -  for me it's above mine - (even without either one of us promoting it) .... and always sells before mine!   That's what makes it so annoying.