Using a question mark after a maker.

[jkc190e]

Hello!...I don't think there is anything wrong with putting a question mark after a makers name if you're not sure if it is or isn't by said maker. I was harassed by a buyer telling me my listings were wrong and implied I was trying to deceive buyer's. She even threatened to involve eBay after I was " corrected " by her. She clearly didn't read my descriptions. And I asked her...Well, how do I know that you know they are not as described? Crickets!...Is there a way to block someone from seeing my listings and to stop messaging me? I don't feel this is an eBay matter to pursue. I just want this arrogant woman to go away!...Thought?...Thanks!

[rixstuff]

---

@myboardid wrote:

You are asking for trouble if you list a maker's name without being absolutely positive that it is correct, even with a question mark.  ebay considers this to be keyword spamming, because buyers will search that maker and find your (possibly incorrect) item.  they will remove your listing and give you a major policy violation.  Just do more research and find out for sure who made the item, or at least find out if your questionable maker was the one who made it. 

---

True and there are many companies that will track you down on Ebay and file complaints to get Ebay to close your Ebay account for using their name for a product that isnt theirs.  If you arent sure DONT USE THE BRAND NAME.  Adding a question mark wont cut it. 

[rixstuff]

---

@poppyswag wrote:

You have gotten good advice. Take it.

As far as people messaging you that you don't like, just let it roll off your back. That buyer is most likely another seller. They are the ones who study listings. Sometimes they will help you identify something so it goes both ways.

---

Not entirely true.  I am a buyer and hate hate hate doing a search and coming up with hundreds of listings for fakes or other items not even remotely what I am searching for.  It is even worse when the buyer has a no-name item with a false designer name and is charging big money for it.  We pretty much have to police ourselves here and this is NOT COOL.

[thatsallfolks]

---

@jkc190e wrote:
I even stated in my listing that it was not made by that maker

---

@jkc190e

Remove that maker's name from your TITLE and DESCRIPTION. You're violating policy, and you'll be at the mercy of anyone who buys those items.

Why is this so difficult to understand?

[rixstuff]

---

@pingpong517 wrote:

i came back to this... I'm sure you got answeres, mostly just delete and ignore her.

BUT the ? thing bugged me....  I'm not saying she was right.. BUT i don't think(as an opinion is all), that putting a ? after a name(maker) is a good idea..even if YOU AREN"T sure... then it is better to say "i am not sure of the maker of this item"... BUT a name with a ? .... does lead to issues...especially for a buyer who could then open a case...and yes say that you were misleading...(for lack of the correct word here)..

Think of it like a painting ...and you have,  Monet?  ....  that's not the same as "I am not sure of the ARTIST...and then addding the signiture looks to read monet, but I am not an expert"..

but again, I'm not saying you can't do a ? and/or it is wrong...just selling here---I know that it isn't the "best" way of a description....

just one guys opinion..for what its worth..which isn't much...but it's mine.

---

You could still list that item by calling it a "pastel impressionist waterlilly painting" without the Monet and those seeking Monet will at least look.

[rixstuff]

---

@tunicaslot wrote:

I don't like to see that heart - but how is that drawing buyers to their listings? I'm not tech savvy but I don't start my searches with a heart.

---

It isnt anymore than CUTE! L@@K! SEXY! RARE! AWESOME! DESIGNER or anyother embellishments in titles or descriptions get folks in.  (You will also find those listings usually lack actual details that would help the search engine find it or make buyers decide to buy it).

[rixstuff]

---

@sg51 wrote:

2. It's a natural born SNAD.  All buyer has to do is claim it's not the advertised brand, and you lose.  Some buyers take advantage of this. Your correspondent was no cheater.

---

Especially when they get it side by side with all the OTHER items by that company that they have in their house and see how absurdly different it is in color, quality, size, etc.

[llllady]

---

@tunicaslot wrote:

I don't like to see that heart - but how is that drawing buyers to their listings? I'm not tech savvy but I don't start my searches with a heart.

---

When you search for an item and someone uses those special characters, it draws attention to that seller's listing.  That's not an equal playing field AND it is in fact a clear-cut policy violation.

[jkc190e]

Because I didn't know about " keyword spamming " was. Rosemeade was left with a question mark after it.I wasn't trying to deceive anyone. I have seen other sellers use the ? ...That's all just a mistake.

[llllady]

---

@ymeagainlord wrote:

I'd like to know how that seller manages to get that heart in the title in the first place. When I tried it (as an experiment) eBay flatly refused to let me list it with such a character in the title.

And it IS search & browse manipulation

---

Yep.  Did you ever get to try it from a mobile device?  I only have a flip phone, so I can't even try it that way.  That is where I was told the "loophole" was that was allowing that.

[sg51]

sg51 wrote:

What you can do is claim "The extrardinary quality suggests this was produced by the famous brand, although I can't find any branding".

"Calling out similarities" is also explicitly prohibited. Maybe you should read the policy before setting the OP up for a policy violation and a probable SNAD. If you don't KNOW it's "Brand X", don't mention "Brand X" in ANY context.

Polarity reversal.

This seems to be a reply to something which is the opposite what I posted.

In particular, I suggested avoiding naming a brand.

[rixstuff]

---

You might just be the kind of buyer some sellers are looking for when they put up listings like:

Ring with Sparkly Green Stone, Emerald?

Cut Glass Goblets, Waterford?

Silver Earrings, Sterling?

Colored Glass Bowl, Murano?

In other words, if you don't KNOW the maker or detail of your item, DON'T be putting maker's names, brand names, your *guesses* as to possible purity, rarity, or material, etc.

Sooner or later, you're going to get some buyer really ticked off -or- you're going to get yourself into real trouble here.  Selling online to complete strangers, buying online from complete strangers does entail a certain amount of danger from scammers to begin with, and on eBay it is hoped that we can work to keep that to a minimum, if remotely possible. 

Everybody wants to make sales.  That is completely understandable.  But don't try to paint pretty pictures of something just to make it sound better unless you KNOW it is... what you are indicating it "might" be.

---

I sell vintage jewelry and I test EACH AND EVERY ITEM with a device and chemicals before listing it.  Jewelry is one where you cant waffle or guess and have to fill out the specifics in the listing form.

[sg51]

You could still list that item by calling it a "pastel impressionist waterlilly painting" without the Monet and those seeking Monet will at least look.

You can even add "reminiscent of the famous master".

[rixstuff]

---

@llllady wrote:

---

@tunicaslot wrote:

I don't like to see that heart - but how is that drawing buyers to their listings? I'm not tech savvy but I don't start my searches with a heart.

---

When you search for an item and someone uses those special characters, it draws attention to that seller's listing.  That's not an equal playing field AND it is in fact a clear-cut policy violation.

---

I would be worred about unfair advantage IF it actually worked, which it doesnt.  Stopped working about the second or third year Ebay was in business.

[Anonymous]

The Tiffin? glasses?  SNAD in the making.

[sg51]

You could still list that item by calling it a "pastel impressionist waterlilly painting" without the Monet and those seeking Monet will at least look.

So what do you do with "nickel silver" / "German silver"?  I mean, calling it "silver colored brass" is accurate, but still uses the word "silver".