drop shipping from Amazon Prime

[merelas_0]

An eBay seller is selling items with pictures which are my intellectual property. They do not have my permission to use my pictures or sell this item. The item is handmade by me, and no one else makes it.

The eBay seller scraped my listings off Amazon Prime, and I assume they plan to drop-ship from Amazon because they're not in actual possession of these items. From the eBay article on drop-shipping, "However, listing an item on eBay and then purchasing the item from another retailer or marketplace that ships directly to your customer is not allowed on eBay."

I sent a Cease and Desist letter to the seller and they haven't replied. Is there a way to file a complaint with eBay?

[upgradedendmills]

Do you sell this item only on eBay, or do you sell on multiple venues?

[inhawaii]

If a buyer gets the item they wanted for the price they wanted, delivered in a timely manner, what's the problem?

[inhawaii]

A similar thing happened to me more than once.  Someone listed my ebay item on amazon. Marked it up double my price. Then when it sold i shipped it directly to his customer.  As long as that address was the "verified address" i had no problem. He would ask me "please do not enclose a invoice" and i wouldn't. 

Just like you i came on these boards angry looking for help. A majority of the people said - what's the big deal? More sales for you. The more i thought about it, they were right.  That made sense. 

Now it doesn't bother me. Besides that, these sellers don't seem to be around too long.

Good luck to you! 

[muttlymob]

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@inhawaii wrote:

If a buyer gets the item they wanted for the price they wanted, delivered in a timely manner, what's the problem?

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Perhaps this is the problem?

"An eBay seller is selling items with pictures which are my intellectual property. They do not have my permission to use my pictures or sell this item."

Buyers who don't care whether the seller they are buying from is honest (ie, stolen intellectual property, plagiarism) or not are part of the problem.

[upgradedendmills]

Maybe the drop shipper should actually buy one of the item themselves and take pictures of the item and then resell it in whatever way they want.

[merelas_0]

The scraped items are available on Amazon only.  I thought about counter-listing them on eBay with my regular price, but right now I don't have the time to keep track of another venue. 2/3 of my work is available on one venue only. Just makes my life easier.

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@upgradedendmills wrote:

Do you sell this item only on eBay, or do you sell on multiple venues?

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[merelas_0]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I finally broke down and had CS call me (I'm not a phone person --- prefer to do things in writing). The representative was very helpful and I reported the shop. 

[merelas_0]

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@upgradedendmills wrote:

Maybe the drop shipper should actually buy one of the item themselves and take pictures of the item and then resell it in whatever way they want.

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Yeah, then they'd actually have to work. 

If they bought it, took new pics, re-titled it, and made up some kind of description --- I'd recognize my pieces anywhere, but it wouldn't be an issue.

[mam98031]

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@merelas_0 wrote:

Thanks! I'm trying to figure out how to do that. When I went to eBay Help. The only option under Contact Us was a phone call --- what, no email? --- and the call topic menus didn't have anything related to this.  I'll look again, maybe I missed something.

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@goodluckselling wrote:

You can call eBay CS and let them know about the violation of your pictures and also of the drop ship policy and ask them how to handle this situation. 

Good Luck Selling!

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You can contact Ebay one of three ways: 

https://www.ebay.com/help/home

https://twitter.com/askebay?lang=en

https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness/

It's important to be aware of where you post a question on Ebay’s Facebook page.  A comment on one of Ebay’s marketing posts won't be answered, but comments posted directly on Ebay’s page will.

[mam98031]

Also you should be aware of the Ebay policy on this.

What should I do if my image or text is being used by another member?

When you create listings you give eBay and it's members permission, through our user agreement, to use your images and product details. Your content may be added to the eBay product catalog, and may be used by other sellers in their eBay listings.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-policies/images-text-policy?id=4240

[postingid7659]

Can you block buyers on Amazon like you can on eBay?

I would consider buying my own product through the listing to get this seller's contact information, then ban or block them from purchasing.   Presumably it should be easy to ID them when you get notice to ship your item to yourself. 

Plus that way they are 100% busted in the act.   

[johnrj1226]

I thought you  said this  in post 4  of 27

"How do you know the seller will use their prime account to ship? Couldn’t they be using regular amazon shipping?"

[merelas_0]

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@mam98031 wrote:

Also you should be aware of the Ebay policy on this.

What should I do if my image or text is being used by another member?

When you create listings you give eBay and it's members permission, through our user agreement, to use your images and product details. Your content may be added to the eBay product catalog, and may be used by other sellers in their eBay listings.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-policies/images-text-policy?id=4240

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From that link:

No, you can't use images copied from other websites or internet searches in your listing or product page, unless the owner of the image has given you permission.

The items/pictures in question were never added by me to eBay.

[gemfire59]

Are your pictures trademarked? An item that I sell on eBay has shown up on Amazon and other venues. I contacted Amazon on this matter because they are using my pictures from eBay and changed who manufactures the item. In over a month I received 2 emails from Amazon for trademark/intellectual violations. My photos of the item are not trademark or copyrighted and I can't get anywhere with Amazon about the manufacturer of the item, written several times, called and chatted online. Just today I figured out that Amazon is allowing "Manufacturers" to get an asin # for items not made by them but can place the item into Amazon's Catalog for Amazon Stores to list the item to sell. In the last 3 months I have sold that item with the request of no invoice or receipt and now I know why. They sell the item on Amazon for over inflated price and then purchase the item from me to ship. Yes I am still selling the item and getting paid but it isn't fair to those buying from Amazon. It is false information about the manufacturer and Amazon does not care. Came on eBay community to see if this is a problem and what can be done. Found the opposite has been happening.

[dazzlecity]

I think the road runs both ways - I have an original oil painting listed here.  I was on google to view how well it might be googling up. I found my piece in a very nice NYC gallery for sale - huh? Mines an original. Finally figured out if they sell it they simply come here and buy it from me.  My shipping time is excellent so I guess they needed the inventory. I could care less who comes here to buy my stuff - pretty simple. Personally I've never used other folks listing - I think it stinks but today in this economy - I'll take the money where I can get it.