Counterfeit items

[mapsia]

I believe that EBay is complicit in selling counterfeit goods. 
Ebay thinks that when buyers receive a refund that the problem is solved.

Many buyers will not recognise that an item is fake.

Ebay takes honest feedback in regards to counterfeit items at the request of sellers down.

There is a culture of the strongest survive I I have experienced it that an honest feedback in regards to counterfeit items was removed by EBay and I was threatened that my account would be restricted if did it again.

It is all about protecting sellers who advertise fake items and bring in the money for EBay.

The buyers who recognise the fake items get a refund but the others who don’t are the victims of fraud without knowing it.

Ebay should be ashamed because they are not willing to work with the buyers who give honest feedback to protect others who are being scammed.

[tressygirl]

There is a reason why you cannot say ' fake'  in a feedback, no matter how well meaning your intentions were to help warn others.

  If it was allowed then competitors even disgruntled buyers,  could trash, even ruin a seller's account totally, buy leaving false accusations of selling fake items, therefore,  not allowed.  Leaving a feedback saying ... ' disappointed  to receive an item not as described'  is enough of a warning for others, and would be allowed.

eBay for the same reason cannot act on feedback alone, what they do act on is cases.

If enough return cases are opened for refunds,  this raises red flags to eBay, they investigate, and can impose selling sanctions,  even complete selling bans.

Many like yourself wish to help others as yes,  there are many fakes on eBay, who certainly don't encourage it, it's illegal for a start, but just impossible to check each and every one of the 7 billion listings, but too many returns and cases opened for item not as described, eBay will act.

@mapsia 

[john1297576]

Apart from volume of items, which will not be checked by ebay, they would not have enough staff to do this or qualified to identify fakes.

As already said if they took all reports of fakes as correct, then sellers could get their competitors removed too easily.

As tressygirl says, volume of return cases opened would draw attention to sellers of fakes. Returns cost sellers money paying for outward post, return post and full refunds proves expensive.

[mapsia]

It is not that I expect Ebay to control the selling of counterfeit items but they actively removed my honest feedback. Theyalso warned me off of giving feedback in regards to fake merchandise. This puts the sellers profile up and makes EBay complicit in the handle of counterfeit goods. If they were to  just read the communication between myself and the seller then it was obvious that the seller was admitting to the fact. Where is then the protection for buyers who don’t recognise the branded item that they purchase as counterfeit.I still believe that EBay protects the sellers more because that earns them money especially when the sellers are registered businesses.

[mapsia]

 The problem is that this does not protect buyers who do not recognise the items that they purchase as counterfeit/ fake branded goods. It encourages sellers to actively sell items that are not original. One of the items that I purchased received feedback from other buyers in regards to the item being counterfeit this being confirmed by a licensed retailer,this feedback was also removed by EBay. I have now reported both EBay and the seller to Trading Standards.

[tressygirl]

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@mapsia wrote:
 The problem is that this does not protect buyers who do not recognise the items that they purchase as counterfeit/ fake branded goods. It encourages sellers to actively sell items that are not original. One of the items that I purchased received feedback from other buyers in regards to the item being counterfeit this being confirmed by a licensed retailer,this feedback was also removed by EBay. I have now reported both EBay and the seller to Trading Standards.

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Reporting to Trading Standards is a good move up to them then to act.  What you could also do is report to the actual Brand owners.

I'm sorry but it is everybody's responsibility to check an item fully on receipt , for its workability and authenticity and eBay's 30 day MBG is written on every listing if anything to the contrary is found.

As I explained above,  you cannot leave feedback stating counterfeit / fake if it was allowed competitors could ruin another seller's account,  trashing their feedback this way, and ruining a good reputation.  

@mapsia 

[papso22]

How did ebay know your feedback was honest and not malicious?

[mapsia]

I called eBay and discussed the issue also offered the correspondence between the seller and myself. What use is feedback and of what value if it is always seen as malicious. No the system is definitely designed to protect the sellers who bring in the money. I have now contacted the main dealer of the branded goods and am willing to work with them and Trading Standards as I have no trust in EBay.

[mapsia]

iWe are just talking in circles  fact is fake goods are being sold on EBay with impunity and buyers who recognise this are punished by EBay for highlighting it..

[tressygirl]

No one is denying fake items are being sold on eBay,  it's a scourge, always was always will be.  If there was one easy way of stopping it, that would be great, notifying the brand owners of the big offenders,  is one step that can work.

@mapsia 

[mapsia]

Still say that EBay is complicit because the only way to work against it is to highlight it. How can buyers who recognise the fakes make others and EBay aware of these sellers if not with their feedback. My feedback was removed at the request of the seller and I was warned not to leave the sort of feedback stating that the items were branded but not original. Other feedbacks were also removed leaving the seller carry on with his lucrative business. 

[tressygirl]

I think I have explained the reason why you cannot use the words fake or counterfeit in feedbacks.  If you leave something like..... Very disappointed to receive an item not as described, is warning enough if a buyer wishes to read a seller's feedback before buying, many unfortunately don't.

If enough cases, refunds,  are made for item not as described, eBay do act and do remove the seller from their site,  but they cannot act on one or two messages / feedbacks there has to be a pattern.

You say eBay is complicit in selling counterfeit items!   I hope you don't wish to challenge eBay directly with that statement .

[mapsia]

Very patronising explanation and sounding very much like an EBay employee. I still believe that there is a better way to deal with buyers then to say here have your money back and shut up.You definitely have not convinced me that I am wrong if that is your intention/ job.

[red_magpie]

I'm not sure when the ban on referring to fakes was introduced. At one time it was normal practice.

I imagine that eBay's lawyer have got in on the act! You have to remember that eBay doesn't know whether feedback left for fakes is true. Reports of fakes may be mistaken, malicious or just a buyer inventing a reason to get a free return.

Many people don't realise that making untrue statements online is actionable. Alleging on a public feedback forum that a seller is selling fakes is a very serious allegation. eBay may be liable for content it allows to be posted on its site and I have no doubt that their lawyers have made this change to protct them from this.

[tressygirl]

@mapsia  wrote:    sounding very much like an EBay employee.

eBay employee?  They could never afford me. 😊

[mapsia]

And who protects buyers who do not recognise fake items? Before giving feedback I contacted the seller and gave them the opportunity to comment. I left feedback after seeing that the seller with impunity was still selling the items. EBay is protecting itself and sellers but not innocent buyers who do not recognise the fake items as being counterfeit. Taking feedback out makes Ebay complicit. There is always the possibility of adding to the feedback a disclaimer.No I don’t accept that EBay is innocent in the peddling of fake goods.

[tobiasd4]

You seemed to have missed the point.

Ebay never see the item, so won't know if fake or not.

As said before, you may be a rival seller with same items,

saying fake in feedback could be libelous, so ebay have to be careful.

There are ways to leave feedback within ebay policy.

There are plenty of fake items for sale every where, often car boots,

but you can't make the organisers responsible for the sellers.

1 last point,

this is an ebay member forum, whether we agree with any ebay policies makes no difference.

We have informed you of ebay policy, if you are still not happy contact CS, good luck with that.

[mapsia]

Already contacted Trading standards and given sellers address also contacted the main dealership of the fake branded items and offered any information that I can supply about the seller who is still actively selling fake branded items on EBay. Have given up on finding anyone at EBay who is interested in the matter. Aside from that I am sick of the patronising explanations on this forum. Over and out!

[mapsia]

One of the patronising reply’s that I received contradicted himself in his own message!Quote: you wouldn’t expect a boot fare organiser to be responsible for fake goods sold at the fare! Of course I wouldn’t but if EBay removes feedback they are responsible.If I buy a ring that is advertised as a Diamond ring and I receive a Zirconia am I not allowed to say in my feedback that I received a Zirconia ring and not a Diamond ring as advertised? EBay is not just protecting themselves but dishonest sellers! There has to be a better way. People on this forum like yourself don’t seem to be actively pursuing better practices but going with EBay’s set policies even when these policies don’t make sense. The patronising way that all the comments are formulated one has to believe that EBay employees are actively taking part in the forum.

[tobiasd4]

My point about car boots was totally relevant. 

You are blaming ebay for selling fake items. 

The site is just for sellers to advertise on, same as car boot organiser. 

No one is denying there are fake items on ebay site,

But it is the sellers you need to report.

[mapsia]

You don’t seem to be understanding my point. EBay is to blame for taking my feedback/ report down and warning me rather than the seller. I am not saying that EBay sells fake goods but are complicit when they hide feedback from buyers by removing it. You and your friends on this forum are too keen to stand up for EBay’s terms and conditions instead of considering that there might be an other way.Example EBay could put a disclaimer in regards to feed positive or negative and say that they are not responsible for any feedback as it can not always be verified.Just a thought on changing something and not just sticking to the book just because. I am just an EBay user who thinks that things can always be improved not like a few of you here who think EBay invented the wheel. Cheers for your explanations but I am looking for ways forward and not ways to teach people to live with bad principles.