Expert: Marvinator - 6/14/2006

Question
Thanks for your reply,

If your can't use the words Louis Vuitton, Chanel etc then why do several bags still get through when they are obviously fakes.

This is the part I just don't understand

Thanks & regards
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Followup To

Question -
Hi,

Obviously there is a market on ebay for replica goods, particularly handbags. I have been looking for some time and they sell very well indeed.

To be brutally honest I purchased some from a supplier and the quality is excellent, to be honest why would you buy the real thing, these are just as good.

Well I posted some of these (never stated they were authentic) and sold one, then all of a sudden the auctions are being removed left, right and centre yet other identical (less quality) products are always still up there from sellers who in many cases are selling several per week.

What are they doing to avoid having their auctions removed, does money change hands, it all seems a bit corrupt to me. Is the the case.

Ebay wreaks of hipocracy.


Answer -
If a handbag is not made by a certain manufacturer, you cannot mention that manufacturer even by style.  Let's say you have a Coach Bag.  Saying "Coach Like Style" is not allowed.  You can't even put in the description "Just like Coach Handbags" or even "Coach FAKE Handbag" This is why your auctions were pulled.

Ebay is very stringent on Keyword spamming and Copyright/Patent infringement.  Keyword Spamming is mentioning Coach  when you're not selling a Coach or Louis Vuitton when y ou're not selling Louis Vuitton.  Copyright and Patent infringement is keeping out the fakes or knockoffs.  YOU know it's a fake, you might even want to be honest and put "FAKE GUCCI HANDBAG" but Ebay's Vero program will knock out your auctions.  

When it comes to brand names and knockoffs, you just can't sell them on Ebay.  

I hope this has helped.

Answer
The answer is again obvious.  Ebay doesn't have a filter which goes out and finds these auctions, nor do they have the manpower to check each and every auction which is out there.  So how then, are they able to find any at all?

Some well meaning person reports them.  Some individual who has that "Upright citizen" mentality and  feels that the auction needs reporting then turns to ebay to play Mr. "I'm-just-doing-my-part-to-make-Ebay-a-better-place" and reports the auction.  Ebay pulls the auction because it does, indeed, break the rules.

In addition, I have to go on record to mention that there are some sellers who know that Ebay will not pull their 'fake item'auctions unless they are reported and who will, becuase of this, turn around and report someone ELSE who tries to sell the same thing. They do this knowing that A) Ebay will pull only the auctions that are reported, and b) no one will know who reported the auction. This eliminates their competition.  

So the result is that there are auctions every day which appear to get in under the radar and others which will not.  Unfortunately, now that Ebay has pulled your auctions pulled , your future auctions will be checked on a regular basis and pulled more quickly.  There is really little you can do.