Ebay on watchdog, tonight at 7pm

phatbear

LizEstelle wrote:

I think the basic message is: beware of ANYONE on ebay claiming to offer anything approaching the likes of a 'designer' label.

Ebay's bottom line argument basically is: 'we're just a marketplace, hiring out space to stallholders and shoppers... we have no responsibility to anyone for anything but the efficiency of the system'.

Much as though I dislike it, I think they have a point.

The internet is a jungle and jungles have dirty great snakes as well as little furry animals.

The problem with the argument that ebay is "merely a marketplace" is no real defence, after all they are complicit in making an earning from the sale of a prohibited/illegal item.

If ebay really wanted to stop people selling these items they could, but surely there attitude is most clearly evident in the long winded often difficult process to report dodgy sellers and their apathy when someone is reported for infriging on the rules that ebay themselves have written.

Bottom line is ebays commision is the same if they help a person sell a genuine pair of trainers or a fake pair, money truly is the overall motivator.

All the best

The Bear

Contains_Mild_Peril

I'd have liked to have seen them showing genuine items side by side with the fakes (instead of just showing the fakes when asking the relevant genuine companies about them), to give customers a better idea of the difference in quality and how to tell them apart.

Daz

phatbear wrote:

surely there attitude is most clearly evident in the long winded often difficult process to report dodgy sellers and their apathy when someone is reported for infriging on the rules that ebay themselves have written

Not sure you're being entirely fair. Ebay have to at least try to remain impartial. It's easy to forget that there are regular threads on this board where honest sellers have been ripped off. Last week someone was telling how the buyer had reported them to ebay for selling fake goods before the item had even been sent!

I've had my fair share of wierdos, wackos and con-artists messing me about on ebay, but it's just part of being an open market. Ebay will never be a 'perfect' marketplace, because no marketplace is perfect.

phatbear

Im not saying ebay could ever be perfect by why do they make it so difficult for people to report infringements of their r&r's.

In reference to containsmildperil's post, im in a postion that on a daily basis I seize counterfeit goods as they come into the country, and by all accounts over the years the items have become better copies however there are still quite a few glaring errors, of course the easiest ones to notice is when the company in question dont even manufacture an item which looks like the one thats been imported.

Ive also had call to contact ebay on a work related matters and we/I get as short shrift as everyone else.

All the best

the bear

kevinyork

phatbear wrote:

Im not saying ebay could ever be perfect by why do they make it so difficult for people to report infringements of their r&r's.

In reference to containsmildperil's post, im in a postion that on a daily basis I seize counterfeit goods as they come into the country, and by all accounts over the years the items have become better copies however there are still quite a few glaring errors, of course the easiest ones to notice is when the company in question dont even manufacture an item which looks like the one thats been imported.

Ive also had call to contact ebay on a work related matters and we/I get as short shrift as everyone else.

All the best

the bear

Totally agree bear. eBay may maintain their stance until a report is made to them, then they are complicit in a deception/fraud if they do not take appropriate action. Hence the reason you have to jump through hoops to make such a report to them. Am I not right in believing that if you bought from a real auction house and found the goods to be fake that you would have redress against the auction house? Why not eBay too?

And if they do take action....what form does that action take? Removal of a listing? A singular Paypal dispute in the buyers favour maybe? A politely worded warning to the seller so they dont upset them too much and risk loosing their lovely fees from the seller in future? I find their 'we take blah blah blah very seriously' so condescending when anyone using eBay regularly knows the only thing they take seriously are their profits! Actions speak louder than words and eBays actions on this are almost non existent in the real scheme of things.

bella4uk

I think it is quite hard for ebay to stop fakes...if you list something authentic then they don't bother you...if for example you were selling a pair of non brand boots and you put similar to Timberland, or, Like Timberland, in the title, they quite often remove the listing and you get a warning, I think if it's in the description you can get away with it....But if you were to lie and sell them as timberland boots, I doubt you have a problem.

kriss_boy

Type in "lacoste polo shirt" and there are are 10,000 fake items. Ebay doesnt care however as it makes them a lot of people in commission and listing fees.

Lacoste is probably the most faked item of clothing, then Diesel perhaps.

It takes a good 10/15mins of sifting through those listing to find the genuine items.

C_Ronaldo

LizEstelle wrote:

I think the basic message is: beware of ANYONE on ebay claiming to offer anything approaching the likes of a 'designer' label.

Ebay's bottom line argument basically is: 'we're just a marketplace, hiring out space to stallholders and shoppers... we have no responsibility to anyone for anything but the efficiency of the system'.

Much as though I dislike it, I think they have a point.

The internet is a jungle and jungles have dirty great snakes as well as little furry animals.

I agree what your saying 100% but surely have a responsibility to stop people selling copies of handbags etc, people are wasting their on them

is the money factor the only thing ebay are interested in

Mr_Squiddy

LizEstelle wrote:

Ebay's bottom line argument basically is: 'we're just a marketplace, hiring out space to stallholders and shoppers... we have no responsibility to anyone for anything but the efficiency of the system'.

Much as though I dislike it, I think they have a point.

eBay make it quite clear that it is not permitted to use designer or brand names unless the item is genuine. That means that I could not, for example, advertise a 'Fake Gucci Style Bag.' I think it would be a lot better if such descriptions were allowed because let's face it, most people have a fair idea if an item is genuine or not. Instead, if I want to advertise my fake Gucci bag I am better off pretending it is genuine. So eBay are at least partly responsible for this state of affairs.

Give people the truth and let them decide for (or delude) themselves.