Ebay counterfeit batteries

thelawnet

Around 4.5 years ago I bought a battery for my camera on ebay.

This was from one of Ebay's top sellers then and now, with around 1 million total feedback received.

The battery was a crude counterfeit, and a bit of research showed that a large part of their business was based on the sale of their counterfeit goods. I tried to report them to Trading Standards who gave me some inane consumer advice about how to get my money back (only about £10) and did nothing to investigate.

There was a thread here about this with postings from various users, but it was deleted after about a year, presumably after the scammers in question noticed and submitted a complaint to MSE.

Anyway, just bought a mobile battery from another ebay seller with huge feedback, and it likewise is a crude counterfeit.

What to do?

Trading Standards don't care, Ebay don't care, I can leave negative feedback, but with them getting thousands of feedback a month it's a waste of time really.

lovinituk

You can raise a complaint with ebay or Paypal regarding counterfeit goods. I can't remember which way round it is but raising the case with one of them puts the onus on the seller to prove it is not fake (sure someone will tell us soon). Probably worth doing as it then highlights that seller to ebay if they can't prove authenticity.

Obviously_the_best

If it's fake it should be eBay not PayPal you open a Significantly Not As Described dispute, as the onus is on the seller to prove the item is genuine.

thelawnet

I just had a look at ebay, they wouldn't let me open a dispute unless I've contacted the seller first. Went to contact seller, and for 'item not as described', it says 'buyer can return for refund, buyer to pay return postage'. Er, no thanks.

I went to report the item via http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/replica-counterfeit.html but I would be surprised if ebay take any action as they obviously make huge profits from the sale of dangerous and counterfeit goods.

shaun_from_Africa

If the seller is based in Europe, it may be worth contacting the genuine makers of the battery concerned and informing them of the fact that you've purchased a counterfeit item and giving them the sellers details.

They may just decide to take action against the seller, especially if they are selling loads of fakes.

Norman_Castle

I can leave negative feedback, but with them getting thousands of feedback a month it's a waste of time really.

I left negative feedback for a very large seller recently and had numerous requests from them to resolve the issue if I removed the feedback. Negative feedback will cost them sales.

forgotmyname

You maybe better off contacting the proper company complaining about the quality of their item. After a bit of patter you mention the sellers details.

Im sure a big company will get further than you will. You never know you might even get a free battery.

kurgon

Find the email of the ceo of the producing company and email them. cc in trading standards pointing out that you have raised it iwht them but they are not interested. Has always worked for me in the past. CEO's emails are realtively easy to find now.

Crowqueen

Buy batteries from a reputable site/shop - not eBay.

I don't buy this sort of thing from eBay after 'generic' printer cartridges sold as genuine HP carts (stock photo on listing, duds were sent) wrecked my printer. I either buy from Amazon (good stuff as they keep a closer eye on who sells with them in some categories) or from a proper shop/specialist website. Prices may be higher, but quality can probably be guaranteed.

I know there are people who make a decent living selling this sort of stuff on eBay; it's just that because eBay don't pre-vet sellers, an awful lot of fly-by-nights creep in and I always seem to buy from them - so have given up entirely.