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How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

I had to fire an employee, for drinking on the job, treating others poorly, etc.
Of course, they feel the firing was unjustified.

I sell on AZ, selling self manufactured products.
Things like unique wooden puzzles, uniquely designed bird houses, that sort of thing. I never had the ex employee sign a non disclosure agreement, or anything like that. So, I know "legally", there's not much I can do.

This exEmployee has now created a new AZ account, and is selling my exact same items, under their brand, since they are making them too now.

I know this person pretty well, and it wouldn't take much to make them go away, and go to the Bay. Afterall, they are new to AZ. Any good way to make their life miserable on AZ, so they stop?

Like, if I create a new AZ account at the local library PC, and buy all their inventory, and then return it? Or buy it all, and then cancel the order?

Are there services out there, that will make a headache for AZ enemies, for a fee?

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

Not really something this forum deals with. Focus on your business and move on.

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

I'd just add more product lines to your inventory and leave them be. Products they can't exactly mimic. So you'll be ahead of the game.

If you sabotage them, or if anyone else does, they'll automatically think its you, and they'll do it to you.

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

Yeah I agree with play here, ignore them and leave them be, they wont last long.

Someone who is drinking on the job and treating other employees poorly wont have the patience or ability to sell successfully.

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

People like that tend to fail, even if they mimic the product. You can't copy proper customer service, and etiquette

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

I guess your ex-employee had already bought amz ghost ebook and he might have some ghost accts ready to play with you now. Maybe, he is reading this post and laughing at it too. Sorry!

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

Focus energy on building your business - the ex-employee has won this round...until he fails.

That's the catch 22 of having hired help :(

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

Indeed, I have many more products in my line of inventory then they do....but like I said, there AZ account is new, and growing. Other sellers on Amazon don't mimic my products, because they cannot source the needed material as cheaply as I can. I actually source the material I use, from a couple of Amish families nearby. Therefore, it's dirt cheap. As you can see, I can even share that info up here, because none of you have access to my Amish families.

But, this ex-employee does.
And, they know which of my items have the biggest margins, so those are the items they are copying first.

Yes, I could just "leave them be", but I really don't want to allow them to "steal" my dozen or so, highest grossing items. That's just not fair to me.

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

Yes, that's a risk, but I feel it's a very, very slight risk.
I know this person very well. I really don't care if they guess it's me. Matter of fact, if they do feel it's me, I think they'll fold their cards, and move to the Bay or to Etsy, once they see the headache I can cause them.

As for them doing the same to me.....that's why I was wondering if there was a 3rd party service I could hire, that buys/returns/buys/returns items from a seller, just to make them miserable. I know this ex-employee would quickly move on, rather than also hire a 3rd party service.

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

Depending on how uniquely you've marketed yourself, you could trademark your line and report them for IP infringement. Whole process takes about 3 weeks and $300.

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

No, I'd bet big bucks that's not the case.
This person is very low tech.
I was impressed that they were able to navigate the Amazon waters, and get an active account up, and products listed.....but that's at about the end of their technical reach.

May I ask some of you Amazon guru's......
If I create/purchase an AZ ghost account, and then buy there products, send to PO box, and return them, about how many times could I do this, before AZ would flag this ghost account of mine?

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

Yes, I've thought about that whole thing, but I'm actually looking for a way to simply find someone that can hammer their product reviews, or bury them with returns....

I was hoping for some ideas down that line....

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

We are a forum of sellers

No one here is going to help you take down another seller no matter how justifiable it may or may not be. It’s just poor form

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

I understand.
However, I am getting private messages from other sellers running into the same issue, and it looks like we may be able to help each other, by giving each others competitors some problems.

I do agree it's rather poor form, but I don't consider it any more poor, than how my ex-employee is stealing from me.

And yes....I realize two wrongs don't make it right.

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

Can someone tell me when was the last revision to the AZ ghost guide?

The guides Aspkin has produced in the past, are outstanding, and this one I don't own yet, and I'm just wondering how current it is....

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

Just bare in mind if you get caught doing it by amazon you can end up loosing your main account

I would suggest you would be better off threatening legal action for IP infringements. Even if it’s non-actionable it could well still be enough to scare the chap off

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

Yup...fully understood.
Thanks.

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

Since my competitor is very new on AZ (only 3 reviews), performing a purchase of something like only 5 products from them, and returning them (all from a ghost account), should be quite harmful to their metrics.

I'm not worried about retaliation.
This competitor is very low tech. They have no idea what an IP address even is, let alone a MAC address.

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

Amazon however isn’t. If they catch you then it’s game over for your account

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

You should have cushioned him until you get that non-disclosure agreement signed. File a copyright infringement claim with Amazon and his listings will be taken down. Hell, nowadays anyone can take listings down by claiming copyright...etc

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

Do you mind to share how to do that?
I want to protect my own designs.

Re: How to deal with disgruntled ex-employee
 

You register your product along with your trademark. That includes the design, shape, color...etc of the product you're registering. Then you file a claim with Amazon and you provide them with copies of your trademark registration.


The only way to protect oneself against such predatory fraudulent copyright reports is to sell your own brand. Selling generic items on Amazon is a risky endeavor if your competition is willing to do the above.



Beware that doing this to your competition might open the doors of hell to your business.