[MC999] Competitor reporting me

[Polynoma]

Long story short:
I have new(2 months) 500/5000 ebay with 30+ ratings 100%.
And recently I listed something that is in restricted zone of eBay but THE PARTICULAR THING THAT I LISTED IS ALLOWED.

Well, I sold one thing, made a new listing,a dn one more.
Than bam. When I had 12 biders on EACH, I got them removed.

It was for selling something that is restricted. I said ok, let's post under another category. I posted in some close category(new lisitng, different description and pictures) and it got reported bcoz they said it was from countries on which USA HAD EMBARGO. It 100% isn't something like that, and I even listed USA as country of origin.

So, I figured that someone is reporting me(There are 3 other sellers selling such things)

What to do?

Thanks!

[JamesNorth101]

2 months old and listing limits of 500/5000. Wow.

Stop listing that item if it keeps getting pulled, simple as.

[wiserjoe727]

if you suspect someone is doing that you need to phone ebay immediately they do not tolerate that at all. (market manipulation).

[JamesNorth101]

Originally Posted by wiserjoe727

if you suspect someone is doing that you need to phone ebay immediately they do not tolerate that at all. (market manipulation).

Much better to not phone EB. Unlikely they will do anything about it, but your account will get looked at in detail. May cause many more problems that is solves.

[wiserjoe727]

phone them from a alternate account that just sits there and does nothing?

[JamesNorth101]

How would the alternative account know that another accounts listings are being reported and removed?

Just seems like a risk not worth taking, and as I said, EB are not know for being useful RE these matters.

[wiserjoe727]

ah okay tried to help :/

[JamesNorth101]

Originally Posted by wiserjoe727

ah okay tried to help :/

No worries, its just a bit of a golden rule to avoid ever ringing PP or EB

Generally causes a lot more issues than it solves.

[imjustme]

Originally Posted by Polynoma

Long story short:
I have new(2 months) 500/5000 ebay with 30+ ratings 100%.
And recently I listed something that is in restricted zone of eBay but THE PARTICULAR THING THAT I LISTED IS ALLOWED.

Well, I sold one thing, made a new listing,a dn one more.
Than bam. When I had 12 biders on EACH, I got them removed.

It was for selling something that is restricted. I said ok, let's post under another category. I posted in some close category(new lisitng, different description and pictures) and it got reported bcoz they said it was from countries on which USA HAD EMBARGO. It 100% isn't something like that, and I even listed USA as country of origin.

So, I figured that someone is reporting me(There are 3 other sellers selling such things)

What to do?

Thanks!

May we know what exactly it is you're selling? If you don't tell us, we can't know if it's really restricted or not, so nobody will be able to help you.

[rsot]

You will have to explore your niche very well if you want to survive since, without knowing your item or category, difficult to give pinpointed advice.

By the way...

Originally Posted by Polynoma

It was for selling something that is restricted. I said ok, let's post under another category. I posted in some close category(new lisitng, different description and pictures)

eB can nail you on this as trying to get around the restriction - be careful

[jeffweico]

It is hard to know how to respond. You say the product IS allowed, but is in a "restricted zone" of eBay and also that eBay told you that the USA has an embargo on the items in question.

I know that you probably don't want to reveal exactly what you are selling, and I understand completely. But can you at least tell us the CATEGORY?

If the USA does have a law in place prohibiting the item, then nothing you do will make a difference. If this is the case, then it may NOT be a competitor reporting you, it could have been removed by eBay finding it through their automation.

[mrstealth99]

Based on my experience once your account gets flagged for a listing violation it goes into a higher level of scrutiny. After that, any violation, even if it is a small one can put your account at risk (this is true even of very established accounts).

The complaints may not be coming from a competitor, but from a manufacturer. The big companies and brands actually are hiring people to protect their products and brands.

It could also be a VERO rights owner making a complaint. Even if the item itself is not a protected item, if is close or a "knock off" they still can make a claim to ebay, and ebay is very sensitive about these types of complaints for legal reasons.

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by wiserjoe727

phone them from a alternate account that just sits there and does nothing?

Avoid phoning eBay

Avoid phoning them

Risk of your own account getting too closely checked

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by Polynoma

Long story short:
I have new(2 months) 500/5000 ebay with 30+ ratings 100%.
And recently I listed something that is in restricted zone of eBay but THE PARTICULAR THING THAT I LISTED IS ALLOWED.

Well, I sold one thing, made a new listing,a dn one more.
Than bam. When I had 12 biders on EACH, I got them removed.

It was for selling something that is restricted. I said ok, let's post under another category. I posted in some close category(new lisitng, different description and pictures) and it got reported bcoz they said it was from countries on which USA HAD EMBARGO. It 100% isn't something like that, and I even listed USA as country of origin.

So, I figured that someone is reporting me(There are 3 other sellers selling such things)

What to do?

Thanks!

Did you list on eBay de?

Not a wise move to realist in a different category. Bots pick that up.

If you listed a grey import for Germany it may have been the Rights owner making your issues

[slapped]

Im not very sure that you can get a good anwser here,,I Personally have NEVER heard of any Item that is Embargoed into any country let alone deal with one,,I agree with Jeffweico in that it is more likely that your Item was pulled by Ebay, and NOT a competitor,,,Can you copy and Paste the Ebay Take Down Email..Block out your User Name of course,,maybe from that We can at least see if it is Ebay or a Competitor

[Polynoma]

Originally Posted by JamesNorth101

2 months old and listing limits of 500/5000. Wow.
Stop listing that item if it keeps getting pulled, simple as.

Not that simple.

Originally Posted by imjustme

May we know what exactly it is you're selling? If you don't tell us, we can't know if it's really restricted or not, so nobody will be able to help you.

I tell you, I am not 100% newb. It follows all the rules.

Originally Posted by rsot

You will have to explore your niche very well if you want to survive since, without knowing your item or category, difficult to give pinpointed advice.
By the way...
eB can nail you on this as trying to get around the restriction - be careful

I listed the right category the first time. But bcoz of report I moved do CLOSE category, where it was reported bcoz of embargo. WHICH DON'T MAKE SENSE. That's when I found out that competitor is reporting me and not ebay. 100%.

Originally Posted by jeffweico

It is hard to know how to respond. You say the product IS allowed, but is in a "restricted zone" of eBay and also that eBay told you that the USA has an embargo on the items in question.

I know that you probably don't want to reveal exactly what you are selling, and I understand completely. But can you at least tell us the CATEGORY?

If the USA does have a law in place prohibiting the item, then nothing you do will make a difference. If this is the case, then it may NOT be a competitor reporting you, it could have been removed by eBay finding it through their automation.

Ebay told me that yea. But it s 100% CLEAR that it is from USA. And ebay would never gave me such warning. it was someone who reported me. If it was eBay they would say that product is not allowed for the same reason they said first two times.

No. It's not necessary I think.

No, no USA laws against it. No laws anywhere in the world against it and the product is mostly sold in USA.

Originally Posted by mrstealth99

Based on my experience once your account gets flagged for a listing violation it goes into a higher level of scrutiny. After that, any violation, even if it is a small one can put your account at risk (this is true even of very established accounts).

The complaints may not be coming from a competitor, but from a manufacturer. The big companies and brands actually are hiring people to protect their products and brands.

It could also be a VERO rights owner making a complaint. Even if the item itself is not a protected item, if is close or a "knock off" they still can make a claim to ebay, and ebay is very sensitive about these types of complaints for legal reasons.

That sucks. Damn.

There is one seller in this product that is selling ALL THE TIME. And you see other sellers pop out and go down. I think that's so bcoz he's reporting them(he have 200+ feedback) and it 100% isn't manufacturer reporting this as they have no problems with selling online/anywhere.

I read about VER0 and it can't be VERO.

Originally Posted by GreenBean™

Did you list on eBay de?

Not a wise move to realist in a different category. Bots pick that up.

If you listed a grey import for Germany it may have been the Rights owner making your issues

Nope, .com
Yea, that was a stupid move.
USA, from USA.

Originally Posted by slapped

Im not very sure that you can get a good anwser here,,I Personally have NEVER heard of any Item that is Embargoed into any country let alone deal with one,,I agree with Jeffweico in that it is more likely that your Item was pulled by Ebay, and NOT a competitor,,,Can you copy and Paste the Ebay Take Down Email..Block out your User Name of course,,maybe from that We can at least see if it is Ebay or a Competitor

It is NOT embargo. You know when you ahve option to report item on ebay?
I think that the competitor just used the report option that gives best results?

[Polynoma]

Thanks all!

[imjustme]

Sorry if this seems a bit harsh, but you're writing a lot but not really telling us anything. If you want someone to help you, you need to tell the a bit more. And don't make us beg for more information because we're helping free of charge. We don't have the time to beg for more information.

With the information you gave so far, nobody can help you, I'm sorry.

So the best thing I, or anyone here, can tell you is: Yes, a competitor may be reporting you and there isn't anything you can do about it.

[golden_monkey]

if you know exactly who it is without a shadow of a doubt.............why aren't you going on attack mode?

[joesshooze]

I was going to say exactly what GB did. I screwed myself big time by relisting something after it got took off in another category & changing description. Lost a very good acct. oh yeah and NEVER, NEVER, NEVER phone EB or PP unless there is absolutely nothing to loose.

[danshan]

Originally Posted by imjustme

Sorry if this seems a bit harsh, but you're writing a lot but not really telling us anything. If you want someone to help you, you need to tell the a bit more. And don't make us beg for more information because we're helping free of charge. We don't have the time to beg for more information.

With the information you gave so far, nobody can help you, I'm sorry.

So the best thing I, or anyone here, can tell you is: Yes, a competitor may be reporting you and there isn't anything you can do about it.

this happens everyday on ebay! that is life and that is why we have multiple stealths. illegal, legal, good to sell, right category, wrong category, none of that matters ebay can do whatever they want right is not in the equation.

[MM78]

It's like pulling teeth sometimes!

Originally Posted by imjustme

Sorry if this seems a bit harsh, but you're writing a lot but not really telling us anything. If you want someone to help you, you need to tell the a bit more. And don't make us beg for more information because we're helping free of charge. We don't have the time to beg for more information.

With the information you gave so far, nobody can help you, I'm sorry.

So the best thing I, or anyone here, can tell you is: Yes, a competitor may be reporting you and there isn't anything you can do about it.