MC019 Trademark Breach Issue!!

[andyf777]

Hi everyone,

I got an MC019 early Feb, all listings removed etc for trademark breach. I called ebay, emailed numerous times with no luck and then one last call, they allowed me to list again. My listings weren't reinstated though and my policy complience was still at medium. But, i did have the nod from T+S to relist.... So I did.

Then 3 weeks later, BANG.... MC019 all listings removed, policy compliance at LOW. Absolutely gutted as it was going so well. So, I called them, no joy, emailed them, and they replied saying blah blah, do not relist etc. Then randomly my policy compliance went back up to Medium.

My question is: I have loads of stock that I NEED to shift quickly, I could get rid of it all in 3 weeks so i'm willing to take the risk, on the hope that i'll get 3 weeks out of it. Then i'll just let the acc rest til the breaches expire. But what do you guys think/advise?

I have other accounts but with very small selling limits and small fb, the above acc has over 75k/2000items per month limit.

Any advice PLEASE?!!

PS my items are genuine, but Ebay arent interested in my invoices etc.

Thanks in advance!

[FizzyFish]

Amazon? Ebid? House fire and insurance job :>

Speak to rights holder?

With an act like that surely you dont want to risk losing it...

[andyf777]

Thanks for the reply.

I have tried contacting the rights owner but had no reply. I have also asked ebay to contact them but they said the issue wasn't rasied by the rights owner, it is a trademark breach, not a vero issue.

I am so empted to relist, but i dont want to get the acc closed, but am i right in thinking your compliance has to be 'LOW' then its acc closed? Mine is currntly at MEDIUM?

[NoneOther]

IMHO if you list them again they will close you down immediately. You've already had two warnings, they're not going to mess around again.

BTW Trademark violation and Ve ro amount to the same thing i.e you are using the owners trademark without their permission hence they are not interested in your invoices which I assume are not directly from the manufacturer.

[andyf777]

Yes that's what i'm thinking could end up happening, hence my jubiousness!

I meant I wasn't flagged by the rights owner, as if i was i would have been given their email address and company name to forward any correspondance to them. But yes I know what you mean, same thing basically!

If anyone else had had anything similar happen, please do jump in!

Thanks

[NoneOther]

From what I understand e/b now have their own teams monitoring listings for possible trademark misuse/violation.

I'm sure those with new accounts have had the warning messages come up about "being genuine and that the listing will be reviewed" before the listing goes live and that it will be removed if found to be in doubt.

[andyf777]

Yeah I had that when I was a new seller.

I guess i'll just wait and see if I can get it lifted again, and if not i'll flip a coin!

Thanks for your input

[baloch]

my suggestion would be to list different items to show them that you are not a risk then after a week call them to see how your account is holding up.

Meanwhile you can list on your other accounts.

After a week if you feel you are safe enough then start listing and get rid of the inventory.

[andyf777]

Good idea Baloch, but I dont have any other items to list! I also only list in one category so do you think that switches items/categories would raise any unwanted red flags if i did list other items?

I've worked out how long it would take me to sell the stock i have on my other accounts and it would take over a year! On my main acc it would take 3 weeks

[beatingebay]

Do not waste such a great account with that much feedback. Think how long it would take to ever get it that high again. Try selling off the merchandise somewhere else. Take the hit and just get rid of all of it at once!

[andyf777]

Sorry, just to clarify the account has selling limits of £75000 and 2000 items per month, the feedback score on it is 2400.

[NoneOther]

Originally Posted by andyf777

Sorry, just to clarify the account has selling limits of £75000 and 2000 items per month, the feedback score on it is 2400.

If that's the case you would be a complete idiot to burn it for the sake of dumping your stock.

Accounts like that should be preserved. Let it cool for a while and sell the stock slowly through ⊗⊗⊗⊗ accounts

[jeffweico]

Are you sure this is because eBay thinks your items are not genuione? Could it be that you are using a trademark somewhere in your listing that is causing this?

For example, you cannot say something like "Compare to Nike" unless you are advertising an actual Nike product.

I'm asking because it seems like this is a seasoned account, and it would be unusual for eBay - of their own volition, with no complaints - to take down your item unless it was a very obvious counterfeit.

[andyf777]

Yeah i'm pretty sure thats their reason. It said in the email about 'questioning the authenticity'... 'cause for cencern'... blah blah.

Funny thing is, i've offered to submit my invoices, no neg fb, no buyer complaints. I feel pretty powerless as to what to do next!

[shadow]

My honest advice is give up. Your story sounds similar to mine, i got 2 warnings, and permantely banned on my 3rd. This was a genuine acc, and items, TRS powerseller 3k+feedback the lot..

[rsot]

You got blocked again - eb is pretty rough on that. The account is pretty much done. Only thing is spread your sales over multiple accounts or outsource.

[cortex]

Id deffo want to keep hold of that account - sounds like gold dust.


if you have a lot of stock...why not sell it on your other account but instead of selling them off individually, sell them off in lots of 10's or 20's or even 50's?
That way you sell most of your stock and only use up a few precious listings

[Laritha]

Did you use the same photos and wording when you tried relisting? My advice is to take chances selling slow on other accounts if you can. Better slow and safe instead of messing up that good account

[cortex]

Also i just remembered...if it is a jealous competitor then sell your item at a few pence higher than his/her listing. That way his/her listing is still the cheapest so they're happy and less likely to sting you again....just a thought incase you do decide to relist on that account.

I had a load of my listings pulled not too long ago. sucks big time. main thing is to think smart and dont let greed/impatience ruin your business model.

pain is temporary. victory is forever.

[andyf777]

Originally Posted by cortex

Id deffo want to keep hold of that account - sounds like gold dust.


if you have a lot of stock...why not sell it on your other account but instead of selling them off individually, sell them off in lots of 10's or 20's or even 50's?
That way you sell most of your stock and only use up a few precious listings

Thats a very good idea, but I sell items that people only need one or two of. But thanks anyway, ill keep it in mind!

[andyf777]

Originally Posted by Laritha

Did you use the same photos and wording when you tried relisting? My advice is to take chances selling slow on other accounts if you can. Better slow and safe instead of messing up that good account

I changed the wording in the title, but the description wording and photos were unchanged. It didn't occur to me as ebay permitted me to relist them after the first takedown.

[cortex]

when selling in lots...try auction format. Someone will buy it for sure even if they only need 1 or 2. Perhaps put a reserve value as well to make sure you get the price you want?