Received an unusual message

[UserM13]

Hi all,

I received this message via eBay. It’s regarding a product I have been selling for around 3 months. (I’m no business or a regular seller) I do however pick up bargains where I can see there to be a profit usually just before Christmas.

Anyway now this random message... Giving me 24 hours. Not sure what to make of it. As I’ve bought the products with my money, using my images, my text etc.. ? ...It’s either legit and the company doesn’t like seeing their products sold on eBay even though there are many others on there that are definitely not authorised as they would appear to require to sell if any of this is to be believed or a competitor trying some scare tactics especially by adding the 24 hours part. Like what exactly is going to happen in 24 hours? They going to report me to eBay, get the listings removed etc.. I’d have though they’d have done that anyway if they felt they had a solid case.. Anyway this is a new area I’ve stumbled into. I don’t want to deal with any unnecessary stress so I do plan to remove before the deadline unless you guys who appear to be the experts in this area could give some much needed advice. Thank you.

“Hello Sir/Madam,
This is ***** from ***** in charge of the intellectual property protection.
We found that you are selling ****** products on your website without our authorization. According to our regulation, except for the local authorized clients, under no circumstances shall any distributors sell or resale our products, either on or offline in UK.
Therefore, I’m sending you this e-mail to hope you remove all ****** listings on your website within 24 hours after receiving our message. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation very much.
If you have any question, please contact me.”

[UserM13]

I do apologise I appear to have posted this twice by pressing “post” using Safari on iPhone somehow.

[Dufus]

If the email is from the manufacturer yes they can remove your listing.

[UserM13]

Originally Posted by Dufus

If the email is from the manufacturer yes they can remove your listing.

Thought as much.

Would it be best to remove all affected listings before this deadline or is the account already compromised no matter what I do now. I know it’s hard to say for certain but a second view would be helpful.

Luckily I’ve sold the majority. I only have a handful left so a new account would do. Sell one a month or something, new images, new text layout etc.

Thanks

[Dufus]

If you have other acc best would be to switch to that one and rotate.
How expensive is the item?

[UserM13]

Various prices. Same brand different models/items. £30-£100 range.

[oompaloompa]

it depends if it is actually from the manufacturer or not. Does it have contact info?
it also could be a scare tactic by someone else.

Its complex, as in theory if you buy items, you do have the right to sell them, copyrighted or not. In practice rights owners can and do get the listings and accounts taken down sometimes

[UserM13]

Originally Posted by oompaloompa

it depends if it is actually from the manufacturer or not. Does it have contact info?
it also could be a scare tactic by someone else.

Its complex, as in theory if you buy items, you do have the right to sell them, copyrighted or not. In practice rights owners can and do get the listings and accounts taken down sometimes

The message was sent via eBay messaging so only contact information I have is to reply to that eBay message. The eBay account that sent the message has zero feedback and was registered in 2018 in the U.S. apparently.

I’m 50/50 on whether or not it’s genuine. I don’t depend on eBay and I’d rather not have the stress so have removed the listings. But I will be listing again in a few weeks on a different account in a more discreet way till they have sold and most likely won’t be selling this product again in future, well not in such large quantities anyway.

One step forward, two steps back...

Anyway.. I appreciate all the useful information this forum has provided.

[indielad1010]

It all depends if it's a vero item. If it isn't there is nothing the manafacturer can do about it and it's an empty threat. I sell none vero items and am regularly threatened by the companies involved all the time. Whatever you do don't respond to their emails! All they can do is remove the item if you stole their photos. If they're none vero you have every right to sell the item.

[BigCJ]

Most manufacturers will just contact ebay not the person selling the item(s) in question.

Sounds like a competitor.

[rsot]

The wording of the message is hardly proper English - sounds suspect.

"...in charge of the intellectual property protection."

"Therefore, I’m sending you this e-mail to hope you remove all..." sounds sketch

[SaiJin]

Okay, this is what I "assume". This is a competitor trying to mess with you.

I have not heard of a manufacturer contacting the seller directly with Chinglish "asking" you to remove your listings.
They'd simply get ebay to remove you and you get a penalty.

I'd actually report the message to eBay LOL. But that's me though, I don't play around and I'm very aggressive.